2015 Winners & Shortlists

LOVE & FORGET

BrandPROCTER & GAMBLE
Product/ServiceHERBAL ESSENCES HAIRCARE
EntrantINTERESTING TIMES Beirut, LEBANON
CategoryProduct launch/re-launch/shopper market
Entrant Company INTERESTING TIMES Beirut, LEBANON
Advertising Agency INTERESTING TIMES Beirut, LEBANON
Media Agency STARCOM MEDIAVEST GROUP Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The Brief

Herbal Essences launched its brand-new 'Nature' Collection across the Arab World, the first mass product inspired by Natural ingredients free of silicones, parabens and dyes. The collection was launched to serve a young audience between 16-24 seeking more natural hair products. The key market for this collection was the KSA followed by Egypt. It was optional to use the brand ambassador, Lara Scandar, a young aspiring singer who was recognised in Egypt but not in the KSA.

Describe how the promotion developed from concept to implementation

To highlight the novelty of the collection, we gave women in the region a first-of-a-kind experience. With women in KSA being prohibited from attending musical concerts, we found an ideal opportunity. We launched the first-ever interactive online concert in the Arab-World titled “Love&Forget” powered by digital and social media. Throughout the concert, users could interact with the artist and could request songs, applaud, cheer, light up their lighters, take photos, and share what they wanted to Love and Forget. Users could scan an Herbal Essences product for backstage access and get personalized virtual album signings and exclusive songs.

Describe the success of the promotion with both client and consumer including some quantifiable results

The online campaign lead 550,000 visitors to the website where they shared on social media what they love and forget to earn their free ticket. ‘Love&Forget’ messages immediately spread across the Internet within 45 minutes of the announcement. 15 news and media sources covered the concert. More than 50,000 people attended the concert. The concert buzzed with social activity, as people could connect with their friends who were attending, check in at the concert, and share photos on social media. 40% of the audience came from KSA and 7,600 people bought the product to have access to the backstage.

Explain why the method of promotion was most relevant to the product or service

We wanted women to fall in love with our natural collection and forget other products with Paraben, Silicon, and dyes, and that inspired the concert 'Love&Forget'. ‘Love nature and forget yourself in music’ became the campaign signature. Music has the highest interest among our audience, and to attend the concert they had to share what they love and what they wish to forget on social media to earn their free tickets. Women could choose their avatar’s hairstyle at the concert, bringing product relevance to the customization. They could also scan the product to gain backstage access for exclusive media.

Credits

Name Company Role
Mo Alghossain Interesting Times Creative Director/Partner
Jimmy Francis Interesting Times Creative Director/Partner
Ashraf Mansour Interesting Times Strategy Director/Partner
Wassim Bassil Interesting Times Managing Partner
Lara Safar Interesting Times Head Of Engagement
Marta Bielik Interesting Times Senior Planner
Karam Al Ghossain Interesting Times Senior Content Producer
Nadim Massih Interesting Times Engagement Manager
Rita Harbie Interesting Times Copywriter
Diane Zouein Interesting Times Art Director
Mojcaz Zavolovsek Interesting Times Senior Art Director
Bahaa Awad Interesting Times Head Of Digital Production