Lancashire rescue dog leads MINI retailer's national crusade for social video glory

A Lancashire rescue dog is leading a North West car retailer’s national crusade to produce and share the best video in the country on social media.

George, abandoned by previous owners nine years ago, has made his acting debut in a video that celebrates the feeling motorists get when they collect a new car. The video is representing Bowker MINI in Blackburn and Preston in a national competition.

The video also features George’s owner and fellow acting debutante Jess O’Neill. Jess is a marketing executive at Bowker Motor Group. Together they demonstrate a motorist’s experiences from the moment she wakes up through to picking up her new MINI Electric and driving it for the very first time. The MINI Electric was launched in March 2020 and it is the first fully-electric MINI.

Bowker Motor Group marketing executive Jess O’Neill said: “George and I loved the challenge of acting in the video. George is very special to us. He is so cheeky and I think that glint in his eye comes through in the video footage. He’s not really used to the limelight. But he took his first acting and filming experience in his stride.”

The video is the automotive retailer’s entry in a national competition for MINI retailers to develop influencer content then shared on each retailer’s social channels. The video will be judged for creativity and innovation alongside others from throughout the UK.

Bowker Motor Group marketers teamed up with local creatives Sam Mellor from Mellor Media and photographer Scott Clarkson who filmed the video together. It was shot over a day and a half in locations throughout Lancashire including Pleasington, Preston City Centre and Wrea Green.

Four finalists will represent the UK and Republic of Ireland in the global competition.

Earlier this year, Bowker MINI centres beat off competition from more than 130 other UK centres to win the Marketing Champion category at the MINI UK Retail Awards. Bowker MINI was the only retailer group located outside of the South to be shortlisted in the marketing category.

The first place finish saw Bowker MINI go one better than two years ago when they finished runner up in the same category. 

Watch George in action: