A new ad for Gatorade's 'Never Lose the Love' campaign depicts a series of successful athletes as kid versions of themselves. With the Olympics just around the corner, the ad reminds consumers that every great athlete once began as a determined young kid.
In the Never Lose the Love ad, superstar athletes Serena Williams, Usain Bolt, Paul George and April Ross go about their regular training schedule. However, instead of training on their own, each athlete is accompanied by a kid version of themselves that urges them to keep pushing. At the end of the ad, the kid version of each athlete celebrates along with their superstar counterpart as a reminder to never lose your childhood sense of passion and excitement.
Although Gatorade products are nearly absent from the ad, the campaign does a clever job of connecting its brand to athletes of all ages.
Inner-Child Athletic Campaigns
The Never Lose the Love Ad Shows Athletes as Their Younger Selves
Trend Themes
1. Youthful Athletic Campaigns - Disruptive innovation opportunity: By featuring athletes as their younger selves, brands can tap into nostalgia and inspire a sense of youthful passion and excitement.
2. Emotional Connection with Athletes - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Brands can create a stronger bond with consumers by showcasing the human side of athletes and highlighting the journey from childhood to success.
3. Promoting Passion and Determination - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Campaigns that encourage individuals to never lose their childhood love for a sport can inspire a new generation of dedicated athletes and tap into the growing interest in pursuing personal passions.
Industry Implications
1. Sports Apparel and Equipment - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Brands can develop marketing campaigns and products that evoke nostalgia and connect with consumers emotionally, promoting the idea that everyone can achieve greatness just like their childhood idols.
2. Sports Drink and Beverage - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Companies can explore new approaches to advertising by focusing on emotional storytelling, positioning their products as a symbol of determination, perseverance, and the never-ending love for sports.
3. Children's Entertainment and Media - Disruptive innovation opportunity: By showcasing successful athletes as their younger selves, children's entertainment and media can inspire and motivate young viewers to pursue sports and physical activities, fostering a culture of active lifestyles.