Winter 2014
NEWS Charity shop chic As part of our PR strategy for St Peter’s Hospice we have been helping to promote the charity’s Summerwear collection for the past couple of years. This year for the first time, we helped to launch its Winterwear collection, which was featured on shopping and lifestyle pages in numerous regional glossies and newspapers this Autumn. We also recognise the importance of community media to this client so tailored each press release and targeted a range of more localised publications. The collection can be found at each of the 47 St Peter’s Hospice shops across Bristol. We balance our promotion of the shops with news on the work of the hospice itself and publicity for its calendar of fundraising events.
Showcasing China Tim Davies, head of the Colliers International office in Bristol got a chance to showcase West Country property in front of a high-powered delegation from Shenzen, China. Empica brokered the presentation through its connections with the West of England China Bureau, who organised the event supported by INVEST Bristol & Bath and HSBC. The Chinese delegation included leaders from a number of key industrial and commercial sectors including electronics, investment, property, communications, banks, manufacturers and the region’s renowned wine industry as well as specialised business consultants.
We all need some education Empica is building up its education portfolio with successful campaigns in progress for a number of schools across the UK. King’s Ely in Cambridgeshire has seen its Principal Sue Freestone showcased in the national media; Wey Valley School, Weymouth has attracted bigger numbers than ever to its open evening events and Taunton School, Somerset has hit the national headlines. The bespoke campaigns are all aimed at achieving key targets for the schools, which are increasingly under pressure to meet the demands of both Government and parents while under the media spotlight.
Whiteley Clinic Open Day success The power of PR was proven again this month when new client The Whiteley Clinic asked us to help promote its first open event, which offered a free vein consultation for anyone worried about varicose veins. After gaining coverage in local publications, online and on the Dr Phil Hammond Show on BBC Radio Bristol, our client reported that they were delighted to welcome 36 people to the event – the majority of which had heard about it through PR. Expert consultants at the newly-opened clinic in Clifton, found that of the 36 people who attended 28 had underlying venous conditions and are now better placed to get treatment. Good work all round!
Jessie May launches services in Bath Local charity Jessie May, which cares for terminally ill children in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, has launched its services for the first time in Bath. Empica assisted the launch by gaining coverage in Bath as well as on BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Points West.
Green Devils! The Empica team got a taste of football action at a hospitality event with BNS Property Management, where we invited local journalists and business leaders to join us. BNS are proud sponsors of Forest Green Rovers and on the night the Green Devils overcame Torquay United 2-1 to send everyone home happy after a good night of networking. We also had a chance to catch up with Forest Green player Aaran Racine, who joined us in the hospitality suite.
Award night at Cadbury House We are delighted that one of our long standing clients Nick Taplin recently won the title of Entrepreneur of the Year at the North Somerset Business Awards. The owner and developer of DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House in Congresbury, Nick brought us on board back in 2006 when he bought Cadbury House and since then has gone on to expand his portfolio of hotels and restaurants across the UK, acquiring the DoubleTree by Hilton and Marco Pierre White Steakhouse franchises. The team at Empica drafted the award entry and entered Nick for the gong and we enjoyed a great night out at Cadbury House with the team to celebrate the win.