It’s APRIL FOOLS’ DAY.
This here is a round-up, in no particular order, of those I’ve been sent and the ladies and gentlePRs of Twittertown have seen.
Feel free to tweet me @RichLeighPR or email rich at prexamples dot com if I’ve missed any, I’ll be adding to it throughout the day.
If interested, here are the round-ups from:
2013
2014
2015
Virgin Active
Gym chain Virgin Active has announced a range of trainers, featuring in-built speakers that play personalised tips from its leading fitness experts
Key specification of the trainers include: In-built speakers that play pre-programmed motivational messages from a PT, projector technology on the trainers ‘displaying over 100 pre-set workouts’, patented LockingLace™ technology which links to an integrated calorie counter – meaning they can’t be removed until 200 calories or more are burned, an in-built goal tracker allowing the user to measure progress throughout their workout.
Movement Expert and ZUU Creator Nathan Helberg has recorded 250 ‘motivational’ messages for the ‘Personal Trainers’ (geddit?) including the White Goodman-inspired ‘sweat is your fat crying’, ‘learn to love the burn’ and ‘work hard now, selfie later’.Involved agency: Hope & Glory
first direct
Bank first direct has (in a release that makes a big effort to highlight that it’s fake – COME ON FIRST DIRECT FOR KAYFABE’S SAKE OR WHAT’S THE POINT?) announced savezap – a ‘slim, sleek wristband that claims to pioneer wearable technology and consumer spending with an advanced GPS tracking system and integrated shock mechanism’.
It calls itself ‘the latest in wearable banking technology’, and is designed to give users a ‘zap’ as they come into contact with their personal spending spots, increasing in intensity based on proximity.
Involved agency: Branded 3
British Military Fitness
Nationwide outdoor fitness classes especially for cats have been announced, to target the mounting feline obesity crisis. British Moggie Fitness, which launches today, is apparently ‘purrfect for cats and kittens prone to overindulgence’, offering hour-long fitness sessions at its 140 venues across the country, with bespoke exercises just for cats including puss-ups, meow-ntain climbers and bur-paws.
Whoever thought of bur-paws… you should know that I’m not mad, I’m just disappawnted. Involved agency: Manifest Comms
Beefeater
Steak restaurant Beefeater has announced the puntastic* launch of the ‘Beefeater Steak Tan’ – the world’s first fake tan made using real steak juices.
Available in three different shades of Rare, Medium and Well-Done, the Beefeater Steak Tan ensures an evenly grilled look on every application – guaranteed to meat tanning expectations across the nation.
Involved agency: Frank PR
*Greg, this has your fingerprints all over it
Warner Hotels
Warner Leisure Hotels group reckons hundreds of people have been flocking to a swimming pool in their Nottinghamshire based hotel, Thoresby Halldue, to the ‘fascinating anti-ageing properties it holds’. A staff member said they noticed customers were exiting the pool with smoother skin, less wrinkles and ‘an air of youthfulness to them’, as the photos below quite clearly demonstrate…
Involved agency: Bottle PR
Brandwatch
Social media monitoring service Brandwatch has today launched a brand new social networking site for cats, dubbed ‘Litter’.
Details are light, but if Litter proves successful we already have plans to build platforms for all domestic animals, including Facebark and Instagrrrram
Involved agency: Bottle PR
Tennent’s Lager
From today Tennent’s Lager will be offering ‘Tennent’s Rapid’, an exclusive airborne service delivering a 4-pack of Tennent’s Lager cans direct from Wellpark Brewery within 30 minutes, by drone. Customers will be able to place their Tennent’s Rapid orders via www.tennents.com/rapid.
Customers need only enter their delivery location and Tennent’s drones’ “Need Beer Now” technology will do the rest. Special credit to Tennent’s for being the first stunt I was sent with a video, too.
Involved agency: Wire Media
River Island
Clothing brand River Island has released a range of #ToteInACoat erm, coats. The coats have a canvas bag attached on the inside of each sleeve of its male and female black bomber jackets. These bags can be neatly folded away into pockets which feature on the side of the jacket sleeves.
The idea is that customers won’t forget their shopping bags and can save themselves the 5p bag charge us Brits are all still secretly mad about.
Firebox
Online retailer Firebox always come out strong on April F- I mean, April the First – you can tell there’s a strategy there from an SEO, data capture and actual traffic leading-to-potential-conversion standpoint, as well as having smart ideas.
Here are this year’s efforts.
i-Dodge: £49.99
A slim line iPhone case to prevent users from bumping into other people or objects whilst distracted by their phone. By accessing your phone camera and using a patented light system, the i-Dodge alerts the user when an obstacle is in their path.
