The Drum Awards for Marketing: the 2021 finalists revealed
The Drum Awards for Marketing seek to reward brands and marketing teams that truly understand their customer.
Because the competition is focused on outcomes and not outputs, it is open to teams of any size that can prove the measurable effect of their campaigns.
These awards are truly global, and this year welcomed teams and companies from anywhere in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa or the Americas.
Nishma Robb, director of brand & reputation marketing at Google UK, is the chair of this year’s jury. You can read The Drum’s interview with her here, including what she looks for in an award-winning entry and advice for brand marketers looking to make a positive change.
The jury also included senior marketers from companies like Peloton, Made.com, Duolingo, Unicef USA, General Mills, TikTok and many more.
The results will be announced at a virtual ceremony on The Drum’s new awards show site on Thursday June 17. You can register and add it to your calendar on the website.
The full list of nominees is below.
Emerging Brand of the Year
- Blavity, Inc
- Cazoo, Engine and Goodstuff for Cazoo
- Fabulosa (My Fabulosa Ltd) for Fabulosa
- func.media
- TikTok
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Success Stories
$2.1B Acquisition
by Shopify
The largest acquisition in Shopify’s history. Building the future of global logistics with an end-to-end platform that unlocks fast and easy fulfillment for millions of merchants around the world.
100,000+ Users
in 3 Months
Building a user base of Walmart product testers nationwide. One of the most impactful (and cost-effective) ways to launch any new app is to have an engaged community ready to hit download.
$1.00 Cost
Per Download
The live tournament everyone is talking about. The pogl app is the latest success story from Live Tech Games positioned to take over the US market with one-of-kind mobile experiences.
Surpassing
$2.5B in AUM
Evolve has quickly become a Canadian leader in ETFs since 2017, surpassing $2.5 billion in assets under management. Through ongoing TV campaigns and prominent displays in NYC's Times Square, we have driven millions of views, continuously contributing to their growth and success.
TikTok Sampling
Drives Waitlist Buzz
A TikTok series—centered around honest conversations over a glass of wine with a stranger, anchored a broader growth strategy that included 14 unique events and thousands of eager participants, creating a buzz (pun intended) that resonated both online and offline.
Over 10M+ OOH
Impressions
SYNC Wines’ OOH campaigns were strategically executed around select LCBO locations in key Toronto neighbourhoods to extend digital campaigns and encourage localized purchasing behavior.
44% Increase
in App Installs
The world's biggest poker room needed a big idea to expand its reach. By partnering with celebrities like Daniel Negreanu and the right mix of relevant, click-worthy content, our campaign achieved a 44% increase in app installs.
Sold out
Across Canada
The latest venture by publicly-traded wine & spirits conglomerate Andrew Peller sold out in liquor stores across the country as part of the most successful product launch in company history.
11x Increase in
Online Sales
We brought Crate 61 into the digital world through a 360° approach, including rebranding, a new website, influencer campaigns, and more. As a result, Crate 61 has significantly increased its market share, with major retailers like Whole Foods carrying the brand and over 75,000 five-star reviews online.
Sipping (and Selling)
the California Dream
Bringing California to life, one pour (and post) at a time through a strategic go-to-market campaign and creative direction that turned this brand’s sunny dream into a thriving, marketable reality.
+476% in Social
Sales (5.3x ROAS)
As the official hot sauce of UFC, Heartbeat always packs a punch. From celebrity collabs to features on the hit series Hot Ones, this world-renowned brand is backed by a spicy digital footprint.
Helping Homeowners
Across the U.S
Your home is one of your biggest financial investments and it doesn't come with instructions. Upkept by Consumer Reports has made home maintenance easier for thousands of Americans.
Sizzling
Social Results
Five Guys' passion for food is second to none, and they never compromise on quality. It's only fitting that their digital presence matches these high standards. Since taking over, our EGC approach has delivered on highly engaging posts that resonate with their loyal fanbase.
Trusted by Google
Microsoft, & More
BlueLabel, one of America’s fastest-growing B2B companies, has attracted high-growth startups and industry giants like Google and Microsoft, securing over 350 deals to tackle digital transformation and pressing business challenges.
