FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 14, 2010

THE NEWS
1.2 million faces painted and counting!

THE DETAILS
Grip Limited of Toronto reports an average of 15,000 people an hour are engaging with the Budweiser brand globally thanks to its viral face painting app on Facebook. The current tally, as of noon today, had surpassed 1.2 million fans!

Show Your True Colours lets people virtually paint their face in the colours of their World Cup team and then share their World Cup passion with friends. Each photo is then added to a mosaic of the team’s flag, letting people see themselves with all their fellow supporters.

The initiative, originally designed for Budweiser Canada, has been adopted by Budweiser globally and rolled into key World Cup markets, including the U.S. in support of Budweiser’s Official FIFA World Cup Sponsorship.

“We’ve definitely gone viral!” says Adam Luck, Director of Interactive at Grip. “On Sunday we had less than 5k faces painted. Today, just 4 days into the World Cup, we surpassed 1.2 million faces painted and we’re still going strong! This is without the benefit of any significant media-buy outside of Canada.”

ABOUT GRIP LIMITED
Grip Limited is a Toronto-based communications company providing expertise in advertising, design and digital. Services include strategy & planning, creative development and production for traditional and non-traditional media, and brand identity and package design. The company’s coveted client roster includes: AB-InBev, Honda Canada Inc., Boehringer Ingleheim, Expedia, Cadbury Adams and Johnson and Johnson. The company is privately held. For more information, visit griplimited.com or our blog, bigorangeslide.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Dave Hamilton, Partner – Creative • (416) 341- 7212
Adam Luck, Director – Interactive • (416) 340- 7111

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 1, 2010

THE NEWS
Toronto agency goes global for World Cup.

THE DETAILS
Grip Limited of Toronto has launched a Facebook face-painting application to support Budweiser’s Official FIFA World Cup Sponsorship.

Show Your True Colours lets people virtually paint their face in the colours of their World Cup team and then share their World Cup passion with friends. To kick up the sense of pride even more, each photo is added to a mosaic of the team’s flag, letting people see themselves with all their fellow supporters.

The initiative, originally designed for Budweiser Canada, has been adopted by Budweiser Global and rolled into key World Cup markets, including the U.S.

“This was the result of 8 months of very enthusiastic collaboration at Grip and some great coaching on the part of the AB-InBev team,” says Adam Luck, Director of Interactive. “The learning curve of getting something like this out the door is steep. But the outcome is a big win on a world stage.”

CREDITS
Art Direction: Jason Pearl, Anton Ratinsky, Colin Craig
Writer: Matt Rogers, Jeff Collins
Flash: Heung Lee
IA: Richard Brenkley
Producer: Thomas Degez/Meg Norton
Tech Direction: Ben Huxley, Jacoub Bondre
Developers: Ean Bowman, Dylan Dempsey, Tony Valderrama, Matthew Peckham.
Account: Adam Luck, Shane Holmes, Jacki Powell
Conceptual Development: Jeff Collins, Anton Ratinsky, Adam Luck, Colin Craig,
Matt Rogers, Bob Goulart

ABOUT GRIP LIMITED
Grip Limited is a Toronto-based communications company providing expertise in advertising, design and digital. Services include strategy & planning, creative development and production for traditional and non-traditional media, and brand identity and package design. The company’s coveted client roster includes: AB-InBev, Honda Canada Inc., Boehringer Ingleheim, Expedia, Cadbury Adams and Johnson and Johnson. The company is privately held. For more information, visit griplimited.com or our blog, bigorangeslide.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Dave Hamilton, Partner – Creative • (416) 340- 7111

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2010

THE NEWS:
Yum! Brands and Grip Limited launch “bloody good” Pizza Hut spot.

THE DETAILS:
Just months into their new relationship, Yum Brands and its new agency partner Grip Limited have launched their first Television spot for Pizza Hut.

Titled “Crime Scene”, the spot uses suspense with a comedic payoff to demonstrate just how delicious, and saucy, Pizza Hut’s WingStreet Wings really are.

“We know without a doubt that our WingStreet wings are as delicious as any Pub wings. Grip did a great job of getting that message across in a compelling and memorable way,” said Dave Ross, Director of Marketing for Pizza Hut.

Briefing for this spot took place just days into the new relationship, and both agency and client couldn’t be happier with the result.