Netflix and Grill: £12.99
A delivery service that can be added to a regular Netflix subscription, allowing customers to receive two fresh ready meals directly to your door. Each takes around 8 minutes to cook under the grill, and, according to the product page means ‘plenty of time for other activities’.
Frame a friend kit: £29.99
An excellent Making A Murderer-inspired kit, with which it’s ‘never been easier to put someone behind bars’. With contents including a hypodermic needle for stealing blood samples, a one-size-fits-all leather glove, an old car key and a small pamphlet full of tips to ensure the operation runs smoothly (‘no matter how charming and confusingly attractive their defense team is’).
Mystic Smeg: £5,000
After years of development, Italian manufacturer – Smeg, famous for its retro fridges, has teamed up with 90s charlatan astrologist – Mystic Meg to create…Mystic Smeg. This product’s description asks that you select your star sign from the e-panel on the fridge door and Mystic Smeg will take care of the rest; analysing your fridge contents and the stars’ alignment to provide you with ‘an accurate daily horoscope accompanied by some sage advice from the cosmos’.
Pimms
Alcohol brand Pimm’s – of ‘it’s Pimm’s o’ clock’ fame – has this morning unveiled the result of ‘an unprecedented sponsorship deal’ to display its logo across the dial of Elizabeth Tower, better known as Big Ben, throughout the summer months until Wednesday 31st August. I do like a backstory and this one delivers. Apparently, marketers at Pimm’s approached officials at the Houses of Parliament with ‘a generous offer’ to contribute towards the restoration of the Grade I listed timepiece in exchange for the unique sponsorship placement.
Former BBC newsreader Peter Sissons was one of the first reporters on site and recorded this breaking news report on the landmark event.
Involved agency: Taylor Herring
McDonald’s
McDonald’s UK today announced the launch of a ‘one of a kind, fully functioning restaurant on the moon’. Construction on the McMoon restaurant will begin later this month, with the restaurant chain hoping to open its doors to customers in early 2017.
The build is expected to be two stories high with an equipped launch and landing pad.
McDonald’s says it will offer shuttles twice a day to and from the restaurant.
FloridaTix
UK-based online ticket provider FloridaTix has, in our third feline-related effort this year, announced a theme park for cat lovers, called Kitten World.
Due to open its doors in Florida in 2020, the theme park will have rides and attractions inspired by famous internet cats. The 10 million square foot park promises to feature 50 rides and attractions including the ‘No No No Flume’ and ‘Cucumber Coaster’, a rollercoaster that propels riders up a 80ft vertical track at a record speed of 80mph.
The development will also include a petting zoo area where children can interact with kittens ‘genetically modified to stay tiny, fluffy and cute forever’. Which doesn’t sound terrifying at all.
Zipcar
Taking the time-honoured let’s slightly change a phrase the media seem to quite like at the minute and run with it approach, car-sharing company Zipcar has introduced ‘Selfie-Driving‘, a service that sends cars to members based on selfies.
In short, Zipcar members’ selfies will be analysed and matched with the ideal car for their trip.
Not your best hair day? Zipcar will send one with tinted windows. Stressed? They’ll send the comfiest car they have. Quite a few people in one photo? They’ll send a bigger car.
HSBC London Sevens
HSBC London Sevens announces has transformed the pitch at Twickenham back into its original state – a cabbage patch. Organisers waited for the RBS 6 Nations tournament to be finished before allowing the hallowed turf to be ploughed and the results can be seen below:
In advance of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series finale on the 21st and 22nd May 2016 – which will see a festival of rugby and food transform Twickenham (LINK FOUND) – event organisers have ‘gone back to the roots of the world famous stadium and prepped the ground ready to plant cabbages’.
Involved agency: Frank PR
Sealy
Bed manufacturer Sealy has created an innovation it’s dubbed the ‘Snore-Blocker':
Creating a soundproof barrier between sleepers, the Snore-Blocker prevents snoring from being heard on the other side of the bed and ensuring an undisturbed night’s sleep for both parties. The device, ten years in the making, is specifically tuned to activate in response to typical male and female snoring frequencies.
Involved agency: Prohibition PR
Spanish Tourist Board
After seven years of research, a team from the University of South Midlands have found that Sangria can ‘boost the immune system and improve longevity’ (I think it means help you live longer but hey, maybe it does that, too – the photo below certainly lends this some credence), thanks to its rich antioxidants and Vitamin C.
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