Esurance rebrand launches with TV, cinema, interactive, OOH

Seven months in the making, Duncan/Channon’s new work for Esurance, one of the country’s leading car insurers, debuted today all over the damn place.

TV spots, part of a new live-action campaign called “Techie Feely,” began airing nationally on the NBA Finals and 40 cable networks, including FX, ESPN, Bravo, Discovery, TNT and A&E, accompanied by a comprehensive interactive and social media initiative. A nationwide out-of-home effort, starring the TV characters, kicks off in late June, along with national cinema advertising. In addition, as part of the launch, Esurance is introducing a new corporate identity, created by D/C.

Annual marketing spend is $100 million-plus.

In a departure from the animated heroics of past advertising, which starred the pinkhaired “special agent” Erin Esurance, this TV campaign introduces the people behind the company, a quirky cast of staffers who seem to have divided their office into a “Techie” camp – comprised of programmers – and a “Feely” camp – made up of sales and claims reps who help customers over the phone. The jockeying for recognition among the groups drives the comedy, while offering a perfect framework for a message about the company’s innovative products and commitment to service – no matter how customers receive it. The tagline, which flips from commercial to commercial, depending whether Techies or Feelies are featured, is: “Technology when you want it, people when you don’t.”

Five commercials have been finished, and production on additional executions is scheduled for early fall. The spots were directed by Fred Goss, who has a stellar resume as director, writer and producer on commercials and ensemble comedies, including his own TV series last year on ABC, “Sons and Daughters.” The production group was Company Films of L.A.

The revamped identity system and new type-only Esurance logo is designed to deliver a singular message: that the company that pretty much invented online car insurance continues to innovate on behalf of busy consumers, relentlessly striving to make the process of buying or using its products more intuitive, more convenient, more transparent and – yes, Feelies – more friendly. It’s about smartness in the service of simplicity.

Duncan/Channon was awarded agency-of-record for Esurance this past September.

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