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Beyond the Build
Clearly Canadian Summer Mocktails by Yellow House Creative
This week in our Beyond The Build series, we’re showcasing Yellow House Creative, the woman-led agency that transformed Clearly Canadian sparkling water from a nostalgic millennial favorite into a Gen Z must-have through a bold, cold-pitched influencer unboxing campaign rooted in sober culture. Think crisp, mocktail-ready flavors landing on doorsteps in bespoke illustrated boxes that became the brand’s signature social media identity. The packages didn’t just land on doorsteps; they sparked genuine joy, with over 75% of influencers posting and a reach of 10M+ on a shoestring budget. The project earned Yellow House Creative the 2025 Gold Award in Social-Influencer Marketing. Check out the campaign to discover how thinking outside the box delivered bubbly-popping results.
What sparked the idea for the project?
Clearly Canadian has a long-established millennial fan base rooted in its popularity in the 1990s. While we knew that audience was already engaged, our challenge was connecting with Gen Z in a way that felt authentic — and TikTok dances alone weren’t going to cut it. The question became: how do we romanticize and elevate Clearly Canadian to make it irresistible to Gen Z? Leaning into influencer partnerships and the rise of sober culture became a natural and strategic point of entry.
What inspired the creative direction for the project?
Associating sparkling water with mocktails wasn’t the most obvious direction at first. But once strong engagement with that type of content was seen, they recognized an opportunity to expand on the playful, whimsical world of mocktails. The art direction evolved from an illustration style developed by graphic designer Chloe, exclusively for Clearly Canadian, which has become part of their visual identity on social media.
Was this project part of a bigger brand story or storyverse?
Yes — it was cold-pitched to the client, as influencer boxes weren’t even on their radar at the time. The success of this initial project opened the door for many more influencer boxes and significantly expanded their influencer marketing capabilities.
Tell us about the team!
A small but nimble, all-female team — many of whom grew up obsessed with Clearly Canadian in the ’90s. Key members include Meredith (Account Director), Kate Telek (Canadian content creator), Chloe Ponte (illustrator/designer), Daniella Giovanetti (influencer marketing), the respondent (creative direction), and co-founder/CEO Jessica Van Sack.
Tell us about a pivotal moment or challenge putting it all together.
Learning that glass bottles couldn’t be shipped — luckily, Clearly Canadian had just launched their cans that same summer, making it the perfect opportunity to introduce the cans instead.
Was there a last-minute idea that elevated the project? Actually the opposite — the boxes were originally meant to be sealed with a die-cut maple leaf sticker, but when they tried it, the stickers wouldn’t adhere properly. They still have 200+ unused stickers in storage.
Could you tell us more about the outcome and results of the project?
Going in with a modest benchmark (hoping 30% of influencers would post), more than 75% actually shared content — far exceeding expectations. The posts felt genuine and joyful, like watching someone open a Christmas gift on camera.
At what point during the making of the project did you feel it was built to win?
Getting the “yes” from the client to do it at all felt like the win.
What aspects of the project is the team most proud of?
The results — achieving a reach of over 10 million with a very tiny budget.
What is your team building next?
Growing their influencer program, and pursuing an exciting new business pitch (details under wraps) focused on helping the next generation of female entrepreneurs.
Is there someone on your team or a partner you’d like to shout out?
Influencer Marketing Manager Daniella and Designer Chloe — without them, the boxes wouldn’t look the way they do or reach the right people.