Westfield Launches ‘i Was There’ Campaign

Westfield, Official Shopping Centre of the London 2012, has revealed plans for a new multi-platform digital campaign pitting Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City consumers against each other throughout the Olympic Games.

Developed by Story Worldwide and entitled ‘I Was There’, the campaign encourages consumers to choose an allegiance to either Westfield London in the West of the capital, or Westfield Stratford City at the edge of the Olympic Park in the East and showcase their regional support through a variety of social media channels.

Signing up at the Westfield London or Westfield Stratford City websites earn the respective ‘teams’ a point, as will tweets, Instagram pictures, videos and check ins referencing the dedicated hashtags #iwasthere #west or #east.  

Participants are also being encouraged to get involved on the Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City Facebook pages for more opportunities to win points.

Westfield has garnered the support of the British Olympic Association for the campaign with consumers also being given the option of signing up to support Team GB. Team GB merchandise will also be awarded to winners throughout the campaign.

The marketing activity aims to mobilise Londoners to share their story of the summer and become part of the legacy of the London 2012 Games.

Running until the end of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, tagged content will be featured in live feeds on the Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City websites. The best content from each team will be featured each week on the Westfield websites, with weekly winners receiving special prizes. At the end of the campaign, an overall winner for best content will be selected, and members of the winning team will be selected at random to receive a Visa prepaid card loaded with their share of the £25,000 prize fund.  

Westfield plans to drive further consumer interactions by recruiting ‘roving reporters’ around London who will generate content for their respective team and provide a jumping-off point for further fan conversations, as well as encouraging relevant retail, fashion and entertainment bloggers to ‘captain’ their side of the capital and share their favourite #iwasthere experiences.

Activity will be supported by a Facebook campaign incorporating Facebook apps and a detailed content strategy, with a series of ‘challenges’ to generate buzz and virality amongst fans. The existing Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City Android and iPhone apps will also be re-skinned to support full campaign activity, and a phased search and PPC campaign will be implemented to attract traffic from consumers both in the UK and abroad searching for things to do in London.