Following a competitive pitch process HEINEKEN, the UK’s leading beer and cider business, has appointed Publicasity to up-weight its trade press presence and raise the profile of its portfolio of top-performing brands, including Heineken, Fost [ ... ], Kronenbourg, Strongbow, Bulmers and John Smith’s.

In addition to communicating brand activity throughout the year, Publicasity will be tasked with aligning and delivering category and portfolio messages for HEINEKEN and, in particular, amplifying their recently launched Star Retailer programme which offers off-trade retailers simple advice to maximise their sales of beer and cider.

An integral part of Publicasity’s successful pitch was 999 Design who will be responsible for fulfilling the design aspect of HEINEKEN’S communications brief.

David Jones, UK Press & PR Manager at HEINEKEN, said: “Publicasity demonstrated the creativity, capability and desire to deliver a fully-integrated trade press and customer communications strategy that will motivate our trade partners to sell more beer and cider, more profitably all-year round.”

Tom Hargreaves, Board Director at Publicasity, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be working with HEINEKEN and helping them inform and inspire retailers in how to grow their sales of beer and cider. As you would expect from a category leader, HEINEKEN has some ambitious and exciting plans for 2012 and beyond, which we will be amplifying for them in the trade press.”

Leading US blender company Vitamix has appointed Publicasity to handle its consumer PR and social media as the brand further strengthens its position in the UK market.  The agency will deliver an integrated campaign aimed at raising awareness a [ ... ]ving brand preference of the high-end kitchen appliance.

The campaign will incorporate a dedicated blogger relations programme and an overhaul of the brands existing social media channels.  Offline, Publicasity’s remit will be educating the food and lifestyle press about the versatility of its core Total Nutrition Centre Machine as well as a direct to consumer campaign starting off with an extensive demonstration programme at all major home and lifestyle shows.

The agency will also represent Vitamix corporate and crisis communications as well as consulting on its expansive retail outreach programme. Vitamix is currently stocked in a host of UK retailers including John Lewis, Harrods and Whole Foods.

Tom Connors, International Household Marketing Director, Vitamix comments: “We were keen to work with an agency that not only had the relevant sector experience but also one that completely understood our brand. Publicasity will effectively be our eyes and ears in the UK so they can help consult on how we deliver messages effectively on and offline through a highly targeted approach.”

Paul McCaffrey, Head of Consumer Food & Drink at Publicasity, said: “It is a privilege to work with a brand that has such strong heritage in the US. We are looking forward to implementing an integrated on and offline campaign to help Vitamix deliver its UK sales target as well as educating the consumer about the versatility of this revolutionary kitchen appliance.”

Vitamix is the latest addition to the expanding Publicasity Food, Drink & Lifestyle portfolio which includes Heinz, United Biscuits, Filippo Berio, Bissel and Wallpaper Direct.

To celebrate ‘Feel the Love Month’ Bermuda Department of Tourism are launching a twelve month multi format Outdoor Advertising campaign with specialist agency Out of Home International, appointed by the department’s UK based consumer and t [ ... ]R agency, Publicasity. The campaign is to promote Britain’s love affair with Bermuda and encourage further visits to the Island.

Over the next year the UK’s Capital City will be awash with tropical pink Outdoor Advertising featuring on a fully wrapped London Bus, train passenger panels, and a fleet of fully branded taxis targeting business commuters, leisure and shopping audiences in Greater London.

William Griffith, Bermuda’s Director of Tourism, commented: “Bermuda is a best in class luxury destination and we are excited to be reminding the UK of all it has to offer. We will be targeting international business, leisure and the group incentive markets.”

The campaign will begin with an iconic London double-decker bus fully wrapped in advertising designed by Bermuda Department of Tourism’s internal creative team. The bright, fully wrapped bus provides maximum impact on a London landmark. Fully adorned with the image of vibrant pink sands instinctive of the Island, clear blue sea and a pair of Bermuda shorts the eye catching bus will showcase the message ‘Closer than you think’, website details and the ‘Feel the love’ branding on the side of the bus, and ‘Only seven hours from London Gatwick’ on the rear.

The bus will spend the next 12 weeks covering London's busiest routes. Not only will it pass by some of the city's most famous landmarks, such as Piccadilly Circus and Big Ben, but they will also be seen by millions of U.K. residents simply engaged in their day-to-day activities.

To captivate further business commuters with Bermuda Department of Tourism’s advertising; a four week train passenger panel campaign will run on lines in London & the South East targeting 3.9 million individuals of an AB demographic travelling into Central London. 65% of commuters using these lines earn above the national average and are 185% more likely than average to earn over £75k per anum (KBH). The train car panels are also adorned with iconic images from the Island, the ‘Feel the love’ branding and website details. 83% frequent rail users access the internet at least once per day and they are twice as likely to own a smart phone, and with the average dwell time of 30 minutes there is plenty of time for the commuter to consume and react to the on-train advertising and visit the website.

Ideal for long term brand awareness campaigns, taxi full liveries will run alongside the bus and rail advertising, carrying on for a full twelve months to add weight to the overall media strategy. Taxi Advertising is seen by over 30,000,000 people each week, outside shops, train stations, airports and key business districts.

Bermuda Department of Tourism’s fully branded taxis will be seen at ranks and at significant waiting points in all city centre locations. 89% of ABC1 consumers find taxi advertising informative, and 40% of business commuters surveyed confirmed they used taxis for travelling to meetings during the day.

Drivers of the Bermuda Department of Tourism taxis are acting as brand ambassadors and during the campaign launch they are getting into the holiday mood and opting to wear characteristic Bermuda shorts and interacting with passengers, offering information of the branding and holiday destination whilst in their taxi, offering a one-to-one marketing experience with commuters.

Out of Home International recommended the taxis run for twelve months in addition to print, broadcast and other Outdoor activity to support Publicasity’s overall consumer campaign. The team at OOH International have effectively utilised the opportunity to gain extra exposure to an amplified audience by targeting the campaign to surround one of the most historic events of recent decades, The 2012 Olympics.

Taxis will be seen by the extra 600,000 extra visitors in London each day during the Olympic period, with taxis being one of the recommended transport options by London 2012.

“Visitors to the UK won’t be watching TV, reading UK newspapers or listening to radio but outdoor will be visible throughout the Games and in the run up.” Mike Baker, CEO of the Outdoor Media Centre.

Bermuda’s luxury holidays are already a big hit with European tourists because of the region's incredibly varied history, architecture and culture. The small Island is blessed with stunning scenery from stunning pink beaches to quaint ports and plenty of activities for holiday makers.

The outdoor campaign has been commissions to create new compelling reasons to visit, encourage repeat holiday makers as well as entice new incremental visitation to the island.

Luxury lingerie retailer Rigby & Peller has appointed Publicasity to handle PR and social media after a three-way pitch.  The agency will deliver a perception-altering campaign aimed at refreshing and renewing perceptions of the brand to ap [ ... ]o new audiences while maintaining its premium heritage.
The campaign will incorporate a dedicated blogger relations programme and an overhaul of the brands existing social media channels. Offline, Publicasity’s remit will be courting the fashion and lifestyle press to promote the brands various categories while championing the unique fitting experience synonymous with the Rigby & Peller brand.

Sharon Teasedale, Retail Director, Rigby & Peller comments: “We were keen to work with an agency that completely understood our brand and Publicasity clearly demonstrated that. Rigby & Peller is more than a fashion brand so it is important that our agency partner is able to communicate our messages effectively on and offline through a highly targeted approach.”

Bianca Lee-Chang, Head of Consumer Lifestyle at Publicasity, said: “Rigby & Peller has a fantastic heritage and we are delighted to be able to work with such an iconic brand taking its communications into new areas while refreshing perceptions to appeal to new audiences in a fresh and exciting way.”

Publicasity has been appointed by Insurance4CarHire, the UKs largest provider of vehicle rental excess protection. Following a three-way pitch, Publicasity has been selected to deliver an integrated campaign across traditional PR and social medi [ ... ]howcase Insurance4CarHire’s industry leadership, quality of service and customer advocacy.

Publicasity will lead an on and offline press office function in addition to a number of strategic, awareness-driving projects aimed at educating consumers on the wider category while driving clear, differentiated brand personality.  The agency will also lead on the creation and revamp of the brands social media platforms and ongoing engagement thereafter.

Gary Webb, Marketing Director at Insurance4CarHire, comments: “We were very impressed with Publicasity’s approach, their creativity in communicating our core messages and thorough understanding of our target audience.  This was underpinned by a robust measurement system which combined to make for a very well developed pitch.  We are delighted to be working together through 2012 to take our communications to a whole new level.”

Bianca Lee-Chang, Head of Consumer Lifestyle at Publicasity, said: “The car rental excess insurance category is relatively new and also very niche from a media perspective.  We are developing exciting, multi-dimensional campaigns that will take the brand into new media territories, promote its leadership and harness its position as a real consumer champion.”

Publicasity is delighted to announce that towards the end of last year it was recogonised by the PR, food & drink and travel industries for all of its hard work during 2011 and was accredited with three industry awards, including Highly Comm [ ... ]for Consumer PR Agency of the Year, 2011.

Early November the Grocer hosted The Gramia Awards at a top London venue, The Savoy, where leading marketers from the food & drink organisations and marketing services agencies gathered together to hear who would be The Grocer’s 2011 award winners. Publicasity walked away with one of the top accolades of that evening for agencies in the PR industry, being Highly Commended by The Grocer for Consumer PR Agency of the Year Award.

2011 has been a bumper year for Publicasity’s food and drink division, led by Tom Hargreaves,  experiencing significant growth with a 40 per cent increase in revenue and winning new clients, such as Heinz, Filippo Berio, Anchor Butter, Aunt Bessies, Jack Daniel’s, & Rowse Honey to name but a few.

