New Balance's Grey Days return with series of activations
This May, consumers in the region can look forward to several activations that showcase the brand's new collection such as the Grey 5k Runs and staggered 'Grey drops' over the month.
The initiative's inspiration comes from how central the colour grey has been to the New Balance identity since the late 1970s. While competitor brands gave athletes and runners shoes in white, that would quickly get dirty, New Balance introduced 'sneakers that wouldn't show dirt' as a solution for urban runners.
The brand kicked off its Grey Days campaign in the region with an activation in Dubai. Collaborating with exclusive pre-saler Ounass at Koncrete, a café donned in grey interiors at Jumeirah.
'In the Middle East, consumers are drawn towards brands that offer a unique identity yet still a sense of community,' said Ana Elisa Seixas, Head of Marketing – MEAI, New Balance. She explained that the month-long campaign is dedicated to the people who have supported the brand from its humble beginnings.
'Grey Days is a thank-you to our community including the loyal fans who've supported New Balance for decades, and newer demographics discovering it for the first time. It's a moment to look back and forward, simultaneously,' she said.
The activation was crafted with a keen attention to detail and included a 'grey' menu, displays of the Grey Days collection including the 1906 Loafer, interactive photo moments and more. 'It's all about offering a space that blends community, culture and creativity while creating an experience that we hope will be truly memorable,' Seixas said.
The next installation of the Grey Days campaign is a 5K run set up on the 17th of May at the New Balance store at Nakheel Mall. To keep the recurring campaign fresh every year, Seixas explained that the New Balance team does a deep dive analysis of its consumers.
'Each year, our strategy for Grey Day evolves through a blend of consumer insights, cultural relevance, and product innovation,' she said. 'We look at what's resonating, from the rise of retro silhouettes to the demand for versatile lifestyle pieces, and build activations and product drops that reflect those shifts. Hence every year, we honor our heritage, but not without tailoring the format to meet the evolving expectations of our audience in every region, every year.'
Seixas also proved the campaign's effectiveness in the region. 'In terms of results, we've seen an encouraging and similarly positive sentiment on different levels including store visits, event attendance numbers, OOH views, Google search keywords, as well as overall sales across the region,' she said.
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