“The spot itself is fantastic, as was the process to getting to this great work. Our teams worked together in a collaborative and highly effective manner. I couldn’t be happier with the start of this new relationship” said Dan Howe, Chief Marketing Officer for Yum! Brands. Randy Stein, of Grip Limited, added “It was a pleasure to work with the Pizza Hut team. We’re thrilled to have created a spot that is worthy of such a tremendous product.”

The spot is currently airing on national specialty channels, and is also being used to promote Pizza Hut’s Award-Winning Meal Deal.

ABOUT YUM! RESTAURANTS INTERNATIONAL (CANADA) COMPANY:
Yum! Restaurants International (Canada) Company is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., with 1,278 points of distribution in Canada encompassing its three brands – KFC Canada, Taco Bell Canada and Pizza Hut Canada. Yum! Canada brands are leaders in the chicken, Mexican-style and pizza quick-service restaurant industry. Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants, with more than 36,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries and territories. The company is ranked #239 on the Fortune 500 List, with revenues in excess of $11 billion in 2008. Four of the company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s – are the global leaders of the chicken, pizza, Mexican-style food and quick-service seafood categories, respectively. Outside the United States, the Yum! Brands system opened more than four new restaurants each day of the year, making it a leader in international retail development.

For further information, visit kfc.ca, tacobell.ca, or pizzahut.ca.

ABOUT GRIP LIMITED:
Grip Limited is a Toronto-based integrated communications company providing expertise in advertising, design and digital. Services include strategy and planning, creative development and production for traditional and non-traditional media, brand identity and package design. Grip’s coveted client roster includes: AB-InBev, Honda Canada Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Expedia.ca, Cadbury, Johnson & Johnson and now Yum! Brands. The company is privately held.

For more information, contact Harvey Carroll at 416-341-7214, visit Grip’s blog or its website.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 21, 2010

THE NEWS:
The Toronto-based advertising agency Grip Limited launches its new, totally redesigned website at griplimited.com

THE DETAILS:
Inspired by the feeling of discovery and play that comes from laying our work out on a big table, Grip’s new site features the standard agency info – and a few surprises – all served up in an engaging and tactile package.

“When advertising agencies build their own sites, there’s a tendency to go down one of two paths,” says Colin Craig, an Associate Partner, Creative, at Grip, and the lead on the new site design. “Either making minimalist gallery-style sites where it’s only about the work itself; or making sites with really complex environments that can be cumbersome if they’re pushed too far.”

“With this design, we were looking for a middle ground where the work had priority but where we could also have fun with the interface and inject some personality into it.”

The new site features case studies, reels, contact information – plus, playful infographics populated by sta  survey data, a live feed from Grip’s blog, and a simplified mobile version.

The site is also displayed on a big iMac touchscreen in the lobby of Grip’s o ce.

See Grip’s new site for yourself at griplimited.com

ABOUT GRIP LIMITED:
Grip Limited is a Toronto-based integrated communications company providing expertise in advertising, design and digital. Services include strategy and planning, creative development and production for traditional and non-traditional media, brand identity and package design. Grip’s coveted client roster includes AB-InBev, Honda Canada Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Expedia.ca, Cadbury, Johnson & Johnson and, now, Yum! Brands. The company is privately held.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Colin Craig – Associate Partner, Creative • colincraig@griplimited.com • 416 341 7227

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2009

THE NEWS
Yum! Canada announces Grip Limited as new creative and strategic partner.

THE DETAILS
Toronto – Yum! Restaurants International (Canada) Company and Grip Limited are proud to announce a new partnership to create advertising and promotions for Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC franchises in Canada.

“We were looking for a communications partner, who not only shares an enthusiasm and passion for our great brands, but could help take us to the next level using an integrated approach,” said Dan Howe, Yum! Canada Chief Marketing Officer. “We’ve found this in Grip as they demonstrated a true understanding of the KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands and our customers.”

Grip Limited, an independently-owned advertising agency in Toronto, will begin work immediately, as AOR, on all creative mass communications for Yum! Canada’s three brand leaders and its 1,278 restaurants.

“We are extremely honoured to be working with Yum! Canada on these three iconic brands,” said Harvey Carroll, President of Grip Limited. “We look forward to helping them continue to grow their business over the long term.”