The following week saw the ExCeL centre open its doors to the World Travel Market, where Publicasity represented three clients:  Visit Orlando, Bermuda Tourism and South Africa Tourism. Not only did the team carry out 160 media meetings, and  launch the inaugural Ubuntu Awards but also picked up two awards for Visit Orlando: Best Online Destination Training Program voted by UK Travel Agents and received Gold Award from Virgin Holidays for Best Destination Partnership. Needless to say Visit Orlando, who have been a client of Publcasity’s for over 12 years, was thrilled and so too was the team.

Emma Wright, Managing Director, says “This completes a truly fantastic year!  a year that has seen the agency go from strength to strength and has been game-changing on so many levels – from winning amazing brands, recruiting great talent from the industry and now being recognised for all of the team’s hard work over the last 12 months. We’re in great shape to start the New Year and look forward to what next year has to offer. Watch out for Publicasity in 2012....”.

Publicasity’s growing home interest portfolio has just received a fresh new addition after being appointed by BISSELL as the brand’s UK PR agency.  Following a three-way pitch, Publicasity has been selected to deliver an integrated campaign [ ... ]s traditional PR and social media to showcase BISSELL’s expertise and experience in floor care.  The campaign will also amplify BISSELL’s recent ATL activity.

BISSELL’s appointment of Publicasity comes off the back of an already established presence globally, where BISSELL is the No.1 brand in vacuum cleaning and carpet washing appliances*.  With high aspirations for the UK market in 2011, Publicasity will lead a high profile Spring Cleaning campaign to capitalise on this key trading season.

Alexandra Carr, Brand & Communications Manager at BISSELL Homecare, comments: “Publicasity was the only agency to challenge our brief from the very beginning which was refreshing to see.  They presented an alternative approach that went against the grain but ultimately aims to deliver quality coverage in the right places, at the right times and with the right message. 

Publicasity’s sound consultancy was a key selling point which, when coupled by their proven home interest expertise and creativity, made them a natural agency partner to take us through a highly ambitious year for our business.” 

Bianca Lee-Chang, Head of Consumer Lifestyle at Publicasity, said: “The BISSELL brand is on an exciting journey in the UK and we are delighted to be leading a campaign that will deliver heightened brand awareness, engagement and credibility.   Our integrated approach aims to reflect key trading periods on and offline while ensuring maximum return.”

BISSELL joins Publicasity’s other home interest brands including Cuisinart, Brewers, wallpaperdirect, Travis Perkins and Linn.

3663, one of the UK’s leading foodservice wholesale distributors, has appointed Publicasity to handle its PR across all remits.

Publicasity is tasked with raising the profile of 3663 in trade, regional and national media covering all catering s [ ... ]ith raising the profile of 3663 in trade, regional and national media covering all catering solutions for all sectors, from supplying the raw ingredients to inspiring menus, from providing catering equipment to serving the delicious meal on the plate. Publicasity won the business in a competitive three-way pitch and starts work on the account immediately.

3663 supplies over 60,000 customers and is a trading name of BFS Group, which is wholly owned subsidiary of the Bidvest Group.

Lindsay Winser, Communications Controller, 3663, commented: “Publicasity demonstrated to us a real passion for the business and a strong understanding of the key issues affecting the catering industry. We look forward to building a strong relationship with them and to working with them in the months to come on raising the profile of our business across the media.”

Emma Wright, Managing Director, Publicasity, said: “It’s a fantastic addition to our existing food and drink portfolio and clearly demonstrates our strategic understanding of the journey that food and drink brands take, literally from ‘field to fork’! We’re looking forward to increasing 3663’s share of voice across the many sectors it operates in from pubs, bars and hotels to the NHS, universities and schools, as well as communicating a market-leading sustainability campaign”

Publicasity is delighted to announce that it has been appointed by Superbrands to launch this year’s CoolBrands survey which will be announced on 28th September. Celebrating its tenth year, CoolBrands has asked Publicasity to promote the 201 [ ... ]nted by Superbrands to launch this year’s CoolBrands survey which will be announced on 28th September. Celebrating its tenth year, CoolBrands has asked Publicasity to promote the 2011/12 results across all broadcast, traditional and online media.

CoolBrands is an independent survey that identifies the coolest brands in Britain, as chosen by an expert judging panel of 36 influencers and over 2,000 members of the British public. Co-ordinated by The Centre for Brand Analysis the survey is based on six factors including style, innovation, originality, desirability, authenticity and uniqueness. Helping rate coolness this year are the likes of Jessie J, Ben de Lisi, Lisa Snowdon, Rob da Bank, Sadie Frost and Kelly Hoppen.

Ben Hudson, Chief Executive of Superbrands UK, commented: “Publicasity demonstrated an immediate grasp of the CoolBrands brief and have shown an innovative and creative approach to communicating the esults across a full range of media. We are delighted to be working with such an accomplished team in CoolBrands’ tenth anniversary year.”

Emma Wright, Managing Director, Publicasity, said: “We’re delighted to be asked by Superbrands / CoolBrands to promote such a high profile survey. We already work with some great brands such as, Bacardi, Heinz, McVitie’s, Wrigley and Jack Daniel’s so this association gives us the opportunity to work with even more of the coolest brands in Britain”.