It’s been a week full of new campaigns, new partnerships and new forms of digital media. Find updates on all the latest stories you need to know about in the new edition of our Weekly Must Reads. 

A Hair-Raising March Madness Campaign 

During the opening round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament last week, Great Clips unveiled their first-ever March Madness campaign. Their campaign focuses on the many #HairRaisingMoments of the tournament, from major upsets to buzzer beater wins. To kick off the March Madness, Great Clips created a video highlighting fans preparing for the tournament, both in the brand’s stores and in their own homes.  

The brand’s first tournament campaign comes as Great Clips started a multi-year partnership with the NCAA that began in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The campaign’s hair-raising content will air as TV commercials, interactive social post, influencer giveaways and in-salon signage. Find out more about the new partnership here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210316005219/en/Great-Clips%C2%AE-Introduces-First-Marketing-Campaign-for-March-Madness%C2%AE 

Brands Join the NFT Trend 

In recent weeks, non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been all over the web as a new form of unique cryptocurrency. So far, artists and brands have been using NFTs as a new form of digital artwork, creating one-of-a-kind digital drawings, videos or other creations that other users can purchase through a blockchain. Last week, companies like Charmin and Pizza Hut quickly jumped on the trend as they auctioned off various versions of unique branded digital art. Charmin donated their NFT proceeds to nonprofit Direct Relief, which provides medical supplies to communities in need. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut released their art for the price of a slice of pizza as part of their $10 Favorites campaign. 

In the future, expect to see more brands taking part in this growing form of cryptocurrency. Earlier this month, famous artist Mike Winkelmann, known in the art world as “Beeple,” sold his NFT work for nearly $70 million, making it the third-most expensive piece of art sold by a living person. Get all the details on NFTs at brands’ participation here: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/charmin-jumps-on-nft-trend-with-toilet-paper-artwork-auction/596903/ 

Justin Long Is Now a PC 

Justin Long, star of the “I’m a Mac” Apple ads in the 2000s, has officially made the switch to PC. In a new campaign for Intel, Long declares “I’m a…Justin” in commercials that open with a scene that is nearly identical to the original ads. The campaign pokes fun at many of Apple’s product features, from the lack of touchscreens to the brand’s “gray and grayer” color options. The ad also highlights the unique elements of Intel’s own line of computers.  

Last year, Apple took a similar approach and hired actor John Hodgman, who played PC in their commercials, to introduce a new line of MacBooks. With this snarky campaign, Intel is doubling down on their goal of delivering better products than their popular competitor. Watch the first ads released in the campaign here: https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/17/22335654/intel-mac-guy-new-ads-commercials-pc 

Porsche’s Excellent Adventure 

Bill and Ted – or more accurately, the actors that portray them – are back on another excellent adventure. In a new ad for Porsche, Alex Winter and Keanu Reaves take the car brand’s first all-electric vehicle on a drive down Route 1 on the California coast to see how much they can experience in just one charge. During the seven-minute video, the actors are met with challenges that the new Porsche Taycan has to overcome. Their trip later ends with an excellent drift on the skidpad at the Porsche Experience Center. 

Bill & Ted aren’t the only nostalgic celebrities being featured in Porsche ads this year. Next month, the brand will release a series of five videos featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy. In that series, Bill Nye will explain the science behind battery-powered car. Check out the new ad and learn more about Porsche’s eco-friendly vehicle here: https://adage.com/creativity/work/bill-and-ted-stars-keanu-reeves-and-alex-winter-go-new-adventure-porsche/2322321