The Nation Newspaper

Category: Brand week

  • Mobile ad firm offers ‘pay per data’ option

    Brand My Car, Nigeria’s first out-of-home vehicle advertising company, has rolled out an initiative geared towards giving more value to its customers on its unique advertising platform.

    Tagged “Pay-Per-Data,” the initiative frees brands from the doubts about upfront OOH advertising rentals and enables them to pay based on estimated eyeballs reached during campaign periods.

    According to the Managing Director of Brandmycar, Amaka Okolo, the initiative is driven by emerging global best-practice in the industry which prescribes the inclusion of measurable and verifiable data in the business, giving room for a lot more transparency in OOH rental billing processes.

    To ensure this becomes the standard, Okolo said Brandmycar has introduced a short code, to which customers are only required to respond to Call to Action set by advertisers. All text messages by responders are Free. For example Text “WIN” to 5555.  This will activate a data-driven monitoring on deployed campaigns and advertisers will only have to pay for each respondent to their campaign/Call to Action.

    Brand My Car was launched in the market last year and spoke of allowing private car owners to earn extra income on their cars by turning them into mobile advertising platforms. Today, BMC has expanded its catchment to cabs and “Keke” areas in response to client demands to well-targeted, cost-friendly campaigns.

    Okolo said the client is allowed to first identify the target market after which BMC deploys advertisers’campaign based on agreed placement platform.

    “The campaign is monitored online real-time by both BMC and Advertiser through a customised solution and the client only pays for data of respondents to campaign. Minimum data cut-off is 5,000. Advertisers can end campaign once target set is reached. It is only at this time that the Advertiser sends BMC campaign material and pays only for printing of material,” she explained.

    Okolo further said Brandmycar provides the added value of conducting a race exercise on behalf of clients based on the profiled target market to ensure maximum reach to those that are pre-planned to be exposed to the campaign.

    “If an advertiser desires to reach students in an urban area like Lagos, we go to the field and make sure the vehicles on which the campaigns would be deployed are ones with very high exposure to the communities, destinations and routes of the students,” she said.

    She listed cost effectiveness, real-time tracking and value for money as the prime benefits of the unique advertising channel and said enabling “selective audience targeting by demographics, interest, lifestyle, among others, is critical to an advertisers goal of effective campaign delivery.

    “At Brandmycar, the ultimate goal is to convert viewers into new Customers. We provide all the gateways necessary to bring qualified leads to advertisers, offering automated lead capture from beginning to end in real-time. And advertisers can view the results of their advertising spend, and make educated adjustments to campaigns as needed,” she added.

  • MTN brings Android One to Nigeria

    MTN brings Android One to Nigeria

    MTN Nigeria in collaboration with Google has launched the Android One programme in Nigeria. Android One is designed to help bring high-quality and affordable devices to all.

    The telecoms giant is offering the Infinix Hot2 Smartphone.

    This is the first time the Android One is coming to Africa, with Nigeria as the first market and MTN the first partner.

    Speaking at the event, MTN’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Michael Ikpoki said the company was proud of the deal given that many Nigerians are not connected to the internet.

    He said: “MTN has offered a very affordable data plan to enable customers get the best experience on the new Infinix Hot2 Smartphone. The bundle plan is for 1Gigabyte monthly data for just N500 for a 12 months period.”

    “Sixty-eight per cent of Nigerians are still not connected to the internet. The introduction of the Android One programme will enable more people to get connected to the internet. This large data bundle will definitely enhance entrepreneurship and innovation among Nigerians. More so, it is quite interesting that Nigeria will be the first country in Africa to experience this new product and that puts us at an advantage.”

    He continued: “MTN sees this collaboration as an opportunity to actualise our vision of empowering more of our people, whom we are so passionate about. We will continue to roll out data coverage aggressively and we are adequately prepared to meet the demands of our subscribers.”

    Through Google Play, Android One phone users have access to over one million apps that allow them to message friends, make video calls, socialise, check news and weather, and play games. Google apps such as Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Search, and Google Translate come pre-loaded on the phones.

    Vice President, Product Development, Google, Caesar Sengupta, said: “Google is pleased to collaborate with MTN on Android One – a programme designed to help bring high-quality, affordable Android devices to everyone. We’re looking forward to working with MTN to empower people in Nigeria.’’

    Infinix’s Managing Director, Ben Jiang, explained that the project was the company’s way of getting closer to its customers, expressing satisfaction at its successful launch.

     

  • Amosun, others call for summit

    Amosun, others call for summit

    Ogun state Governor Senator Ibikune Amosun and public relations practitioners have called for a national reputation summit.

