Gerlinde Weilinger (Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism) and Andreas Winkelhofer (Managing Director of Upper Austria Tourism) congratulate the winners of the #uppercode2019 hackathon (photo Upper Austria Tourism/Martin Fickert).

Students from Austrian universities and universities of applied sciences as well as international programmers set themselves the task of developing digital projects based on the data interface of Austrian National Tourist Office and the tourism database Tourdata, which enable the "travel of the guest of the future". After the 24-hour programming marathon, the innovative results were presented to a high-caliber jury consisting of representatives from Austrian National Tourist Office, the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism, tourism experts and IT experts. The prize money totaling 10,000 euros was provided by the province of Upper Austria.

Benedikt Starzengruber from Offenhausen, Sebastian Göls from Neumarkt an der Ybbs and Rudolf Traunmüller from Linz secured victory with the "Upper Austria is a Playground" app. The application rewards users for successful tours and motivates them to spend a lot of time out in nature. Summit victories or completed hikes are "collected" and can be compared with other hikers in the community. An integrated recommendation system suggests further tours. The jury praised the authentic presentation of results, the appealing user interface, the combination of playful elements and reward system and, above all, the technically excellent implementation in a project that was almost fully programmed within 24 hours.

Second place went to the "Challenge Austria" app, which sets users tasks and encourages them to get active. A personalized activity planner that guides its users towards their personal leisure experience with increasingly detailed questions took third place. Fourth place went ex aequo to the concept of an interactive storytelling chatbot that inspires guests with suggestions for a daily routine and to the "Wisch'n Go" app, which asks about the user's preferences and creates a tailor-made vacation package based on the aggregated data.

Think tank and network platform

The #uppercode2019 hackathon was supported by the location agency Business Upper Austria, the recruiting company Epunkt, which specializes in IT specialists, and the software intelligence specialist Dynatrace. In addition to the chance to forge a project idea in 24 hours and receive prize money for it, the participants also had the opportunity to impress potential employers with their skills.

"It was impressive to feel the creative start-up atmosphere that emanated from the young software developers. The participants demonstrated a great deal of technical expertise and showed creative new possibilities and ideas for providing guests with useful, beneficial services. The feedback was very positive, which is why we will also take up this format for future tourism tasks in order to involve the younger generation in particular more closely in the development of tourism innovations," says Andreas Winkelhofer, Managing Director of Upper Austria Tourism, enthusiastically. "To be successful in international competition, new formats and approaches are needed. The participants of "uppercode" have impressively demonstrated how great and innovative concepts can be created when the best and most creative minds from the most diverse areas come together and work together in a concentrated atmosphere," adds Reinhard Lanner, jury member and Chief Digital Officer of Österreich Werbung.
 

Jura's fully automatic coffee machines have always relied on freshly ground beans. This year, the slogan "Freshly ground, not encapsulated" again forms the communication bracket for the cross-media advertising campaign. "Waste is out, freshness is in," says Jura.

The Halder Record agency was entrusted with the advertising budget of Jura Elektroapparate at the beginning of 2019. It was given the task of placing the tagline "Coffee specialties - freshly ground, not encapsulated" in a relevant context to Roger Federer, tailored to the digital age.

The results are personal stories from Roger Federer's everyday life, who as a global star is now at home all over the world. His fully automatic coffee machine from Jura is with him everywhere. But he sometimes runs out of coffee beans. Fortunately, there are neighbors who can help out.

The Swiss star director and photographer Marco Grob, who works in America, was recruited for the films. The camera was directed by Eigil Bryd, who won a Grammy for the Netflix series "House of Cards.

The campaign celebrated its world premiere on October 19 in the presence of Roger Federer and the Jura staff. It was launched online and on TV during the Swiss Indoors and will finally be used worldwide in the run-up to Christmas. All dialogs will be in the original language and will be subtitled according to the country in which they are used.

The event took place under the motto "Playday" and was intended to be a day full of fun for around 300 employees, with show acts, keynote speakers, live music and numerous digital games - both futuristic and in digital retro style. The whole thing took place in an old factory building on the Limmat.

The program was varied: it included a keynote speech by Joël Luc Cachelin, one of the top 10 digital brains in Switzerland, a digital Foxtrail with augmented reality, Swiss poetry slam champion Kilian Ziegler, course runner Rick Saner and a concert by snowboard pro and singer Pat Burgener. The day was hosted by presenter and influencer Miriam Rickli.