ABOUT YUM! RESTAURANTS INTERNATIONAL (CANADA)
Yum! Restaurants International (Canada) Company is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., with 1,278 points of distribution in Canada encompassing its three brands – KFC Canada, Taco Bell Canada and Pizza Hut Canada. Yum! Canada brands are leaders in the chicken, Mexican-style and pizza quick-service restaurant industry.

Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants, with more than 36,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries and territories. The company is ranked #239 on the Fortune 500 List, with revenues in excess of $11 billion in 2008. Four of the company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s – are the global leaders of the chicken, pizza, Mexican–style food and quick–service seafood categories, respectively. Outside the United States, the Yum! Brands system opened more than four new restaurants each day of the year, making it a leader in international retail development.

Visit www.kfc.ca, www.tacobell.ca or www.pizzahut.ca for further information.

ABOUT GRIP LIMITED
Grip Limited is a Toronto-based integrated communications company providing expertise in advertising, design and digital. Services include strategy and planning, creative development and production for traditional and non-traditional media, brand identity and package design. Grip’s coveted client roster includes: AB-InBev, Honda Canada Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Expedia.ca, Cadbury, Johnson & Johnson and now YUM! Brands. The company is privately held. For more information, visit our blog at www.bigorangeslide.com

MEDIA CONTACTS
Dan Howe – Chief marketing officer, Yum! Restaurants International (Canada)
(416) 664-5316

Harvey Carroll – President and Partner, Grip Limited
(416) 341-7214

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 8, 2010.

THE NEWS
Budweiser wins Super Bowl XLIV.

THE DETAILS
Budweiser Canada and its agency, Grip Limited of Toronto, scored a big social media win on Super Bowl Sunday.

In a first for Canadian marketers, Budweiser created four different 15-second spots that leveraged the Bud Plane Flight Attendants, driving consumers to Facebook for a chance to win the first row of seats aboard the Bud Plane to next year’s Super Bowl XLV. The promotion ran only on game day. And the winner was announced immediately following the game.

The Bud Plane and Super Bowl activation are well-established assets for Budweiser (60+ lucky fans earned their way to South Florida for the game this year), but the social media one-day-only promotion was a first for the brand and for Grip.

“The promotion began at 12:01 am on Sunday, but the real traction came after the first spot aired,” says Adam Luck, Director, Interactive. A fact that dialed up urgency but defies conventional wisdom about seed times for contest communication.

THE RESULTS
• 30,000+ new fans of Budweiser on Facebook in one day.
• 126,000+ total fans of Budweiser on Facebook.
• Thousands of contest entrants.
• 1 very happy client.
• 1 very exhausted technical team.
• 1 very excited winner (and three of their friends).

Grip’s Superbowl XLIV activation for Budweiser enabled the brand to reclaim its title as the largest Facebook beer page in Canada.

ABOUT GRIP LIMITED
Grip Limited is a Toronto-based integrated communications company providing expertise in advertising, design and digital. Services include strategy and planning, creative development and production for traditional and non-traditional media, brand identity and package design. Grip’s coveted client roster includes: AB-InBev, Honda Canada Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Expedia.ca, Cadbury and Johnson & Johnson. The company is privately held. For more information, visit www.bigorangeslide.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Dave Hamilton, Partner – Creative • (416) 340-7111

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 15, 2010

THE NEWS
Grip Limited welcomes Kristina Hayes, an innovative online specialist, to its Healthcare team as Account Director, Interactive.

THE DETAILS
Grip Limited is thrilled to introduce Kristina Hayes as the newest member of its Healthcare team. Kristina has spent the past 12 years in marketing roles focused on branding within both digital and mass channels. She has led successful marketing initiatives for national brands such as Bell Canada, CIBC, Visa Inc., Guelph University, Labatt and CGA Ontario. She has extensive experience creating, building and redeveloping online propositions that deliver real engagement and bottom-line performance. And she has proven success in creating engaging and innovative acquisition and retention strategies using digital tools.

“Given the restrictions and challenges the healthcare sector has in navigating the digital space, Kristina’s wealth of interactive experience will be of huge value to Grip’s current and future clients,” said Grace Debrabandere, Associate Partner at Grip Limited.

MEDIA CONTACT
Grace Debrabandere • 416 340 7111 • gracedebrabandere@griplimited.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 6, 2010

THE NEWS
Holly Broome named to Ontario Pharmaceutical Marketing Association’s Board of Directors.