    They spoke during a colloquium and awards by the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at the Olusegun Obasanjo Library, Abeokuta, the state capital.

    The keynote speaker, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, who is also the chief executive, CMC Connect Group, noted the political history of Nigeria, analysing the primordial factors that have affected its image and goodwill since independence. He said the nation had suffered serious image problem as a result of the decay in the system, adding that it has denied the country of her pivotal place in the comity of progressive nations.

    Badejo-Okusanya, who is also the Secretary-General, African Public Relations Association (APPRA), identified impunity as the bane of Nigeria’s socio-political and economic development. Nigeria, he said, “has suffered moral bankruptcy as a result of corruption that permeates every facet of our lives.”

    He praised President Muham-madu Buhari for making genuine efforts at eradicating graft and corruption in government.

    He also supported the summit, saying it would create a forum for stakeholders and communications to find solutions to the already battered image of the country.

    The chairman of the colloquium, Prof Lai Osho of the Department of Mass Communications, Lagos State University (LASU), said: “The nation is going through a rebirth in the way we think, the way we do things, and in our attitude.’

    He added that Buhari has brought sanity back to governance.

    Amosun, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Yetunde  Onanuga, praised the Chairman of the state chapter of NIPR, Mr. Tope Adaramola and his executives for creating a platform for cross fertilisation of ideas on how to make Nigeria better.

    He emphasised that the Change mantra of the ruling political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), has been the driver of the successes recorded in two months of the Buhari government.

    He called for attitudinal change among Nigerians to make the Nigerian project work.

  • Risk Control Nigeria gets ISO QMS certification

    Risk Control Services Nigeria Limited (RCS), a security firm, has received the ISO QMS 9001:2008 certification, making it the first to reach such the milestone in the background checks and anti-counterfeiting sectors of security industry in West Africa.

    This accreditation affirms that specific requirements for a quality management system are within the organisation headquartered in Lagos.

    The firm earned the recognition after embarking on a one-year rigorous process of systems enhancement and quality improvement, under the supervision of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

    Report of SON’s ISO auditor declared that Risk Control Services Nigeria Limited “Conforms with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 sets of requirements for quality management system planning, implementation and maintenance.”

    Any service company that attains this distinction showed its ability to consistently provide service(s) that meet customers’ and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

    On the achievement, RCS CEO Mr Olufemi Ajayi stated:“We are definitely proud of our achievement and convinced that the affirmation by ISO that our background checks and anti-counterfeiting services are offered through a quality management system will make our current and potential customers confident about the quality of service that we render.”

  • Peak Reach for Millions promo produces two millionaires

    Two winners have emerged in the ongoing PEAK Reach for Millions promo. Both winners came from Abuja.

    Little known hairdresser, Ms Anthony Comfort Omagwu, 30, is the first to win N1 million in the promo aimed at rewarding consumers for their 60 years of loyalty to Peak milk.

    Minchi Dandoka, 39, is the second winner. A construction worker, he lives in Gwari Local Council in Abuja.

    The first winner, Comfort Omagwu, who claimed to be a ‘doubting Thomas’, said she tried her luck on the advice of a friend, after seeing the promo’s advert on billboards across Abuja. She said she tried her luck several times.

    She was overwhelmed and couldn’t believe she won N1 million.  She said she intended to open a bigger hairdressing salon with her ‘gift’ from PEAK.

    The second winner, Dandoka, had seen two persons winning a car and N1 million in past promos by PEAK in 2007. That was what spurred him to give PEAK Reach for millions promo a trial.

    Dandoka claimed to have prayed before participating in the promo. He expressed gratitude to PEAK.

    His words: “Peak Milk really embarrassed me with blessings, ading that he would invest the money.

    Aside the two star prize winners, 93 consumers, including Keshiro Precious, Kyrian Anamdu, Olusola Adeyemo, Emmanuel Okechukwu, Lukman Babatunde, Ugochukwu Okafor, Danazumi Hassan and Akpocha Timothy, got N15,000 each. Ninety lucky customers received N10,000 each while 60 went away with N5,000 each.

    At the presentation of the chegues, the Regional Sales Manager for Northcentral FrieslandCampina WAMCO in Abuja, Mr. Ikechukwu Okereke, told the audience the promo was designed to show love to the consumers.

    He said: “This promo is aimed at rewarding loyal customers pan Nigeria who have decided to identify with the brand. Peak Milk has been in the market for 60years and we keep adding value to what we do and we appreciate our loyal customers. To this end I say congratulations.”

