"The Break" campaign shows how The General puts itself into its customers' shoes and gives drivers a break when they need one the most — which is why the brand has been providing quality insurance and flexibility in policies and payments since 1963.
"The Break" campaign includes new advertisements, partnerships and a brand refresh with both an updated logo and evolved General character. Across all assets, the campaign showcases The General's simple belief: when times are tough and it feels like things aren't going your way, getting a break on your car insurance can make all the difference. The brand's four new ads launch this spring and summer and showcase the specific breaks that The General has been giving its customers for years, such as flexible payment options and choosing your own payment due date.
Beyond the series of commercials, "The Break" includes an evolved character, developed by Psyop, who has been modernized and made more relatable. Most significantly, his eyes are now revealed to better showcase his empathy. The General's brand team also leaned into the history and prominence of the company's current logo, retaining the symbolic five stars while elevating the new logo through a refreshed design. The new logo was initially designed internally before lettering artist and New York Times Bestselling Author, Jessica Hische, polished and finessed each letter.
"At The General, giving a break to those who need it most is at the heart of what we do," said Kale Sligh, VP of marketing at The General. "This new campaign speaks to our mission to be the most flexible and empathetic insurance company and continues our brand evolution. We're committed to supporting our customers when they need us and have been leaning into that for 60 years."
The new ad spots — which mark the first round of work to come from The General's creative agency, Energy BBDO — tout flexible payment options and coverage that meets customers where they are. The General tapped a cast of characters and celebrities who have, at one point or another, needed a break in life. The cast is representative of The General's strategy to create authentic partnerships that align with its brand values and mission, as well as connect with a diverse group of drivers who all deserve a break.
The General's new ad campaign features four spots, including "Bad Luck Brian" and "Piraguero." "Bad Luck Brian" pairs iconic brand ambassador Shaquille O'Neal with internet celebrity Bad Luck Brian to show that even drivers with comically bad luck can catch a break with The General. "Piraguero" connects with the fast-growing Hispanic audience by featuring Shaq and the newly evolved General visiting a street vendor serving Puerto Rican shaved ice. This spot, which is The General's first-ever spot conceived and produced solely in Spanish, leans into The General's commitment to creating authentic, relevant connections with Hispanic audiences.
"What really drew us to The General was how much the entire organization truly cares for its customers including showing empathy, something that's not usually expected in the category. That's how we landed the idea for the campaign," said Josh Gross, chief creative officer at Chicago-based ad agency Energy BBDO. "It's a big, universal idea, and we're excited to see it usher in a new creative chapter for The General as well as kick off our partnership with these incredible clients."
To connect with audiences around the country, The General is also embarking on a series of purposeful marketing partnerships that brings "The Break" messaging to life, starting with the NBA G League. The General announced its partnership as the exclusive auto-insurance partner of the NBA G League and G League Ignite in November and kicked off an eight-part docuseries titled "The Break, presented by The General." The series has quickly become one of the best-performing G League partnered content series of all time, proving that The General's "Break" messaging is already resonating with key audiences.
The ad campaign is launching three installments that will roll out on TV, digital and social media platforms. For more information and to see the new spots visit www.thegeneral.com and follow the brand on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
About The General Insurance
The General Automobile Insurance Services, Inc. (The General®) is a licensed insurance agency and subsidiary of PGC Holdings Corp. (PGC), which is wholly owned by American Family Mutual Insurance Company. Through its insurance company subsidiaries and their predecessors, PGC has been writing automobile insurance since 1963, serving customers who may find it difficult to obtain insurance from other carriers at a reasonable rate. Visit www.thegeneral.com or www.thegeneral.com/shaq; follow The General on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Media Contact:
Maura Gallagher
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SOURCE The General® Insurance
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