Brands went all out with their pranks this April Fools’ Day, from launching fake AI products to introducing limited edition skincare ranges inspired by K-dramas.
Here’s a roundup of the campaigns.
Ixigo:
Ixigo, an online travel aggregator platform, pulled a major prank on consumers ahead of April Fool’s Day, stating that they had forayed into the wearables segment with the launch of an AI-powered headset called bhAI.
The company has launched a film, humorously highlighting the unique features of bhAI, which no tech company offers in the wearables market. However, it turns out that the product launch is just an April Fool’s Day prank.
Sugar Cosmetics:
Sugar Cosmetics got in on the April Fool’s Day fun by launching an edible lip product called LollyPout, which quickly gained attention with its four delicious flavors. However, the joke was revealed when the brand disclosed that it was only a prank. This witty move allowed the brand to engage with their social media audience, showcasing their experimental and humorous side.
Chingles:
Chingles teased fans on social media by dropping hints about who their G.O.A.T. personality could be. Fans had to decode the clues to guess the famous athlete or celebrity, creating massive speculation and buzz. Chingles revealed the initials of the GOAT as S.K, keeping fans guessing and sharing their guesses on social media with the hashtag #ChinglesGetsTheGOAT.
Watch the real GOAT here:
Kotak Mahindra Bank:
Kotak Mahindra Bank has launched a campaign to create awareness of safe banking practices, featuring Gulshan Grover.
To raise awareness of the importance of safe banking practices, Kotak Mahindra Bank has chosen April Fools’ Day to remind customers that fraudsters don’t wait for a specific day to strike – they are always on the lookout for new ways to fool people.
Cleartrip:
Cleartrip, a Flipkart company, unveiled a bold campaign stating that it has launched no-baby flights on the platform. Customers could avail themselves of this feature without paying a premium for it. The feature was met with amusement and curiosity as several users clicked on the ‘no-baby flights’ tab. Much to their surprise, a pop-up message immediately revealed that they had been pranked on April Fools Day.
Cultfit:
Cultfit launched this quirky campaign on March 15th, showing how Gopika, a fictional character, and her friends approached Cultfit to host a surprise house party. Ramping up the buzz, cult unveiled a houseparty launch video, inviting members to book their slots on the cultfit app. Subsequently, there was a ‘recruitment post’ on social handles that called for trainers to join their creative crew to take these parties to the next level.
The brand later revealed that the campaign was a ‘prank with a purpose’ culminating on April’s Fool’s Day. The idea behind the campaign was to impress upon people that fitness and fun can go together and one’s fitness journey needn’t seem intimidating.
LPU Online:
LPU Online and Hashtag Orange collaborated to launch a spoof campaign called #MeetSeJeet, introducing an AI product called LPU Meet JPT. The app promised to automate virtual meetings with the help of an “AI Clone.” The campaign aimed to relate to the struggles of meetings and the rising trend of ‘AIfying’ everything.
Quench Botanics:
Korean skincare brand Quench Botanics played an April Fool’s Day prank by announcing a limited edition ‘K-drama meets K-Beauty’ skincare range for fans of K-dramas and K-beauty. The brand launched the range across their social media platforms and invited consumers to click the link to buy the products, which led them to a reveal that it was all an April Fool’s Day.
