General Mills has looked to stars (and hearts, horseshoes, clovers and blue moons) for its Lucky Charms to launch a magical, fortune telling experience like no other. The 'Lucky’s Charmology' campaign, developed by VMLY&R Commerce, is a mobile commerce experience that allows consumers to scan their bowl of Lucky Charms cereal to receive a unique reading of what luck their marshmallow charm’s magical fortune will bring them that day.
Upon going to LuckysCharmology.com, users will scan their cereal bowl with the camera function of a smart phone. The commerce experience will then offer up a personalized fortune based on the magical charms that rise to the top in that particular bowl, such as: “Luck is on your side!” “Big things are coming your way and what you’ve been waiting for will soon be a reality.” Keep up with the good vibe because that energy is serving as a magnet for luck.” Each fortune can be shared across social platforms to offer up additional engagement opportunities.
“We wanted to create an exclusive experience to break through with Gen Z in the cereal aisle”, said Graciela Sanchez, customer marketing associate manager at General Mills for Target. “Our research points to Gen Z and Millennials contributing to the growth of the astrology and mystical reading industry (now topping $1 billion), so embracing the magic of our brand and its distinct charms felt incredibly authentic.”
“Lucky’s Charmology” will also be supported with a social influencer campaign that brings a live “reading” experience to Lucky Charms fans from astrologer influencers Aliza Kelly (Instagram) and Stina Garbis (TikTok) every Friday during the month of May.
“This is a perfect example of the power of creative commerce,” says James Phillips, EVP executive creative director at VMLY&R Commerce. “With Lucky’s Charmology we’re not only amplifying brand love of Lucky Charms through the magical fortunes, but turning every fortune into a repeat usage occasion, and thus, purchase of consumers’ favorite cereal.”
The cereal bowl scanning technology was developed by the VMLY&R Commerce in-house Tech Lab exclusively for the launch of Lucky’s Charmology.
“We love how this idea offers a fun, engaging, and exclusive experience for Lucky Charms customers with not only the bowl scanning technology” says Betsy Reed, account director at VMLY&R Commerce, but also the social commerce extension to drive additional engagement each Friday during the month of May. You can access ‘Lucky’s Charmology’ mobile commerce experience at luckyscharmology.com and get a fortune of your own this May. Live “Charmologists” readings will be held every Friday in May on Instagram with Kelly and TikTok with Garbis, respectively.