Iconic Aussie Brand, Praise Gets A Renovation From Connecting Plots

Praise, an iconic and nostalgic brand in Aussie culture, made famous by its memorable jingle from the 80’s and 90’s, has launched a new brand platform, taking the brand back to its roots.

The brand’s advertising from previous decades reveals its lighthearted approach to convenience in the kitchen, made distinctive by a jingle that remains in the minds of many Australians 30 years later.

A new call to arms – ‘Give It Some Mayo’ solidifies Praise’s rightful claim as the category leader and takes the brand back to its origins, by celebrating all the great Aussie things made even better by ‘giving it some mayo’.

“There are some things in life that just get better when you ‘give it some mayo’. The outside of a grilled cheese jaffle for added crunch, your scrambled eggs for extra creaminess, even in your baking to add richness and moisture. But it’s not just food – think stories, cricket, netball, singing, beatboxing, piano, inventions, darts, dancing, bottle flip challenges, made-up games, and even applying makeup. The list goes on. The platform has legs, and this campaign is the first chapter in a new, fun-loving era for Praise.”

Goodman Fielder CMO, Christine Fung.

The brand campaign is the first major work for Praise by Connecting Plots, who were appointed in June 2023, launching Praise’s sustainability partnership with Saveful.

“Being handed the keys to a brand like Praise is a big honour. We have a small window in time to do something that we hope people will genuinely love and remember for decades to come. Praise is the category leader, so we’re acting like it and taking the fight to our competitors by focusing on mayo as that’s our foundation.”

Praise Marketing Manager, Tim Smith.

Connecting Plots and Goodman Fielder used insights from System 1 Testing to future-proof the brand with a younger audience. While the brand remains highly recognisable and memorable to older Australians, it’s relatively unknown to younger generations. This work aims to change that by owning and embedding an already popular Aussie saying and connecting it back to the benefits of Praise.

“I think the term ‘renovate’ is spot on. This project has been about getting the brand back to its roots. There’s a simplicity to our approach. We all agreed early on that we’re just mayo… we’re just dressings… our role in people’s lives is really simple. We make stuff taste better, quickly. So we decided to have some fun with that and forget about trying to be overly meaningful to consumers.”

Connecting Plots Co-Founder & CCO, Dave Jansen

The campaign has launched across TV, BVOD, social, OOH and podcasts in collaboration with media agency, Initiative to establish the new platform and repeatability of the line “give it some mayo”.

View the full campaign here → 


Helga’s Brings A Taste Of Late Night Wholesome To The Brats

Since the release of Charli XCX’s studio album, Brat, the brat trend and lime green brat aesthetic has been seemingly everywhere – from TikTok dances, memes and fashion through to an endorsement by the U.S presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

When Charli XCX’s tour poster was banned by the UK’s advertising regulation body, ASA, for “promoting bad things”, the singer-songwriter promptly took to TikTok to clarify, immediately adding a sandwich to the updated tour poster.

With the humble sandwich now central to the Brat 2024 Arena Tour’s promotional material, it was only fitting for a brat sandwich to take centre stage.

“We wanted to create something bratty, but also a little bit wholesome. Something that could bring our brats together for a moment of goodness amidst a big night out.”

Helga’s Marketing Manager, Ryan Guthrie.

So, to show the brats they care, Helga’s partnered with It’s Recess, a cult sandwich shop just off of Sydney’s Oxford Street to develop a custom brat club sandwich for one night only.

Named after one of the iconic tracks on Charli’s new album, the Club Classic[s] is a play on the iconic club sandwich. 11 layers of pure bratty chaos held together by three slices of deliciously soft Helga’s wholemeal bread. Ingredients include crispy bacon, oxheart tomatoes, rocket, chicken, swiss cheese, apple slices brined in pickle juice and a bright brat-green mayo. All served in a custom sandwich bag, of course.

Influencers, content creators and media were invited to an exclusive invite-only preview night to taste test the sandwich and create content for their channels to get word to the brats.

