afaqs!’s Post

Nike Just Did It—Without a Sponsorship! 🏃♂️🔥 This is classic #ambushmarketing—a marketing strategy where a company associates itself with an event without being an official sponsor. The goal is to gain exposure and recognition for the company's products. Think of it as hijacking the spotlight without breaking the rules. 💡 Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore it. Well played, #Nike! 👏 What are your thoughts on ambush marketing? Genius or controversial? 🤔 💬 #Marketing #Nike #MumbaiMarathon2025

Nike’s Sneaky Yet Brilliant Move at Mumbai Marathon Marketing isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being remembered. And Nike nailed it at the Mumbai Marathon. They weren’t an official sponsor. But did that stop them? Nope. 🔹 A perfectly placed 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 just when runners were struggling. 🔹 "Spectators" in 𝑵𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔, blending in while subtly reinforcing the brand. No logos plastered everywhere. No hard sell. Just a moment that mattered. Lesson? The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing. It feels like inspiration. What’s one unexpected marketing move that impressed you? Drop it below! ⬇️ #NikeMarketing #AmbushMarketing #MarketingGenius #BrandStrategy #MumbaiMarathon #CreativeMarketing #ThinkDifferent #JustDoIt

PUMA Group’s viral marketing campaign in 2025, centered around a deliberate ‘mistake’ in their logo changing to ‘PVMA,’ became a brilliant move to announce PV Sindhu as their brand ambassador. This generated massive online buzz with memes and debates, leading to over ₹3000 crores in revenue in India—more than double Nike’s earnings of ₹1200 crores. Key takeaways from the campaign: Small changes, big impact: A minor tweak (logo change) created widespread attention. Leveraging viral behavior: PUMA anticipated how the internet amplifies perceived brand errors. Seamless integration: PV Sindhu’s announcement was embedded in the campaign, aligning her with the brand identity. This creative approach redefined brand ambassador campaigns by prioritizing curiosity and engagement over traditional methods like photoshoots and standard posts. Did you initially think ‘PVMA’ was a mistake, or spot the strategy? #puma #branding #sports #marketing #socialmedia

Nike’s Epic 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧: A Lesson in Creativity Nike’s latest move at the Mumbai Marathon wasn’t just clever; it was genius. Here’s the deal: Ambush marketing is all about associating your brand with a major event—without being an official sponsor. And Nike did this with style. Imagine being one of 12,000+ marathon runners. Exhausted, battling the heat and humidity, and then—boom—right when you need it most, a massive billboard hits you with: “IT WON’T BE EASY, BUT IT WILL BE EPIC. REMEMBER WHY YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS.” That’s not just motivation. That’s Nike owning the moment. But they didn’t stop there. As runners pushed forward, they were met by "spectators" sporting orange Nike headbands, cheerfully urging them on. What makes this brilliant? Nike understood the power of subtlety and timing. No logo overload, no aggressive sales pitch. Just a connection at the perfect moment. It’s a reminder that great marketing isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes, it’s about doing it differently. Bold, strategic, and beautifully executed. 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚: Want to stand out? Find your moment, make it personal, and show up when it matters most. Shushant Goyal Paras Arora Monika Pant Sushma Kumari Deepali Singla Naseem Ali #AmbushMarketing #NikeMarketing #CreativeStrategy #BrandingGenius #MarketingInnovation #EpicMarketing #Strategywerks #EventMarketing IMAGE SOURCE: https://lnkd.in/gcizxqVZ

PUMA Group's viral ‘mistake’ or a smart advertising move? It's one of the recent brand campaign, that had everyone talking about the logo transforming to ‘PVMA’ across their social media. The internet did its thing: memes, debates, and organic buzz. Perceived as a design error or exception, it turned out to be actually the clever announcement of PV Sindhu as their new brand ambassador. This bold move leveraged PUMA to generate over ₹3000 crores revenue in India, doubling their prime competitor Nike’s ₹1200 crores. Key Takeaway's - Small changes, big impact Viral behavior in a mistake Seamless brand integration (w/ PV-Sindhu) Curiosity driven campaign #puma #branding #advertising #marketing #digitalmarketing #campaigning

