John Lewis wins Grand Prix at IPA 2012

The John Lewis campaign by Adam and Eve and Manning Gottlieb OMD took the top prize at the prestigious IPA Effectiveness Awards ceremony held last night at the London Hilton Hotel, Park Lane (29th October 2012). The Awards are the most rigorous in the world showcasing and rewarding campaigns that demonstrate their marketing payback.

 

 

It was awarded the Grand Prix for its highly emotive and much talked about advertising which began during Christmas 2009 and has continued ever since. The campaign propelled the brand into the nation's hearts by reminding everyone what makes John Lewis special and the emotional role it plays at milestone occasions in our lives e.g moving house, getting married and having babies, whilst remaining a constant beacon of stability. 

 

This resulted in £1,074m of incremental sales and £261m in profits over a two-year period. As well as a 10% increase in customers and a 6% growth in annual spend as new shoppers visited and existing customers visited more.

 

Moreover, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of supplier brands in particular premium ones, as more have sought to be distributed throughout their stores. Examples include Loewe, who returned to the stores after a five year absence and fashion brands such as Ralph Lauren, Whistles, Prada and Valentino. This has resulted in supplier funding more than doubling since 2009.

 

Not only has the John Lewis business benefited greatly but it has had a significant impact on all their employees who share an annual bonus based on profits. 

 

The campaign in focus:

 

For Adam and Eve and Manning Gottlieb OMD’s John Lewis campaign, TV was a central element due to its unparalleled ability to engage large audiences emotionally. The music used also played an important part of the advertising’s entry into popular culture with all tracks featuring heavily in radio airplay. 

 

Commencing with a TV commercial during Christmas 2009, John Lewis was positioned as the home of thoughtful gifting, celebrating those who put more care into what they choose and how they present it. ‘Remember the feeling’ featured children unwrapping adult gifts with undisguised delight; as well as using a well-known track (Guns N’Roses’ Sweet child o’mine) re-recorded by a contemporary artist (Taken By Trees).

 

(Following on from this theme, the TV ad ‘For those who care’ was released during the Christmas 2010 campaign and ‘The long wait’ for Christmas 2011.)

 

When the recession hit it become more apparent than ever that John Lewis needed to show its commitment to ‘Never knowingly undersold’ and put their slogan back at the heart of their brand. In spring 2011, the commercial ‘Always a woman’ was released to show that in a changeable world, John Lewis remained a pillar of stability and value.

 

In Autumn 2011, the commercial ‘Through the ages’ portrayed the ‘passage of time’ using insight that people enjoy reminiscing about products that have played a big role in their lives over the years.

 

Says Lord Hollick, former CEO United News and Media and former Senior Non-Executive Director of Diageo and Chairman of Judges: “This campaign combined wonderfully emotive creativity with evident effectiveness to return the brand back to national treasure status. It demonstrates the power of acknowledging and rallying other audiences behind the brand, including employees and stakeholders, to really shift consumer behaviour and perceptions.” 

 

As a result of the campaign covered here (2009-2011), all five advertisements were enjoyed more than the UK norm (54%) with ‘Always a woman’ being enjoyed the most at 83% amongst customers.

 

In terms of social media, almost 19,000 people ‘liked’ the Christmas 2011 ad on YouTube after being watched by over four million people. Within six hours of ‘The long wait’ launching, the term ‘John Lewis Christmas’ was trending globally on twitter and mentions for the brand were up 1500%. 

 

Celebrities also got involved and tweeted. Television personality Phillip Schofield said: “Ok John Lewis, we’ve all got tears in our eyes! Yours is the cutest Christmas ad so far”.

 

TV critic and columnist Caitlin Moran said: “Now three minutes into crying over the new John Lewis advert.”

 

The IPA Effectiveness Awards reward campaigns that have proved the commercial power of their ideas and demonstrated their marketing payback. Now in their 32nd year, the Awards continue to be the benchmark for marketing communications best practice.

 

In total, 14 Gold Awards, 10 Silver Awards, 11 Bronze Awards and eight Special Prizes were awarded in this year’s competition:

 

Special Prizes:

 

• Grand Prix, sponsored by Thinkbox: John Lewis by Adam & Eve and Manning Gottlieb OMD

 

• Effectiveness Company of the Year, sponsored by Thinkbox: Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

 

• Best Channel Planning, sponsored by Microsoft Advertising: Digital UK by DLKW Lowe, Digital UK, BBC Switchover Help Scheme and MediaCom

 

• Best International, sponsored by Velti: Snickers by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

 

• Best Demonstration of Consumer Participation, sponsored by Facebook: Metropolitan Police by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

 

• Best Use of Insight, sponsored by Future Foundation: Cadbury Dairy Milk by Ogilvy & Mather India

 

• Best Dedication to Effectiveness, sponsored by Warc: Waitrose by Bartle Bogle Hegarty

 

• Best New Learning, sponsored by Clear Channel: Metropolitan Police by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

 

Gold winners

• Aldi by McCann Manchester

• British Gas by CHI & Partners

• Cadbury Dairy Milk by Ogilvy & Mather India

• DFT by Leo Burnett

• Digital UK by DLKW Lowe, Digital UK, BBC Switchover Help Scheme and MediaCom

• Dove by Ogilvy & Mather Shanghai

• Health Promotion Board Singapore by Ogilvy & Mather Singapore

• John Lewis by Adam & Eve and Manning Gottleib OMD

• McDonald’s by Leo Burnett

• Metropolitan Police by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

• Snickers by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

• Virgin Atlantic by RKCR/Y&R, Gyro, OMD International, Hall & Partners

• Walkers by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

• Which? by Mike Colling & Co

 

Silver winners 

• Art Fund by 101

• Danone Activia by RKCR/Y&R

• IBM by Ogilvy & Mather New York

• Magnum Gold?! by Lola Madrid, Lowe and Partners

• Nikon by Jung von Matt AG

• Nissan by Lew’Lara\TBWA

• The National Lottery by MPG Media Contacts

• VO5 Extreme Style by Euro RSCG London

• Waitrose by Bartle Bogle Hegarty

• Yorkshire Tea by Beattie McGuinness Bungay

 

Bronze winners 

• Audi by Bartle Bogle Hegarty

• Boots by Mother

• BT by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

• Dove Hair by Ogilvy & Mather

• Gordon’s by Bartle Bogle Hegarty

• Gü by DDB UK

• LV= by Designate, 24-7 ideas.com

• Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts by Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong

• Ta Chong Bank by Ogilvy & Mather Taipei

• Velvet by Fallon London

• Virgin Trains by Elvis and Manning Gottleib OMD

 

To view the winning campaigns and creative work, and for more information about the Awards, visit: www.ipaeffectivenessawards.co.uk

 

The IPA will also be publishing Advertising Works 21 in January 2013. This latest book in the series will contain full versions of the 24 case studies that won Gold and Silver Awards and summaries of the 11 Bronze Award winners from the 2012 IPA Effectiveness Awards, in addition to insight and analysis from experts across the advertising industry. Advertising Works 21 costs £125 plus VAT and is available to purchase from the IPA website: www.ipa.co.uk

 

The 2012 Effectiveness Awards were sponsored by Thinkbox, Warc, Clear Channel, Facebook, Future Foundation, Microsoft Advertising, Newsworks, Velti and Campaign.