Coinstar Enlists Grenadier For New Exchange Brand Launch

Grenadier, a Boulder, CO-based creative agency dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and challenger brands take a stand in the marketplace, announced an exciting new partnership with Coinstar, an Outerwall Inc. (Nasdaq: OUTR) brand. Grenadier is handling creative duties for the launch of Coinstar™ Exchange, Coinstar’s new gift card exchange kiosk.  Media planning and buying is being handled by Grenadier’s partner agency, Barkley, an independent shop based in Kansas City, MO.  

Available at select grocery retailers in markets across the U.S., the bright yellow Coinstar Exchange kiosks allow consumers to transform unused or partially used gift cards into cash immediately and accept more than 150 gift cards from a variety of retailers.  While campaign spending was not disclosed; the integrated campaign includes digital display, online video and radio, print, email, paid search, paid Facebook, mobile and in-store marketing.  Creatively, the campaign centers on a series of botched gift card exchanges – an Outback Steakhouse gift card given to a vegan, a Red Lobster gift card given to someone with a shellfish allergy, a girlfriend dropping hints with a Tiffany & Co. gift card…on date number 2.  And hidden camera videos in the campaign feature a guy trying to spend his unwanted gift cards like cash to pay for everyday items. The campaign theme/tagline is “Now The Thought Really Counts,” illustrating how Coinstar Exchange can help unlock the good intentions of gift givers trapped on unused gift cards.

“For more than twenty years, Coinstar has been helping consumers transform what they have into what they want, so the introduction of Coinstar Exchange is a natural extension of the brand,” said Tricia Montgomery, Coinstar’s Vice President of Marketing & Consumer Experience. “Billions of dollars are left unused on gift cards each year. Coinstar Exchange has the potential to access a large untapped market.  We believe there is a strong value proposition in providing people with cash for a gift card they may not want.”  

“It’s been amazing to work with the Coinstar team on the launch of Coinstar Exchange,” said Jeff Graham, a Partner at Grenadier, “We thrive on working with challenger brands; and we love working with innovators. Coinstar is both of those in one. They’re a household name that still operates like a challenger brand – which is always refreshing to see.  And there’s nothing better than partnering with brands that want to disrupt - Coinstar is pushing their own business beyond the coin to transform the gift card space as well. It’s really a perfect assignment for Grenadier”  

For more information on Coinstar Exchange, or to locate the nearest kiosk, visit www.coinstar.com.  Coinstar and Coinstar Exchange are trademarks of Outerwall Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.  

Client: Coinstar Agency: Grenadier
Creative Director/Copywriter: Wade Paschall
Creative Director/Copywriter: Mark St. Amant
Creative Director/Art Director: Randy Rogers
Assoc. Creative Director/Art Director: Grant Minnis
Account Lead: Eric Forsyth
Sr. Account Manager: Ryan Smith
Copywriter/Creative Consultant: Mark Moll
(VIDEO) Director: TIM
Production Company : Kids At Play, Los Angeles
Producer: Keith Dezen
Editor: Chadwick Shoults Mix, Sound Design: Coupe Studios  
Producer: Aaron Lasko  
Sr. Engineer: Ed Kaufman  
Engineer: Greg McRae
Music: JSM Music, Inc.  
Creative Director/Co-Composer: Joel Simon  
Co-Composer: Neil Jason  
Executive Producer: Ross Hopman  
Executive Producer: Norm Felker