Meerkats Aleksandr and Sergei narrowly escape death in latest Compare the Market ad
Compare the Market’s Aleksandr Orlov and Sergei are back, and this time they find themselves in a spot of trouble, when a pest exterminator visits their home mistaking them for possums.
Whilst being chased around the house, Aleksandr points out that Barry the possum catcher failed to make a comparison because “possums hide in roof making big racket, meerkats help you save money”. The ad pushes the importance of accurate comparisons.
It is the first campaign since Compare the Market lost its CMO Jenny Williams. Williams joined the comparison website in January 2018 and aimed to build a closer association between the company’s iconic meerkats and what the website actually does for consumers.
Louisse Brady, Compare the Market general manager of brand, said: “By bringing our Meerkats to life through this fun story line, we aim to drive a positive emotional connection to our brand and connect Australians to the benefits of comparison. We wanted to take a more light-hearted approach with this new TV campaign to show consumers that no matter what you’re looking to purchase or switch to, it pays to compare.”
The campaign was made by VCCP, which launched Compare the Market in Australia back in 2013.
The last two campaigns saw Aleksandr and Sergei settle into their new neighbourhood, making friends with the neighbours and learning about Australian slang.
VCCP Sydney creative director, Paul Sharp, explained how the latest campaign continues the new storyline: “We saw Aleks and Sergei settle into their new neighbourhood and surroundings in the last two campaigns, but now we have our furry duo facing their latest adversary – a possum catcher! The campaign continues with the adventures or rather misadventures that follow, all leading up to how things can go wrong when you don’t compare your options from the beginning. Keep an eye out for future episodes as we have a very special guest making an appearance too.”
Credits
Passion Pictures
Director: Dave Scanlon
EP: Graham Pryor
Producer: Anna Cunnington & Megan Plane
Live Action Producer: Viv Jaspers
Agency: VCCP Sydney
Creative Directors: Gary Dawson and Paul Sharp
Senior Account Director: Edward Hughes
Senior Account Manager: Daniel Wood
Producer: Sue Hind
Executive Planning Director: Kim Feitelberg
Creative team: Dane van Veen & Kate Allan
CTM
Acting CMO: Christopher Catchpoole
Brand GM: Louisse Brady
Brand and campaign manager: Karen Gear
Brand and campaign specialist: Carolina Perez Rebolledo
The Meerkats have done it again!
As in delivered a garbled ad that lands nothing.
The story is pretty but the mayhem just masks any type of message being delivered.
SHOW ME how it “Pays to compare”. This just feels like brand wankery.
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What happened to the fun and kind meerkat ads?
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This ad does the exact opposite of “driving a positive emotional connection to our brand and connect Australians to the benefits of comparison.”
I agree with the other comment, there’s no way this story line inspires positive emotions – Their marketing department is out of touch!
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Ad should be pulled, our possums are not a problem generally and should not be portrayed as being so. Try a Kiwi catcher instead!!
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