Fiji Baby!

I just returned from a 10 day break in Fiji and apart from the enlightenment of staying still and filling my days with sun, sea, books and beer, I was thoroughly inspired by the latest on-pack promotion gracing the shelves of New World supermarket in Rakiraki (not related to our own version).

Practical, risky and honest - made me think about all the trouble marketing managers go to developing on-pack promotions that whet the appetites of the technologically savvy primary household shopper, Mwah - just give em a tool and strap it to the side! Priceless. I bought three.

Five years of business

Well the pr shop has made it through a recession and had a coming of age on Sunday 4th July. Our 5th birthday celebrations were insular (well it was the weekend) and involved a wicked combination of champagne, cocktails, tequila, karaoke, an ejection from a bar and a few hangovers the next day. The shop is officially feeling a year older and ready to kick some PR butt over the next 5 years. It’s definitely a rollercoaster running a business, but a rollercoaster Sal and I are happy to be on.

Stow Happy to Meet You

Our team has been expanding nicely lately and we’ve welcomed another new "shopper" into the fray. Katie Stow comes to us from a largely journalism and editing background (including Pulp Magazine and the Herald on Sunday, where she won a Qantas Media Award for her fashion and beauty pages). She has also worked in consumer beauty PR at Product Placement before she took off to live in tropical North Queensland for 18 months. Clearly New Zealand’s cold dark winters have a mysterious appeal because she came back, adopted a cat and has been writing ebooks previously to joining us. She’s excited to put her PR hat back on and once again shift back to “the other side”, already demonstrating award-winning (clap in the office) writing skills.

Hello Australia!

the pr shop launched in Oz in March, and when I say launched, yes I do mean like a rocket. The pace hasn’t let up and thankfully neither has the trajectory, and things in the pr shop’s Sydney office (a fabulous space in the equally fabulous Surry Hills thank you very much) are busy, busy, busy!

the pr shop’s Australian operation is now in full effect and there are lots of excited people as a result! Even my super cute puppy (featured above) tries to help out occasionally, often listening to my rambling brainstorming at the park every morning and night, although sadly his contribution to fabulous PR ideas tend to gravitate towards providing sticks and lamb chops as give-aways..

One particularly exciting initiative to take place since launching was the Pumpkin Patch late winter collection showing, which we held last month. With international pr shop hands on deck and the talents of PR extraordinaire Dana Edwards on tap, many a fashion editor and writer came by to view the latest in fashion forward children’s wear and meet with key Pumpkin Patch staff. The Australian media are loving the availability of Pumpkin Patch’s clothing for fashion shoots, which are now happening on a regular basis. More happy shoppers, more media coverage. That’s what we like! (And funnily enough, it’s what we’re good at!)

No Bullshit

our mantra is no bullshit - keeping it real, on the straight and narrow, straight up, honest - call it what you will - while it may sound simple to some, this mantra is surprisingly effective in our campaign to prove you don't need "spin" or "smoke and mirrors" to provide effective PR. If everyone operated on no bullshit terms in our industry imagine the time and energy that would be saved. No layers of deception, no hidden costs, no tip toeing around the real issue - just cutting straight to the heart of the issue and focusing on solutions not the problems. It ain't easy - it's amazing how naturally a little "false truth" can come to you in times of stress - but once exercised like a muscle the truth becomes easier to tell than the fiction. Of course there will always be the necessity to soften the blow from time to time - but we strive to operate in a friendly loving environment where people's feelings come first ... this is not about being harsh on a personal level, more upfront and honest in a professional sense so don't go asking us if we think your bum looks big!

Get into the Irish Spirit!

Today was St. Patrick's Day and we were up before the crack of dawn taking Philip Doyle, the main man representing Guinness in New Zealand (who just happens to be Irish), around radio stations for interviews. With a strong coffee in one hand, a cold Guinness in the other, an array of promotional gear in another person's hand and a giant Guinness-chocolate cupcake in the other (thank St Patrick we had an entourage), we visited 8 stations in 3 hours. No mean feat! Highlights included Philip doing a rap on Mai FM, reading the news on Hauraki, and hosting a special St. Patrick’s Day pub quiz on More FM.

All in all, a very successful start to St Patrick's Day and a lot of Guinness was consumed for breakfast as everyone got into the true Irish spirit! (except by us as we were working)

Pumpkin Patch

We are now working with this iconic Australasian childrenswear company and getting up to speed with what is hot in the world of small people's fashion - organic cotton for babes, boho and jeggings are in for gals and rugged jeans and sturdy jackets for boys - if only we sported mini sized bodies so we could try on some of the delightful numbers displayed in our office!!!