Supply hitch forces Sanyo to pull ads

Sanyo, the electronics company which sells on the simplicity of its products, has had to withdraw its advertisements due to supply complications.

Ads for Sanyo’s ActionCam camcorder, which broke in the national press last week, will be withdrawn for up to six weeks. The ads, fronted by Norman Wisdom, featured a series of accessories being offered free with the ActionCam. The campaign used the catchline: “If he can pick up all these accessories, so can you.”

However, Sanyo has now had to admit that customers cannot actually pick up the accessories due to supply problems with the battery packs. Sanyo is having to find an alternative supplier to cover the shortfall and is not expected to achieve full capacity for at least six weeks. The ActionCam will continue to sell through Currys and Dixons outlets.

John Boyle, marketing general manager for Sanyo played down the delays. “We have been let down on the supply of batteries, but the delay will be no more than four to six weeks. We will resume the ads in time for the May bank holiday,” he says.

The £500,000 campaign is through Banks Hoggins O’Shea.