Every year, StopPress asks players in the local industry for their reflections on the marketing year that was. Here’s what, Claudia Macdonald, managing director of Mango Communications NZ, has to say.
Pead PR has won the business of Sharesies, a startup investment platform that aims to make it easy for anyone to start investing.
Carrick Graham sheds some more light on PR by explaining how the Official Information Act works.
Last night, the best of New Zealand’s PR practitioners were recognised at the PRINZ Awards Gala Dinner where Campbell Squared Communications and Resolve Communications shared the Supreme Award for work that’s had a positive impact on their respective communities.
GMS Management’s Carrick Graham gets real about PR and ‘The Pit Strategy’.
In a new fundraising initiative for the Northland Rescue Helicopter (NRH), Boyd PR tells a tale of the Whangarei-based service’s three choppers—nicknamed Juliet, Mike and Lima—to spread a message about the service’s importance and staying safe.
In an ever-changing marketing world, Mango Communications’ Claudia Macdonald urges those in the PR industry not to undervalue their profession and to acknowledge the unique perspective they offer.
Hotwire PR managing director Hamish Anderson argues that journalists aren’t the only ones in for some change with a proposed merger on the horizon. Those in PR also need to brace themselves.
How do reputation managers manage their own reputation? Pead PR’s group account director Becky Erwood and senior writer David Paine offer advice on how PR practitioners can excel in their field.
Alongside the recent announcement of Vodafone Xone, the telco released a short video clip explaining the story and motivations behind Vodafone Xone. What was interesting about this clip was that it wasn’t presented as a conventional PR spiel, filled with grandiose commentary on how amazing the business was. Admittedly, the clip was still promotional, but it felt and looked much more akin to a news segment that wouldn’t be out of place on any of the news shows of any of the mainstream television broadcasters. We chat to Vodafone consumer director Matt Williams about how Vodafone tapped into the journalistic credentials of Libby Middlebrook to produce the clip.
Like many entrepreneurs, Kirsten Taylor served as the guinea pig during the testing phase for her product. And after being impressed by the results, she decided to make it available to consumers.
When it comes to surprises, the most you’re likely to get from the established taxi industry is another arbitrary fee ($3 extra to pay using EFTPOS? Come on). But, in keeping with its desire to turn the transport industry upside down, Uber often looks to surprise its existing users—and add more new ones—by delivering more than just humans. So, as part of a global campaign that is set to deliver ice cream to 253 cities on Friday, inhabitants of Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown will be able to request a tub of Giapo’s hokey pokey gelato. And it’s working with Hyundai on the promotion as well.
Kurt Vonnegut is now seen as a counter-culture icon. But before that he worked in PR for General Electric before he hit the big time. And he can teach people in this industry something, says Kelly Bennett.
Pascall has changed the recipe of its Milk Bottle lollies and removed the milk. And as is the case with most changes like this, customers are unimpressed with the new taste—and the concept.
After nine years of owner and directorship of Bare PR, Rebecca Purdy has announced she has sold the business in order to focus on The Generalist PR, a company she started to represent clients who did not fit under the natural umbrella.
As the jandals are replaced by actual shoes and businesses around the country kick back into full gear, Steph Lowe looks at what the year ahead might hold in store for PR practitioners.
Niue Tourism is putting its public relations and advertising agency work to tender for 2015 and beyond, with submissions closing 31 January 2015.
In yet more list-based news, Hotwire has released its sixth annual report into what it believes will be the big digital trends for the year ahead, whether that’s dresses that block mobile signals, data doctors or, the big one for 2015, consumers choosing how they consume content.
Changes at OMD, MediaWorks, Grace, Designworks and Ambient Group.
In 2010, Number One Shoes dropped the word ‘warehouse’ from its name in an effort to shift the brand from being associated with large storage facilities. And now, in a continuation of this move away from all things utilitarian, the chain is revamping its stores to create an improved shopping experience for those that walk through the doors. The Albany store, located in the Westfield shopping centre on Auckland’s North Shore, was the first store to be relaunched, and the shop at St Luke’s will follow suit next month. And to draw attention to the changes, Number One Shoes has launched a quirky series of campaigns via PR agency Starseed.
You can’t underestimate the power of the All Blacks when it comes to sponsorships. And it’s even better if you can get them half naked, as Jockey did recently as part of a successful activation for New Zealand Fashion Week.
Last night Campbell Live broadcast a show dedicated to the generosity of New Zealanders, GJ Gardner and various suppliers who pitched in to help a couple who had bought a house that was infested with termites. And it was a great example of the power of positivity—and the marketing value of good, genuine corporate citizenship.
One of the country’s larger PR companies, SenateSHJ, has merged with PR Partners in Auckland, bolstering its expertise in consumer and ICT sector and making it one of the largest privately owned communications consultancies in Australasia.
Around one year after launching, One Plus One Communications has signed up as an affiliate of Publicis Groupe-owned MSL Group, which has more than 100 offices in 46 countries. And founder and managing director Kelly Bennett says the deal means it will be able to offer international muscle to local clients if the need arises, add international clients requiring assistance in this market to its roster and potentially work with other Publicis Groupe agencies in New Zealand.
As the gongs from the recent Cannes award nights get cleaned of their champagne and finally take their place in agency and client boardrooms across the country and a new round of New Zealand awards begins, Mark Pickering offers some tips on putting together an award-winning experiential entry. PLUS: three of his favourite experiential campaigns.
Like many media organisations, we get sent a range of commercial detritus to draw attention to various launches or promotions, many of which seem like they help to keep the overseas crap factories ticking over. And in the past couple of days we’ve been sent two very different animal-related products, one celebrating continued survival, the other warning of impending death.
The traditional PR model may be eroding, but PR agencies and corporate comms teams still serve an important business function, says Kelly Bennett.
Three Kiwi submissions have been shortlisted in the PR category at the 2014 Cannes Lions. Saatchi & Saatchi leads the charge with two beer-related nominations, while DDB is in contention for creative executed for animal rights.
Coca-Cola-owned Powerade has introduced a new app and updated its website in an effort to encourage Kiwis to lead healthier lifestyles. Rather than focusing on the Powerade product range, the new website instead provides users with a performance hub where they can set fitness goals, receive training programmes, track their performance and map runs. These digital upgrades coincide with the release of the sports drink’s ‘Performance is everything’ campaign, which was recently activated via an Ogilvy-created TVC that features All Blacks Liam Messam, Beauden Barrett and Julian Savea battling on a rugby field through a heavy downpour.
Fewer than two months after pinning rabbit skins to billboards, the sadistic team at Hell Pizza has now decided to turn its sadistic streak toward consumers by creating what it is being dubbed as the “hottest pizza in Australasia”. Topped with a generous helping of ghost peppers (which measure one million Scoville heat units), the Angry Dragon Pizza is largely a follow-on from the 2012 ‘Pizza Roulette’ campaign that had various unfortunate Kiwis reaching for the milk.