BMF aims to help heal Japan with ‘$2 for chopsticks’ restaurant fundraising idea
BMF Sydney has launched a fundraising initiative to help provide aid for disaster stricken Japan.
The idea is simple: When in a Japanese restaurant, customers will be asked to donate $2 for the use of their chopsticks, thereby creating a simple, social, donating mechanism to raise more funds to help heal Japan.
All proceeds will go to the Australian Red Cross Japan and Pacific Disaster Appeal 2011.
BMF has provided all participating restaurants with a kit of posters and collecting tins to stimulate donations. All proceeds will then be deposited by the restaurants at any of the participating banks, including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Says Chris Kay, head of account management at BMF: “We have created a small idea that will hopefully make a big difference to a country in need. Because the donating is done in a social setting, weʼre confident this small action will encourage others to think, act and donate.”
A large number of Sydney and Melbourne restaurants are already committed to the project. If you are a restaurant owner and want to get involved, please visit the BMF website and use
the media contact provided.
46 Comments
Nice, tap project 2
Meow…tap project 2.0
wish they could’ve chosen an object that doesn’t damage the environment so much
8:56 – Does it really matter how original it is, if they’re raising money for a crippled country? Over 10,000 dead, heading towards 20,000. Thousands more homeless…
Last time I checked, compassion was more important than shiny metal things.
I’ve got an idea. Instead of writing an ads, write a cheque – a big one. We have.
Woah, cool.
Seen this – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OmN4B7yyS8?
A prime example of how the pedigree of an agency can help make the ad either great or average.
Imagine the same ad movement being done by BWM. Everyone would say it’s a boringly average idea.
But cos it’s by BMF it’ll probably feature in a few shortlists in a few shows.
It’s just like tap project.
Here’s a question for you all:
Can you steal/borrow other ideas if it’s for a good cause?
Hmmm 2:37am … then can you steal/borrow ideas for a struggling business? Still for a good cause right?
The Jap Project
Great idea. Congratulations BMF. Nice spin on the tap project. Most ideas are inspired by other ideas and nothing wrong with that. Original spin and great cause and unbelievable it’s being put down in any way.
Sorry Japan, trying to help people has been done before by a different company. Subsequently your aid has been cancelled. Good luck, I guess.
There are bigger, more important things than your tiny advertising world.
Cynical fucks.
Nothing wrong with doing the idea at all. I think it’s great that they want to raise money. Good on them, hope it does amazingly well.
But as soon as you post a press release to Campaign Brief it will, naturally, get judged against other ideas.
And in that regard, it’s been done.
Jesus you people are right and proper dickbags when you want to be.
The work has nothing to do with winning awards, and who cares if it mimics a previously successful model if it means it raises some dollars and actually helps some people who are trying to cope with issues slightly more severe than the burnt latte your barrista made you this morning
Have a fucking look at yourselves, honestly. Or better, go and make some work that helps as well, but I’m guessing that’s way too hard for most.
Wow. Yes, the idea is similar to Tap Project…
Who cares? It’s a fundraiser with no client behind it. They still put the effort and thought in to do something for a good cause.
Seriously, there are some sad fucks out there. Grow up would you or put your energies into helping yourselves.
10.22 I agree. Just donate money, lots of it.
I sometimes worry that ego takes over and gets in the way of simple practicalities in these things.
Get behind the red cross, save the children or whoever.
To all the douche bags getting on their high horse about ‘copying’ doesn’t matter.
1) It this is ‘above’ awards and ‘above’ general advertising crap because it’s for a ‘good cause’, then why put it up in Campaign Brief?
2) You can still raise money for Japan by doing something original. See W + K flag. There’s a million ways to skin a cat right? If you give one brief to 10 talented teams, you’ll get 100s of worthy solutions, no?
3) Mark, this is an advertising blog. We’re evaluating it on those merits. If you go to a tennis game, expect to see tennis. That way, you won’t get so upset.
Good one BMF – to all you other cynical fuckers, FUCK OFF.
Very nice work, BMF.
Regarding the repulsively cynical attitudes both on this thread and on the blog as a whole, I believe it’s a learned behavior, sadly.
These grommets, who throw horrendous amounts of shit daily on the blog, well, maybe they’ve picked up the negativity from somewhere and some one along the way.
It’s a disease and it’s quite sad.
@9:55 It’s on Campaign brief to spread awareness as much as possible for what is a great cause.