Between the individual show acts, there were various things to discover: VR games, flight simulators in 360° mode and Magic Mirror, but also cult games from the digital pioneer era such as arcade machines, Nintendo and much more.

"The Playday was a great experience and pure fun - a digital journey through time that brought back many memories. The goal was exceeded and employees from all over Switzerland grew together through gaming," says Reto Decurtins, Managing Director of the BKW Antec Group.

A "good night" tea for the nerves, a "ginger-lemon" tea for inspiration - every tea drinker knows that there is a suitable tea for every mood. And the Twinings range is as diverse as the consumers themselves.

With this core message, Campfire focuses on consumers' emotional micro-moments and aims to connect them with the brand's wide range of products in this way.

User-centered and authentic

The concept is based on the moods, motivations and challenges in the lives of the target group. Through down-to-earth and authentic communication, which deliberately avoids stereotypical imagery and glossy models, existing and potential customers should recognize themselves. 
 
Wander appointed Campfire as its lead agency for the Twinings brand this spring and commissioned it to develop a new communication campaign with a digital focus and to rebrand the brand. On the one hand, to draw attention to the wide range of fruit and herbal teas on the market and, on the other, to modernize Twinings' image.

More than just black tea

Consumer interviews revealed that Twinings is primarily associated with black tea and English traditions, although the brand offers over 20 different blends in the herbal, fruit and feel-good tea segments. When designing the campaign, emphasis was placed on showcasing the diversity of the product range, but also on playing with the associations with the brand. The aim is to achieve a long-term change in consumer perception and improve the customer relationship.

Digital to POS

Establishing a digital presence is very important. But: "When it comes to tea, the purchase decision is mainly made at the shelf," says Sarah Kieser, Brand Manager at Twinings. The big challenge is therefore to bridge the gap between the digital presence and the POS. 

The campaign overcomes this hurdle by focusing on an image campaign with a purchase-oriented approach. In addition to the image and product commercials, which are played out to users specifically along their customer journey on social media channels, a striking key visual was developed that runs as a common thread through all measures.

In the new image, the "360 degree" takes on the leading role and shows, among other things, that families, businesswomen or businessmen, but also the coming generations can trust and, above all, rely on the all-round advice of Energie 360. The "360 degrees" is the essential component in the company's name and also directly symbolizes the core competence: with Energie 360, all-round, rely on the right energy. 

The image campaign was developed and implemented in close cooperation with the Communications and Policy department, headed by Rainer Schöne, Member of the Executive Board, and Daniela Mininni, Head of Communications, and the Swiss agency The Brandpower.

"The overriding goal was to generate more awareness in the various target groups and to show what Energie 360 stands for," says Daniela Mininni, summarizing the task in one sentence. In this way, the "360" puts the company at the center of communication in interaction with its services and products.

In addition to the classic image motifs and online advertising, children also have their say in short films describing what renewable energy means to them and what role energy plays in their lives. The image campaign runs across several channels and is intended to do one thing above all: raise society's awareness of the "right" energy and demonstrate directly that Energie 360 can implement sustainable energy solutions today for a world of tomorrow.

Ralph Aichem, managing director, creative director and strategic brand planner at The Brandpower, underscores the overarching goal of the image campaign: "In the end, there can only be one future: a sustainable one. For that, you're allowed to communicate a little louder."

In four days of production, a total of 10 individual motifs featuring adults and children were created, along with additional short films for social networks and a making-of. The image campaign can be seen on posters, ads, online and on LED screens.

Christian Jott Jenny, Christoph Bürge, Michael Rottmann, Silvan Metzger, Tom Gisler (from left to right)

Jott was once an opera singer, founded the Festival da Jazz over ten years ago and still writes his own stage programs today. Is it any wonder that he was already making people laugh as a little boy in Jörg Schneider's Pumuckl radio plays? Jenny is a jack-of-all-trades in the business of enthusiasm. And a magician when it comes to generating "return on excitement".

Christian Jott Jenny and Tom Gisler in a word duel.

At the fourth MRBforward on Tuesday, over 130 invited guests were able to watch Jenny duel with presenter Tom Gisler on the talk stage. The boundary between talk and comedy, politics and real satire soon became indistinguishable. Spurred on by Gisler, Jenny galloped through his CV. And answered questions as the mayor of St. Moritz as well as a comedian, musician and family man.

Christoph Bürge welcomes the guests

The fourth MRBforward took place on a construction site in the middle of Zurich's Kreis 4 district. Where raw concrete and excavators can still be seen today, the new MRB agency location will be built by spring 2020. 

