Promotions with CITV and Disney XD will form part of Hasbro’s biggest marketing spend on the Nerf brand this year, with the fresh Hail-Fire blaster a key product…
HASBRO is investing heavily in the Nerf brand for 2012 and a major focus will be on the shiny new Hail-Fire blaster. The product’s unique rotating ammo rack gives it the highest capacity of any Nerf blaster. The Hail-Fire blaster comes with four Quick Reload clips and 24 Elite darts. It can hold up to four more Quick Reload ammo clips and 144 darts. An acceleration trigger powers up the motor for semi-auto blasting, with users able to fire at targets up to 75 feet away.
The Quick Reload clips work with any Clip System blaster, while the Elite darts work with any Elite blaster and most original N-Strike blasters. Other features include two tactical rails. “Nerf is now the fifth largest property in the total UK toy market,” said Ciara Whyte, Hasbro UK’s senior brand manager. “Nerf remains the number one brand for Hasbro UK and we continue to invest in it to drive significant growth.” Activity includes a major broadcast and online media campaign with CITV and Disney XD. This is on top of a traditional TV investment that will deliver over 1,600 TVRs throughout the season. The campaign with ITV includes the opportunity to win a trip to Fort Boyard and watch the filming of the TV show on set. Hasbro has created a one-off ad which airs on September 8th, the eve of Nerf Blaster launch day. Urban sports specialist Team Extreme is producing Nerf-themed shows across the UK, reaching over 250,000 fans, and Nerf is sponsoring Disney XD’s Extreme Daypart to mid-October. “This is our biggest marketing investment in Nerf to date and our most exciting,” added Whyte. “Boys will not be able to miss Nerf.”
SEPTEMBER 2012
Nerf is Hasbro’s number one brand in the UK and the firm is investing heavily on the Hail-Fire marketing campaign. For more on Nerf, you can read our interview with Hasbro’s UK and Ireland country manager Foye Pascoe on page 24…