Phantom Blog

2023, you had your moments.

The summer break beckons, with family fun and beach days. But before we say goodbye to 2023, let’s take a moment to look back at some billsticking highlights.

You helped make them happen. So, thank you.

We turned posters into poi-sters.
Phantom helped promote kapa haka by collaborating with Potiki Poi to place real poi on our poster frames in the days leading up to Te Matatini. Every day, the poi were replenished.

Pretty soon, social media was buzzing with rumors about the timing of the next poi drop. It was a rare day when they lasted more than five minutes.

The power of the poppy.
Lest we forget, graphic red poppies stood proud in our poster frames in the days leading up to Anzac Day. And there was a QR code so you could donate on the spot.

Free posters for NZ Music Month.
To celebrate Kiwi music and help lure audiences to gigs, we offered 41 free posters for every musical act staging a show during Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa | New Zealand Music Month.

We collaborated with Olivia Rodrigo.
Her latest album was a worldwide smash. In Aotearoa, her team printed four unique QR codes to reveal Olivia’s lyrics on four Phantom street posters. All you had to do was point your phone at the poster.

Our burnt-out car was a global winner for The Boys.
The Phantom Labs team helped create the imaginative installation complete with laser eyes and a burnt-out car. Then the jury at the World Out Of Home Congress voted it runner-up in the category of Best Creative Classic Poster. The gold medal would have been even more awesome but we were still pretty stoked.

Matariki to the max.
In deep, dark midwinter we ran Matariki campaigns for a host of awesome clients. It was fantastic to see brands like ANZ, Te Papa, the Auckland Philharmonic, and Hutt City celebrating the holiday – and embracing the creative possibilities of posters.

National Poetry Day took poetry to every corner of Aotearoa.
…helped by Phantom Billstickers. We sponsor this event because we love printing poems on posters, and we want to see people indulge their love of incredible words.

Hand Painted Art stepped out of the shadows.
People around the world have woken up to the power of a giant piece of public art. Phantom has been on it for ages, and we have the sites and connections to deliver some really exciting murals. Case in point: the new Mac showstopper in Auckland.

We created winners.
Phantom believes in the power of creativity so we wanted to see what some unsung brands could do given the chance to take over a prime site. We were blown away by the results. Link to a page with some of the site takeover competition winners.

Thanks for an epic year,

See you in 2024.

Superfans are the most precious asset any brand (or band) can have.

They’re your repeat customers, your ticket buyers and frequent flyers. They’re the 20% of your customer base who drive 80% of your sales. The people who engage with your social posts. The people who write your 5-star reviews. The people who power your most effective marketing channel – word of mouth.

If only there were a cost-effective way of engaging them even more.

There is.

Super sites for Superfans.

Something special happens when people who love your brand see your poster.

They stop. They smile. They might even take a photo and post it on their socials.

That’s because street posters create emotional connection. There’s some clever psychological research behind this, but the gist is that fans feel they’re encountering a friend in a public place. It’s a sweet little surprise.

On a practical note, you’re also giving them shareable content. If your poster is creative enough, it might even go viral worldwide.   

At Phantom Billstickers, we’ve got hundreds of sites where your fans can find your brand. We’d love to put you guys in touch.

Street posters are brilliant for new entrants to a market. With street presence and the ability to dominate a local market, they’re a great way for feisty newcomers to announce their arrival. 

Then when it’s time to scale, posters are even more essential. Here’s why:

Awareness that translates into sales. Old thinking is that awareness (the currency of brands) is only loosely connected to sales performance. But with outdoor media, you get the best of both worlds. One study found that internet searches out of home are 38% more likely to lead to a sale than those conducted at home. 

Digital native brands need to live outside digital, eventually. Many new brands have a huge advantage in being digitally native because they don’t have to go through the digital transformation of legacy brands. That said, at some stage, they need to distinguish themselves from the other digital natives – and posters are a great way to show the flag.

The brand medium your future consumers love. Gen Z doesn’t watch mainstream TV and takes digital for granted. However, they love outdoor media – perhaps because of its creative scope and lack of adtech surveillance.

Create events that go viral. Phantom’s poster sites have dispensed kombucha, chocolate, books, and hot cross buns. With a little imagination and some help from our clever Account Managers and Phantom Labs team, you can get the public sampling, sharing, and raving about your up-and-coming brand. 

Sustainability is built in. With carbon footprints being scrutinized by consumers, your growing brand needs to watch its step. At Phantom, we’re onto it. Our operations are certified carbon-zero, and we’re committed to making street posters the most sustainable option in the marketing mix. 

Oh, and there’s the small matter of affordability. We understand that your marketing budget is not infinite, and you need to make every brand campaign work for its living. Phantom’s nationwide network of 6,500 poster frames gives you the ability to target your audiences and look big on a budget. 

Get in touch and find out how. 

It’s been refreshing to see advertisers embrace the potential of street posters as the days grow longer.

Coruba, Macs, Panhead, L&P, Zeffer. They all know it makes sense to be outdoors as Aotearoa slips into party mode. Bright, fresh, clean creative that stands out like a yacht’s spinnaker against the blue skies.

They’re not the only brands to make their mark. Even before Christmas hits, Saben, Nikon, and Vans have been reminding shoppers of what’s in-store. 

Phantom’s poster frames will be working 24/7 on city streets this summer. Maybe your brand should, too.

More daylight means more opportunities to be seen.

There’s an old myth that no one spends money after Christmas, so why advertise?

Tell that to the people selling tickets to summer festivals or soft drinks to thirsty families. 

They know that Phantom’s 6,500 poster frames work non-stop throughout the year – even more so when their customers are out and about. And when they invest in bright, summery creative, they can really make bank.

Talk to us now if you want to stand out this summer. 

Auckland-born and bred, Courtney took a 12-week break after the pandemic that turned into a 12-month contract crisscrossing the globe with Emirates. Before that, she successfully launched, built, and sold her own design and print business. You could say she’s a self-starter with an optimistic mindset and a proven ability to make things happen – which is why we’re pleased to have her onboard.

If you haven’t already caught up with Courtney, here’s a guide to what makes her tick.

My role at Phantom Billstickers is working closely with agencies and onboarding new business as Phantom’s newest (and coolest) Account Manager.

My journey in the industry began with print wholesale, selling machinery and media to print shops. I later set up my own successful print and design business. Following the sale of that venture, I moved to Dubai for a working holiday, exploring different corners of the globe for just over a year. Now I’ve returned home, ready to dive back into the hustle and grind.

You could say it’s a sales role but it’s really about bringing ideas to life. Everyone at Phantom loves finding ways for clients to get more for their money. It might involve helping a client pick the perfect combination of sites to reach their audience at a lower cost per view. Or it could mean developing an interactive element or installing lasers to light up the night.

One campaign I love is The Boy’s epic takeover. Laser eyes and a burnt-out car. Absolutely unmissable!

The one piece of advice I’d give clients is ‘Have fun with it!’ Challenge us, and ask us to brainstorm ideas. There are so many ways we can take an outdoor campaign to the next level.

After hours you’ll find me at the beach or hitting bombs down the fairway. And I’m a massive foodie and coffee connoisseur so you’ll always see me out and about trying new spots.