Maison Communications co-founders Tania and Henrietta

Property and lifestyle firm Maison Communications launches

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Former LUCHFORD APM board director Tania Thomas has joined forces with Henrietta Harwood-Smith to launch property and lifestyle agency Maison Communications.

Thomas spent seven years as LUCHFORD’s head of property and was a board director for over five of those. Before that, she was head of residential PR at estate agent Knight Frank.

Her past client work includes corporate and consumer representation for Berkeley, Finchatton, British Land, Grosvenor’s London Estate and Oliver Burns.

Harwood-Smith has 10 years’ experience in the property PR sector, working as an account manager at LUCHFORD APM and then as senior PR manager at Hamptons International.

She set up her own consultancy in 2014, working with clients including estate agents Humberts and Marsh & Parsons, and buying agency Harringtons.

“We set up Maison to provide the highest level of PR support for our clients,” said Thomas. “We love what we do and enjoy ‘being on the front line’ both pitching to the media and advising on a more senior strategic level.

“Our aim has always been to run a tight ship with a select group of clients to ensure they get maximum nurture, service levels and access to best-in-class contacts.”

Harwood-Smith added: “It felt like there was a real gap for a PR business who focused not just on property and interiors but the main elements associated with ‘living’ such as health and wellness.

“Nowadays, our clients want to partner with likeminded brands and influencers who both inspire and connect with their target audiences. Maison was born from a genuine energy to create something a little different.”

  • Pictured: Maison Communications co-founders Henrietta Harwood-Smith (left) and Tania Thomas 
Elizabeth Cowell

Redleaf Communications appoints capital markets director

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Redleaf Communications has hired Elisabeth Cowell, a former partner at financial PR firm St Brides Partners, as its capital markets director.

Cowell has worked closely with listed companies in London and elsewhere for more than 10 years, supporting corporate activities including M&A and IPO projects.

She has provided strategic advice to companies operating across a range of sectors, with an emphasis on natural resources, support services and energy.

“Elisabeth’s passion for providing clients with an excellent service will help support both the capital markets team’s current and future client-base,” said Emma Kane, Redleaf’s chief executive. “Her can-do attitude has seen her execute thoughtful campaigns which deliver results and coverage for listed companies across a range of sectors and markets.”

Cowell added: “The Redleaf team has an established reputation for adding material value to its clients across all of its divisions and I am delighted to be a part of it.

“Redleaf’s fresh and energetic approach has attracted an array of impressive companies, including market leaders across a range of sectors, and I look forward to delivering communications campaigns for our clients to provide them with the recognition and visibility that they deserve.”

Calacus wins LFT

Calacus to promote clothing brand LFT

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LFT (Lifestyle Fitness Threads) has appointed sports PR agency Calacus to promote its range of gym clothing and daywear.

The fashion company – which caters for those who want to stand out at the gym or want something comfortable to wear when out and about – is aiming to build its brand and secure concessions in major UK department stores.

“Everyone who works at Calacus is encouraged to go to the gym or play sport and LFT apparel certainly taps into modern culture,” said David Alexander, Calacus managing director. “We will be working with influencers to help the team achieve their business goals and I have no doubt that they will go from strength to strength.”

Laz Bellamy, LFT director, added: “We saw a number of agencies when looking to secure PR support, but Calacus understood the challenges and opportunities we face and their media knowledge is second to none.

“We’ve already built up a strong following on social channels and Calacus is already proving its worth by engaging with influencers who can support us.”

  • Pictured: Model and former Ex On The Beach star Ali Drew wearing an LFT top
Click & Invest

Investment service Click & Invest chooses Frank for consumer PR

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Investment management firm Investec Wealth & Investment has chosen Frank to deliver a “holistic PR” strategy for its new online service, Click & Invest.

The agency will work with Citigate Dewe Rogerson, Investec Wealth & Investment’s retained corporate consultancy, to promote Click & Invest to UK residents with £10,000, or more, to invest.

Frank’s first project, the Click & Investaurant, launched this month. The menu takes inspiration from Investec’s analysis of clients’ risk appetites to encourage financially cautious Brits to reassess their perception of risk.

Throughout July, diners can complete a survey that assesses their appetite for risk in everyday situations, with diners who opt for riskier options being rewarded with more exotic meals.

