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SHOPPING areas in Mutare, Rusape, Birchenough Bridge and Chipinge will be a hive of activity when the Coca-Cola happiness experiential team descends on Manicaland for the exhilarating three-day Share-a-Coke road show.
After making an instant hit in Harare and the dormitory town of Chitungwiza, the-Share a-Coke road show will see consumers in Manicaland who have not found Cokes with their names getting branded Coca-Cola cans with their name, surname, nickname or even totem.
Over 100 of Zimbabwe’s most popular names have been printed on the Coca-Cola labels for the first time in history. The international Share a Coke campaign is one where consumers’ first names and popular phrases substitute the Coca-Cola name on the labels of Coke PET and cans.
All consumers will have an opportunity to have their names replace the 128-year-old brand.
Takunda Jinda, the Coca-Cola senior franchise brand manager, confirmed the shows in Manicaland.
“The road show in Manicaland will start on Thursday (yesterday) in Rusape at TM Supermarket, then Vengere bus terminus. It will go all the way to Vengere Shopping Centre and Mabvazuva Shopping Centre.
“On Friday (today) we will go down to Chipinge at OK Chipinge before leaving for Gaza Township (Chinheya), then Gaza E (Gonye). We will also cover Birchenough Bridge Shopping Centre on the same day. Saturday will see us moving to Mutare at OK Zimbabwe, TM Supermarket Main, Spar Mutare and Chikanga TM.
“The ability for consumers to create their own personalised drinks if they can’t find the names they’re looking for in store is a big hit that left Harare and Chitungwiza residents asking for more.
“Due to the high demand, Coca-Cola activation teams will visit all corners of the country. This is a campaign that will see consumers joining in sharing happiness with the most popular brand in the world.
“The team will be in all major centres and provinces of Zimbabwe. The way Share-a-Coke was launched with only 100 will now see thousands more being printed. The fairly fast process sees customers having their names on the iconic drink,” Jinda said.
Coke has breathed new life with a Share-a-Coke campaign, with a new TV ad featuring Bruno the dog hunting for his name, and a massively expanded selection of names and other identifiers – such as mum, Kuda and Thoko.
According to Jinda, consumer sentiment has been favourable toward the campaign.
“The campaign also commanded an unusually large number of shares on social media. The campaign will run throughout the summer into the festive season, creating a memorable opportunity for the public to interact with the brand. Share-a-Coke campaign will allow people to connect in a trendy way as they share a Coke with friends and family. This will allow the international brand to connect locally as it uses local names and local lingo that resonates with all Zimbabweans.
“The Share-a-Coke campaign is doing well globally giving people a platform to get together and share a good time over a Coca-Cola. The campaign, which will run on various media platforms, will act as an invitation to ‘Share a Coke’ with someone you know, or want to know and gives people the tools to find, connect and share.
“Coke will constantly listen to what consumers are saying about the Share-a-Coke campaign in order to be able to surprise, maintain momentum and spark further conversations throughout the campaign period,” Jinda added.
The Coca-Cola Company <http://www.coca-colacompany.com/index.html> (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands <http://www.coca-colacompany.com/brands/all/>.
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