HISTORY OF PANDEMICS

'The world is a global village' - this quote hasn't had a far more significant impact than now, in this uncertain time when an event that started in one part of the world has raised its tentacles and reached all the other parts of the world as well.

In the last 100 years, the outbreak of #Coronavirus is the eighth time that the WHO has declared a pandemic.

However, if you look back into history over the centuries, as the human species has evolved and developed, pandemics have always been around - some big, some small.

Here are two infographics that will take you through the history of pandemics and the death toll of each one of them.

As is evident, with more and more advancement in medical science, we have been able to control these pandemics in a better way.

However, the first step always is

#Intent and #Action. That is what makes the difference.

We can overcome this one too if our intent is right and our actions then back that intent.

You and I have to work on it together. It is no more about them, it is about us!

LEGO + SUPER MARIO = DOUBLE EXCITEMENT!

The sole objective of a teaser video is to get people excited about the final product. This new video from two iconic companies - the LEGO Group and Nintendo does exactly that.

Yesterday, the two companies announced their partnership in launching a new product - Lego Super Mario that will be hitting the stores later this year.

As per their press release, 'Neither a video game nor a traditional LEGO brick-based set, LEGO® Super Mario™ is a new product line that features an interactive LEGO Mario figure who collects coins in real-life game levels created with LEGO bricks. The new line will let kids experience the playful world of Super Mario like never before.'

However, I feel that this new launch will also get all those adults excited who spent hours in their childhood, either being Super Mario and rescuing the princess or using Lego to give wings to their imagination.

I must say that those sound effects brought back so many memories and a gush of nostalgia! Looking forward to what this partnership entails.

SAMSUNG MICROCODES

In the current world of noise and clutter, it's always a challenge for #brands to get the attention of their target audience.

Every marketer keeps thinking of new ways of reaching their consumer through their advertising and #communication. Now what if you start incentivising people to watch your ads across the different platforms? That is exactly the idea behind #Samsung Microcodes.

This is an initiative in Australia where, Samsung Australia has hidden codes in their ads around the country to celebrate the launch of the Galaxy S20. These codes are extremely tiny and could be hidden in their TV ads, posters, online ads, mobile ads or any other #advertisement that they roll out. The first one to find a winning code gets a free Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G!

Such a creative way to engage people, get them to pay attention to every ad on every platform and also build excitement for the new launch!

HAVE A BREAK, HAVE A KITKAT YOGHURT SAKE!

#Japan is known for introducing exotic flavours of KitKat every year and a lot of those flavours may not even be accepted beyond the island, but these innovations drive the brand in Japan in a big way.

Their recent launch is KitKat Yoghurt Sake, which is an extension to the Sake KitKat that was launched in 2016. This new variant is in collaboration with former Japanese soccer star and now accomplished sake connoisseur Hidetoshi Nakata, who is bringing this special sake combination - rice wine made with super rich Jersey yoghurt into the chocolate world.

As a #chocolate lover and a KitKat fan, you may or may not be comfortable with the idea of seeing #KitKat in such a unique flavour, however the Japanese consumer will be paying a premium price for these chocolates coming in an eye-catching sky-blue packaging.

If you are a tourist traveling to Japan anytime soon, these alcoholic Kitkats might be something you want to add to your souvenir list.

If you want to know how KitKat become such a big craze in Japan, then this NY Times article would be the perfect place to start. Be prepared to be surprised and shocked.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/24/magazine/candy-kit-kat-japan.html

TOAST IT THE WAY YOU LIKE IT!

Although bread is eaten universally, not everyone likes to have their bread toasted at the same level. Some like it lightly toasted while others like it to be dark.

However, most toasters only have two settings - burnt and not burnt. You can do your own trial and error to get the perfect toast but it is never consistent.

The R180 toaster from Revolution in USA doesn’t have that problem. They turned an insight into an opportunity and it lets you toast your toast exactly how you want it.

To let people know about this toaster, they launched a print ad where they showed all the possible shades of toast that you can achieve and they smartly used a colour swatch card to drive the point by converting it into a toast swatch card.

Innovation in product, creativity in communication - a perfect combination.

DOUBLE OREO BY CHIARA FERRAGNI - AN INFLUENCER MARKETING CASE STUDY

Cookie brand #Oreo has gone ahead and launched a limited edition Double Oreo capsule collection by Chiara Ferragni. This is an example of taking influencer marketing to the next level.

Most #brands leverage digital influencers by asking them to advertise their brands or products through a post or a picture. That is where they limit themselves. 

Oreo went ahead and collaborated with Chiara to launch a special edition product with #packaging that is associated with Chiara's style. Chiara is also going to be seen in their new ad film for this launch.

That is not it. Oreo is also launching a capsule collection inspired by Chiara Ferragni that #consumers can win as gifts and merchandise by participating in contests.

This product will be priced at the same price as a regular Oreo pack.

So, who is Chiara Ferragni?

• Chiara is an Italian fashion blogger, influencer, designer and entrepreneur who has collaborated with fashion and beauty brands through her blog The Blonde Salad. She started her fashion blog in 2009 and has risen over the years. 

• By 2013, Ferragni's blog had reached more than one million unique visitors and 12 million views per month.

• Her business ventures grossed about $8 million (mostly from her Chiara Ferragni Collection footwear) in 2014.

