Posts

Showing posts with the label Marketing

Reimagining Promotion in the AI Era: A Kuala Lumpur Agency’s Take on the 4 Ps

Image
Picture this: A Kuala Lumpur campaign drops, mixing AI-powered promotion strategies with heartfelt stories that spark chatter from Brickfields to Ipoh. The magic isn’t in the algorithm alone; it’s in the human touch that makes people stop scrolling. That balance is the heart of a recent MarTech article on “The 4 Ps of Marketing Reimagined for the AI Era,” which argues that Product, Price, Place, and Promotion are being mashed into a new, data-fuelled reality. As a KL-based communications agency, we’re living this shift daily. Malaysia’s multicultural mix - Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Tamil, indigenous voices - forces us to ask: how do we harness AI in PR and marketing in Malaysia without losing soul? The MarTech thesis lands: AI is a collaborator, not a replacement. But let’s be clear: if you lean on it too much, you end up with cookie-cutter campaigns that ignore half your audience. The Rewired 4 Ps, Malaysia-Style Product : AI co-creates; halal skincare tuned for Malaysia’s hum...

Why Brands Keep Looking Back to Move Forward: The Power of Nostalgia Marketing

Image
McDonald’s Malaysia just gave us all a throwback with its #YangKlasik campaign. VHS static , that grainy colour grading, and a Titiwangsa skatepark that looked like every after-school hangout spot in the 90s. For a second, you could almost hear your mum shouting, “Come home NOW!” while you were still nursing a 30 sen Paddle Pop ice-cream . It hit because it wasn’t just an ad. It was our ad - tied to memories only Malaysians would get. And it’s a perfect case study of throwback marketing in Malaysia , proving that sometimes, burgers aren’t what you’re selling... it’s belonging . Nostalgia Travels Well, But Speaks Different Languages Here’s the thing: nostalgia isn’t just a KL or Malaysia thing. It’s a worldwide play. But the way it lands? That depends entirely on culture . Around the world, brands are turning to nostalgic advertising campaigns to connect with customers: In the UK , brands go straight for personal nostalgia e.g., Saturday morning cartoons, 90s crisps, old j...

Are You a Dirty Consultant? She Was! (Part 1)

Image
At Orchan, we’ve seen consulting at its best - and at its glossiest. Dirty Consultant is our no-nonsense series calling out the theatre, the buzzwords, and the shiny distractions that get in the way of real change. Because true consulting isn’t about polished decks or clever algorithms; it’s about rolling up sleeves, getting into the grit, and facing the messy human reality head-on. Are you a dirty consultant? She was. Back then, she didn’t sit behind a shiny desk. She pulled night shifts. She rode shotgun with truckers. She sweated it out in the warehouse. She asked the tough questions: to managers in ties, and to workers in boots. She refused to give advice until she knew what the advice meant for the people who had to live with it. That was consulting. Now? Consultants stroll in polished and perfect. Designer suits. Fresh slides. Laptops glowing like neon signs. They sell “platforms” and “solutions” and “engagement dashboards.” But they won’t get their hands di...

Orchan 4.1.2

Image
Hey there … yes, you! Glad you stumbled in. This is Orchan’s corner of the internet - part soapbox, part diary, part sounding board. Here you’ll find our thoughts on the industry, lessons we’ve learned the hard way, a few rants (constructive ones, of course), and maybe even the odd video when we’re feeling fancy. So, who are we? Orchan’s a comms agency born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, with arms stretching into Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and wherever else clients drag us. We’ve been called many things -  strategic, fast, occasionally loud - but what we're not is cookie-cutter. If you’re after a “copy-paste” campaign, you’ve probably knocked on the wrong door. We believe PR is for everyone. Big multinationals? We’ve worked with PUMA, Dyson, Pernod Ricard, Garmin, and the like. Scrappy start-ups and even hawker stalls? Been there, done that, and loved it just as much. For us, the job is always the same: find your story, polish it up, and get people talking. We also train. Crisi...

Blast From the Past | Reinvention III - The Reinvention Formula

Image
Reinvention Part III - The Reinvention Formula Following on from the Six Deadly Blindfolds, The Reinvention Formula looks closely at what is important to factor in to change within an organisation, and to what extend various organisational level factors influence the opportunity for growth and development. When this notion was first presented to me by the authors of Reinvention: Accelerating Results in the Age of Disruption , like with much of what they were saying, it struck a chord and resonated with my own thinking. I may not be perfect at embracing all that was said, but I do recognise how, over time, each and every influencing factor has been important, and upon reflection, see where I could have done things better. Hindsight is always a valuable tool, but foresight, and the ability to really hone in on what is important, is even more so. By sharing Cragun and Sweetman’s reinvention Formula, I hope that I can open you your reflection on changes within your orga...

Revisited | Six Deadly Blindfolds (Reinvention II)

Image
Six Deadly Blindfolds (Reinvention II) We are all guilty! We are guilty of not seeing the bigger picture. We are guilty of sweeping something under the carpet because it is easier than tackling head on. Whether it be clouding (external forces) or our own distractions (internal forces), this ‘missing the point’ can result in decision-makers making ill-informed choices. We need to address the very real blindspots in our decision-making processes. From that point, we see in a clearer fashion, the reality of circumstances, and can make informed, intelligent decisions to move forward to the next level. At the launch of “Reinvention: Acceletating Results in the Age of Disruption” by Shane Cragun and Kate Sweetman, Kate spent time highlighting the Six Deadly Blindfolds that impact upon entrepreneurs, managers and decision-makers. These resonated strongly with the entire audience, as we all recognized that at some stage along our managerial career path, we have been gu...

Blast From the Past | Reinvention (Revisited)

Image
Reinvention Revisited Regardless professional manager or entrepreneur, it is always good for us to take a step back to reframe ourselves and our business, and to experience what we do through a fresh lens. On my part, I regularly attend book launches, listen to interesting and inspirational speakers, and read up on the latest business dialogue through the many informative and relevant portals available. Not that recently, but certainly stuck in my memory, I had the good fortune to attend a book launch in Kuala Lumpur. The authors were not Malaysian, nor to be honest, was any of the content. But, it struck a chord – offering fresh insight into the interactions I have every day, and with respect to the advice we as a business give to our valued clients. What was enjoyable about the launch was not the content of the book per se, but the delight of the principal author in delivering her presentation. A seasoned pro, the author stepped it up a notch and de...

QOTD | True Sophistication

Image
True Sophistication Be it in design, writing, or even strategy; this ethos still stands out from the rest!  

BFTP | It's Scary Really!

Image
Safe Social | Protecting Your Business Reputation Online Craig J Selby It’s scary really. An employee posts a personal opinion online. It’s a tad controversial. Or perhaps just plan offensive. People willingly take offense. They share the post calling employee out for their indiscretion. Employee takes it down, but it’s too late. The dominoes have started to fall! Keyboard warriors stalk employee , and discover (deduce) that they work for your brand. The messages and threats start coming, first via PM, then via an orchestrated viral campaign to pressure your brand to fire employee . Chaos, expense (time and funds), and unwanted negative attention to your brand. What is your reaction? What do you do? I mean, it’s not even your company social media that made the post initially. Orchan recently hosted, in conjunction with UnionSPACE (thanks to Bruce an...