Product Launches
Product Launches
You only get to make a first impression once. With extensive experience introducing brands and unveiling new products – that later became iconic names – our thoughtful, strategic approach addresses your business objectives to deliver success.
| All Work | Media Relations | Influencer Engagement | Events & Activations | Product Launches | Brand Building | Trade Relations |
Marvel Hero Vision
Creating Buzz to Build Pre-Launch Demand
Challenge
Hasbro was set to launch a groundbreaking new product that would make fans feel as if they had stepped into Iron Man’s suit. Combining traditional role play with AR technology, The Marvel Avengers: Infinity War Hero Vision Iron Man AR Experience would be revealed at Toy Fair, the industry’s leading tradeshow event, and hit shelves in the spring, timed to the highly anticipated spring launch of Avengers: Infinity War. Our challenge was to not only generate awareness and build demand in advance of the launch, but communicate why the product was so innovative and demonstrate how it worked since it created a play experience unlike anyone had ever seen.
Approach
To convey the ‘gotta see it to believe it’ product experience to consumers, we leveraged our media relationships to create ‘show and tell’ coverage through personalized interactive opportunities, in-depth interviews with the brand design teams, and a continuous drumbeat of newsworthy pitch angles. As a way to garner initial interest and educate reporters on the innovation behind the product, we secured a two-day media tour visiting top tech, pop culture and family/lifestyle outlets throughout NYC including Mashable, Gizmodo, Engadget, The Verge, CNET, Good Housekeeping and more. Each outlet was able to test the product, speak directly with the Hasbro Marvel brand design representatives and capture unique content under embargo.
Results
The campaign generated more than 570 million media impressions with more than 100 stories secured that truly brought the product to life. Reporters from notable media outlets including Yahoo, CNET, Wired and IGN drove interest and demand before the product even hit shelves. Impressive buzz from the product launch led to additional media opportunities including livestream segments on Cheddar, The Verge, and Mashable, and it became a hot holiday item, included in gift guides and holiday features on Popsugar, Newsday, Forbes and Good Housekeeping as well as recognized as a Top Tech Toy by leading industry outlet, The Toy Insider. Overall, the coverage successfully communicated to fans and consumers just how unique the Marvel Avengers: Infinity War Hero Vision Iron Man AR Experience is.
Kid Trax Rideamals
Using the Power of Product Publicity to Launch a New Category
Challenge
The award-winning, battery-powered ride-on brand, Kid Trax from Pacific Cycle, turned to us to launch an all new toy segment that combined ride-on fun with interactive and imaginative pet play. Our charge was to educate consumers about the new category as it hit shelves in August (months before shoppers are thinking about big ticket holiday gifts), build the new Rideamals brand, and generate a lot of buzz and excitement through the holiday for its first product, Kid Trax Rideamals Scout.
Approach
We saddled up and got to work, developing a robust launch campaign that included influencer engagement, national and local media relations, toy industry events, award submissions, and celebrity seeding to bring the magic of Kid Trax Rideamals Scout to life. Leaning into the wow-worthy reaction to a pony pal kids can ride, interact with, groom, feed and care for, and the excitement of seeing Scout come to life, our outreach focused on in-person demos and product sampling to prove the childhood dream of owning a pony still resonated – no matter what age you are!
Results
The program supported the launch and ran through the key holiday shopping season, generating more than 1 billion total impressions, with the product receiving numerous industry awards and accolades. With top tier coverage including a broadcast integration on Ellen, and earned media across top TV including Today Show, Fox & Friends, and Live! With Kelly and Ryan, as well as features in Forbes, USA Today, People and Good Housekeeping – Kid Trax Rideamals Scout was the hit of the holidays. All proof that this was no one-trick pony.
Nerf Ultra
Introducing a New Innovation from a Fan Favorite Brand
Challenge
To celebrate one of the NERF brand’s biggest innovation stories – the launch of the new NERF Ultra segment, featuring the farthest-flying dart ever – we were challenged to excite existing fans and introduce new consumers into the franchise, creating buzz before the launch and a burst of news as product hit shelves, followed by consistent coverage in outlets that hyped the ‘cool factor’ of NERF’s newest line through the holiday season.
Approach
We developed a multi-phased PR program culminating in buzz and excitement among influencers, media, fans, and content creators. Our strategy included in-person deskside visits for product demos with top tier outlets followed by exclusive product reveals within Wall Street Journal, CNET, and more. LPR recruited 14 influencers, athletes, gamers and fans to compete in the first ever NERF Ultra Championship, filmed for a social content series airing across NERF channels. Following the challenge, we commemorated the launch of the NERF Ultra One Blaster with an immersive evening preview event for top-tier media outlets such as Business Insider, Buzzfeed, Thrillist and Yahoo! To continue the momentum and generate product unboxings and reviews, we seeded the blaster to 50 key media and influencers including Barstool Sports, The Verge, and WIRED, and pitched it as a holiday must-have all season long. .
Results
From the October launch through the holiday season, NERF Ultra generated more than 1.2 billion total media and social impressions and more than 350 pieces of content, with key coverage featured on Geek.com, Heavy, The Verge and organic social shouts from notable personalities including Nick Young, DangMattSmith, Jibrizy, and more.