Over the past few months, brands across the UK have launched a wave of creative and unexpected PR campaigns that have captured public attention and sparked conversations online. From playful nods to local culture to viral video recreations and headline-grabbing street stunts, these campaigns show how humour, relatability, and a strong cultural connection can elevate brand visibility.
Aldi’s Mancunian tribute
To celebrate Oasis’ shows in their home city of Manchester, an Aldi in Prestwich switched up their signage. The Bury New Road branch changed its sign to read ‘Aldeh’, reflecting the local accent and the shop’s proximity to Heaton Park, where the band played five shows in mid-July.
The new name quickly became a big hit after a local posted about it during their weekly shop, with Oasis fans queuing up to take photos and the sign being listed as a landmark on Google Maps. Though it was originally a temporary stunt, the change’s popularity and a local petition led Aldi to announce that the sign will be staying up permanently as a ‘tribute to Manchester’.
It’s clear that part of this stunt’s success was its playful nature, amusing both Oasis fans and local people. But it goes deeper than just fun – by celebrating a regional accent, Aldi has helped Mancunians feel pride in their heritage while celebrating the legendary band.
Currys fight against phone theft
Currys’ new campaign, titled ‘Mind the Grab’, hopes to tackle phone theft in collaboration with Westminster Council, the Metropolitan Police Service and Crimestoppers. It comes after research by Currys found that 77% of Brits think that phone theft is a significant problem, rising to 88% in larger cities such as London.
Purple pavement markings inspired by the ‘mind the gap’ labels at the Underground have been painted onto London’s Oxford Street, reminding pedestrians to step back from the kerb. Currys’ Oxford Street store is also trialling in-store support for victims of phone theft where staff will help people contact loved ones, cancel cards and get home safely.
The clever riff on a well-known phrase and use of Currys’ signature bold purple helps to make this campaign stand out on the streets, alongside the credibility of its partner organisations.
Itsu’s viral video recreation
Itsu has tapped into internet culture for its latest marketing campaign, recreating the video of Ronnie Pickering’s road rage incident. It comes almost 10 years after the video went viral and highlights that, surprisingly, 60% of Brits don’t know of the brand.
Based on the iconic “do you know who I am?” moment, the video features a Ronnie Pickering lookalike sitting in a red Citroen Picasso eating a pot of noodles. When a biker pulls up next to him and asks what he’s eating, the man replies “Itsu”, but is met with a confused “who?”. Eventually the man is left shouting “Itsu” out of the car while the biker drives past.
The playful advert is a great way to poke fun at the memorable video in the run up to its anniversary and it’s proven to be a hit on TikTok, with over half a million views. Clearly a bit of humour can go a long way when trying to increase brand awareness and engagement.
@itsuofficial We’ll do literally anything to boost our awareness metrics #ronniepickering
Madame Tussauds honours a British icon
To celebrate National Sausage Roll Day on 5th June, Madame Tussauds launched a limited-edition waxwork of a Greggs sausage roll in London’s Baker Street attraction. It was given a top spot in the Culture Capital Zone, an area showcasing those who have shaped British culture, for the entire month.
The figure was crafted using the same process as humans figures, taking hours to complete. It was displayed in a glass case with an imitation blue plaque that gave visitors information about the history of the snack and revealed that Brits buy 365 million of them every year.
The campaign received mixed views on social media, with some people loving the new waxwork, while others weren’t quite as amused. But it was a fun way to celebrate a snack that’s become a British favourite and brought a lot of attention to both Greggs and Madame Tussauds.
@greggsofficial Born at exactly the right time to see a Greggs Sausage Roll at Madame Tussauds London x Officially inaugurated as a British icon, you can now see this one-of-a-kind wax figure of a Greggs Sausage Roll in all its golden glory! Catch us in the Culture Capital Zone at @Madame Tussauds London from Thursday 5th of June for a limited time only ✨ #NationalSausageRollDay #fyp #foryou #sausageroll #madametussauds
It’s clear that a bit of creativity and humour go a long way when producing a campaign that will leave an impression, whether it’s painting part of a street purple or filming your own take on a viral video. We’ve also seen that funny campaigns can do more than just make people smile if they touch on something important to the audience, like Aldi’s new sign.
At Prohibition, we believe in combining smart tech with even smarter thinking. Sound like your kind of approach? Let’s talk. Drop us a line at hello@prohibitionpr.co.uk or call us on 0113 430 4160.
For more thought-provoking reads, check out:
- Nostalgia Marketing: What the Trend Says About the New Consumer
- Why Cult Brands Are PR’s New Power Players
- The AI Revolution in PR: Friend, Foe, or Frenemy?
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