FEEL EVERY SMILE

Short List
TitleFEEL EVERY SMILE
BrandLISTERINE
Product/ServiceLISTERINE ADVANCED WHITE
Category A02. Augmented Mobile Experience
Entrant Company J. WALTER THOMPSON London, UNITED KINGDOM
Advertising Agency J. WALTER THOMPSON London, UNITED KINGDOM
Media Agency PRIMUS London, UNITED KINGDOM
Media Agency 2 MEC UK London, UNITED KINGDOM
Credits
Name Company Position
Russell Ramsey J. Walter Thompson Executive Creative Director
John Cherry J. Walter Thompson Creative Director
Will Helm J. Walter Thompson Creative
Will Brookwell J. Walter Thompson Creative
Spru Rowland J. Walter Thompson TV Producer
Lucy Walker Pulse Films Director
Oliver Roskill Pulse Films Producer
Paul Monaghan Freelance Editor
Gary Clarke Freelance Director of Photography
Thomas Scovell J. Walter Thompson Planner
Julie Roberts J. Walter Thompson Planner
Matthew Cunnell J. Walter Thompson Global Board Account Director
Rafael Freitas J. Walter Thompson Global Board Account Director
Lizzie Alleyne J. Walter Thompson Account Director
Julian Poole J. Walter Thompson Project Manager
Joseph Bassary J. Walter Thompson Project Manager

Creative Execution

The campaign kicked off with TV across EMEA, focused on the power and importance of a smile, within the context of teeth whitening. This was supported with digital banners and website content providing ‘smile facts’ – facts explaining the distance your smile can be seen from and the impact it can have on others. Once the messaging platform was established the ‘Feel Every Smile’ film was launched on YouTube and the app was simultaneously available for iOS and Android. This was closely followed by Facebook posts, supported with PR backed from the RNIB, and finally collaboration with influencers.

KPIs were smashed: video view targets were over-reached by 150% seizing over 3.4 million views on YouTube and Facebook to date. Video sharing and app downloads (4.6k and rising) have achieved pan-European spread. Media coverage spanned consumer, trade press and video bloggers but the most satisfying and heart-warming outcomes have been the quality of the responses from the public, especially from those within the blind community or related. “It was the best feeling ever seeing my blind 7 year old smiling when he realized that his brother with Asperger’s which doesn’t show emotion in his voice was smiling at him, it was amazing and very emotional…”

In the crowded whitening category, dominated by efficacy claims of ‘speed’ and focused on the cosmetic platform of ‘appearance’, Listerine had to think laterally about how they could launch the new ‘Advanced White’ product. They could not compete on the dominant ‘speed’ claim and they wanted distinction from the overused play on ‘appearance’. It was necessary to look beyond the superficial. Whitening products are about attractive white smiles, but what does a smile really mean, what can it do for you and the people who receive it? We researched beyond the gleam and discovered just how powerful a smile can be. The science to support the power of a smile was undeniable and we needed a way to demonstrate this. We asked ‘can a smile affect people who can’t see them?’ We created a tool (a phone app) and filmed how it enabled blind people to actually feel someone’s smile.