171% Revenue
Boost via SEO
Optimizing SEO for this popular ready-made meal brand translated retail success into digital growth, driving a 171% revenue boost and ensuring that online presence matches in-store impact.
$0 Ad Spend, 5M+
Reached Organically
With over three million 5-star reviews on iOS, Musi has rapidly become one of the top music apps. By leveraging a purely organic social media strategy, Musi reached over 5 million users on social without any paid advertising.
200,000+ Direct
Downloads
Despite this award-winning, Sydney-based game publisher being half way across the world and 16 hours ahead, we worked our magic with a focus on game purchases and mobile app downloads.
Building a Premium
Healthcare Brand
Taking a science-driven approach to migraine and concussion prevention and recovery. Iatrogenix is positioned for go-to-market success in the health sector, their strategy emphasizes a premium visual identity that distinguishes them from competitors.
3.5x Increase of
Social Followers
Owned by publicly-traded wine & spirits conglomerate Andrew Peller, No Boats on Sunday is a nationwide favorite with a loyal social fanbase and a variety of products sold out nationwide.
10x Increase
in B2B Leads
Building better client-facing workflows for the legal industry. With thousands of leads generated for law firms nationwide, Lawbrokr is well-positioned for Series A fundraising.
Another Win for
‘the Great One’
Wayne Gretzky Estates is setting new standards off the ice with its Winery & Distillery. We drove traffic to the estate through relevant social media and content strategies, extending the Great One's legacy into the world of fine wines and spirits.
5.87x ROAS
$21M in Sales
From the founder of Cirque du Soleil, illumi is the world’s largest multimedia show. Millions of lights, millions of visitors, and millions in sales through an industry leading digital strategy.
GTM Launch &
Funding Success
An end-to-end launch for the world’s first smart toolbox that’s redefining possibilities for tradespeople. Backed by a full-funnel approach covering strategy, creative, and performance to secure pre-orders and funding.
GTM App Launch
For Gen Z Shoppers
From the founder of MediaAlpha (NYSE: MAX), Rocket is revolutionizing social shopping for Gen Z with a go-to-market strategy centered around relevancy and social trends in the U.S.
89% Increase in
New Web Traffic
Backed by South Asia’s largest apparel tech company, Femography by MAS Holdings has solidified its industry leadership through high-impact media placements and major collaborations. With coverage in over 750 media outlets, including Bloomberg and Business Insider, our efforts have resulted in top rankings for desired search terms.
$1.36M Sale
via Sotheby's
Selling the last Lamborghini Aventador ever made through the world’s first NFT auction paired with a physical sports car in collaboration with Sotheby’s, Steve Aoki, and Krista Kim.
SEO Optimization
for 1,000+ Pages
Sunshine Behavioral Health came to us with a challenge: update & optimize over 1,000 web pages fast. Through our strategic approach, we did just that while improving their SEO site-wide.
AI Approach Saves
$50K in GTM Spend
Who said Paris can't be a few clicks away? By leveraging the latest AI technology and an innovative approach to product photography, we created stunning scenes that make you feel like we traveled through the entire south of Europe. Achieving efficiency and cost savings without compromising on the creative outcome.
Engaging UX for
Gen Z Shoppers
With 91% of Gen Z accessing the web via mobile daily, this snack brand needed a site to match their behavior, and we delivered a mobile-first experience with a little extra sugar and spice.
Rebrand Boosts
Sales by 30%
One of Canada’s most trusted line of medicine cabinet essentials underwent a 360° branding overhaul to revitalize the brand image. Including a packaging redesign to stand out on retailer shelves, a complete website redesign, and a strategic email & digital marketing campaign.
Emerging Brand
of the Year
An in-house product by func.media, acquired in 2023. What started as a proof of concept quickly evolved into a brand supported by major retailers, golf courses, and celebrities like Adam Sandler.
Influencers Boost
Sales Nationwide
Swiss Chalet’s 65th anniversary campaign was a nationwide success, driven by strategic partnerships that leveraged the power of the country’s top digital voices to boost sales and brand status.
Swiping Left
on Hunger
Coined “Tinder for Foodies” by Business Insider, the Grublr app lets users swipe left on hunger. After achieving soft launch success in Florida, the product is finding matches for diners nationwide.
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