The Drum, a trusted global media brand for professionals in the creative, marketing and media business, and Canon Europe, a leading technology company dedicated to helping people reimagine and push the boundaries of what is possible through imaging, have joined forces to offer small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK the chance to run a free multichannel marketing campaign which will include programmatic print, and unprecedented access to a team of industry experts to bring the campaign to life.
‘Creative Futures: the next chapter’ invites eligible SMEs [see criteria below] from across the UK to submit their application to take part in a test-and-learn initiative. The successful applicant will have the chance to have their business featured at the heart of a campaign that will showcase the power of what’s possible when brands take a customer-centric approach to omnichannel campaign planning across email, personalised print, social media, and more.
In addition to the opportunity to run a live omnichannel marketing campaign (for free) in a risk-free test and learn environment across digital and print channels, entrants will gain access to a team of industry experts across the supply chain, including representatives from Nutshell Creative, The Strategic Mailing Partnership, Join the Dots, Jicmail, Latcham, Royal Mail Marketreach, Autlay, The Drum and Canon Europe.
The lucky winner selected to take part in the campaign will be given free global exposure on thedrum.com and across Canon platforms. However, all entrants – even those who don’t make the final shortlist – will gain access to a resource pack with information on available online courses and qualifications, as well as ways to connect with local enterprise partners, PSPs and creative agencies.
Eligible companies must be established for a minimum of 3 years, have a minimum turnover of £1M and have their own in-house marketing provision to provide support when needed – although for the campaign itself, the business representative will only be asked to dedicate some spare time to participate, while receiving support and mentorship from the team of experts.
This initiative is the third iteration of a campaign from The Drum and Canon Europe, which started with the ‘Class of 2021’, giving students who missed their final year degree shows due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a digital platform to connect with the global creative community— allowing them to utilise personalised print in the omnichannel user experience to showcase its engagement effectiveness.
In 2022, the project then evolved into ‘Creative Futures’ inviting students and young creatives to design an omnichannel marketing campaign plan, including print, for a leading youth charity. Each of the entrants gain access to bespoke workshops, tools and resources to help them gain insight into how to plan campaigns for brands that encompass multiple channels and touchpoints.
Now in its third year in 2023, The Drum and Canon Europe are looking to complete this journey with a live brand campaign, that showcases and proves how the clever combination of data, creativity, targeting capabilities and personalised print can be used in the marketing mix to deliver measurable impact.
Cathy Bittner, strategic business development manager, Canon Europe, says: “I am excited to continue this collaboration with such an experienced Creative Futures team that has their hand on the pulse of the industry. This is such a unique opportunity, not just for the winning entry, but also for all entrants that take advantage of the resources of this programme.”
For more details about the competition and how to enter, visit here
