16th August 2008
The return of the wispa
The greatest viral campaign of all time?
According to the official Wispa website, the much renowned Cadbury's chocolate is making a permanent comeback.
After a successful trial period earlier this year when wispa's were snapped up by the box load, Cadbury's have announced that the chocolate bar is being brought back on a full time basis.
Now, while this was great news to those of us who have been pining for the bar ever since it's demise back in 2003, here at Base we did start to wonder whether this incredible re-introduction was the result of hard work by genuine chocolate bar fans or whether Baldrick (Cadbury's) had had a cunning plan.
Bare with us for a second here. Let's have a look at the chronology of how the return of the Wispa came about…
"Online networking with consumers lamenting the loss of the Wispa chocolate bar on websites, blogs and chatrooms has become an international campaign. On Facebook, there are 93 ‘Bring Back Wispa' groups with almost 14,000 members. Feelings for the retro chocolate bar run as strongly on MySpace and Bebo."
What if those 'consumers' were actually viral marketeers seeding some discussion about the 80's chocolate bar?
"During Iggy Pop's 2007 performance at the Glastonbury Festival, Wispa fans stormed the stage in a bid to draw attention to their cause. Their banners proclaimed 'Bring Back the Wispa'."
What if those 'fans' are a few paid actors?
"Now, in response, Cadbury are to relaunch the brand in October, marketed as the ‘Wispa Classic'."
What if this 'response' was what they'd hoped might happen?
"We have noticed the web interest for some time and the consumer passion has undeniably swayed our opinion to relaunch Wispa. This is the first time that the power of the internet played such an intrinsic role in the return of a Cadbury brand."
Cadbury spokesman Tony Bilsborough, BBC News
Or did they cleverly create the 'web interest' themselves?
Now it's just a thought, but we think this is potentially one of the best viral marketing campaigns in the techniques history.
And it's probably one of the best because we can't confirm it was even a campaign! Genius. Enjoy your chocolate.
Related information
Related Internet sites
- Official Cadbury's Wispa website (external link)
- Web campaign prompts Wispa return, BBC News (external link)
- Wispa on Wikipedia (external link)
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"Yes, you heard right. It's coming back. October 6 to be exact. No more "is it or isn't it?" Whoopla only pure joyous excitement now."
The official Cadbury's wispa website, www.wispa.co.uk