THE DETAILS
Grip Limited of Toronto is pleased to announce that Holly Broome, Manager Business at Grip, has been named to the Board of Directors as the Communications Director in the Digital Space by the nominating committee for the Ontario Pharmaceutical Marketing Association (OPMA).

“This is a prestigious appointment for Holly and speaks to her positive reputation in the industry and her skill set in the digital space.” said Grace Debrabendare, Associate Partner, Business at Grip. “I’m confident that the OPMA will find her to be a tremendous asset.”

ABOUT GRIP LIMITED
Grip Limited is a Toronto based communications company providing expertise in advertising, design and digital. Services strategy & planning, creative development and production for traditional and non-traditional media, and brand identity and package design. The company’s coveted client roster includes: AB-InBev, Honda Canada Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Expedia, Allergan, Warner Chilcott (formerly P&G Pharma), Cadbury and Johnson and Johnson. The company is privately held.

MEDIA CONTACT
Grace Debrabandere • 416 340 7111 • gracedebrabandere@griplimited.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, December 8, 2009

THE NEWS
Grip blog is Communication Arts’ Web Pick of the Day.

THE DETAILS
We’re thrilled to announce that Big Orange Slide has been selected as Communication Arts’ Web Pick of the Day. The feature highlights unique and innovative websites from across communications disciplines.

MEDIA CONTACT
Dave Hamilton • 416 341 7212

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

THE NEWS
We won the AutoTrader.ca business.

THE DETAILS
After an intense pitch process, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve won the AutoTrader.ca business. This is a great brand and a great team. We’re pumped to be working with them.

Congrats to all involved.

MEDIA CONTACT
Dave Hamilton • 416 341 7212

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009

THE NEWS
We won some awards.

THE DETAILS
We won some Digital Marketing Awards (DMAs):
Silver – Consumer Packaged Goods Website – KokaneeBeer.ca
Silver – Consumer Products Website – Honda Fit
Silver – Online Video – Honda Blue Skies
Bronze – Social Media – Bud Light Lime

. . . some Advertising & Design Club of Canada (ADCC) awards:
Silver – Innovative Campaign – Kokanee Ranger Live or Die
Merit – Website – Kokanee Ranger Live or Die
Merit – Finale TV – Kokanee Ranger Live or Die
Gold – Email – Kokanee Ranger Live or Die
Silver – Website – Honda Fit
Merit – Product Promotion – Happy Planet
Silver – TV Campaign – Bud Light NHL Between the Posts
Merit – Trade Ad, Single – NABS Seagull
Merit – Poster, Campaign– Nearly Naked

Awards are valuable for a couple of reasons. They’re a nice pat on the back. They let you know how you’re performing in the industry. They get people excited about doing great work. And they let clients know that the quality of their work is at a competitive level.

MEDIA CONTACT
Dave Hamilton • 416 341 7212

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, October 26, 2009

THE NEWS
Toronto ad agency Grip Limited launches a new blog at bigorangeslide.com.

THE DETAILS
The ad agency known for its big slide and big integrated campaigns for the likes of Honda, Budweiser, Cadbury and Expedia.ca has gone blog. It’s called “Big Orange Slide” and it’s a new window into the world of one of Canada’s most multi-disciplinary creative agencies.

Here’s your FAQ. Answers by Dave Hamilton. He’s a Partner, Creative at Grip Limited and the muscle behind this project.

Why should I care?
Because if you’re reading this you already know the value of good marketing. And you know that daily access to some of the sharpest minds in the business is money in the bank.

What’s on the editorial agenda?
Strategy, design, digital, and culture – these are our four pillars. But we’re ready to follow the threads wherever they lead. (Or wherever we lead them.)

Who’s involved?
To start, we’ve got five writers representing a variety of industry disciplines: Matt Rogers, Bryan Hobson, Steve Rhind, Patrick Robinson and Dave Hamilton. Colin Craig is our art director and Ian Mackenzie is our editor. That said, everyone at Grip is an expert at something, and we’ll be providing access to as much of that insight as we can.

Why now?
Because eight years in and 100 strong, the fine folks at Grip Limited have some big questions to ask, and some big ideas to share.

Media Contact
Dave Hamilton • 416 341 7212