Belle Shoes taps into aging fears for China ad blitz

Belle Shoes has foresaken Chinese advertising's usual light-hearted and carefree atmosphere for its latest marketing push, which confronts the fears of 30-something women that age will make them less attractive.

A new TVC depicts women in stylised and dream-like environments, with imagery also used in multiple print, out-of-home and instore executions. "We felt that a more serious, slightly fearful and foreboding tone would enhance our message," said Paul Lee, director of client service for Belle's ad agency, TBWA\Beijing. The TVC features a female voiceover saying: 'I will not fear change, I know that only by taking a step forward, can I create a more beautiful world for myself'. The voice-over ends by saying 'Hundreds of changes make you beautiful'. TBWA developed for the first phase of Belle's campaign, which ran in 2003 and 2004.