The experience dropped on Friday 6 September where It’s Recess transformed into the iconic brat lime green. For one night only from 10pm – 1am, 365 (another Charli XCX song) Club Classic sandwiches were available and free. You just had to turn up to get your hands on one. And if you missed it – sandwich creator – Tom Smallwood created a tutorial on how to make a Helga’s Club Classic at home.

The campaign was developed by Goodman Fielder in collaboration with Connecting Plots and their social and influencer business unit, a.glo.

“From our team identifying the opportunity, to having an idea and activation in motion with Connecting Plots just 48 hours later – this just demonstrates the power of a close working relationship between agency and client.”

Goodman Fielder’s CMO, Christine Fung.

View the full campaign here → 


Connecting Plots Has 4 Entries Accepted Into Campaign Brief The Work 2024

Film & TV Craft – Special Effects

‘Happy To Help’ – Westinghouse

 

Radio & Audio

Let’s Clean Things Up’ – 30 SECONDS

 

Film, TV & Cinema (90 Seconds & Under)

‘The Experts in Air’ – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia

 

Film, TV & Cinema (90 Seconds & Under)

‘Take A Breakation’ – Muffin Break

View the Westinghouse project here →

View the 30 Seconds project here →

View the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia project here →

View the Muffin Break project here →

 

Read the Australia results here →

Read the APAC results here →


Chartered Accountants ANZ And Connecting Plots Challenge Perceptions Of The Profession

The accounting profession has a problem. Consideration of the profession is severely lacking in the younger generation, while perceptions are deeply rooted in old truths that no longer apply. To put it quite simply, Gen Z don’t see accounting as ‘cool’.

Despite the importance of accountants in our economy, these preconceived notions have become a significant barrier for students when it comes to making decisions about their future careers. Student enrolments in accounting degrees at universities have almost halved since 2018, leaving a massive gap in the profession’s talent pipeline.

Despite the decline in consideration, overall demand for accounting, audit and finance professionals is predicted to grow significantly, with forecasts showing that we will need an additional 58,000 new jobs in the next 10 years to match demand. Chartered Accountants ANZ, who support the education, development and professional standards of more than 139,000 financial professionals across Australia and New Zealand, need to future-proof the profession by challenging Gen Z’s perceptions of accounting.

As part of a longer-term platform to bring about change for the profession, Chartered Accountants ANZ has partnered with creative agency, Connecting Plots to develop a creative platform and strategic approach that will span future communications, content and campaigns.

“This is a marathon, not a sprint. From launching partnerships with Year13, YES and Explore Careers to establishing this new platform, we are still in the early stages of a much longer journey to change perceptions and drive consideration of a career in accounting.”

Chartered Accountants ANZ Chief Marketing Officer, Chelsea Wymer.

Through qualitative research, Connecting Plots discovered that students don’t think a whole lot about their future profession, nor do they know (or care) much about accountancy. But they are incredibly passionate about their interests, which are wide and varied. The task at hand was to show them how a career in accounting could help turn these passions into their career.

After all, behind every superstar athlete, every brand we love and every show we binge watch, there’s a financial expert. They may not be in the spotlight, but Chartered Accountants are the backbone of some of the most exciting industries across the globe. The new platform ‘Make Epic Things Happen’ shines a spotlight on these unsung heroes, repositioning accountants as the stars of the show by featuring them in an epic movie trailer.

“From out in the field to festivals, from global conservation to gaming, the new campaign provides context for the real work of accountants that our audience can understand, relate to and aspire to become. We wanted to inspire the next generation to see that people in accounting make epic things happen every day.”

Connecting Plots Creative Partner, Matt Geersen. 

The new work launched in cinema in July 2024 before one of the year’s most anticipated film premieres, Deadpool & Wolverine. The film has already smashed box office records, grossing a staggering $438.3 million globally, including a record-breaking $17.6 million at the Australian box office in its first week.

The campaign will continue to roll out across careers events, online video, YouTube, Meta, Instagram and TikTok, OOH and targeted display media over the coming months.

View the full campaign here → 


La Famiglia Unveils New Brand Platform, Positioning Garlic Bread As An Irresistible Indulgence Via Connecting Plots

A quick search for ‘garlic bread’ on Reddit reveals the internet’s unwavering fascination with this delicious treat – crispy on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside, garlic bread is truly the eighth wonder of the modern world.

