Somfy is a French producer of automatic control devices for domestic curtains, blinds, shutters and awnings. Seeking to enter the Taiwan market they asked Stepworks to develop and execute a B2B2C strategy that would position their offering as a luxury product and break through the clutter. Stepworks answered their brief by first developing a name and a brand for the offering. This was followed by an app/print launch campaign targeting local distributors and consumers.

Named after the Tenerife sun god, their Magec product promises to let the homeowner Control the Sun. The campaign also produced an on-brand iPhone app that allows distributors to dramatically demonstrate the product benefits and features by controlling the position of the sun with their finger, and seeing the effect that automatically has on curtains and blinds. A print ad and email components also helped get the message out.

Respected local charity, The Hong Kong Cancer Fund, sends a seasonal mailer to convey greetings each Chinese New Year. The mailer also raises funds for its important work with people affected by cancer in Hong Kong.

The 2011 mailer encouraged recipients to empathise with families affected by cancer during what is the most joyful time of the year in the Chinese calendar.

Stepworks expressed this idea by depicting a traditional rotating sweet bowl (全盒), out of which one section was die cut. Opening the card revealed on the missing section, an emotional appeal to help the Cancer Fund to support families with missing family members due to cancer. The mailer told the story of a child whose mother was in hospital receiving treatment, and requested a donation.

The mailer raised a record amount.

Stepworks’ Hong Kong charity fundraising expertise and experience in raising funds for non-government agencies and NGOs represents a valuable asset for community-focused organisations. And the Stepworks team appreciate the opportunity to creatively add effectiveness to initiatives that make a positive impact on people’s lives. In addition to the Hong Kong Cancer Fund, the agency also works with The Asian Cultural Council, Joshua Hellmann Foundation for Orphan Diseases, MSF, Oxfam Hong Kong and VisionFirst.

SGS is one of the world's largest providers of inspection, verification, testing and certification services.

Seeing sustainability developing into a major driver of growth in the region, the company sought a strategic repositioning of their brand in Greater China to reflect their leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Stepworks essentially back-engineered the SGS name into Sustainable Growth Solutions, devised an appropriate image language and developed key messages and a launch campaign to kickstart the required change.

The campaign also expressed the notion of People Planet Profits, to convey how SGS helps organisations achieve a mindful balance in their operations.

“With CSR is playing an increasingly important part in corporate life, Stepworks’ CSR branding services are a valuable asset for our clients,” said Stepworks Design Director Eric Chan.

On 19 February, UK newspaper The Sunday Times selected the Kidztory series of apps as one of their top 10 recommended apps for children.

This is what they had to say about the popular series of storybook apps created by Hong Kong creative specialist, Stepworks.

This series of classic children’s parables scores by keeping it simple. Poke a character or object and it usually obliges with a cute noise or a basic but charming animation. The stories themselves can be either read out loud from text or accompanied by a pre-recorded voice-over from — delightfully — a young child (she reads passionately without sounding too precocious). Instead of pandering to parents, the series engages kids at their level. – The Sunday Times

The entire collection of Kidztory Classic apps currently occupies the top 50 book apps rankings in the UK app store.

Please visit www.kidztory.com for more information.

Emerging market financial products specialist Mirae Asset asked Stepworks to help with a multi-channel creative campaign for the Hong Kong debut of their Tiger Kospi 200 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).

An eye-catching tiger visual was developed to reinforce recall of the fund's name. The tiger carries a drumstick and approaches a Korean style drum. The tiger expresses various advantages of ETFs, which are traded like a stock, and enable investors to move quickly and pounce on opportunity.

The campaign ran in press and digital channels.

To mark their 30th birthday as one of the city's leading international law firms, Clifford Chance turned to Stepworks to help express their 30 for 30 on 30 charity initiative.

Reflecting the local understanding and expert involvement of Clifford Chance in multiple areas of the city's business landscape, Stepworks developed an integrated campaign centred on the notion of 'Celebrating 30 years as part of the fabric of Hong Kong'.

The idea was communicated through many levels of execution. Components included a bilingual custom logo, web and print advertising, internal communications, and invitations and giveaways for a client and press event.

The above-the-line message highlighted the firm's community commitment in giving $30,000 to 30 local charities to mark this milestone.

Move extends reach and expertise, and promises clients a further edge

Branding and marketing communications specialist Stepworks is now a member of the MAGNET Global Network, a collaborative network of more than 40 of the world's top independent creative agencies. 

Stepworks Managing Director, Stephen Barry said, "When we were invited to join the Magnet Network, we asked what might it mean for our clients. What we saw was another way to help keep them on the forefront of change. We live in exhilarating times. The marketing environment has never evolved as fast as it is today. 

"The Magnet Network allows Stepworks to offer unprecedented access to some of the world's most forward thinking branding, advertising and marketing practitioners. Through this collaboration we can give our clients an edge when it comes to industry best practices, plus a significant global footprint when required."

Established in 1999, MAGNET agencies work with more than 1,000 consumer, retail, business-to-business and industrial clients worldwide, with total annual billings exceeding US$1.6 billion.