Many homemakers dream of owning a Thermomix. This appliance from Vorwerk can prepare even sophisticated dishes virtually on its own and handles nearly every function—from kneading, chopping, and steaming to sautéing, fermenting, and sous-vide cooking. A color display guides the home cook step by step through all recipes, showing the required quantities, weights, and times… Cooking made easy and foolproof. The downside: The Thermomix is expensive and remains a dream for many ambitious home chefs. In numbers: 1,600 francs.

Aldi and Lidl therefore offer affordable knockoffs. The device from Aldi Süd—the «Ambiano Food Processor with Wi-Fi» —costs 199 euros in Germany and can be operated via tablet or smartphone. It is said to have some compromises in comparison It can’t quite match the original in terms of features and quality. Nevertheless, the device apparently delivers quite decent results. The demand for this affordable clone is correspondingly high whenever it’s in stock: In 2017, scuffles broke out in stores, and in 2018, the device sold out within minutes. The food processor is available for purchase again in 2019, as of October 21. The rush was likely just as intense; the product is listed as out of stock on the website.

Competitor Lidl also carries a Thermomix clone in its product lineup. The device is called «Monsieur Cuisine Connect»; it cost 299 euros last year and caused the online store’s server to crash. Although the Lidl version is more expensive, it also looks more like the original. As Lidl notes on Instagram, they have adjusted the order quantity this year to match demand. Perhaps this year—if necessary!—they won’t have to face accusations that they’re using the coveted appliance merely as a loss leader.

As far as the timing of the sale is concerned, Lidl came up short this year: The sale starts on December 5, one and a half months after Aldi’s promotion. By then, the demand among many potential customers for a smart kitchen gadget will likely have been met.

To sway undecided customers and encourage them to wait, Lidl launched a social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram last weekend—just in time for Aldi’s sales launch. The campaign features a WhatsApp conversation between friends. Without naming names, one thing is clear: buying from Aldi is not recommended. Better yet: wait it out, relax, and shop at Lidl on December 5.

https://www.derwesten.de/panorama/lidl-verkauft-billig-thermomix-doch-ein-detail-macht-das-geraet-gefaehrlich-monsieur-cuisine-connect-id226206919.html

https://www.chip.de/news/Lidl-aergert-Aldi-mit-Thermomix-Klon-Discounter-verheimlicht-aber-eine-wichtige-Info_175443977.html

The agency, based in Berlin and Zurich, worked with Flaconi to develop a new strategic brand positioning to drive brand sharpening and rapid, sustainable growth.

With #Empoweringbeauty, Flaconi wants to empower all people in their beauty and build a deeper and emotional relationship with customers. That the awareness of one's own beauty is the focus is to be underlined by the claim "Find your beauty. Everyday." underlines this. "Our mission is to help people discover their own beauty every day - to be true to themselves and express their self-confidence," says Sacha Moser, CEO at Foundry.

To achieve maximum awareness, a 360-degree campaign was created. The centerpiece of the campaign is a TV spot conceived by Foundry and produced by It's us Media, which will be broadcast immediately in Germany and Austria. The spot is accompanied by the song "Look in the mirror," composed for Flaconi and sung by Caroline Marquard, daughter of Swiss media entrepreneur Jürg Marquard. In addition to TV, the campaign also includes numerous out-of-home measures such as moving displays, giant billboards, print and online ads, as well as accompanying PR and social media measures. 

The campaign, which is scheduled to run from 2019 to at least 2021, is intended to familiarize the public with the GVZ's triangular mission (loss prevention, loss limitation, loss adjustment) and to show that the GVZ is more than just a mandatory building insurance company. The multifaceted activities of the GVZ's fire protection, fire department and insurance departments are presented in detail and awareness of prevention issues is raised.

The campaign will be implemented in the form of a roadshow with an information pavilion that will be found at various locations. The first appearance of the pavilion will be at the Uster Fair from October 24 to 27, 2019.

"We are very pleased about the cooperation with GVZ. It is particularly pleasing that we were able to convince with an innovative concept as well as our price/performance ratio," says Dominic Hefti, CEO of Frey & Frey.

The AGM was planned in order to carry out an ordinary capital increase of CHF 2.8 billion. This would have been used to purchase UPC Switzerland. The approval of the capital increase was the final condition for the purchase. According to Sunrise, the share purchase agreement has a "long-stop" date of February 27, 2020 and will remain in force until terminated by either party.

