Digitas and American Express Win Grand CLIO at the CLIO Awards

"Small Business Saturday" Campaign Takes Top Advertising Prize Of The Year, and Gold in the First Ever Facebook Category and Gold in Interactive/Social Media Category

News provided by

Digitas

May 23, 2011, 12:40 ET

NEW YORK, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Digitas, the leading global integrated brand agency, American Express, and Crispin Porter + Bogusky have been awarded the Grand CLIO in the "Content and Contact" category for "Small Business Saturday," a groundbreaking campaign that created the first-ever holiday dedicated to supporting small businesses.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100616/NE22345LOGO )

In addition to the Grand CLIO, Small Business Saturday also won the CLIO Special Award for Facebook Integrated Media and the Gold CLIO for Interactive/Social Media.

"American Express OPEN is an inspired partner who understands the value and drive of community. Small Business Saturday was an idea that inspired passion and action and Facebook was the quintessential place to gain nationwide community momentum," said Mark Kiernan, SVP, Marketing, Digitas. "We're thrilled to be honored by the CLIOS for this successful campaign and to have a part in the creation of a national consumer movement to 'shop small.'"

The campaign designated November 27 as "Small Business Saturday" -- a day when American Express cardholders could receive $25 back when shopping at registered small businesses. At the same time, registered small business owners received access to sophisticated marketing tools, advice, and free geo-targeted advertising. The multi-channel campaign impacted millions of people and business owners nationwide, as well as garnered the support of numerous elected officials.

> GRAND CLIO | Content and Contact
Client: American Express | Campaign: Small Business Saturday
http://www.clioawards.com/winners/winners.cfm?medium_id=8
Agencies: Digitas, Crispin Porter + Bogusky

> CLIO SPECIAL AWARD | Facebook Integrated Media
Client: American Express | Campaign: Small Business Saturday
http://www.clioawards.com/winners/winners.cfm?medium_id=17
Agencies: Digitas

> GOLD CLIO | Interactive (Social Media)
Client: American Express | Campaign: Small Business Saturday
http://www.clioawards.com/winners/winners.cfm?medium_id=7
Agencies: Digitas

Now in its 52nd year, the CLIO Awards is one of the world's most prestigious advertising awards competitions. The Grand CLIO honors the best advertising of the year -- outstanding campaigns that inspire consumers and drive results.

Digitas and American Express: Creating Innovative, Award-Winning Campaigns

This award comes on the heels of a number of other accolades that Digitas and American Express have won through their collaboration. In February, they were awarded the One Show Silver Pencil for Innovation for "My Movie Pitch," a contest where film enthusiasts everywhere could submit movie pitches online for the chance to see their idea brought to life. In April, they were named finalists in two categories at the Webby Awards for "Unstaged," a live interactive concert experience that drew in millions of viewers. And in June, Small Business Saturday will be awarded an Effie for Best Media Idea.

About Digitas

Digitas, the top global integrated brand agency, builds active brands for some of the foremost companies in the world. With a deep understanding of their client's customer's passions and behaviors, the agency combines media creativity, technology, creativity, analytics to ignite emotional bonds between people and brands. Digitas counts Agency of the Year honors from the Festival of Media, OMMA Magazine, Promo Magazine, BtoB Magazine, and Les Agences de l'Annee, France, and has been named to the Advertising Age Digital A-List among its many awards.

Digitas also operates the brand content platform, The Third Act:, producers of first and most well renowned event on digital content, The NewFront; the healthcare marketing brand, Digitas Health; and, Prodigious Worldwide, the world's only standalone, global digital productions company.

With sister agencies Starcom MediaVest, ZenithOptimedia, Denuo and Razorfish, Digitas is a member of Publicis Groupe's VivaKi -- a global digital knowledge and resource center that leverages the combined scale of the autonomous operations of its members to develop new services, new tools, and new partnerships.

Publicis Groupe [listed on the Euronext Paris Exchange - FR0000130577 - and part of the CAC 40 index] is the world's third largest communications group. With activities spanning 104 countries on five continents, Publicis Groupe offers local and international clients a complete range of advertising services. Web site: www.publicisgroupe.com

www.digitas.com | Twitter: @Digitas | Facebook: Digitas Fan Page | Blog: Digitas Distillery

SOURCE Digitas