Gap Searches for the Next Faces of GapKids and babyGap

Casting Call returns with public voting back by popular demand

TORONTO, May 12, 2015 /CNW/ - Is your child amazingly awesome, brave, curious, confident, carefree, eager, fearless, funny, loving, loud, proud, blunt, thoughtful, honest, modest, kind, quirky, clever and cool? Are they wonderfully-naïve-yet-independent, unstoppable and perfectly imperfect kids?

Today Gap is launching Casting Call 2015, the widely popular contest that celebrates kids being kids, by inviting parents to submit photos of their children for the chance to be featured in a GapKids or babyGap marketing campaign.

This year, as part of the submission process, parents can create a playful, animated video that captures their child's unique personality and can be shared with friends and family to spread the word about the contest. Back by popular demand, parents can also encourage others to vote for their child in the finalist phase of the program, allowing the GapKids community to once again help determine the next face of the brand. 

"Casting Call is one of our favourite programs at Gap and we think that it's a favourite for parents around the world as well," said Olivia Doyne, Senior Director of Global Marketing at Gap. "By celebrating kids and their individual personalities and interests, we hope to encourage them to always believe in their unique selves."

Casting Call 2015 Submission Process
As part of the submission process, Gap is asking parents to submit one photo of their child between now and June 7, 2015. After a submission is processed, parents can make a personalized animated video with their child's photo that is socially sharable. Details on where and how to enter can be found on www.gapcastingcall.com.  

Entry Phase: From May 12 – June 7, 2015 parents can upload one photo of their baby (ages four and under) or child (ages five to 12) along with contact information. Submissions are accepted on www.gapcastingcall.com. Once processed, parents can make a personalized animated video with their child's photo that is socially sharable. They can come back to see their child in the on-site gallery once their entry is approved.  

Finalist & Voting Phase: From June 22 – June 29, 2015 a panel of Gap judges in each global region (North America [United States and Canada], United Kingdom [including Ireland], France, and Japan) will narrow down the field of submissions to 40 finalists per region; 10 per category (Kid Boy, Kid Girl, Baby Boy, Baby Girl). All finalists will receive a $100 Gap gift card and will be posted to the Community Voting website where consumers can vote for their favourites for each category. There will be one vote per day, per category allowed. Four finalists in each region with the highest number of votes and scores will be declared Grand Prize winners.

Winner Phase: In October 2015, the four winners of each region will be announced on the Gap digital channels. The winners will participate in a photoshoot taking place in their region and they will be featured in a Gap marketing campaign in Fall 2015, which could include channels like store windows and social media.

About Gap
Gap is one of the world's most iconic apparel and accessories brands and the authority on American casual style.  Founded in San Francisco in 1969, Gap's collections are designed to build the foundation of modern wardrobes – all things denim, classic white shirts, khakis and must-have trends.  Beginning with the first international store in London in 1987, Gap continues to connect with customers online and across the brand's more than 1,700 company-operated and franchise retail locations around the world. Gap includes Women's and Men's apparel and accessories, GapKids, babyGap, GapMaternity, GapBody and GapFit collections.  The brand also serves value-conscious customers with exclusively-designed collections for Gap Outlet and Gap Factory Stores.  Gap is the namesake brand for leading global specialty retailer, Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) which includes Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta and Intermix. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

SOURCE Gap Canada

Image with caption: "Gap Casting Call (CNW Group/Gap Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150512_C7806_PHOTO_EN_16112.jpg

For further information: Media Contact: Denise Chow, Gap PR, 416.355.2308, [e-mail]