Based on clear indications from shareholders and Freenet's announcement to vote against the capital increase at the AGM, the Board of Directors of Sunrise has come to the conclusion that the clear majority of shareholders who registered their shares for voting at the AGM do not support the capital increase, Sunrise writes in a press release on Tuesday morning.

The spokesperson for the resistance was the major German shareholder Freenet, which owns 24.5 percent of Sunrise. Freenet CEO Christoph Vilanek criticized the purchase price and the necessary capital increase of CHF 2.8 billion as being too high. The structure of the deal is also disadvantageous for Sunrise shareholders. In addition, he no longer sees the strategic sense of the takeover. Because of the new 5G generation of mobile communications, it is not worth buying the UPC cable network for so much money. Spending CHF 6.3 billion on it is "madness". The activist shareholder Active Ownership Capital (AOC) sounded the same note.

Unexpected recommendation

It was unexpected that the influential voting rights consultant ISS joined the "no" camp. For the NZZ a trend-setting development, as some institutional investors follow ISS's recommendations almost blindly. The report also contained gross factual errors and was subsequently corrected.

Peter Kurer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sunrise, explains: "We regret the cancellation of the AGV. We have invested a lot of time in discussions with our shareholders and remain convinced of the strategic and financial reasons for the takeover".

Possible consequences for Sunrise and consumers

Most media and commentators agree: With the cancellation of the AGV, the deal between Sunrise and UPC is off the table. Tagesanzeiger.ch points out that Sunrise could now lose CEO Olaf Swantee, as he had indicated in advance that he would resign if the shareholders did not follow the takeover course. The failed deal also has consequences for consumers: They will now be deprived of a powerful new provider that could have seriously challenged the undisputed market leader Swisscom for the first time since the liberalization of the telecommunications market.   (hae/SDA)

Sunrise and UPC - Chronicle of a failed deal:

• 27.2.2019Sunrise acquires UPC Switzerland for CHF 6.3 billion
• 3.6.2019WEKO examines the merger of Sunrise and UPC in more detail
• 3.7.2019: Deal worth billions: Sunrise major shareholder votes against takeover of UPC
• 17.8.2019The UPC purchase by Sunrise is suddenly on shaky ground
• 23.8.2019: Freenet CEO Vilanek: "The market does not want the UPC takeover".
• 4.9.2019Sunrise promotes merger with UPC to customers
• 22.9.2019: Suddenly things are looking good again for the UPC takeover by Sunrise
• 26.9.2019Weko approves the UPC takeover
• 29.9.2019: Freenet keeps Sunrise shares in any case
• 18.10.2019Showdown at Sunrise AGM over billion-euro purchase of UPC
• 20.10.2019Sunrise suspects Freenet and considers complaint

In a former fashion store in 70s style in the middle of Basel's trendy Kleinbasel district, a Chinese laundry was staged without further ado. Dim lighting, pink influences, dancers, whimsical characters and, of course, lots of washing machines immersed guests in a unique milieu.

The IAB Academy has already been working in partnership with the HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich for six years. The new strategic partnership is intended to demonstrate how important it is for universities and practitioners to work closely together.

This is also the case with the CAS Digital Marketing Pro, whose content concept has been reviewed by the IAB Switzerland and whose development continues to be accompanied. On the one hand, this is reflected in the choice of lecturers who, like Tobias Zehnder and Daniel Jörg, are active within the IAB Switzerland and drive the development of the market through their commitment. On the other hand, the IAB Academy Diploma, which one receives after successfully passing the IAB Diploma Courses Basic and Advanced, is considered the equivalent of a university degree, which counts as an admission requirement for the CAS Digital Marketing Pro. 

"In the HWZ, we have had a reliable educational partner for years. The education and also the training of the talents of tomorrow is an important mission of IAB Switzerland and is now underpinned by our commitment as a partner of the new and even digital CAS course," explains Roger Baur, Managing Director of IAB Switzerland. 

"I am very proud of this partnership. Without pioneering institutions like IAB Switzerland, it would not be possible to successfully implement such innovative and unique continuing education formats that drive the Swiss marketing industry forward," says Manuel P. Nappo, Head of Institute for Digital Business. 

The CAS Digital Marketing Pro program provides a practical understanding of the rapidly changing digital communications and marketing industry. Participants in the course learn how to use digital tools to complement the traditional marketing mix and how to strategically design online campaigns, implement them successfully, and measure and optimize them using targeted methods.