Nimble is known for its humour. That humour has tended to be rough around the edges. Not any more. Cyclone Creative has raised Nimble’s bar in every way. The new campaign’s humour is sharper (and funnier), its production values are high (production by Monster & Bear) and its core idea delivers its message with power.
The campaign’s comic relief during some really tough economic conditions is, no doubt, very welcome. This is important to Nimble’s aim – to reassert the brand as the “lender in Aussies’ corner” in the face of current challenges.
“With this TVC, we’re touching on the reality of 2022 – the rental crisis and alarming grocery and petrol costs. We have delivered it in a non-threatening and humorous way. We see enough bad news every day on TV; we don’t need another negative reminder. Hence why we wanted to produce a campaign that’s amusing and eye-catching. So, let your inner Bill Shock out, and just Nimble it and move on,” stated Brigid Davey, general manager, marketing at Nimble.
The campaign addresses living costs from the perspective of young people who’ve been plunged into the harsh financial reality of “adulting”. Meme sensation, Josh “Magikarp Guy” Saunders plays the aptly named Bill Shock, a character whose jaw is permanently dropped due to recurring financial shocks of the past few years. While he’s a farcical character, he expresses a very real emotion that everyday Australians are feeling; panic accompanied by a strange numbness at the escalating cost of living.
Upholding as well as reinvigorating Nimble’s cheeky tone for the chaos of 2022 and beyond was a priority for AJ McLaughlin, art director at Cyclone Creative. He said, “In a world that’s as unpredictable as ever, we sought to create something ownable for Nimble with Bill Shock. Every time my oat latte jumps up another 20 cents, I fight with myself to keep a straight face, but my inner Bill Shock tries to leap out. We can’t stop the barrage of escalating prices, but Nimble can be your solution in times of financial need.”.
The TVC debuts in November, with 15- and 30-second TV ads across all major Australian networks, as well as YouTube.
Credits:
Client: Nimble
Chief Executive Officer: Grant Mackenzie
General Manager, Marketing: Brigid Davey
Creative Agency: Cyclone Creative
Managing Partners: Christian Vasquez & Sam Hooper
Creative Director: Leslie Preyer
Account Director: Lucy Ingram
Art Director: Andrew McLaughlin
Copywriter: Emily Weir
Producer: Lauren Napthine
Production Agency: Monster & Bear
Director: Roxie Halley
Producer & 1st AD: Maria Alejandra Perdomo
Production Assistant: Paris-Jade Webster
DOP: Josh Mitchell-Frey
1st AC: Lewis Warner
Production Designer & Assistant: Karli Loredo
H&MUA: Maria Gullace
Sound: Hassan Lahrech
Post-Production Manager: Tori Brennan