• In January 2015, Ferragni's blog and shoe line, Chiara Ferragni Collection, became a case study at Harvard Business School.

• In March 2015, Chiara was selected for the cover of the April 2015 Vogue España, making her the first fashion blogger to appear on any Vogue cover. Since then she has appeared on over 50 fashion magazines covers.

• In January 2016, Pantene announced Ferragni as its new global ambassador.

• In 2019, Amazon Prime made a documentary on Chiara Ferragni and her rise to this level.

Personally, I have been following Chiara Ferragni on Instagram for a few years now and she now has 18.5 Million followers globally! That is a huge reach for an influencer. In fact, she is more of a celebrity now than an influencer.

So how does Oreo benefit by collaborating with Chiara?

1. This new launch will lead to incremental sales for Oreo, just like any other innovation.

2. Oreo will potentially get new consumers who are big fans and followers of Chiara and would want to try a product that carries her name.

3. By partnering with a young fashion blogger, Oreo is building its cool imagery with the Millennials and Gen Z.

4. While Oreo would spend its advertising money, but posts and Instagram stories by Chiara Ferragni will get them immense global reach, which will amplify their campaign even further.

What are the advantages for Chiara by collaborating with Oreo?

1. An association with a global brand like Oreo builds her credential and equity even further and gives her a global reach beyond her current base.

2. It increases her market value a notch higher and gives other brands ideas and thoughts of partnering or collaborating with her in the future.

3. Oreo packs have phenomenal distribution and these packs would be available on the shelves of all supermarkets. People who do not know Chiara Ferragni would want to know about her, read about her and this will increase her follower numbers much more.

This is a win-win for both sides and a clear lesson from Mondelez on how to do Influencer Marketing beyond what most companies and brands do. 

I am excited to see this phase of Influencer Marketing grow in the times ahead and how marketing strategies will build this in their annual plans and promotion cycles.

100 WOMEN OF THE YEAR

As we all know, Sunday, 8th of March will be celebrated as International Women's Day worldwide. This day means different things in different parts of the world. It ranges from being a public holiday in some countries to being largely ignored elsewhere. In some places, it is a day of protest; in others, it is a day that celebrates womanhood.

The earliest Women's Day, called National Woman's Day, was held on February 28, 1909, in New York City. In 1914 International Women's Day was held on March 8 in Germany, which was a Sunday, and now it is always held on March 8 in all countries.

Although the cover of #TIME magazine features many prominent personalities regularly, it did not always feature women who were creating an impact and bringing a change.

So this year, the TIME magazine went into the history of the last 100 years to showcase a woman in each year that did something of prominence in that year but did not necessarily get her credit and due. 

The gif is a beautiful journey from 1920 to 2020 showing women from across the globe who mattered!

                                                           GIF Credit: TIME

WORK FROM HOME

As the #Coronavirus continues to spread across the world, more and more companies are asking their employees to work from home. 

Now, employees in companies where this #culture wasn't prevalent are finding it hard to work from home as they have never done it before and they are not sure how to go about it without affecting their performance and productivity. 

Working from home is not easy. It takes effort and a certain mindset. I came across these brilliant designs/creatives done by Sarah Chivers that act as a good reminder of what should be done in ensuring that work from home delivers the results that you want. 

Hope this helps!

SYMPATHY NOT SOLUTIONS

Sometimes, when our team members, peers, colleagues or family members come to us and start telling us their problems, our immediate reaction is to start offering them solutions.

However, we need to remind ourselves that a lot of times, they already have and know the solutions. They are not looking for solutions but rather someone who can give them a sympathetic ear to just hear them out, let them vent out their feelings, listen to them without judging or giving them help.

It is not easy to resist offering help, but the ability to know when someone needs sympathy and when solutions shows the strength of your own judgment.

DUMBEST CREATURE ON THE PLANET

Sometimes, the best way to instill a message is to use satire and sarcasm.

Throw in a strong headline as well and chances are that the message would get read. 

This ad, that appeared in an Indian newspaper 'The Hindu' is an example of a brilliant piece of copywriting. 

Every word and sentence has been thought through so that it hits hard, really hard.

NAPKINIZED

Why waste paper when you can have dual utility to it? This is the clear insight on which KFC is working in the markets of UAE and Lebanon.

They have converted their receipts, menus and even paper bags into a material that can then be used a napkin!

All of this material comes with the words NAPKINIZED so that consumers know what to do with it beyond its obvious use.

The receipts and menus use a special UV printer machine with bio-degradable and eco-friendly ink, so that after you have read them, you can easily use it to wipe your face or hands.

I hope that this does not stay limited to just these markets. It is a brilliant idea that needs to scaled up across all KFC restaurants worldwide and potentially by other QSR brands too. 

Image credits: bandt.com.au

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Across the world, skin colour has always been one of the factors leading to bias and discrimination.

Societies and companies have evolved a lot and made #diversity and #inclusion a core part of their agenda. However, there is still a lot more to be done. 

Sometimes, some of the simplest products around us can play a key role in celebrating diversity and inclusion. Tesco in UK realised that and has come forward and launched a range of plasters to match the different skin colours in order to reflect racial and ethnic diversity. 

Tesco will now offer three options - light, medium and dark across all their 740 stores as well as online. No other supermarket had ever done this before, so it is a first.

Kudos to Tesco for taking this opportunity forward.