Harmon Brothers Switch From Poop to Investing in New Ad

As the U.S. continues to struggle with Covid-19, some Americans have used these uncertain times as an opportunity to scale their financial portfolio. Per a Fidelity Investments Market Sentiment Study released in May, 15% of Americans have been investing more into the stock market during the pandemic. But what about the everyday Americans who want to start building their portfolios, but don't know where to start? In comes investment system and weekly tech stock newsletter Profits Unlimited, edited by a team of advisers led by Paul Mampilly, a 30-year Wall Street veteran. While the concept sounds intriguing, investment ads aren't known for being exciting. Harmon Brothers, the Utah-based social media ad agency behind viral commercial blockbuster hits for Chatbooks, FiberFix, Poo-Pourri, Purple and Squatty Potty, aims to put the fun in finances with their campaign for Profits Unlimited. "Office Takeover" stars Corey Landis, who balances sardonic quips about making regrettable life choices like having kids at age 40 while touting Profits Unlimited's investment subscription service in the 3-minute spot. Its this combination of slightly outrageous office antics and the hyping-up of a stock investment product for Main Street Americans—per Harmon Brothers—that makes it one of the most successful ads the agency has created since its ode to body odor for Lume deodorant. [kickout id="1"] Daniel Harmon, chief creative officer at Harmon Brothers, wanted to create a character who reflected the product's disruption of the traditional world of investment. To make a historically dry subject like the finances come across as relatable, Harmon Brothers employed their not-so-secret marketing formula of "sales first, art second." "Whenever we can clearly explain what a product is while entertaining you," Harmon continued, "is a win to us." When the agency advertises a digital product like Profits Unlimited, the challenge comes in making it feel tangible, which is why it was crucial to cast someone like Landis who could bring levity (like nonchalantly putting a hole-in-one through an office window). "When we’re marketing a financial newsletter, it’s a bit more ambiguous than, say, a stool that makes you poop better," Harmon noted. "So we have to make the problem, solution and everything else feel a little more concrete and grounded." In this challenging economic climate, Harmon Brothers wanted to be sensitive to the situation while also retaining comic chops and capturing the promise of taking control of your financial future. "We knew we needed to infuse a message of confidence and hope into this ad, which is exactly the messaging that has led Profits Unlimited to such great success over the years," Harmon said. CREDITS: Chief Creative Director | Daniel Harmon Creative Director | Jonny Vance Creative Director | Nick Ritter Co-Director | Jonny Vance Co-Director | Nick Ritter 2Nd Cd | Shane Rickard Co-Lead Writer | Jessica Rigby Co-Lead Writer | Kelly Vrooman Writer | Zach Atherton Writer | Britt Ellsworth Producer | Bryan Fugal Assistant Producer | Joshua Stofferahn Unit Production Manager | Tiffani Barth 1St Ad | Keith Grover 2Nd Ad | Joshua Stofferahn Key Pa | Mario Deangelis Script Supervisor | Kat Peterson Public Health Supervisor | Adriele Fugal Director Of Photography | Tyler Stevens Assistant Camera | Austin Haack Gaffer | Phil Shepherd Key Grip | Kevin Woodward Electric | Danny Shepherd Grip | Keali’i Johnson Production Designer | Jonas Sappington Leadman | Kent Everet Props | Hunter Nelson Hair/Makeup | Rachel Clark Wardrobe/Costume | Rebecca Berry Sound Mixer | Josh Hone Craft Services | Fat Boy Catering Location Manager | Adam Bohl Teleprompter | Ryan Deans Teleprompter | Stacia Barton Casting | Ben Cummins On-Set Vfx Supervisor | Nick Ritter Storyboard Artist | Chantal Itkin Animatic | Ryan Powell Post Production Supervisor | Bryson Alley Lead Editor | Blake Brust Dit/Asst Edit | Blake Brust Graphics Lead | Gibson Smith Graphic Designer | Mike Henderson Graphic Designer | Lauren Kunz Graphic Designer | Ron Merrell Motion Graphics | Jeremy Dance Motion Graphics | Ron Merrell Vfx Lead | Bryson Alley Sound Design | Stephen Henderson Account Managers | Kurt Horn &Amp; Emily Mclean Cast Bill (Spokesman) | Corey Landis Myrtle | Laurie Harrop-Purser Paul Mampilly | Himself Richard “Dick” | James Andrews

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Mónica Marie Zorrilla

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Mónica Marie Zorrilla