These Billboards Give Shoplifters an Unexpected Reminder

Klarna, the Swedish payment provider, found an unorthodox way to help people who often forget to pay. By connecting digital billboards to stores’ alarm systems, shoplifters got unexpected real time push notifications, reminding them not to forget to pay.

 

Since the launch of the new Klarna app the amount of late payments have dropped drastically. 68% fewer invoice reminders are sent to people using the app than to non-users. To highlight this to everyday shoppers, Klarna equipped digital billboards around Stockholm with confetti, flashing sirens and audio. So when someone forgot (or “forgot”) to pay, they got a sensational surprise – with the message “never miss a payment with Klarna’s app”.

 

Christian Cabau, marketing director at Klarna Sweden, said: “Our mission is to create a cultural impact and show the world that there is no other payment provider quite like Klarna. To highlight some of the benefits of our new app, we chose to make a humorous and fun payment reminder as a ‘smoooth’ real time push notification – so no one would forget to pay again.”

 

Klarna tries to make online payments as simple, ‘smoooth’ and safe as possible and are famous for their odd and unexpected ads. For example the mermaid dog that went viral last winter and the wobbling belly that has been viewed more than 15 million times on YouTube.

 

Watch the film here showing surprised shoppers. Behind the idea is the creative agency NORD DDB.