DDB Public Relations Crowned Small Agency Of The Year

Programs for CIL Paints and Subaru Canada recognized for communications excellence by the IABC

TORONTO, May 26, 2014 /CNW/ - DDB Public Relations was honoured with five OVATION Awards and was named Small Agency of the Year at the International Association of Business Communications (IABC) gala held on Thursday, May 22, 2014.  The OVATION awards program recognizes communications excellence throughout the Greater Toronto Area.  

DDB Public Relations received four Awards of Excellence and one Award of Merit for communications programs for CIL Paints and Subaru Canada.  Based on these winning entries and a point system, the agency was awarded Small Agency of the Year (six to 20 employees).  This marks the second year in a row that DDB Public Relations has earned the Small Agency of the Year designation.

"Being named Small Agency of the Year for a second consecutive year is testament to DDB PR's ability to deliver for our clients," explains Martine Lévy, managing director, DDB Public Relations.  "I am exceptionally proud of our team of seasoned PR practitioners and our strong client partnerships that were instrumental in the success of the winning programs."

One of the most awarded programs in the competition was CIL Paints' "Colour Outside the Headlines" program, which received an Award of Excellence in Brand Communications, Social Media and Marketing Communications categories, and an Award of Merit in the Electronic, Digital and Interactive category.  To re-invigorate the CIL Paints brand and get back onto consumers' consideration set, the agency created a real-time social campaign that turned the news ticker into a colour picker! This social, digital, direct and in-store shopper marketing program showcased unique colour stories from daily, trending pop culture and current events.  Efforts to provide new colour inspirations to help ease the often-painstaking process of choosing a home's paint colours worked charmingly well.  In just three weeks, Facebook fans rose by 68 per cent, blog traffic increased by more than 100 per cent, and most importantly CIL Paint sales rose by more than 16 per cent.

Subaru Canada's "Forester Family Rally" campaign also received an Award of Excellence in the Marketing Communications category.  The Subaru Forester Family Rally reinvigorated interest in the Forester SUV through an integrated marketing campaign that called on Canadians from coast-to-coast to compete for their spot in the most unique "test drive" experience ever: a family-based rally at a professional sports complex in Quebec.  Participating families flexed their driving skills on the course in the hopes of winning a new 2014 Forester. Not only did the event enlist real Canadian families to put the 'sport' back in SUV, but it also helped Subaru achieve unprecedented sales for the Forester. Sales for the Forester were up +55 per cent for the campaign period vs. 2012. The Forester campaign also helped lift the overall Subaru brand to record sales in April and May 2013.

This year's IABC/Toronto OVATION Awards marks the 29^th anniversary of the awards competition, which offers the communications profession an opportunity to present its best work and foster a greater appreciation of the communications profession.

Visit the OVATION Awards website to see a complete list of winners.

About DDB Canada


DDB Canada is the most creatively acclaimed, internationally recognized marketing communications agency in Canada.  The agency was named Top Creative Agency in strategy magazine's 2014 Creative Report Card and was ranked #1 agency in Canada by the Gunn Report in 2013.  Known for advertising that generates significant results for clients, DDB Canada is a "total communications company" whose fundamental belief is that creativity is the most powerful force in business. DDB Canada has offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal. The agency's integrated marketing disciplines include: youth marketing, public relations, event management digital, social, mobile, branding, design, direct, CRM, recruitment marketing and shopper marketing.

SOURCE: DDB Canada

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