Finnkino’s multichannel Christmas campaign succeeded beyond expectations

September 11, 2023

The multichannel marketing campaign reinforced a positive image of Finnkino and increased intentions to visit their locations. Finnkino Ltd paves the way for cultural entertainment in Finland and is the most versatile experience provider. Finnkino has 16 movie theaters in 11 cities throughout Finland, with a total of 113 auditoriums altogether.

Objective

Finnkino’s multichannel Christmas marketing campaign was looking for a broad reach. The target groups were especially those who go to the cinema at least once every 3 months and families with children. 

The marketing campaign was two-pronged: the successful launch of a new gift card product and a high volume of sales for the familiar movie voucher product.

Solution

The gift card launch was carried out as a programme cooperation with Radio Suomipop, as the key challenge was to communicate all of the new card’s features and operating mechanisms. Juuso Mäkilähde and Tinni Wikström invited listeners to participate in a quiz in their broadcast, the topic of which was things related to the gift card.

In this way, the gift card’s offerings could be extensively introduced naturally. The contest format expressed the gift card’s key functionality: adding credit to the card’s balance. The marketing campaign was supported by spots on the radio and in Supla. The campaign also included digital advertising and social media visibility.

The marketing campaign for the familiar movie voucher product was carried out in the format of moving pictures on TV and a digital campaign in Sanoma’s network. 

The purpose of the “Always the right gift” concept is to highlight how Finnkino’s movie tickets are a good gift for absolutely everyone. 

We are very satisfied with the marketing campaign for both products. The gift card campaign was implemented in an innovative way as a radio programme cooperation, and Videolle created a great TV spot for the movie vouchers. Päivi Iisakka, B2C Marketing Manager, Finnkino

Results

The radio campaign reached an estimated total of over one million listeners, and up to 32% of the 25–54-year-old target group. 1,889 listeners participated in Finnkino’s gift card quiz, which is an excellent result. 3,104 listeners visited the campaign website.

The strongest part of the cooperation was how natural it was as part of content. The hosts got listeners to enthusiastically join in on the playful contest, which resulted in more natural and entertaining content. Through the quiz, Finnkino’s themes were highlighted continuously, and the hosts were inspired to otherwise talk about movies. The final result was a highly functional, entertaining and cheerful programme!

According to Sanoma’s campaign survey, Finnkino’s multimedia marketing campaign was well noticed. 61% of respondents had noticed the campaign, and it reached the core target groups particularly well – families with children and those who go to the cinema at least once every 3 months.

Of the advertisements, the TV and digital advertising were noticed the best. Young people recalled hearing the radio advertising significantly more often than the older age groups.

83% of respondents felt that the campaign’s message was clear. Sanoma’s reference figure for similar campaigns is 70%. The campaign was also well-liked: 80% of respondents stated that they liked the campaign. Particular reasons for liking the campaign were the clarity of the advertising, the mood and the idea.

The campaign succeeded especially in having a positive impact on the image of Finnkino and awakening intentions to try out and visit Finnkino. All results exceeded the averages in Sanoma’s data bank.

Our cooperation went very well, all the way from a creative idea to implementation. It was nice to launch the new gift card product with such a fun idea. The marketing campaign succeeded beyond expectations, and we got a great start for a new product. The movie voucher campaign was noticed, and it also activated consumers well. Päivi Iisakka, B2C Marketing Manager, Finnkino

“Cooperation with Sanoma was smooth, project management was good and the attitude was proactive from the very first briefing. It was easy to purchase the parts from the offer that we wished to start taking forward,” Iisakka says. 

Päivi Iisakka considers Sanoma’s strength to be its multiple channels. 

“Through Sanoma, you also get enough visibility and impressions. Finnkino’s cinemas can be found in all of the biggest cities and visitors come from large areas, so this could almost be called nationwide marketing. Sanoma does not have any competitors that could offer such broad multichannel visibility,” she says in praise. 

Finnkino has a small marketing team, so Iisakka also appreciates the production and ideation assistance offered by Sanoma. 

“It was important for us that we received very fun ideas in the same package. The marketing campaign worked well and was very successful,” Iisakka concludes. 
 

