Articles / Our Experts
Meet the team behind the latest O’Brien® TV ad: “Stop! Repair Time”
29 August 2024
We at O'Brien® are proud of our unique advertising approach, which aims to educate (and entertain) our viewers and use our real-life team members as part of our commercials. Since the 1990s, we’ve encouraged our team to showcase their creative flare in front of the camera as they help inform Australians how a chipped windscreen could lead to further damage (and how we can help them avoid this).
Cue: our latest commercial, “Stop! Repair Time!”
Still waiting to see the ad? View here.
Our newest advertisement purposely breaks away from the typical O'Brien® style seen on TV screens over the past few years. Taking a fresh approach to entertain a broader, younger demographic, we’ve used our ‘hero tech’ differently, telling the chip-to-crack story from the point of what you don’t want to happen.
“We never want to get comfortable in our advertising at O'Brien. As viewing habits change, we must adapt how our message and brand is conveyed. That’s why we’ve changed where you hear our jingle and how it’s played, plus using our branding in different ways to ensure the ad is still uniquely O'Brien. Bringing this re-vamped chip repair story to life was exciting”.
–Claudia Johnston, Senior Marketing Manager
While “Stop! Repair Time!” is a new twist on a tried and tested O'Brien® message, some things will always stay the same…
Keeping it real with our real-life stars
In our latest campaign, three-valued O'Brien® team members participated in making the commercial. Nat Rouessart and Emma Speechly starred in front of the camera alongside two actors, Tom and Sabrina, and the wonderful Winston. Plus, Ed Finlay recorded the voice that played over the radio in the opening scene.
“The shoot day was a breeze —definitely not your typical workday! The locations were outside, so a big change from our usual gig inside one of our Service Centres. Such a fun story made the day a blast, with plenty of laughs between takes and pats with the real star- Winston. It’s pretty awesome to swap out my technician hat for a bit and get in on these fun campaigns that I love being a part of.”
– Nat Rouessart, O'Brien® AutoGlass Technician.
Adding to the fun of the day was having the talented (and handsome) Boston Terrier, Winston (who came along as a bonus extra thanks to Arielle at Two Giraffes creative agency). He performed like a pro, howling the jingle in tune and on cue.
Emma enjoyed hanging out with Winston in the back seat during the shoot (doing a great job keeping him on task), enjoying the fun company on set and the change of pace for the day (from her busy role at O'Brien® head office).
“It was such a great day, and even better to see the marketing team’s hard work and all that goes on behind the scenes to make these amazing commercials. I was lucky enough to be slobbered on and kissed all day by the singing pup, Winston, who was the main star of the ad – sorry Nat!’
– Emma Speechly, O'Brien® AutoGlass Business Improvement Leader
After the shoot day, Nat headed to the sound-proof booth at the recording studio to join Ed (where they both recorded their voice-overs like the pros that they are). Always happy to help and take time out from his job as a Mobile Technician, Ed travelled up from Wollongong to record his now familiar voice for the O'Brien radio commercial heard in the opening scene.
“The second I heard that Marketing needed me to be the ‘radio voice’ in the new ad, my eyes lit up. I love jumping from my usual day job as a mobile windscreen technician to working in a recording studio or on set, where I showcase my otherwise hidden skills and talents alongside Nat and the crew. It’s an amazing opportunity to be part of the well-known TV ads for O'Brien.”
– Ed Finlay, O'Brien® AutoGlass Technician.
Did you know Ed is also a well-known face in O’Brien® TV commercials? Check out some of Ed’s work here.
Keep an eye out for the singing Winston.
After a short test campaign in Sydney, the “Stop! Repair Time” advertisement is now showing across TV screens nationwide. We hope our audiences enjoy the fresh new take on our important message, and remember to call O'Brien® to help fix your windscreen chip. You never know, you might be lucky enough to have Nat or Ed as your O’Brien® technician!
At O'Brien®, solving your problems is what we do. Delivering high-quality service with genuine care and expert support is our top priority. There’s nothing more satisfying than solving your problems with our dedicated team at O'Brien®. From vehicle glass to home and commercial glass and electrical and plumbing services, our O'Brien® team is here for you. So, call us today on 1800 059 829 or find your nearest expert here.