    Okereke went on: “Consumers must buy any Peak milk range except the Peak 123 baby product and look for a unique bar code starting with ‘BN’ on it and text the code to 55331. You are entitled to unlimited entries. The good thing about the promo is that for the first SMS you send, you get an instant value of N100.”

    He said the response and participation so far is indicative of the positive acceptance of the promo by consumers across the country and urged other consumers who are yet to partake to take advantage of the promo which he claimed will be most rewarding and gratifying.

  • Creativity, innovation earn Oracle IMC laurels

    Creativity, innovation earn Oracle IMC laurels

    Groundbreaking brand campaign activation – Star larger beer Christmas trees built with 8000 Star bottles covering 2.7km – has earned Oracle Experience, the experiential marketing agency of the year recognition.

    The recognition came on the heels of the campaign for Nigeria Breweries’ Star larger beer brand, which broke the world record of 1,000 bottles achieved in China.

    The agency was recognised by the Nigerian Brand Award, which rewards execellence in the industry. The awards was held last penultimate week at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikieja, Lagos. It was for the creativity and innovation it brought into the brand activation and experiential marketing industry in the country and, by extension, Central West Africa (CWA).

    For the feat, the agency carted away a gold plaque. It also won the Most Innovation Driven Brand Activation Agency of the Year in the Platinum Category in the fifth edition of the Brand Awards.

    Earlier, the agency won some awards. They included the Marketing Edge’s Outstanding Experiential Agency, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria’s (BJAN) Brand Activation influencer with its Nescafe Hot Air Balloon campaign, BJAN 2013 Best Effort in Innovation, 2013 Polaris Excellence Awards, and 2011 Institute of Direct Marketing of Nigeria’s West Africa World Class Experiential Marketing Service Consultant of the year.

    Another feat was the Guilder crate tunnel using over 3200 crates of Guilder beer to build the ultimate corridor that led to the place the new Guilder bottle was launched.

    The agency is known for some memorable activations, such as that of the Amstel show time, a musical presentation, which was the first of its kind in Nigeria; Heineken Green light party with extraordinary video mapping experience and using the Heineken bottles to create a Selfie wall; the Star Triple X experience centre; the hot air balloon activation for Nescafe; P&G Open Market activation, Guilder Club Ultimate, which hosted inside a 70-metre liner like the Titanic and the beer and health symposium, among others.

    According to the organisers, Oracle Experience got the awards because of its zeal and promotion of excellence, creativity and innovation in the integrated marketing communication industry not only in Nigeria but across Africa.

    Reiterating the credibility of the exercise, one of the panelists, Chief Executive Officer, BrandClock, a  brand specialist agency based in Atlanta, Mr. John Alexander, said: “The award has maintained the highest level of professionalism since inception. The calibre of individuals on the panel cannot afford to compromise standard for cheap financial gains.

    “Oracle Experience as well as other winners and, in fact, previous winners duly deserved the prize. These are organisations that have adhered strictly to the tenet of this award that is promoting excellence, creativity and innovation in IMC.”

    Receiving the awards, Oracle Experience Logistics Director Andrew Eiremiokhae thanked the organisers, pledging to improve and add value to their clients’ businesses.

    “Oracle has become a well-respected face in Central West Africa countries as we keep on greasing the wheel of our innovation. This passion to create experiences that engage and inspire people to act has stood us out,” he said.

    He continued: “We are a Central West Africa experiential marketing agency that gives clients strategic brand insight, creative experience design, unmatched execution and demonstrable ROI. We engage key stake holders – including employees, partners, customers and influences – to drive insight, action and advocacy. We create brand experiences – and by doing that, we help our clients create experience brands.”

    Organisations that won in previous editions of the awards include Goldlink Insurance Plc, CMC Connect, X3M, Wetherheads Advertising Group, Millward Brown, Verdant Zeal Advertising and Caritas Communications.

  • Google’s new firm Alphabet stirs controversy

    Google’s new firm Alphabet stirs controversy

    Google’s new conglomerate trademark Alphabet has stirred a controversy. With a report saying the name has already been trademarked by BMW, the German auto maker, will Google go ahead to use the name as the parent company for its brands? Adedeji Ademigbuji writes.

    A trademark is any word, name, symbol or design, or any combination thereof, used in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from others, and to indicate the source of the goods.

    It is a property that companies guard jealously and do not toy with if their right of ownership is infringed on. However, the latest announcement of a new conglomerate name, Alphabet, by Google, appears to have toyed with BMW’s trademark for one of its businesses, and it has generated a disagreement. The last has not been heard on the controversy.