“We were looking for a partner who could work side by side with us throughout the launch of Investec Click & Invest, which was an incredibly important phase for us,” said May Auster, Click & Invest’s head of marketing. “We’re confident Frank’s unique approach will deliver outstanding results throughout the course of the year.”

Alex Grier, Frank MD, added: “We presented an approach that tackled the challenges of the category, delivering a campaign plan based on clear consumer insight and paired with award-wining Frank creativity.”

  • Pictured: Jane Warren, Click & Invest CEO, in front of the Click & Investaurant

PR Case Study: Kin&Co – Somerset Garden Day

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Kin&Co helped to launch Somerset Garden Day – a local gardening movement – in just three months, gaining “cut through” in a busy gardening calendar.

Campaign name: Somerset Garden Day
Client: Somerset Garden Day
Timing:  March – May 2017

Summary

Culture and communications consultancy, Kin&Co, has successfully launched the first ever Somerset Garden Day, a new local initiative aimed at encouraging people to enjoy their gardens. The integrated communications campaign resulted in hundreds of garden lovers across the county taking part on Sunday 14 May 2017.

Objectives

Somerset Garden Day is a non-profit initiative which was founded by a group of gardening enthusiasts with links to the area. It aims to provide an alternative to existing gardening events out there by encouraging diversity and inclusion. The goal is to build the foundations in Somerset over the next two years before rolling the festival out nationally in 2019.

ITV’s coverage of Somerset Garden Day

Strategy and implementation

The integrated campaign involved building a website, initiating local partnerships and supplying posters, securing ambassador support, paid media, content production, social media marketing and regional press.

Challenges included gaining “cut through” in a very busy gardening calendar. Social media and press activity were also only permitted three weeks ahead of the launch, limiting potential exposure.

Despite these obstacles, the campaign was a success – with over 50 garden centres promoting the day and nine well-known gardening ambassadors including Guardian and Telegraph writer Lia Leendertz and gardening writer Charles Dowding.

Results

Kin&Co secured 70 pieces of local coverage, potentially reaching more than 1.5 million people. The campaigns social media and paid-for content campaign reached a further 145,000 people and even generated a Twitter endorsement from Grand Designs’ Kevin McCloud. Hundreds of people took part in the day, with many keen to take part again next year.

The most impactful pieces of coverage included a series of live broadcast interviews with ambassadors for the day across BBC Radio Bristol and BBC Radio Somerset, and targeted coverage in key regional media lifestyle magazines including Somerset Life.

Highlights of the celebrations on the day itself were also covered by national broadcasters including ITV News, which were significant in boosting the reach of the campaign.

  • Pictured: Somerset Garden Day photo by Mark Pickthall

Hills Balfour lands Mayflower 400 countdown brief

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Travel PR agency Hills Balfour will kick-start the PR strategy for Mayflower 400, a programme commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage in 2020.

Hills Balfour will partner with 11 destinations from the original voyage to raise awareness of them internationally and drive visitors to the UK to undertake their own “Mayflower pilgrimage”.

The Mayflower 400 programme will leverage the opportunity this anniversary creates through a series of events, public art, community engagements and visitor trails.

Hills Balfour’s team will work closely with local, national and international partners, as well as VisitBritain and UKInbound, to launch the campaign in the UK, the US and the Netherlands.

“We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to drive the Mayflower 400 public relations strategy in this key countdown period,” said Jonathan Sloan, Hills Balfour managing director. “There is so much potential around this historic anniversary and its impact on the UK’s visitor economy.”

Emma Tatlow, Mayflower 400’s national visitor project manager, added: “We are thrilled to be working with Hills Balfour and feel its experience and expertise in both international and UK destination PR will help us put the Mayflower story on the map.”

  • Pictured: The Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, by Andy Fox

BrandContent wins five-way Admiral PR pitch

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Welsh content marketing and PR agency BrandContent has secured a retained contract with insurance company Admiral in a five-way pitch against global and London-based agencies.

The firm will deliver Admiral’s UK consumer PR and social amplification to drive brand awareness across its car and home insurance product range.

Sharon Flaherty, founder and managing director at BrandContent and chair of PRCA Wales, set up the agency two years ago after leaving MoneySuperMarket as group head of communications.

