Ad Matters 26.01.2024

How do we best manage, protect and positively build the reputation of our industry?

That’s the question we’ve been posing this week, to ourselves here at the AA, and to many of our members and peers who joined our Reputation Group’s first working meeting on Wednesday.

Every industry’s reputation is critical – for government, for fellow industries, for employers, for international customers, for UK and international talent and for the public.

Ours is intrinsically linked to the AA’s mission on behalf of our members – to champion the value UK advertising brings to people, society, businesses, and the economy. It’s the bringing together of all the workstreams our members support – showcasing the power of creativity, rebuilding public trust, inclusion, sustainability, self-regulation, and more.

But, it’s also how we best positively respond to the challenges for our industry to do more around the big issues the UK is wrestling with.

A good way to reflect on all of this – what we’re doing, where our members are involved and our plans for the year ahead – is through our Annual Review which we have just completed (phew!). It’s a thoroughly thorough review of the past 12 months, and you can access a copy here.

If you’d like to talk more about any of the work we will be doing this year, we are always happy to meet, share and explore opportunities.

Now onto our weekly digest of ads. Our top ones this week are:

• This will bring a smile to your face (and perhaps some dancefloor flashbacks) – new one from Clipper Tea by Isobel
• A simple, neat ad from Heinz, showing what sauce-lovers are willing to ‘Wait’ for by agency 1984.
• It’s Veganuary so we couldn’t not mention Violife’s plant-based offering from VCCP Media and Good Relations.
• Starling bank shines a spotlight on the human stories behind their customers with ‘The Dessert’ by Wonderhood Studios.
• ‘Why The Snag Not?’ Dentsu Creative unwraps its campaign for the inclusive(and sustainable) tights brand shortlisted for the C4 Diversity in Advertising Award.

Four key reads from across the media:

• Our latest AA/WARC adspend figures came out this week. Spend hit £9.6bn in Q3 2023 as brands’ commitments to investing in advertising increased and confidence improved for this year. (Campaign)
• The latest Think with Google interview asked our CEO Stephen Woodford for his favourite video ad of 2023, to look at what can inspire the industry this year. (Think With Google)
• The IPA Agency Census urges the industry not to lose momentum in diversity efforts. (The Media Leader)
• Here’s how brands and agencies are already applying GenAI at work. (Marketing Week)

Three not-to-miss things for your diary:

• Excitement’s hotting up for LEAD on February 8. Just two weeks until we hear from the best in the business. From ITV to Channel 4, Mondelez to Reckitt, Accenture Song to VCCP, grab the last tickets here!
• Registration’s now 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 judge, head here!

Finally, did we mention our Annual Review is now out?! Get your copy here.