However, despite the widespread love for garlic bread, particularly their own, which took out top honours in the Sydney Morning Herald’s ‘Great Australian Supermarket Garlic Bread Taste Test’ in 2021, La Famiglia has not seen this translate into growth.

Research indicates that consumers don’t see garlic bread as a necessity and tend to only consider garlic bread as a pairing for Italian cuisine. This association is only exacerbated by La Famiglia’s Italian name and branding.

The new brand platform, ‘To Die For’ aims to establish a unique position in consumers’ minds beyond the typical Italian associations, elevating La Famiglia garlic bread from non-essential to irresistible by owning the extreme lengths people will go to for a taste of it.

“We know people love our garlic bread, there’s an almost cult-like obsession with it. The challenge we’re facing is lack of top-of-mind awareness and being seen as more than just a side to Italian food. Moving away from this is a critical step in growing our portfolio – showing that it’s a must have regardless of the occasion and cuisine.”

Goodman Fielder Head of Portfolio, Rose Milan. 

To launch this new positioning, independent agency Connecting Plots has introduced a mascot willing to risk their life for a taste of Australia’s favourite garlic bread.

“Everyone loves La Famiglia garlic bread. Even those who probably shouldn’t, like our vampire. He’s a playful representation of just how irresistible the allure of our product is and a unique new angle for La Famiglia that is distinctly, un-Italian. We look forward to doing more with him in the future and building out the brand platform.”

Connecting Plots Creative Partner, Matt Geersen. 

View the full campaign here → 


Changi Airport Group Launches Campaign To Drive ANZ Visitation In First Work By Connecting Plots

For ANZ travelers, the tyranny of distance means that outside of the obligatory boarding pass instagram post at the airport, there’s little joy to be found until we reach our final destination. Unless of course, you happen to be traveling via one of the best airports in the world. With seemingly limitless experiences, the award-winning Singapore Changi Airport offers the chance to start the holiday early.

The new campaign celebrates the wealth of activities and experiences available across Changi’s four terminals and Jewel, its multi-dimensional entertainment and retail complex. From swimming pools to a mirror maze to robots serving the latest whisky, it is so much more than just an airport. It’s ‘a departure from ordinary.’

“We’ve been incredibly excited to bring this campaign to life. The work really captures the breadth of extraordinary experiences available that make Changi Airport more than your standard transit airport, but one that becomes part of the holiday experience itself.”

Changi Airport Group Vice President of Corporate & Marketing Communications, Kelvin Ng.

“Changi Airport really is a departure from ordinary. Being able to enjoy such a wide range of incredible experiences while breaking up your journey is an enticing proposition for travelers from Australia and New Zealand.”

Connecting Plots Creative Partner, Matt Geersen. 

The new work is the first to come out of independent creative agency, Connecting Plots since it was officially appointed as ANZ creative agency of record in August 2023 following a competitive pitch.

View the full campaign here → 


Mad Mex Give Away Burial Plot To Combat Permanent Food Comas Via Connecting Plots

Not for the faint of heart, the cult-classic is back by popular demand, returning for its 14th year for a limited 6 week period until 21 July. During that time, the iconic double-sized burrito will come with a free can of Liquid Death, promising to murder both your hunger and your thirst.

Anyone daring enough to take on the challenge will go in the running to win a grand prize to die for – their own personal plot of land in a cemetery. Entrants just need to purchase a Big Burrito combo, go to the website and write the inscription for their own tombstone in 25 words or less to go into the running to win their very own burial plot.

The campaign uses popular content creators @lach_mac and @jonbernardk to deliver eulogies for friends and family who tackled the combo, while the ever-popular satirical institution, The Betoota Advocate is publishing bespoke content to give the combo mass appeal. 

“While Aussie property prices soar and cost of living grows more expensive than ever, the cost of dying just got that little bit easier. Partnering with killer brands like Mad Mex and Liquid Death gives us the creative freedom to push boundaries for greater ROI – we’ve had a lot of fun bringing this to life across creative, influencers and content partners.”

