Ad Matters 16.02.2024

After the whirlwind that was LEAD 2024 last Thursday, we’ve had folk asking how to use sessions to prompt further discussions in their own businesses.

To that end, we’ve been reflecting on the topics our speakers covered and drawing out key learnings. All of this has been put together in our LEAD 2024 Digest – a book which contains details about every session with links to watch them back. The Digest has been sent out to delegates and will go to our members too, as a way of helping keep the content useful and relevant.

For anyone who missed LEAD 2024, I’d recommend a great place to start is with the AA President’s wrap up speech. Alessandra explains how all the workstreams of the industry’s trade bodies pull together to provide the backbone of Responsible Growth, from the industry’s economic contribution to the social impact it can have. More importantly, she highlights how every part of our industry is dependent on the other to make positive progress – stressing this interdependence as critical if we are to ensure the best people want to build their careers in the advertising industry. Watch her session back here.

Another great entry point, given the UK economic news dominating headlines this week, is the session on Advertising’s Big Questions. Ever wondered if advertising grows markets or increases consumer prices?  Experts Laurence Green, Bridget Angear, Enyi Nwosu and our CEO Stephen Woodford kick the tyres on these questions and more. The findings may surprise you.

And if you haven’t had a copy of the LEAD 2024 Digest, please get in touch.

Our top ads this week:

• We had to pick a Valentine’s Day ad. For macaron lovers, meet ‘Tomacaron’ – the latest from Heinz’s in-house team, The Kitchen, Wonderland and Fauchon.
• It’s ‘Fabruary’ not February! McCann London and Clear Channel UK celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month.
• A poignant one from “Emmie’s Books” by Ogilvy Health for Childhood Cancer Day on the joy of books.
• IKEA asks people to embrace their inner rebel with ‘Do try this at home’ by McCann Spain.
• And our Ad in the A celebrates the return of Eat them to Defeat Them by adam&eveDDB. Did you know ITV, Channel 4, Sky and Veg Power’s campaign have inspired over 1.5m children to eat veggies to date?

Four key reads:

• Our member Clearcast has updated their TV clearance process – everything you need to know is here. (Clearcast)
• Fancy watching a few more ads? Fill your boots with this  – the full round-up of Super Bowl ads. (LBB)
• Are growth challenges different for a household name and an emerging brand? Cadbury and Lucky Saint debated this. (Marketing Week)
• Who else is still feeling inspired from LEAD? Check out the Media Leader’s live podcast to hear some insightful interviews. (Media Leader)

Dates for your diary:

• Tune in to Media Bounty’s  ‘Building Trust in Green Messaging’ webinar on February 29. Along with other industry experts, I’ll be discussing actionable strategies to help brands cut through greenwash. Book here.
• Registrations are still open for our UK Young Lions Competition. If you’re ready to compete to land a week in Cannes, sign up here before February 29. And if you want to be a judge, head here!
• Adwanted Events will be holding ‘The Future of Brands’ on April 17 and we’re delighted to be media partners! Register here with our special code PARTNER_AA25 to nab 25% off!

Hello/Goodbye

This week we’ve welcomed another new Front Foot member, a big HELLO to Smartly.io, an AI-powered advertising technology company transforming ad experiences for brands and their consumers. But, we also said farewell at NABS to three fantastic contributors to the timeto programme – Kerry Glazer ex Chair, Helen Calcraft, Lucky Generals, who led the brilliant creative ‘Where Do You Draw The Line?’ campaign and Diana Tickell, ex NABS CEO. Amazing work that has made a real and positive difference to our industry.

And finally

After a chance conversation with Steph Lambert, formerly of Meta, and now studying for a MSc in Business & Sustainability at UCL, I co-hosted our first People, Planet, Pint in my home city of St Albans this week.

The initiative from Small99 is smart, a really easy way to prompt regular meet-ups of people keen to see things happening more sustainably on a local level with no set agenda, just a series of happy accidents that might give ideas for positive action. The surprise result? I’m off to see if I can find a home for another piece of a Wildflower Garden jigsaw puzzle that is being planted in St Albans this year. Find out more about Small99 here.