“Admiral was specifically looking to work with a national agency and we persuaded it that it could get that right here in Wales,” she said. “Our location has never held us back when working with national and global clients.

“We have broad horizons and deliver big results for clients whether they’re based around the corner, across the country or the other side of the world.”

Justin Beddows, Admiral’s head of consumer PR, added: “Admiral is looking to refresh its external comms to communicate all the innovations that are going on within the business and raise awareness of our new products as well as core insurance offerings.

“We were really impressed with BrandContent’s approach to the brief. They demonstrated they go the extra mile and their creative ideas and the team’s enthusiasm and commitment to service shone through.”

  • Pictured: Sharon Flaherty
Sujarda Herring

Muckle Media makes three senior appointments

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Creative PR and digital agency Muckle Media has made three senior appointments in Edinburgh, including Sujarda Herring as head of client service.

Herring was previously head of public relations at Carillion and is tasked with growing the agency’s client roster in Scotland’s central belt.

Annie Diamond became Muckle Media’s head of media and events in February and oversees a number of luxury client accounts.

Mark Probert will start as the agency’s finance in August as it seeks to increase its revenue by almost 50% this year.

Ellie Wagstaff has also been promoted to account manager. Helen Nimmo has joined as finance manager. Eilidh Marshall has rejoined the agency as senior account executive and Fiona Reyner has been retained as trainee PR account executive following a successful internship.

“Annie, Mark and Sujarda join Muckle Media at an exciting time and will help to shape the future of the agency,” said Nathalie Agnew, Muckle Media managing director. “I’m really looking forward to working with all three new colleagues as we seek to grow to enter the top 10 PR agencies outside London list by 2020.”

Herring added: “I am delighted to join the team during this growth period where I can make a real contribution to the business. I will be working with our clients to deliver communications that not only positively impact the future of their business but also the future of Muckle Media.”

  • Pictured: Sujarda Herring
Dr. Martens

Canoe appointed to launch Dr. Martens stores

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Creative PR agency Canoe is supporting Dr. Martens on all media activity for the launch of six new stores across the UK and Ireland, starting with last week’s opening of a branch in Reading.

Senior account manager Portia King, account manager Ilana Young, junior account managers Cassie Criddell and Felix O’Sullivan and account executives George Osborne and Amy Maloney comprise Canoe’s team on the account.

“When we met with Canoe we were really impressed with their commercial approach to PR and experience of launching stores for many other global brands,” said Emily Hall, UK retail marketing manager at Dr. Martens. “The team really understood our brand and what it stood for – providing us with a response full of lateral thinking and innovative ideas that would integrate our upcoming stores into their new communities.”

Canoe managing director Chris Carr added: “To get the opportunity to work with a brand with such a rich history as they expand throughout the UK is a super exciting prospect. We relish the opportunity to work with the Dr. Martens team.”

Pietro Ranieri

Ranieri welcomes new MD as Pietro Ranieri changes roles

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Ranieri founder Pietro Ranieri has become the consumer tech and lifestyle agency’s group MD, making way for former director Sarah Tokeley to take the helm as managing director.

Jaime Carron has also been promoted to associate director as part of a leadership shakeup as Ranieri prepares for a number of partnerships to evolve its international offering and bolster its integrated communications services.

To coincide with the appointments, Ranieri has consolidated its offices into one central London location.

Earlier this year, Ranieri acquired French tech consultancy Reflexion Publique and in 2016 it became part of marketing network TMG. Pietro Ranieri holds a non-exec position on the TMG board.

He said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Ranieri, and while we’ve been a permanent fixture in the technology PR scene for almost 15 years with a superb set of both household names and exciting challenger brands, I’m immensely pleased to promote Sarah from within our ranks.

“In the nine years Sarah has been at Ranieri, she’s demonstrated clear leadership, tenacity and composure while executing campaigns. She has also excelled at steering growth within the team – not only in terms of numbers but their skill sets and expertise too.”

Tokeley added: “Our clients want to see impactful results that go beyond traditional PR, and content marketing, social media and influencer relations is now a vital component of the consumer communications matrix. We’ve got great clients and a fantastic team that I’m proud to represent at Ranieri.”