Connecting Plots Creative Partner, John Gault.

The campaign aims to drive foot traffic and sales during the limited period, while also starting the brand on its journey to bring the “Mad’ back into Mad Mex.

“The Big Burrito is a staple of our marketing calendar. We were excited to step things up this year and partner with the team at Liquid Death to really embrace the food coma that is more or less guaranteed when you down a 1kg burrito with a 500ml tallboy. Kudos to Connecting Plots for bringing the madness and developing a campaign that’s made us all a little uncomfortable – in a good way.”

Mad Mex General Manager of Marketing, Nick Cook.

The campaign is rolling out across social, digital, POS and owned channels, as well as across PR, influencers and content partnerships.

View the full campaign here → 


Connecting Plots Wins Three Cairns Crocodiles

Gold – Travel/Leisure Campaign

‘Find Your Happy Place’ – The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW

 

Silver – Radio & Audio

Let’s Clean Things Up’ – 30 SECONDS

 

Bronze – FMCG Campaign

‘The Experts in Air’ – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia

View the Sydney Royal Easter Show project here →

View the 30 Seconds project here here →

View the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia project here →

Read all the winners here →


MHIAA is shortlisted at the 2024 WARC Awards for Effectiveness

Air conditioning isn’t something people know or care about. It’s a purchase that might happen once, maybe twice in their lifetime (if ever) but when it does, it’s technical and hard to know the difference between brands, resulting in consumers more often than not letting installers decide what brand they buy.

This created a massive problem. The only way for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia (MHIAA) to grow market share would be by getting buyers to actively choose them and not just wait for recommendations.

This meant we needed to break the rules of the category with a B2C2B approach.

MHIAA had won the CHOICE Best Brand Award for the 6th year in a row and Canstar Blue Most Satisfied Customers award for the 5th year in a row – proving them as the expert choice in A/C.

And that created the opportunity we needed. Not just to position MHIAA as ‘The Experts in Air’, but to do so by being distinctive and memorable in a category known for retired sports presenters and cash back deals.

We weaponised humour to deliberately stand apart from competitors and appeal to both consumers and installers, doing it in a way that reinforced the brands’ expert credentials – showing MHIAA takes mastery of air to the extreme.

Through brand mascots and entertainment, we broke the traditions of a boring category and tickled the funny bone of audiences, making our brand more memorable and reminding consumers that we were the smarter choice as the most trusted and satisfying brand in the market.

The campaign boosted sales, significantly grew market share, delivered a massive ROI and helped customers make the expert choice in A/C.

View the project here →

Read the APAC shortlist and winners here →


Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Remind Us You Can't Put A Price On Childhood Memories

Hoping to mirror the success of the 2023 campaign which saw 58% of all tickets sold before the event opened, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW is again reminding consumers that the Sydney Royal Easter Show is a chance to ‘Find Your Happy Place’.

But with further cost of living pressures on Aussie households, a focus on showing value for money is a critical shift in the campaign’s messaging.

With the Show boasting exceptionally high awareness within the state of NSW (over 90%), the ‘Find Your Happy Place’ brand saliency message will continue to solidify its place in people’s minds, over the Easter period.

“Our ‘Find Your Happy Place’ brand message evokes memories and joy in young and old, evidenced by how it exceeded targets by more than 10% last year. It has become part of the vernacular in media reporting and with our Show audiences, so we remain confident and passionate about the long-term life of the branding. It resonates deeply with our customer base, as well as our Show team.”

Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Head of Marketing, Frances Jewell.

A multiple messaging approach to mid funnel comms will target multiple audiences across different motivators – showing there is something for everyone at the event, with sales driving, action-oriented messages being used to land ‘value’ in a more literal sense (i.e. savings).

“The brand platform ‘Find Your Happy Place’ has struck a chord with people. It reminds them of the power of joy in creating life-long memories, and we’re confident it will continue to build on the success of last year.”

Connecting Plots Creative Partner, John Gault.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show will run from Friday 22 March 2024 to Tuesday 2 April 2024.

View the full campaign here →