Emma Kiernan, marketing manager, Dublin Zoo, has been named as the Marketer of the Year (MotY) 2019 for her work in helping to develop Ireland’s top family attraction and not-for-profit organisation which welcomes over 1.2 million visitors a year. As the person responsible for driving revenue, she rolled out The Zoo TV series now in its ninth season on RTÉ One and the Wild Lights winter nights’ experience.
Kiernan defined Dublin Zoo’s bullseye target market as Irish mums, age 24-44 with children under 12. Comprising 67 per cent of footfall, they are time poor and seek experiences in a safe, outdoor, educational and tech-free environment. Price is not an issue for the cohort, belief and trust count. When Kiernan first joined the zoo in 2011, McVitie’s was the only sponsor, delivering €10,000 a year.
But Kiernan had to resist over-commercialising the zoo. Any marketing partnerships need to reflect the core brand values of education, conservation and family. As a charity, the zoo’s marketing budget was minimal. All ad spend was put on hold and the focus turned to PR and building media relations. Kiernan’s previous experience working with the Observer in the UK and Newstalk came in handy.
Dublin Zoo uses Teneo for PR and Zenith for media buying.
Editorial control of The Zoo TV series rests with Kiernan and her director, Leo Oosterweghel. They work with the Moondance production company in taking 250,000 Sunday night viewers on behind-the-scenes journeys with the zoo’s animals and their keepers. Key for series sponsor SSE Eirtricity is a recruitment offer to the zoo on the energy provider’s reward site which saw over 3,800 redemptions.
A shining example in strategic initiatives: Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo was the brainchild of Emma Kiernan using Chinese lanterns for a new wildlife experience. This year’s theme was ‘Stories, Myths & Legends’ with scenes from the Wizard of Oz, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and, of course, Jungle Book. In 2017, Wild Light ticket sales came to €150,000, while last year €239,000 was achieved with a return on investment of €37 per ticket. Kiernan elevated the zoo’s marketing from tactics to a strategy of animal conservation.
In 2017, Kiernan launched Dublin Zoo’s first night-time experience. Wild Lights saw the zoo’s pathways replaced by a lantern trail inspired by wildlife. With a meagre marketing budget of just €125,000, Kiernan looked to media sponsors for support. In return for tickets to Wild Lights, the zoo signed up 98FM and INM. The first year sold out at 190,000 tickets, with over €3m in revenue.
The second year sold out at 223,000 tickets.
Since 2011, footfall at Dublin Zoo grew from 963,053 to 1.23m last year. The visitor profile has changed sizeably under Kiernan’s tenure, up from 63 per cent ABC1 in 2009 to 88 per cent ABC1 in 2017. In 2009, Dublin Zoo recorded 19 per cent visitor expectation, jumping to 45 per cent two years ago. Kiernan’s key career tip – take your time, understand your target market and trust your gut.
MOTY 2019 FINALISTS
PJ BRIGDALE, AN POST
Kiernan was one of four finalists in the running for MotY 2019. This year’s other three finalists were PJ Brigdale, head of brand, An Post; Rossa Butler, marketing and operations director, Littlewoods Ireland and Una Fitzgibbon, marketing director, Bord Bia. Brigdale helped shape and roll out a new brand offering for An Post with a strategy aimed at making its consumer services more relevant.
An Post singled out its bullseye target consumer, whom they identified as ‘Ciara’ and TV presenter Angela Scanlon fronted the rebrand in the ‘For Your World’ ads. The new offering marked a move away from letter posting to parcel services, post office savings to banking and providing a new commercial model for Irish business. Brigdale’s career tip to people is to go abroad and get experience overseas.
ROSSA BUTLER, LITTLEWOODS IRELAND
Rossa Butler transformed Littlewoods Ireland’s position in the fashion, homeware and electrical market by moving from catalogues to mobile. The focus had been on TV but without all the other components linked up. Basing the new model on Spotify, his marketing team was upskilled and turnover doubled to €100 million. Customer satisfaction and trust in the brand improved considerably.
His career tip?
Enjoy your job in the knowledge that marketing can prove challenging.
UNA FITZGIBBON, BORD BIA
With Ireland’s food industry facing change, Bord Bia knew it was time to wake the sleeping giant. Fitzgibbon’s plan was to persuade different shareholders to trust quality Irish food with a strategy based around Origin Green, the Quality Mark and Bloom. Hollywood actress Saoirse Ronan fronted Origin Green. QMark’s ‘Your Food is our Passion’ hit home, prompting high awareness and retail sales.
Fitzgibbon’s tip? Move from brand purpose to tech and learn to sell to machines.
JUDGES
Chair: Barry Dooley (second on right), chief executive, Association of Advertisers Ireland (AAI)
Steven Roberts, head of marketing, Griffith College
Louise Bannon, head of marketing, Dublin Airport
Niall O’Grady, managing director, 123.ie
Adam Bacon, head of marketing, VHI Healthcare
Alan Fox, general manager (Ireland & UK) Free Now
Paul Dervan, head of marketing effectiveness, Alternatives
Lisa Browne, head of marketing, Electric Ireland
Suzanne Weldon, marketing and communications director, BWG Foods
Jamie Helly, managing director, Dynamo
Orlaith Blaney, chief communications and marketing officer, Ervia
Marketer of The Year™ is organised by Marketing.ie magazine and sponsored by Alternatives. Marketer of The Year™ is registered in the Register of Trademarks in the name Marketing.ie under the Trademarks Act 1996. Any use of the Marketer of The Year™ title in the Republic of Ireland is strictly reserved and cannot be used without written permission.
