Challenge
Max Factor is a hallmark brand in the world of beauty and enjoys universal awareness at 94%. However, eroding salience and a growing disconnect with its customer base meant doing something drastically different that made Max Factor mean something more to a 35+ female audience; a group who had a fundamentally different relationship with make-up compared to their millennial counterparts.
When most beauty brands turn to TV, we needed something more unmissable.
Insight & Idea
Mirroring classic, Hollywood glamour
We would draw on Max Factor’s historic reputation: classical glamour, make-up artistry and Hollywood. And there was only one place this campaign would shine: the silver screen.
Knowing our audience go to the cinema approximately twice a year, we partnered Max Factor Murder on the Orient Express and The Greatest Showman. Both films were pegged to be the biggest blockbusters for 2017, and had leading ladies that resonated with our audience.
We created bespoke content for the cinema in the form of make-up tutorials that recreated looks donned by the leading ladies in each film.
Aimed at our female audience in their ‘rediscovery stage’, looking to become their best selves, we showed off how easy it could be to recreate ‘film-star’ looks at home with a product range that could embrace and empower them.
Execution
The Plan: A series of unmissable blockbusters
Joining forces with 20th Century Fox, Digital Cinema Media and Recipe, Max Factor was able to combine film footage with tailor-made tutorials led by brand ambassador Caroline Barnes.
In a media first, we partnered solely with flagship cinema venues; Picturehouse, Everyman, and Curzon to bring a range of on and off-screen activity to life including events, takeovers and competitions.
But we didn’t stop there – Max Factor hosted four premier-style events.
Content was amplified through social and Youtube to further increase the reach of the campaign and create more excitement around the film launches.
It was as clear as the Hollywood sign – we’ve all got the glamour, we just needed a little Max Factor to bring it out.
Results
The campaign was a glittering success driving brand consideration and sales.
ROI
35-45 year olds said they would ‘strongly consider to purchase’
of cinemagoers who recall the content bought, researched or talked about the brand
of those that saw the content have bought a Max Factor product as a result (Above industry norm)
View through rate of the YouTube content was above benchmark.
Healthy Skin Harmony (the lead product) saw 3.5% value sales growth (overall foundation category was in decline over this period). Max Factor was the number 1 selling brand in self-select cosmetics over December – the thick of the campaign period. The rest, as they say, is history.
