GRÆY AREA'S FAVORITE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS OF 2023

2023 had its ups and downs, but these campaigns stood out in the best way possible.

Published October 29th, 2023

1. Snoop Dog X Solo Stove

We love campaigns and ads that incorporate a great blend of comedy, double meanings, and familiar faces. There is no doubt that utilizing celebrity brand endorsements in your campaigns is a major move. However, finding a way to tie your product or service to that celebrity's own brand/personality is even better. Not to mention, using someone who is beloved among all generations and exudes a relatable persona also helps.

For instance, when it was announced that Snoop Dogg quit smoking, Solo Stove jumped on the opportunity to capitalize on the "no smoke" aspect of their stove. They creatively incorporated Snoop into the campaign in the best way possible. This was definitely a campaign that stood out for many and was a fan favorite.

2. The Barbie Movie Promo

The devil works hard, but the Barbie marketing team worked harder this year. While the Barbie movie boasted a star-studded cast and introduced a quirky new plotline/twist to the iconic and beloved "Barbie" universe, it's safe to say that the marketing promotions, along with collaborations between Barbie and other brands, dominated our screens for three straight months leading up to the movie's launch. This type of "guerrilla" marketing made it impossible for anyone to go a day without seeing some type of Barbie promo. The Barbie marketing team also facilitated its target audience—and even people you wouldn't expect to watch or be fans of Barbie—to find themselves enraptured in that world somehow. With so many characters and angles to this movie, it was easy for millions of people to find something to relate to, reminisce about their childhood, and enjoy a more comedic/modern take on it.

3. Ray Ban In Motion

Technology is evolving, even in ways we wouldn't expect, with listening to music and taking pictures through your sunglasses being one of them. Meta, Luxottica, and Ray-Ban teamed up to create a pair of accessible (and fashionable) wearable tech pieces that allow anyone to conveniently listen to and control music through their glasses, as well as take pictures through the side lens. The "In Motion" campaign was the perfect way to introduce how to use these glasses when you're on the move and need a hands-free option. The upbeat, inspirational, and star-studded collaborations made this campaign one to remember.

4. Dunkin Donuts X Ice Spice & Ben Affleck

Another brand that capitalized on something they had in common with a celebrity is Dunkin' Donuts. They featured Ice Spice in their "Munchkins Donuts" campaign during a time when she was on the rise among her Gen Z audience (a large percentage of the demographic that indulges in Dunkin' Donuts). She affectionately calls her fans "Munchkins," so teaming up with Dunkin' to create her own "Munchkins-inspired" drink only made sense. They also included the already existing brand ambassador Ben Affleck in a campaign video with her. The difference in their generations and styles provides the campaign with the perfect comedic timing that appeals to both an older and younger generation that enjoys Dunkin' Donuts.

5. Tinder "It Starts With A Swipe" Campaign

While Tinder is the OG dating app, there have been many popular dating apps since then. Tinder made themselves stand out this year with their quirky, artistic, and comedic campaigns. The set production and styling were over the top, colorful, and detail-oriented, and lavish in the best way, the clever taglines, including their main one- "It starts with a swipe" was a catchy way to make people believe that they can still find love on the app. The rollout of these campaigns has been ongoing all year, and they utilized a more "woke" Gen Z angle to appeal to a wider, younger audience.