The campaign was a success by many metrics

32% the campaign reached up to 32% of the 25–54-year-old target group

1889 listeners participated in the gift card quiz

61% of the campaign survey respondents had noticed the campaign

83% felt that the campaign’s message was clear

80% liked the campaign

All results exceeded the averages in Sanoma’s data bank

Get in touch >>

   Further Reading

reetta thurman
October 27, 2025
How do you ensure the effectiveness of your marketing and determine the right metrics to use? Sanoma’s 10+1 Pillars of Effective Marketing outline the key aspects to consider and double as a promise to our customers. This is marketing, the Sanoma way.
teemu savolainen jenni lieto
September 26, 2025
When choosing a gaming provider, the Finnish player prioritises reliability, security and brand familiarity. A new brand in the Finnish gaming market needs to earn their credibility through open communication and walking the talk.
janne lappalainen antti jalonen
September 26, 2025
Many gaming operators hesitate to take steps while the reform of the Finnish gambling system is still underway and the restrictions to marketing remain open. Sanoma’s experts share three concrete actions you can do right now to get started and ensure visibility from the get-go.
tiina virtane
September 24, 2025
Marketing effectiveness relies on understanding your target audience and the market. This is especially true when making an entry with a new brand or concept. Sanoma’s experts share a simple and scalable method for building advertising success from the ground up when your plan is to enter the Finnish market. The three-step model for market entry helps you lay solid foundations for effective campaigns and content. When done right, the process becomes an iterative cycle that adapts to different needs. ”The idea is not to go through the steps and call it a day, but to begin with insight and strategy, create content for your chosen media, and finally measure and learn before starting again with a refined plan,” says Tiina Virtanen , Head of Insight and Marketing Solutions at Sanoma. Thorough groundwork brings results on campaign level. To recognise and demonstrate those results, you need clear, measurable objectives. ”If you base your strategy on a hunch or pick a goal that is too vague, such as simply entering the market and growing brand awareness, it’s hard to measure success and develop further. A clearly defined goal allows you to align your content production and prove the effectiveness of your advertising,” says Sanoma’s Director of Video Sales Anssi Heikka . Step 1: Fill knowledge gaps with research and insight Contrary to popular belief, Finland is not a miniature Sweden. The unique nuances of the Finnish media environment as well as the way Finns use media and relate to advertising make it worthwhile to put effort in research. “Start by taking a moment to consider your existing knowledge. Are there any blind spots that need addressing?” Virtanen suggests. Sanoma offers a multitude of ways to better find and learn about your audience: Eight media consumer segments based on Sanoma’s research help you scope out your potential audience and learn about their media use. Brand Tracking gives you a clear picture of how your marketing actions affect your image and brand awareness. The Audience Reporter reveals new approaches or previously overlooked potential by shedding light on the characteristics and interests of those who clicked on your advertising. Measuring the creative execution and effectiveness of your advertising across media helps you refine future campaigns. A tailored research project provides the answers to your most pressing questions regarding the market and your target audience. It offers useful data for launching a new product of brand, pre-testing marketing or getting to know a specific target group. “The benefit of working with Sanoma’s experts is that you have a professional by your side to interpret the data and translate it into suggestions for your next marketing actions,” Virtanen shares. Step 2: Invest time in strategy and create authentically local content The age-old challenge in marketing is finding the intersection of your favourite topics and what your audience wants to see. “There are no shortcuts to finding the advertising sweet spot. You need to first locate your audience, understand their interests and figure out the topics your brand should own. Time invested in creating a strategy is time well spent,” Anssi Heikka explains. When it comes to concepting advertising in Finland, authenticity and Finnish content are the way to go. Locally made content has proven time and time again to be more effective than that localised from international (or even Nordic) material. “I like to say that Finland is the European equivalent of Japan in that we have a distinct language and a culture formed in the intersection of east and west. Because of this, the Finnish consumer tends to quickly recognise if so-called local advertising is actually that,” Heikka says. Step 3: Boost your message with a cross-media approach By the time you have gone through steps 1 and 2, you will have a deep understanding of the market and your audience, a content strategy and a set of campaign materials ready to go. When you are ready to launch, make sure to pick more than one channel to advertise in. According to Sanoma’s research, every added channel results in an image lift of 13 per cent and an activation lift of 15 per cent on average. “Going cross-media is a way to make sure your target audience comes across your message throughout their day. This is ever more important as media use gets increasingly fragmented. When you have already invested in a campaign, it’s no use only choosing one channel,” Tiina Virtanen states. Having a single team to lead you through the entire process makes life simple and ensures a smooth flow of information. Sanoma’s 500+ professionals are there every step of the way from information gathering to content creation.
Show More

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Loading...

By submitting your email you agree that we may send you promotional emails and information about our services. You can unsubscribe any time. Check out our Privacy Policy.