Clemmow Hornby Inge's first television advertising since its launch
breaks this week, kicking off an integrated branding campaign for The
Carphone Warehouse.
The drive, which runs across TV, radio, press, point of sale, new media
and direct marketing, attempts to convince the public that choosing
where to buy a mobile phone is more important than what mobile they
buy.
A 40-second TV ad, running across Sky TV and Channel 4, illustrates this
with the tale of an urchin-like animated handset who is kicked out of
his owner's house when she discovers how expensive her mobile bills are.
The lonely phone wanders the rain-washed streets, as a voiceover ponders
how different things could have been had he been bought from The
Carphone Warehouse.
A fantasy sequence reunites the phone with his previous mistress, while
the voiceover reflects on how he could have had a choice of all the
networks and couldn't have been bought cheaper.
The voiceover concludes "let's hope one day all phones come from The
Carphone Warehouse", as the screen displays the drive's tagline: "For a
better mobile life."
The execution, which was written and art directed by the agency's
creative director, Charles Inge, breaks at a time when leading mobile
phone operators are being forced to admit that many customers no longer
use their mobiles.
However, Charles Dunstone, the chairman and chief executive of The
Carphone Warehouse, has repeatedly quashed rumours that the contracting
market would lead to a profit warning from the company, arguing that
increased subscription sales and a move towards billing services will
keep the business on track.
"Customers are now looking for better handsets, greater access to new
technologies and useful services such as football alerts," The Carphone
Warehouse's head of communications, Tristia Clarke, said. "The Carphone
Warehouse has a reputation for being much, much more than a shop."
The ad will run until 12 November, when it will be replaced by a
30-second execution for another two-and-a-half weeks. Supporting radio
executions are through Radioville. Media buying is by Matters Media with
consultancy from Unity.
