Phone boxes are a dead ringer for Lipton Ice Tea

Have you noticed anything different about your local phone box recently? Of course not. No one gives phone boxes the time of day anymore. So, it’s surprising that Pepsi has used them as part of its latest marketing campaign.

Pepsi’s Lipton brand has taken over 5,000 ‘street kiosks’, close to convenience stores, to promote its Peach Iced Tea drink. And I must say, it looks good. But, I don’t think it’s enough to make me, or any other young person, buy a bottle.

That’s why Lipton’s partnered with KISS FM, to prompt interaction, by encouraging people to answer the phone inside a special ‘booth’ when it rings for a chance to win prizes. But, is this London-centric competition enough to give Lipton a good return on investment?

When growing up my friends and I would ring 118 500 to find out local phone numbers (exciting I know!) In more recent years the only time I’ve used one is after I was mugged and needed to ‘phone home’.

I’m not the only one turning my back on local phones. An average of just one call is made each day from the 58,500 phone boxes left in the UK. So, it’s no surprise BT is rapidly losing money from them.

Which leaves me to ask the question: id no one’s using them, is anyone noticing them and is it worth taking the risk?

The campaign’s saving grace is that Lipton’s supported it with a social media strategy, complementing KISS FM‘s, to widen its reach – with added value digital advertising on the side.

But, it doesn’t change the fact that its phone box stunt could be left on hold.

I don’t know. I could be wrong. Perhaps
more brands will leverage phone boxes’ appeal to create unique advertising opportunities. Time will tell.

What do you think – is it a peachy PR campaign or just immobile?

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London council sends bogus Christmas card to residents

With a week before Christmas, everyone’s in full swing planning the perfect day. That’s right, it’s the season of giving. But maybe we’ve all missed the point. Maybe we’re not meant to be giving to one another, maybe we’re meant to be giving to the council!

That’s right. Hammersmith and Fulham Council has reminded local residents not to get behind on their rent by sending a ‘bah humbug’ Christmas card which reads: Don’t overindulge this Christmas. Pay your rent!

There’s only two ways you can interpret this card – you can agree or disagree. I’ll give you 10 points for guessing what I think of it. Here’s a clue: I take offence.

If 46 per cent of residents are in arrears then I don’t believe this tactic is going to make much difference. Rather than make the residents feel guilty, it’ll just have a negative impact on the council. It’s bad PR through and through and leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths. Essentially, if the council thought they were going to get their money before the big day, then they’ve made a big mistake.

More than causing uproar – many labelling the act ‘disgusting’ – it’s even prompted some to request updates via the Freedom of Information Act to find out how the cards were distributed. According to What Do They Know?, an 81-year old woman, who’s apparently never been late with the rent, was left ‘extremely distressed’ upon receiving it. And who can blame her? It’s hardly subtle.

The council may well think it’s appropriate to thank the BBC on Twitter for helping them to generate coverage with the scheme, but I think they’re underestimating just how much this could backfire.

I’m not saying that being late with the rent is acceptable – when your payment is due you’re obliged to pay up. But, when you compare it to dropping a threatening card through someone’s door seven days before Christmas, you’ve got to question who’s really in the wrong.

What do you think – have you had fake Christmas cards through the door?