The Campaign

ANZ Bank, is one of Australia’s largest financial institutions. As a company ANZ believes in diversity, inclusion and equality in their workplace. To promote these beliefs beyond the company walls, ANZ has been a major sponsor of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (one of the world’s largest gay rights marches) since 2007. In 2014 they became Principal Partner. We wanted the public to know just how much ANZ Bank values diversity and inclusion, and for people on Sydney’s streets and the media to help spread this message — in keeping with the fun, celebratory spirit of the modern Mardi Gras. So we transformed central Sydney ATMs into dazzling GAYTMs. Ten unique GAYTMs, inspired by gay and lesbian culture, were installed on Sydney’s busiest streets for three weeks surrounding the Mardi Gras. Bejewelled by hand in rhinestones, sequins, studs, leather, denim and fur, each GAYTM was a riot of colour and textures to celebrate the festival and show ANZ’s support for diversity. The display screens on the GAYTMs were changed to carry messages such as ‘Hello gorgeous’ and ‘Happy Mardi Gras!’. The GAYTMs also dispensed rainbow coloured receipts with the message ‘Cash out and proud’. And during the campaign, ANZ donated all GAYTM operator fees to non-profit Gay and Lesbian charity organisation, Twenty10. The creation, installation, and delighted public reactions to the GAYTMs became short webfilms. Content was then uploaded to Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, Twitter and Facebook.

The Brief

The objective was widespread public understanding of ANZ’s support and partnership with Mardi Gras. At the onset of the campaign, a successful outcome was deemed to be: 22 million media impressions (or opportunities to see); Sydney metro newspaper coverage; and news coverage on at least one major commercial TV channel. Currently in Australia, public perception of ‘the big four’ major banks is quite low — as banks are often perceived by the Australian public to be cold, callous organisations placing profits above people. They are also viewed as very conservative and incredibly ‘corporate’ institutions.

Results

Output/Awareness: • 62+ million media impressions • Metro news coverage in every Australian state • News coverage on every Australian commercial TV channel • Branded media pictures in 70+ countries • 100+ blogs and online articles Knowledge/Consideration: • Negative and positive social media commentary (supporters far outweighing the haters) • Two GAYTMs defaced towards the end of the campaign creating outrage in mainstream media and a second round of earned media coverage Action/Business Impact: • Sydney tourist buses re-routed to pass GAYTMs • Oxford St branch ATM receipt rolls normally last 1 week. The first rainbow-colored receipt roll lasted one hour •ANZ donated all GAYTM operator fees to non-profit Gay and Lesbian charity, Twenty10 •Unprecedented positivity towards the bank from online articles and blogs, to personal heart-felt letters sent to senior bank staff •We not only raised awareness of ANZ’s Mardi Gras sponsorship, we enabled a financial institution to make a difference to society.

Execution

We transformed ANZ bank’s central Sydney ATMs into dazzling GAYTMs. Ten unique GAYTMs, inspired by gay and lesbian culture, were installed on Sydney’s busiest streets for three weeks surrounding the Mardi Gras. Bejewelled by hand in rhinestones, sequins, studs, leather, denim and fur, each GAYTM was a riot of colour and textures to celebrate the festival and show ANZ’s support for diversity. The display screens on the GAYTMs were changed to carry messages such as ‘Hello gorgeous’ and ‘Happy Mardi Gras!’. The GAYTMs also dispensed rainbow coloured receipts with the message ‘Cash out and proud’. And during the campaign, ANZ donated all GAYTM operator fees to non-profit Gay and Lesbian charity organisation, Twenty10. Due to a huge public response in social as well as local, national and international media coverage, the campaign was extended by a further two weeks after Mardi Gras.

The Situation

ANZ Bank, is one of Australia’s largest financial institutions. As a company ANZ believes in diversity, inclusion and equality in their workplace. To promote these beliefs beyond the company walls, ANZ has been a major sponsor of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (one of the world’s largest gay rights marches) since 2007. In 2014 they became Principal Partner. We wanted the public to know just how much ANZ Bank values diversity and inclusion, and for people on Sydney’s streets and the media to help spread this message — in keeping with the fun, celebratory spirit of the modern Mardi Gras.

The Strategy

We knew that the greatest success with Australian news media would come from the surprise reveal of the GAYTMs and reaction from the public. Until you see the GAYTMs themselves, it’s difficult to imagine just how fantastic they are. So we kept them under tight wraps, installed them in the dead of night and took our own photography and film at first light on a Sunday morning whilst Sydney was still asleep. A business interview with the designers and ANZ spokesperson had been arranged with Channel 9 and the Australian Financial Review to run that morning and as soon as it was on air, we started calling media. An ANZ Bussines Systems Analyst, who happens to be a drag queen,, dressed in full costume and hosted media in front of the GAYTMs, while TV and online media interviewed passers by for their reaction. From there the coverage grew and grew.