Bye-Bye Harold, Hello Bra Gift

South Africans are saying ‘Bye-Bye Harold, Hello Bra Gift’ as NetFlorist introduces its new spokesperson to the country with its Mother’s Day campaign launching this week (April 30). For over a decade, the rather naughty, slightly saucy and much-loved character who commented about current affairs and gave witty – and often a little below-the-belt – relationship advice, was first employed to cut through the media clutter on South Africa’s airwaves. And, in 2014, he made his television debut, also in a Mother’s Day campaign. After many years of fabulous service, it was thought it would be nice to give Harold a well-deserved break.  But, with him hanging up his mike, South Africa’s leading flower and gifting delivery site needed a new relationship and gifting hero. Cue: Bra Gift.

“Bra Gift – like NetFlorist – takes gift-giving very seriously. So much so that he’s a triple G; a Great-Gift-Giver, and he’s been around long enough to know that it’s not just the ‘thought’ that counts, but it’s being nice with a gift that goes a long way. I think he’s going to prove invaluable to the NetFlorist team going forward,” said NetFlorist CEO, Ryan Bacher.

FCB Creative Director, Suhana Gordhan, agreed: “Bra Gift is unique. He’s a grown-up Mkhulu who has never outgrown his need to be relevant across generations. His role at NetFlorist is to counter the negativity and meanness that can often permeate our daily lives by encouraging South Africans to get back to basics and … to just be nice. In addition, the way he expresses himself, and the way he uses language, is unique to South Africa. He speaks in a truly South African voice – Tsotsitaal, a combination of English, isiZulu, Setswana and Afrikaans. It’s very refreshing, truly relatable and highly engaging,” she said.

The ad was created by Gordhan, Copywriter Nhlanhla Ngcobo, Art Directors Luzuko Witbooi and Fezi Mpembe, and is based on a strategy built by Kabelo Lehlongwane and Nozibele Chabeli.

“We chose Tsotsitaal, which evolved from Flaaitaal, for several reasons. It’s the unofficial 12th language of South Africa; it’s the national anthem of urban and informal communication and is still hugely relevant to so many South Africans” said Ngcobo. “Although its roots are from the Tsotsi culture in Sophiatown, the language has become widespread and, because it is spoken daily by the majority of South Africans, it has a vast cultural appeal across the country.”

The campaign broke on Tuesday April 30 on all major radio stations. Listen to the Mother’s Day spot here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rITnko36mDU&feature=youtu.be

Credits:

Client: NetFlorist

Brand: NetFlorist

Chief Executive Officer: Ryan Bacher

Head of Marketing: Thalissa Pillay

Creative agency: FCB Joburg          

Business Unit Director: Mogani Naidoo

Account Director: Kefilwe Khanda

Account Executive: Kaylyn Naicker

Chief Creative Officer: Ahmed Tilly

Creative Director: Suhana Gordhan

Copywriter: Nhlanhla Ngcobo

Art director: Luzuko Witbooi/ Fezi Mpembe   

Traffic Manager: Theresa Selema                   

Strategic planner: Nozibele Chabeli & Kabelo Lehlongwane

Radio Production: Thandi Zondo                                                                                                     

Production House: Sterling Sound