APG Sideways

About our guest: Deepshikha Narang

Deepshikha is a marketer and brand strategist with 8+ years of holistic experience working in creative agencies and brand-side marketing. Over the years she has worked in multiple WPP, IPG and Indie creative agencies, handling over 15+ brands across various categories and markets.

After moving to Toronto in 2022 she started working at Camp Jefferson, on two of Telus' telco sub-brands- Public Mobile and Koodo, and their two recent campaigns ‘Different is Calling’ ( Public Mobile) and ‘Switch to Koodo’. She recently made the switch to brand side marketing at Sobeys Inc as a Creative Integration Manager for FreshCo and Chalo FreshCo.

When not working, she enjoys finding fun things to do in and around Toronto, learning something new or exploring new scenic spots within the country she now calls home.

 

Brilliant Weird Best

Planners are curious folks so we asked Deepshikha to tell us the most brilliant, weirdest and best thing she’s come across recently.

 

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Brilliant: Cadbury 5 star: Skip the Valentine's Day

As a brand that has always aimed for bold cheekiness and mischief, in 5 Star’s 2024 Valentine’s Day, Cadbury sides with the singles yet again.

The commercial disrupted popular norms and triggered conversations by leveraging a unique and differentiated approach to media. By continuing its trend of taking crazy digs at Valentine's Day, this time 5-star did something bigger by literally erasing the day using time travel.

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Weird: The Viral Dune 2 Popcorn Bucket

Dune launched its sequel with an iconic popcorn bucket that has become a collector's item for fans of the sci-fi franchise.

Resembling a sandworm, aka a Shai-Hulud, of the planet Arrakis, when fans reached into the bucket, their hand was forced to graze the creature's plastic teeth.  

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Best: The Spider And The Window

Samsung's "The Spider And The Window" commercial captured the minds and the hearts of viewers worldwide.

This one ticks a lot of boxes for me. Through stunning visuals and a powerful narrative, Samsung beautifully demonstrated that you can make a memorable and highly creative commercial by showcasing the product in the most unique and unimaginable way.

The camera lenses of the smartphone are the most beautiful ‘spider eyes.' The commercial's emotional impact resonated with audiences, making it a standout piece in the world of advertising, and of course, winning many awards.

Top Guilty Pleasures

Not all of our consumption habits can be academic. In fact, sometimes the most random things can spur our thinking. So we asked Deepshikha to give us the sources to her creativity.

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TV Show: Schitt's Creek

This is my repeat guilty pleasure! I've been hooked on this show for years and I just can't seem to get enough.

It's like a warm hug after a long day—comforting, familiar, and oh-so-addictive. The humor is sharp, the characters are quirky, and the storyline is just so darn charming.

 

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Social Media:Amazon Finds Reels

Amazon Finds TikTok and Reels are like going on a treasure hunt without leaving the comfort of my home.

From quirky gadgets to trendy home decor, there's always something new and exciting to discover. It's a guilty pleasure that doesn't require much commitment, but it's always satisfying to find that perfect little something that’s unique to your home and matches your vibe!

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Instagram: Pet Videos

There's something about watching adorable animals that just instantly lifts my spirits.

I can watch for a few minutes and get an instant dopamine boost that lightens my mood. Plus, with my love of dogs, I'm always on the lookout for new videos featuring furry friends.

But you know what's funny? Even though I adore dogs, I find myself laughing more at the antics of cats. There's just something about their quirky behaviour that never fails to entertain me! If you don’t believe me google cats and cucumbers! 

This month on Slack

In case you  haven’t been following us on Slack lately, here are some of our most recent and popular links.

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An honest look at the state of entertainment and dopamine culture in 2024 

Contributor: Matt Nolson

“The fastest growing sector of the culture economy is distraction. Or call it scrolling or swiping or wasting time or whatever you want. But it’s not art or entertainment, just ceaseless activity.”

“This is the new culture. And its most striking feature is the absence of Culture (with a capital C) or even mindless entertainment—both get replaced by compulsive activity.” Ted Gioia

Source: Honest Broker

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What do we all think of fractional CMOs or factional strategists for that matter?

Contributor: Michelle Lee

The Fractional CMO structure can lead to businesses focusing too much on short-term thinking." Visha Kudhail

Source: Creative Brief

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Thinking about the social impact of ‘common-sense’ ideology

Contributor: Sid Khanna

Globally, the conservatives seem to be gaining momentum in major economies. What does this say about people and our governing ideologies? A lot of conservative war cries echo the ‘common sense’ philosophy.  Even at the cost of over-simplification to a few, this way of thinking is likely to appeal to many.