Release of John Lewis ad signals start of Christmas with a difference
In recent years, it’s become traditional for the John Lewis Christmas advert to herald the beginning of the UK’s festive season, together with the launch of a shopping spree capable of significantly boosting high street profits.However, as 2020 – a year full of...
Brewdog and Aldi’s tit-for-tat tactics provide payoffs for both brands…how refreshing!
With political parties condemning opposition Coronavirus tactics left-right-and-centre, and US Presidential Candidates openly sniping at one another from the campaign debate podium, it comes as a breath of fresh air to learn that two of our well-known consumer brands...
Cost effective, design focused, results driven: Is it time to bring Email Marketing into the mix?
With the events of recent months leading us to increasingly perform our business ventures at a screen - whether desk based or mobile – could it be time to consider upping activity on the popular marketing tactic of Email Marketing?Considered by many as a consistent...
How Covid-19 could change the view from our media window
With the media landscape changing in front of our very eyes at present, it will be interesting to see just what ‘post-covid’ social, media and online information delivery will be like, as the country’s lockdown makes its mark on the way we consume our content.Prior to...
Lockdown advertising: Can taking the right humorous approach help better branding?
Right now, (end of May 2020), we're more than two months in to the Covid-19 episode of lockdown and from a media point of view, it’s been interesting to see how the advertising messages we’ve been exposed to have, understandably and appropriately, changed in that...
Keeping the wheels in motion
Our office doors remain closed for the time being, as we work together to keep families, communities and clients safe during the COVID-19 pandemic - however we’re still open for business and are here for clients, existing and new, should they need us.Like many...
Creative campaigning – is Covid-19 shaping a new line of brand messaging?
The changes in voice, tone and message that have occurred across creative marketing campaigns since the Coronavirus began to affect the UK have been dramatic…and instant, with an influx of companies responding to the crisis’ impact in more ‘humanistic’ ways.As the...
All hail the infographic – an illustration that can speak volumes in troubled times
At the agency (which is currently split between our various homes), we’re taking personal and professional notice of the campaigns companies are putting out there to guide us during this constantly updated and concerning episode of our times.The supermarket ads in...
Virgin Media adapts in the crisis to deliver Stay Home, Stay Safe, Stay Connected campaign
The way that the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting us - and the information we’re receiving to respond to the crisis - changes daily. So too do the advertising routes companies are adopting to adapt their messages to what is not just current, but actually useful. A great...
Working from home?
So, home based workers of the UK, how have you found the first fortnight of doing your job from your kitchen/bedroom/garage? We’re now entering week three, with the McConnells’ team doing what they do best; designing, managing, writing and crafting omnichannel media...
Could our experiences of Covid-19 show us a different face of celebrity?
From time to time, we must all get fed up of seeing images of glossy magazine cover girls whose identities, or reasons for fame are unfathomable.As humans, it’s normal for us to crave something a little deeper in order to feel enthused by media influence; so to...
We’re all in this together, virtually
With the seriousness of COVID-19, we are now entering uncharted territory, but as we gradually get used to this new norm – albeit a temporary one – we must remember that we are in this together, and we can all make a difference. This is why, to help protect our staff,...
Website evolution from a web designer’s perspective
One of our designers, Sarah has recently been developing the latest version of the Denstone College Preparatory School website. She’s worked on the DCPS account for over a decade and during that time has made her mark on the brand’s development and creative...
Q and A with Lou – Senior PR Manager
Senior PR Manager Louise Carlin has been part of the McConnells’ team for over four years. Her industry expertise, sharp management skills and dry sense of humour combine to make her a great account manager and fantastic colleague. Lou’s office sits alongside our...
Personalised TV advertising, streamed just for you
Most of us have become familiar with the concept of having ads on devices tailored to our algorithm-ed interests, however, should we now ready ourselves for the same advertising personalisation to enter our TV watching world?I’m not talking about paid-for slots shown...
Check your definitions or risk weakening your brand
As part of using (and hopefully enjoying) the English language, it’s a matter of course that at times some words get slightly misused, for no other reason than because they sound good in the moment. Then, because they sound good in that place, people catch on and the...
Q and A with Matt – Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer Matt Thompson recently celebrated his 21st year working at McConnells. His quick wit is as strong as his attention to detail, in a position where his creativity and commitment to the job shine through. Enjoying the design elements of his role, as well...
Aldi pulls a cracker and is considered this year’s most effective Christmas ad
Did you manage to see all, or most of the Christmas ad campaigns this year? We had a whole host of offerings displayed to us from the likes of John Lewis and Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Walkers and Amazon…and the list goes on. It was an...
Hoping for a voice assistant under the tree?
With Christmas fast approaching and the daily use of voice assistants in the UK continuing to rise, we wonder how many stockings will be stuffed with brand new Alexas, Google Homes, or Apple Homepods this year; and just how satisfied their recipients will be. The tech...
Quick fire round with Sarah – Graphic and Website Designer
Our studio has benefitted from the creative talents of Graphic and Website Designer Sarah de Roeck for 16 years now. With her natural artistic flair, Sarah can devise and fulfil a concept to match any creative brief. She studied at Loughborough University School of...