Laura’s Word – 10 January 2013

Ronaldo is coming to London! Did anyone miss that? Ronaldo. Is coming. To London. To adland. The news that the former striker is to undertake work experience with Sir Martin Sorrell is bound to see the steps of WPP HQ littered with loitering copywriters and stray accounts folk hoping to seriously pimp their Facebook profile pictures. 

 

But, January being January, Facebook profiles aren’t the only things that are subject to abortive makeovers this month. Since arriving back at the office after two gut-expanding weeks back home in Scotland, I’ve noticed that around 85 per cent of the chat in team LBB has been about shedding the post-Christmas pounds. It’s only five months till Cannes after all. 

 

With the whole team trying to tone up its collective squish, I’m pretty confident that we should be sticking to our regime of carrot sticks and egg whites ‘til well into next week. Thankfully the ad world, having persuaded me to part with non-existent cash in December, is now on a major health kick and has been filling the editorial inbox with plenty of campaigns designed to keep our New Year Resolutions on track. 

 

Leo Burnett Chicago commissioned Northwestern University to carry out research on weight loss and positive thinking in order to devise an alternative strategic approach for Kellogg’s Special K. 

 

 

Meanwhile, for those that can’t quite bring themselves to confront the pert and perky gym bunnies, Biscuit’s Mike Maguire has shot a rather amusing ‘Gymtimidation’ campaign with Red Tettemer + Partners for Planet Fitness.

 

 

 

And if 2013 is the year you’ve resolved to ditch the ciggies, the UK government’s Department of Health has released a rather grim campaign that may be just the thing to keep you on track. ‘Mutations’ from Dare and HLA features cigarettes which blister with tumours - and judging by the debate the campaign has inspired in the UK’s media, it seems that it’s definitely grabbing the nation’s attention.

 

 

Phew. All this health and fitness malarkey can’t be good for you. That’s it. I’m off to stare at a patisserie window. Or Ronaldo. Or stare at a patisserie window with Ronaldo. All the best for 2013!