Competitive Matchstick Marketing

The KFC Stories Campaign Compares Fiery Fables

Just like men comparing conquests in the locker room (I can only assume), this KFC Stories campaign depicts a group of burnt matches sharing tales of fiery affairs. Fire starters don't have mouths of course, so their accounts are illustrated as cartoon images in speech bubbles above their scorched potassium chlorate heads.

One charred matchstick tells of a forest fire, another steps in to address a city enveloped in flames, while the third decrepitly describes a single serving of extra hot wings from Kentucky Fried Chicken. The creative team at the McCann Erickson advertising agency of Malaysia, rendered each of these personified wooden figures with different degrees of combustion damage, suggesting throughout the KFC Stories campaign that the spicy chicken wings are hotter than the rest.

Illustrated Campaigns
Marketers can explore opportunities for visual storytelling and animated characters to convey brand messages and campaigns.
Comparative Branding
Brands can consider showcasing their product features by comparing them with similar products in the market, to help consumers make educated choices.
Personified Products
Marketers can give human-like personalities to their products to make them stand out in a crowded market and create a strong brand image.

Where This Applies

Advertising
Advertising agencies can help brands create effective campaigns that resonate with consumers and create brand awareness.
Fast Food
Fast food chains can explore creative ways to showcase their products and create a unique identity in a highly competitive market.
Marketing
Marketing teams can experiment with innovative approaches to promote a brand's products or services through unique campaigns and creative visuals.
SCORE
4.0 out of 10
GENDER
50% Men50% Women
MARKETTop markets: North America
GENERATION
  • Gen Z
  • Gen Alpha
  • Gen X
  • Millennial (primary audience)
POPULARITY
Popularity 50%
Activity 61%
Freshness 8%

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