PUMA Group's unexpected 'error' became their most brilliant marketing strategy of 2025. Their recent campaign sparked widespread conversation when their logo transformed into ‘PVMA’ on social media, leading to memes and organic excitement. What seemed like a design mistake was actually a clever way to introduce PV Sindhu as their new brand ambassador, resulting in over ₹3000 crores in revenue in India—far surpassing Nike's ₹1200 crores. Key takeaways from PUMA’s campaign: • Small changes can yield big results – A simple letter switch captured attention. • Leveraging viral trends – PUMA tapped into the power of perceived 'errors' for traction. • Seamless brand integration – They integrated PV Sindhu into the brand narrative rather than just announcing her. I've seen many brand ambassador campaigns, but this one stood out by using intrigue to drive engagement. When you first saw ‘PVMA,’ did you view it as a mistake or a strategic move? ➖〰➖〰➖〰➖〰➖〰➖〰 USE HASHTAGS: #theoptimisticgold #Pitchdigitals ➖〰➖〰➖〰➖〰➖〰➖〰➖ Thanks For Your Support💪 Follow us : Pinterest : https://lnkd.in/dpSp9cr8 Youtube : https://lnkd.in/dcKC_56h #puma #branding #sports #marketing #socialmedia #theoptimisticgold #pitchdigitals

When You Can’t Sponsor the Event, Own the Conversation - Just like how Nike did in Mumbai! Nike just reminded us why it’s a master of marketing. Not an official sponsor of the Mumbai Marathon 2025? No problem. They took over the streets with bold messaging, turning the marathon into their brand moment—without paying for the title. This is ambush marketing at its finest. It’s not about slapping a logo somewhere; it’s about owning the narrative. After all, Nike didn’t need a partnership contract—they needed attention, and they got it. ✅ “It won’t be easy, but it will be epic.” ✅ “Remember why you signed up for this.” ✅ One word: RUN. Psychological? Absolutely. The messaging speaks directly to every runner’s mindset. Strategic? No doubt. The placement ensures that Nike is the brand people associate with the struggle, the perseverance, and the finish line. The lesson here? A brand isn’t what you sponsor — it’s what you make people feel. And Nike made everyone feel like they were running with them, not just in a marathon. My take: This isn’t just genius marketing but a well-played a bold gamble! Image Courtesy: afaqs! #Marketing #Brand #AmbushMarketing #Nike #MumbaiMarathon #Advertising #Creativity #branding #emotion #brandstrategy

🔥 How Reebok Pulled Off the Ultimate Sneaker Swap at Wodapalooza 💪 The exclusive sponsorship went to a competitor, leaving Reebok on the sidelines. 😤 Instead of sitting it out, they went in full ambush with a "Swap Out" strategy. Fitness fans could trade their worn-out kicks for fresh Reebok Nano X4s. 🚀 The result? Over 500+ people strolling into Wodapalooza repping brand-new Nano X4s like champs. 🏋️♀️👟 And the best part? The festival’s massive social, influencer, and livestream reach, amplified Reebok's new shoe nationwide. 🙌 Fitness fans are all about technique and gear, they pay attention to every detail - down to the shoes. 🔍 The takeaway? If the front door’s locked, find a side entrance 🌟 and go all-in. How have you shaken up things with ambush marketing? 👇 If your brand wants to tap into it, the DMs are open. #guerrillamarketing #marketingstrategy #brandstrategy #creativestrategy

Yet another marketing masterclass from Adidas 💡 In my opinion, “Believe That” is the most creative, authentic NBA athlete marketing campaign of the last decade. Here are a few (of many) things athlete marketers / brand partners could takeaway from this to apply to their creative campaigns: ✓ Nostalgic feel (revisiting Nike/Jordan commercials from the ‘90s) to bridge generational gaps b/t consumer bases ✓ Aspirational messaging (which fuels storytelling + establishes an emotional connection with hoop fans) ✓ Competitive advertising (positioning the AE 1 product alongside iconic footwear + important figures in culture) ✓ Social first (executing entirely on social media without paid support, according to Ad Age + integrating real tweets to drive community discussion) ✓ Timely, yet evergreen (addressing the playoff exit, while laying the foundation to capitalize on future hate lol w/ an evergreen “receipts” concept) S/o to everyone involved for the excellent work. Looking forward to seeing how the campaign evolves into next season.. I also encourage you all to check out the complete commercial series 🙏🏾🙏🏾 #athletemarketing #brandpartnerships #creatorstrategy cc: Miles Jackson-Cartwright, M. Pharoh Martin, Allen Xie, Miles Feuer, Pierre Jordan, Aneesh Ahuja, Cam Mason, Stephanie Mejia, Johannes Leonardo

Nike is kicking off the next phase of its “Winning Isn’t for Everyone” campaign, targeting runners as marathon season ramps up. The new ads, including brand films like “Sunshine” and “Morning,” highlight the tough, unglamorous side of running, reflecting the campaign's theme that true victory requires embracing discomfort. With #OOH ads echoing this raw message and a spotlight on the Nike Pegasus lineup, the campaign aims to reclaim Nike's foothold in the running category, where it’s faced stiff competition from brands like Hoka. This bold push follows Nike's Summer Olympics campaign and signals a return to its roots in bold, honest brand building. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ejgCyd5V #BrandMarketing #SportsAdvertising #Nike