2) I don’t know what creative land of bullshit you’re living on but at some point all creatives in advertising begin to realise that no matter how original, creative or artistic their ad is, if it’s not selling product it’s as useful as a blank piece of paper. You’re not an artist, you’re a creative salesman. When their is an extreme time limit on a fundraising idea, sometimes appropriating a tried and tested (and great) idea is the most effective and best option, especially for such an important cause.
3) This is an advertising blog, but since when did advertising stick to the realms of, well any boundaries. You claim creative sanctity and then demand that the blog stick to advertising, kinda hypocritical.
You’re not an artist, and by demanding that comments stick to ‘advertising’ you seem to not even be a an authentic creative
And i’m not from BMF
Thank you (to the majority) for the positive support.
This was an initiative started by some of the Japanese who work at BMF.
It was not designed for awards.
(And will not be entered into any.)
It was simply designed to help.
We let people on the blog know so we could garner as much support as possible for what is a generation-defining disaster.
Cheers,
Dylan
4.27am The Jap Project. Genius.
Open up your cheque book and write a number that hurts.
If we started a virtual swear jar on Campaign Brief we could raise thousands for this, or any other disaster.
Of course swear jars have been done.
Good stuff.
I’ll pay extra if for chopsticks that play chopsticks?
2.37am, 3.36am, 4.27am etc…clearly cynicism wakes up early on the blog.
Love it!
A heap of big businesses in Japan are struggling now. Like Sony, Canon, Toyota etc, etc. So take Toyota for example, it employes thousands of people … is it okay for creatives to rip off a classic VW ad to help it get back on it’s feet?
I love it!
People stop being so cynical! – I would have loved to worked on this. Nice poster design too. i thought it might be for a rock concert.
3:15
Um yes, it is. Priorities.
Just for the record-crossing chopsticks is a superstitious funeral ritual in Japan.
It is not considered appropriate behaviour, and especially NOT in a restaurant.
Go fuck yourself 4:06
If you read above, the idea came from an employee at BMF who is, herself, Japanese.
4.06 just for your records, you’re a fucking idiot!
That is all.
Thank fuck it isn’t another visual play on the Japanese flag.
4:06 Crossing ONE chopstick over another is the ritual to which you refer you stupid twat, not a pair over a pair. I’m hoping to start a new ritual – shoving really big chopsticks up the arse of turds like you.
Beautiful poster BMF. Simple and has the right tone. Hopefully, it’ll be put up everywhere asap. Who gives a rats if is similar to taps.
YOU go fuck yourself 4.35
If YOU read the above you’ll notice there’s no mention of whether said employee(s) at BMF are male or female.
Stop defending copycat work just because your agency did it.
If you feel so strongly donate your salary to Japan. Better still, jump on a plane and go help out. Better you’re there than wasting our time over here with your one-eyed bullshit.
I know, let’s create a viral with a Sarah Silverman like character who encourages people to visit their grandparents to get them to donate.
Great idea BMF, doesn’t matter if it was an original one or an evolution of an existing one, the point is that it’s aimed at helping a nation in need. So well done.
To all the haters, go f*ck yourselves you original-creative-wannabe-cnts. Or come up with a better idea to help Japan.
No now children, play nicely. Tristan! Stop pulling Sebastian’s hair!
You
No, You
no,no, You!
YOU YOU AND YOU!!
I swear its just like my twin boys fighting and they’re 6!
😀
I believe that its great that BMF is helping out, at least is more than what i’m doing sitting here reading all of your rants. But can they promise they won’t enter this for any awards??
I’m sure they’ll agree given that al this is being done for a good reason and good intentions only. I mean i couldn’t possibly believe that anybody at BMF wants to make any profit from this – I’m just saying.
bmf’rs take your rage out on whoever approved this piece rather than those on here simply pointing out that this is the same idea as a very high profile and highly awarded ad. youd be an idiot to run this here and not expect stick. an IDIOT!!!
10;38 you really are a wanker. Seriously.
Very good cause and I hope it generates a decent amount of charity for the people of Japan.
On another note, this is nicely timed PR for a diminishing agency.
I think, regardless of the almost childish negative comments above, BMF have created a campaign that will help others in need. I dont think it should matter that it’s modelled after another campaign (shouldn’t people learn from successful predecessors anyway?).
It’s a great idea, and I hope that it does really well, both for the agency (to which I am not affiliated), and for the Japanese people. That’s really the point isn’t it.