Everybody knows a TV spot during the Super Bowl costs a pretty penny. For most companies, buying premium TV time isn’t a thought, especially those with tight budgets. FINNEGANS, a charitable brewing company, certainly fits that category. However, it has found a way to advertise during the big game for free through the use of augmented reality.
“We don’t advertise in the traditional sense because our profits are used to feed local families in need, so we often create novel ways to reach people,” FINNEGANS founder and CEO Jacquie Berglund said in a statement. “Through this app, we’re excited to bring national attention to a Minneapolis-based effort to fill food shelves with local produce.”
To watch the spot which debuts on Super Bowl Sunday, you download the FINNEGANS Big Game TV Takeover app — available for Apple and Android. Once downloaded, point your device in the direction of any tablet or TV and voila, the commercial AND a free virtual beer appears. Just don’t drink too many if you’re driving home.
To create the app, the Martin Williams ad agency partnered with Pixel Farm, a fellow Minnesota-based company.
“When you know your media budget is the smallest number allowable by math, it creates a unique challenge that forces you to rethink what’s possible,” Martin Williams executive creative director Steve Casey said in a statement. “Since the big game is being played in Minnesota this year, we wanted to do something big for FINNEGANS, and we’re excited to highlight their mission nationwide.”
