M&R/M&H Wins Series of Awards for Duracell Campaign

Stamford, Connecticut -- Marquardt & Roche/Meditz & Hackett scored big in its first broadcast assignment for Duracell. The world-famous battery manufacturer assigned its rechargeable cell phone battery business to the agency, and the agency responded by winning three separate creative awards for the combined TV/radio campaign.

The :30 television commercial, "Tests Prove It" won top honors in the miscellaneous category of the 20th Annual Telly Awards. The humorous spot spoofing side-by-side comparisons of package goods products acknowledges there is no difference between cell phone batteries in the "Softness Test," "Road Test" and "Deodorant Test", but celebrates the fact that Duracell batteries do give you up to 50% more talk time.

The campaign's :30 radio commercial titled "Snake" was awarded "finalist" status in the 1999 District Two (New York) Addy Awards sponsored by the American Advertising Federation, and has been submitted by the Federation to its National American Advertising Awards competition. (Previously the radio commercial was part of the agency's three-commercial sweep of the "open" category at the 1998 Best of Broadcasting Awards held in Boston.) "Snake" is the story of a mother who, thanks to 50% more talk time, is able to talk on her cell phone long enough to discover that her daughter's new motorcyclist-boyfriend, Snake, is studying to be a doctor.

Tom Hackett, the agency's chief creative officer commented, "We've done award winning broadcast work before, but never for a package goods client of Duracell's stature. It is especially rewarding to receive this level of recognition on our initial broadcast assignment from them. And Duracell made the whole process fun. 'Great clients make great advertising' is an old saw in this business. But only because it's true."

Marquardt & Roche/Meditz & Hackett is a full-service marketing communications agency located in Stamford, Connecticut.