Sky Media today announced the return of their Business Support Scheme for 2021, which will give Retail Excellence members & businesses across the country the opportunity to access free TV advertising packages through AdSmart from Sky, as they look to reopen with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Piloted in 2020 the then SME25 scheme helped over 20 business’s get on TV for the first time including the likes of Vaughan Shoes, Meaghers Pharmacy, Gym + Coffee, Acme Blinds and Magic Vacations.
The Sky Media Business Support Scheme is open to any business that has been operating for at least one-year in Ireland – from florists and car garages, to hairdressers and accountancy firms. Businesses can nominate themselves and will be selected by an internal panel at Sky, with winning entrants receiving €20,000 of TV advertising across Sky’s AdSmartable channels. Once selected, the short-listed businesses will be connected with a creative agency to design and create their TV campaigns.
The TV advertising campaigns will be delivered through AdSmart from Sky, the market-leading addressable TV platform, that easily enables brands to advertise on TV by focusing on the audiences that matter to those businesses. This revolutionary technology means a brand can target households by Eircode, within a designated distance of their store, or by household make-up or lifestyle attributes. In only targeting audiences that matter to the business, brands can be assured that their advertising will be relevant, accessible and drive business results.
Malcolm Murray, Director Of Sales, Sky Media, said: “Supporting Ireland’s business community as we navigate out of Covid-19 restrictions, is essential to the economy and its growth. Many businesses have been heavily impacted over the past 18-months and this is a great opportunity for us to support them as they return to trading. By supporting businesses who have never used TV advertising before, we are offering businesses the opportunity to connect with their desired audience in a new way. Using a targeted TV campaign will help businesses awareness, across a combination of Sky’s premium content and innovative platforms.”
McElhinneys Department and Online Store, based in Ballybofey in Co. Donegal, was one of the companies who benefitted from a similar scheme in 2020 allowing them to reach their target audience in Dublin and the northwest of Ireland. Commenting on the scheme, Martin McElhinney said:
“During lockdown, for first time in over fifty years we had to close our doors to the public, but luckily the investment we had made in our E-commerce platform over the last number of years allowed us to keep the light on. The TV campaign gave us the opportunity to reach new customers through a medium that we have never used before. Targeting homes in Dublin and the Northwest of Ireland, we saw an increase in organic visits to our website which resulted in increased orders. It was a very successful campaign.”
Entries for the Sky Media Support Scheme are now open and are being accepted until 3rd August 2021. For more information and to apply to the scheme, visit www.adsmartfromsky.ie/2021businesssupportscheme
Qualifying conditions:
- The business must have been trading for 12 months or more.
- The business must be new to TV (or not advertised on TV within the last 12 months).
- Post transmission commitment to give Sky a testimonial on their AdSmart experience/business impact.
- Acknowledgement that future AdSmart campaigns will be paid for under conventional commercial terms.
- Commitment to create a Clearcast approved TV 30” commercial. A member of the AdSmart team will help with this.
- Businesses will be selected by an internal panel at Sky and will have no financial commitment or connection to the businesses selected
The offer:
- Sky Media will gift a campaign to the value of €20,000 comprised of TV advertising that uses bespoke geo/demo targeting across AdSmart enabled channels.
- The maximum length of the TV commercial is 30″.
- Campaign duration is 4-6 weeks and must air in 2021.
- Sky Media will assist where required to provide the TVC.
- However, it may encourage businesses to use third party tools and services to complete its advert.
- There is no cash alternative to the prize and unless agreed otherwise in writing the prize is non-refundable and non-transferable.