    Last week, Google co-founder Larry Page announced that the conglomerate would adopt a new name – Alphabet – in an attempt to make the company more accountable and cleaner having dragged over one billion users across the world.

    “Our company is operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable. Google is not a conventional company. We do not intend to become one. We did a lot of things that seemed crazy at the time. Many of those crazy things now have over a billion users, like Google Maps, YouTube, Chrome, and Android. So we are creating a new company, called Alphabet,” said Page.

    While the viral community received the news when it was still fresh, a media report said Google’s chosen name has already been trademarked by BMW.

    The surprise formation of Alphabet, a holding company headed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin of which Google is now a part, may have impressed investors, but brand analysts believe BMW is evidently not pleased.

    It’s apparently an issue of nomenclature: the German auto maker owns the trademark Alphabet and domain name alphabet.com, and has no interest in selling either of them. The Nation gathered from BMW Alphabet website that the auto giant’s Alphabet company engages in businesses of funding solutions for operational lease, financial lease, sales and leaseback, motivational lease; fleet management services and advanced mobility solutions for auto users.

    BMW describes its Alphabet subsidiary, which provides vehicle leasing and management packages to corporations, as a “very active” part of its operations, and says it wasn’t informed of Google’s reorganisation plans ahead of last week’s announcement. Furthermore, it was gathered that the car maker hasn’t so far received any offers for the trademark or domain name, a spokesperson told The New York Times. But in the light of this, BMW said it’s in the process of determining whether infringement has taken place.

    Meanwhile Google’s spokesman in Nigeria said why he could not comment on the trademark controversy was because everything Google would say has been published on https://abc.xyz/.

    When  The Nation visited the site, it was apparent that Google’s Alphabet has different arrears of business concerns, hence, might not compete with BMW’s Alphabet, a situation believed would make Google escape any legal sanction for trademark infringement.

    Google’s Alphabet President Sergey said Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies, “the largest of which, of course, is Google.” He said with the new conglomerate name, “Google is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main internet products contained in Alphabet instead”.

    Page also described Alphabet as businesses prospering through strong leaders and independence. “Alphabet Inc. will replace Google Inc. as the publicly-traded entity and all shares of Google will automatically convert into the same number of shares of Alphabet, with all of the same rights. Google will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet. We liked the name Alphabet because it means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanity’s most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search! We also like that because it means alpha bet (Alpha is investment return above benchmark), which we strive for! I should add that we are not intending for this to be a big consumer brand with related products—the whole point is that Alphabet companies should have independence and develop their own brands,” he said.

    But there are concerns that Google’s domain name, abc.xyz, is a different story could also get BMW some misdirected traffic opportunities and tough times. “Google appears to have worked around BMW’s ownership by securing abc.xyz. That hasn’t prevented Chinese authorities from blocking it, nor has it prevented BMW’s Alphabet webpage from receiving an overwhelming influx of misdirected traffic, but Alphabet deserves some slack Alphabet’s had a rough time on Twitter, too — the handles @alphabet, @AlphabetINC (account suspended), @abcxyz, and @abc were taken as of yesterday,” says an analyst.

    In the light of this, an article by IT ProPortal report that a BMW spokeswoman stated that neither Larry Page nor anyone else on behalf of Google has contacted them prior to the Alphabet announcement to acquire the trademark or the domain name. BMW is not intending to sell the trademark either.

    Legal experts, however, believe instituting a legal action might not yield any result as both companies are not into similar business.

  • NSE honours Jega

    The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has honoured the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, with a Special Merit Award, for his role in saving the last election from reputational damage.

    NSE President Mr Ademola Olorunfemi said the society appreciated Jega’s principles and focused leadership style which saved the country from an image crisis.

    “We appreciate Jega’s principled and focused leadership style which paid off after the elections. It is unforgettable how he redeemed Nigeria’s image within the comity of nations. Prof. Jega introduced technology in our electoral process and resisted the attempts to discredit it. He stood firm on integrity in the face of avalanche of intimidation and remained calm under unbridled last minute provocation. is innovation and courage are worthy of celebration, ’’ he said during the Society’s Third Quarterly Dinner and Conferment of Fellowship in Lagos.

    Olorunfemi noted that NSE dinners  served as veritable platforms for robust interaction among engineers and other professionals as well as major players in the various sectors of the economy.

    Besides Jega, other members of the society were also conferred with fellowship and merit award.

     

  • Omo 100gram pack door-to-door campaign begins in Awka

    Omo 100gram pack door-to-door campaign begins in Awka

    The city of Awka in Anambra State was thrilled when Unilever Nigeria Plc’s giant brand – Omo Fast Action, formally introduced the 100 gram pack to its residents.

