It’s not often you win awards producing TV commercials for the world of retail, yet this is exactly what we did a year after signing the farm and ranch store Home of Economy. Specifically, the spot was intended to promote the store’s line of portable Honda generators. But in true Ad Monkeys fashion we upped the game, sneaking in cameos for several of the store’s other top brands in this AAF Addy Gold winner.

Working alongside the client, we began with the basic premise — highlight the generator’s quiet, dependable performance and ability to produce clean electricity in even the remotest of locations. Luckily, we didn’t have to leave civilization to create an ambience of total isolation. In truth, our shoot occurred but a stone’s throw from streets lined with mailboxes and parked cars.

Lifted directly from a real life comment, the script playfully suggested having “one mighty long extension cord” in order to have electricity “way out here!” Inspired by that clever statement, words for our script bubbled up like the coffee in the ad’s vintage percolator. Enhancing the scene were at least five subtle Home of Economy logo placements and a truck bed full of props, including Grandpa’s beloved decoys and hunting jacket. And why not — it was his offhand remark that sparked the whole thing anyway!