Brief

Almost half of all invoices owed to small businesses each year are paid late, costing Aussie small businesses $1.1 billion. Small businesses are responsible for the lion’s share of a nation’s economic output, so when they struggle, the effect ripples through the whole economy. As a champion of small businesses, we were tasked to raise awareness of this serious issue and break the cycle of late payments so everyone wins.

Solution

Pay it, don’t delay it. Australians supposedly don’t do things by halves, but the reality is completely different. We set out to encourage businesses and the public to pay small business invoices promptly. Our competition rewarded those who paid on time and reimbursed small businesses that were waiting on late payments. To drive the message home that this is a big deal, we removed half of some of Australia’s iconic big things. The campaign also featured radio, influencers, social, and contextual outdoor creative.

Credits
Agency : HelloSocial
Copywriter : Max Bengtsson
Art director : Dan Elliot
Designers : Chris Bloom, Alicia France
Finished Artist : Adrian Garofalo
Video : We Know Video (Jack Shanahan, Luke Brown)

Brief

EOFY is a peak period for Xero and small businesses across Australia that rely on accounting software to keep their numbers in balance. Our internal agency, together with Clemenger PR, was briefed to cut through the noise during one of the busiest times of the year and grab the attention of small business owners through earned and owned media channels.

Solution

Emotional Tax Return. There’s no doubt that running a small business is taxing – especially after the last few years. Despite the many joys, it can also be stressful, time-consuming, and lead to some unfortunate consequences. Xero understands these challenges, and given we’re all about better business, we’re here to help. Our campaign allowed small businesses to claim some additional expenses on their tax return - emotional expenses. We saw entries covering all aspects of their lives from sleeplessness to missed birthdays, canceled dates, and a severe lack of holidaying.

Working with small business owners who were also influencers to help spread the word, we smashed our forecasted targets and had 8,000 small business owners engage and submit a claim. The campaign ran successfully the following year, where we evolved the creative with the "Emotional Tax Office" - the place where all the claims were processed. The campaign included a pop-up activation where winners were able to pick up their prizes and be treated to the ultimate relaxation experience.

Credits
Agency : Clemenger PR
Copywriter : Max Bengtsson
Art director : Chris Bloom
Designers : Thao Trinh, Hannah Boekhorst
Motion: Nadim Malvat, Domenic Iaria, Magda Ksiezak, Kylie He

Brief

Accountants and Bookkeepers have played a pivotal role in helping to build the success of our brand together with countless small businesses across Australia. As the perfect tool to help both Small Business Owners and Accountants and Bookkeepers stay on the same page with their numbers, we were tasked to launch a Valentine's Day themed campaign on a shoestring budget to promote Xero’s Partner community and connect them with small businesses - that is, to play matchmaker!

The one. In both love and life, everyone needs a little support from a special someone. The one who supports you and looks out for you. They have strengths that complement yours to help you grow and evolve. They’re there when you need them and are someone you can trust. When you’ve found the one – or the right partner – business is better.

Our social campaign put the call out for small business owners to show their appreciation for the Accountants and Bookkeepers who take tender love and care of their business. We spread our message through influencers, street posters, press ads, and social channels where we encouraged Small Business Owners to express their appreciation through Canva templates, care packages, Spotify playlists, love songs, and dedications.

Credits
Art Director : Chris Bloom
Copywriter : Max Bengtsson
Designers : Dan Elliot, Hannah Boekhorst, Thao Trinh

Brief

We were briefed to develop a campaign to support the comms and marketing team on a thought leadership piece designed to create conversations, deepen connections, and celebrate SMB ownership in Australia. The purpose of the report was to empower SMBs to make informed decisions with confidence. We wanted to celebrate the bravery of existing business owners and encourage those who haven’t yet made the leap to becoming their own boss.

Solution

Boss Moves. We inspired Australians to take action through the stories of those who had already done it. Our social content was made up of videos and tiles that explored the stories of existing small business owners, showing their bravery to back themselves and take the plunge to become their own boss. We chose businesses that represented the key trends we discovered in the report, from female founders, generational shifts, Australia’s business owner hotspots, and industries that had changed over time. Reports are often boring and dry, so we opted to create it using papercraft, which added a beautiful tactile take on our traditionally flat brand illustrations.

Credits
Copywriter : Max Bengtsson
Designer : Natalie Lee, Dan Elliot
Papercraft : Magda Ksiezak
Photographer : Jordie Gibbens

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