Social and Influencer > Culture & Context

BIRTHMARK STORIES

VML, Riyadh / HUNGERSTATION / 2024

Awards:

Grand Prix Dubai Lynx
CampaignCampaign(opens in a new tab)
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Overview

Credits

Overview

Why is this work relevant for Social & Influencer?

"Birthmark Stories" from HungerStation isn't just a campaign; it's a conversation starter. It's all about bringing those quirky, heartwarming tales we've all heard growing up to the forefront. Each birthmark story, is perfect for sharing and discussing on social media, making people smile, think, and even share their own tales of their own birthmarks.

When influencers join, they don't just spread the word; they add their personal touch, making the campaign feel more like a community chat over coffee than an ad. It's this blend of nostalgia, storytelling, and community that makes "Birthmark Stories" relevant to the social world.

Please note that the Jurors for Dubai Lynx will be coming from outside the region and may not be aware of the specific cultural nuances of your work.

In many parts of the world, more so in the Arab world it is believed that cravings experienced by women during their pregnancy which went unfulfilled, would manifest itself on the newborn child as a craving mark in the shape of the craving itself. Universally known as a ‘Birthmark’.

It’s because of this traditional belief that parents-to-be try and do all they can to satisfy the food craving of the pregnant mother as soon as it kicks in. Making speed of delivery and availability of the craved food very critical.

Background

HungerStation, the first and leading food delivery app in Saudi Arabia, has established a strong reputation in the market. However, with the growing number of local and international competitors entering the scene, it is crucial for the company to highlight its unique advantages, such as swift deliveries, an extensive selection of restaurants, and the availability of late-night orders, to differentiate itself from the rest.

The objective of the campaign is to develop a unique approach that helps position HungerStation as the preferred food delivery app in the Kingdom while promoting its exceptional offerings.

Describe the creative idea

In the Arab world there is a rich folklore surrounding Birthmarks. We believe that unfulfilled pregnancy cravings, would leave its indelible mark on the child in the shape of the craving itself. We even have a name for it: ”Wahma”, which literally translates to craving mark.

We found this to be the perfect opportunity for HungerStation and decided to shed some light on the matter. Introducing: Birthmark Stories - a series of real-life and untold tales from Saudi Arabia that brought to the forefront the birthmarks myths, all while promoting HungerStation's key features: fast deliveries, widest variety of vendors, and late-night orders.

Describe the strategy

HungerStation, as the first and leading food delivery app in Saudi Arabia, has enjoyed a dominant position in the market. However, with an increasing number of local and international competitors entering the market, the company must find ways to stand out and differentiate itself from the competition.

By developing this unique approach that highlights its strengths, HungerStation can differentiate itself from the competition and position itself as the preferred food delivery app in the Kingdom.

This birthmarks folklore provided HungerStation with just the opportunity it needed to tackle its customer migration problem it had been facing due to an influx of new players.

By satisfying pregnant women’s cravings as soon as it kicked in, HungerStation was able to communicate their speed, variety of vendors and late-night deliveries to everyone. While winning back to good chunk of its customers.

Describe the execution

Starting with films from Wael, Tala and Faisal coming forward with the unique stories behind their birthmarks on social media. This was followed by a series of true birthmark stories on social, magazines and even maternity clinics. Along with some fun online quizzes where people had to guess what the mom’s cravings were. We even created special magazine executions using transparent calque papers to resemble the craving behind the birthmark.

HungerStation took a step further and also encouraged people on social to come out and share their own birthmark pictures and stories. They were all then compiled into a beautiful coffee-table book.

But we didn't stop there, to try and reduce the chances of unwanted birthmarks, HungerStation offered a special, exclusive promo coupon for expectant mothers within the HungerStation app.

List the results

The campaign instantly got a lot of traction and Birthmarks became the latest hot topic for discussion. The results were as astonishing as some of the stories behind the birthmarks:

120,000 Total New Customers

5,500 New Customers Per Day

1.3 Million Impressions

420,000 Video Views

34% Video View Rate

6,700 Engagement Rate

By leaving its mark on Saudis, Hungerstation restored its reputation as the preferred food delivery app in the Kingdom.

Please tell us about the social behaviour and / or cultural insights that inspired your work

Our "Birthmark Stories" campaign was inspired by a charming piece of Arab culture – the belief that unfulfilled pregnancy cravings can lead to birthmarks in the shape of the craved item. This insight isn't just a myth; it's a warm, shared part of our collective childhoods, whispered among family and friends.

In today's fast-paced world, where such tales risk being forgotten, we saw an opportunity to revive these stories. By bringing these narratives into the digital age, we're not just sharing ads; we're reigniting a sense of community and nostalgia. It's a nod to the past, with a modern twist that resonates with young and old alike. This cultural insight goes beyond marketing – it's about preserving and celebrating a unique aspect of our culture in a contemporary, relatable way.

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