    The team, led by Nollywood superstar and Omo Brand Ambassador, Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha visited various homes in the Ngozika Estate to hand them complimentary 100 gram Omo packs while informing them about the superior stain removing technology and power of the detergent.

    Speaking on the occasion, Chioma described the initiative as a means of creating awareness for the new pocket-friendly 100 gm detergent which retains Omo’s fastest tough stain removing power. “The great thing about the 100 gram pack is that while it cost just N50, it still delivers the same quality cleaning performance the Omo brand is known and trusted for,” she added.

    One of the residents, Emeka Moneme, expressed that, “My family and I have been using Omo for as long as I can remember. It is the most effective stain remover we know, and the 100 gram pack will enable me and my wife get more value at less cost.”

    The visit was capped off with an exciting ‘Ultimate Showdown’ washing contest,  Omo went head to head with the leading detergent in the market and as always, Omo came out as the champion of the detergents in Awka.

    According to Omo Brand Manager, Sarah Adoki stated that the 100 gram pack proves Omo is an innovative and responsive to the needs of its teeming consumers.  “The 100 gram pack was introduced to make Omo more available to a greater number of consumers at less cost. It’s the same quality and at only N50, there is no better bargain in the market today”.

  • ‘Investment in CSRs beneficial to firms’

    Firms that encourage community involvement distinguish themselves from their competitors and get many benefits, including loyal customers and happier employees, a report has said.

    According to a May 2013 study by Cone Communications and Echo Research, 82 percent of  consumers consider corporate social responsibility (CSR) when deciding which products or services to buy and where to shop.

    But, for advertising agencies committed to giving back to the society, what gain could such effort bring to the table? Definitely not to curry more jobs from clients or patronage from the community. The answer, perhaps, according to an expert, is to establish goodwill as a social responsible company.

    In the light of this, the Chief Executive Officer, X3M Ideas, an ad agency, Mr Steve Babaeko, said for  ads agencies, the need to impact on lives should be a priority.

    He said such drive to improve lives of the less-privileged, assist the government in providing social services should propelled agencies  into having a corporate social investment.

    Babaeko’s agency invested in the campaign to support Project Alert, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) aimed at tackling women brutality.

    While celebrating X3M Ideas third  anniversary, Babaeko donated lavatories to the Remand Home for the Boys popularly known as ‘Welfare’ in the Oregun, Lagos, owned by the Lagos State Ministry of Social Welfare Department under the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.

    “Affecting life and humanity, especially in the educating young Nigerians, is not new to the agency. It has consistently demonstrated the ‘doing good attitude’ from inception. With each anniversary that passes – three years back-to-back, the environment is carefully scanned to reveal the most pressing need(s) for certain people and how the agency can lend what have become very impactful helping hands to make life better and restore hope,” says a brand analyst at Brandcrunch.com.ng.

    During its first year anniversary, the agency also donated at the JSS 2 Block, Opebi Junior Secondary School, Awuse Estate, Opebi, Ikeja. It was a facelift that included stocking the classrooms with furniture for the use of teacher and students.

    Babaeko explained that agency was motivated into committing resources into the CSR project as a means of giving back the society, “in recognition of the fact that education they say, is the best legacy. We hope to affect the future of these children by providing a conducive learning environment for them.”

    Also, during its second anniversary, the agency also provided Information Communication Technology (ICT) facilities to two schools in Oregun Senior High School, and Community High School Wasimi, Lagos to help pupils act out their expected roles as digital natives (people born during digital era).

    The Principal, Oregun Senior High School, Oregun, Lagos, Mrs. Toyin Kuti and her deputy, Vice, Mrs. Idowu Deniga received the two units of laptops (pre-loaded with the required software/computer applications), one unit of Multimedia Projector, one unit of Tripod Projection Screen and 10 units of UPS.

    Similarly,, Community High School, Wasimi, Maryland, Lagos also got two units of laptops (pre-loaded with the required software/computer applications),   one unit of 2HP air-conditioners and 10 Units of UPS for its ICT classroom.

    Addressing representatives of the pupils of the two schools at the presentations of the items,  Babaeko advised that the they should avail themselves the best use of the tools.

    “The government believes it’s better to invest in corrective measures for these children from different homes and parts of the country today rather than having to grapple with full blown criminals they are likely to become in the future,” Mr. Musbau Abdulai, Director, Social Welfare, Lagos State Youth & Social Development, said.

    Meanwhile, the agency has been made the Creative Agency of the Year for the Project Alert.