MEET THE SHEEP – SEE THE VIDEO
In a UK first, a flock of fame-hungry sheep in the South East are to become the latest in low-tech sustainable advertising.
A flock of Texel-cross sheep have been ‘recruited’ to promote the fact that rail passengers can now by booking their tickets at thetrainline.com. These prototype ‘billboards’ will be trialled just past Dorking Station and are visible from onboard trains on the Gatwick Airport to Reading line.
In pioneering this new, innovative medium thetrainline.com’s money saving message definitely isn’t woolly.
Commenting on the campaign, Iain Hildreth, director of marketing for thetrainline.com, says "Sheep are a common sight from train windows right across the country. So, for us, using sheep as ‘billboards’ felt like an interesting and attention-grabbing area to explore, especially since sheep are featured so prominently in our advertising. After weeks of searching for the country’s most talented sheep, we feel we’ve really raised the ‘baa’ in advertising.
"We’re always looking to help our customers find the best deals on rail tickets, especially in the current climate. Sheep advertising seemed like the perfect medium to support our new advertising campaign and communicate the fantastic saving people can make with thetrainline.com."
Hugh Broom, farmer and owner of the sheep, says "Using sheep to advertise seems like such a simple idea, it’s surprising that nothing like this has been done before in the UK. There is quite a bit of surface area to work with, plus it’s sure to brighten up train travel. I just hope my ewes don’t start turning into divas!"
thetrainline.com’s new advertising campaign featuring sheep both on TV and in outdoor poster ads, breaks on the 19th April. thetrainline.com TV advert was shot in Wellington Station, New Zealand, and features 40 sheep who spent a month being trained by the sheep handler from the film ‘Babe’. The sheep were taught, among other things, how to "baa" on demand, step out of taxis and read newspapers. No computer generated imagery was used to manipulate their actions – just their favourite treat of digestive biscuits!
Historically, sheep have played an important part in the media – from the traditional, such as the Young’s ram, to the popular like Aardman Creations’ Shaun the Sheep. Turning tradition on its head, this new campaign from thetrainline.com takes the sheep out of the media and turns them into the medium.
Valere Tjolle
