Thursday, 24 December 2009
A Very Merry Christmas
The Phoenix Partners would like to take this opportunity to wish a Very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to all our friends past, present and future.
Monday, 21 December 2009
Planning a Successful Christmas 'Do'
Hopefully we can all say that we have survived our Christmas 'do' with our career and our dignity intact. It is something of a contradiction that we often leave the organisation of these events to whomever steps up to the plate rather than treating it as a bona fide corporate event and affording it the relevant attention.
The Christmas do will often be the only time in the year that all the people within your business get together socially and not only that, there is a very real chance that those people may well overindulge - sometimes in more ways than one!
Event production is a particular skill and engaging someone to help can be beneficial in more ways than are immediately apparent. In the preparation stage it takes the stress out of your office and on the night everyone gets to relax – not forgetting that a professional will bring with them a wealth of experience in avoiding the pitfalls and dealing with the unforeseeable!
The Christmas do will often be the only time in the year that all the people within your business get together socially and not only that, there is a very real chance that those people may well overindulge - sometimes in more ways than one!
Event production is a particular skill and engaging someone to help can be beneficial in more ways than are immediately apparent. In the preparation stage it takes the stress out of your office and on the night everyone gets to relax – not forgetting that a professional will bring with them a wealth of experience in avoiding the pitfalls and dealing with the unforeseeable!
Monday, 14 December 2009
Christmas is Traditionally the Time for Experiential Marketing
Is it? Really?
Please give me a moment to explain.
Experiential marketing is all about getting people who would not usually buy your products to give them a try.
Christmas is all about receiving things that you would never buy for yourself.
Ergo Christmas is traditionally the time for experiential marketing.
So if 1% of the people who did not want ‘eau de puddle’ tried it because they received it and then bought it for themselves, what percentage of a thoughtfully targeted audience could your product appeal to?
Please give me a moment to explain.
Experiential marketing is all about getting people who would not usually buy your products to give them a try.
Christmas is all about receiving things that you would never buy for yourself.
Ergo Christmas is traditionally the time for experiential marketing.
So if 1% of the people who did not want ‘eau de puddle’ tried it because they received it and then bought it for themselves, what percentage of a thoughtfully targeted audience could your product appeal to?
Friday, 11 December 2009
Social Networking is a Must
Social networking is playing an ever increasing role in business and having a presence on the main sites can be as important as putting your address in the phone book was 20 years ago.
As a free shop window for products and services, social networking sites are a resource that you ignore at your peril but there are things to be aware of, not least being the fact that whatever you post has the potential to be viewed by every single person in the world. Fantastic ... or is it?
It’s a bit like the photograph of you, a little worse for wear, taken at that hilarious moment when you fell into a plant and posted by your best friend on Facebook. Brilliant! Right up to the moment that your Grans daycentre decided to have an ‘Introduction to the Internet’ day. You’ve got to love an efficient search engine.
So try and remember that whilst your customers might be earnestly searching for your latest product they probably don’t want to see a picture of your impression of a Baboon.
As a free shop window for products and services, social networking sites are a resource that you ignore at your peril but there are things to be aware of, not least being the fact that whatever you post has the potential to be viewed by every single person in the world. Fantastic ... or is it?
It’s a bit like the photograph of you, a little worse for wear, taken at that hilarious moment when you fell into a plant and posted by your best friend on Facebook. Brilliant! Right up to the moment that your Grans daycentre decided to have an ‘Introduction to the Internet’ day. You’ve got to love an efficient search engine.
So try and remember that whilst your customers might be earnestly searching for your latest product they probably don’t want to see a picture of your impression of a Baboon.
Monday, 30 November 2009
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do..
If the last year has brought anything good to businesses it’s the realisation that shopping around and being smart on your spending is a thoroughly good idea. When it comes to marketing and events this has definitely made the world a more interesting place. Historically the ‘wow’ factor has been something that often came with a ‘wow’ on the price tag too, but lack of funds does not have to mean lack of ‘wow’.
Experiential marketing is a fantastic term which replaces the rather less salubrious ‘try before you buy’. You have access to your own products at cost so there’s your main budget factor addressed straight away. Now all you have to do is get it to your customers in a way which adds the ‘wow’ without breaking the bank.
This is where a little creative thinking comes in.
It doesn’t have to be budget busting to make an impact and certainly in our experience a little creative thinking and expertise can go a very long way. Experiential marketing is an art which works best using inspiration, knowledge of your potential customer’s habits and simplicity to highlight - but not overwhelm - your message, product or service.
So it’s true a ha’penny will do!
Experiential marketing is a fantastic term which replaces the rather less salubrious ‘try before you buy’. You have access to your own products at cost so there’s your main budget factor addressed straight away. Now all you have to do is get it to your customers in a way which adds the ‘wow’ without breaking the bank.
This is where a little creative thinking comes in.
It doesn’t have to be budget busting to make an impact and certainly in our experience a little creative thinking and expertise can go a very long way. Experiential marketing is an art which works best using inspiration, knowledge of your potential customer’s habits and simplicity to highlight - but not overwhelm - your message, product or service.
So it’s true a ha’penny will do!
Monday, 23 November 2009
Please put a penny in the old mans hat...
Maybe we ought to pause for thought on this one after all we wouldn’t like to offend any senior citizens with a bizarre reverse mugging and to be honest what can you buy for a penny these days? Not a lot. And yet it remains true that if you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves.
As belts have (sadly only figuratively) become tighter many of us have adjusted our views on what constitutes value for money. Certainly actual cost has relevance but, particularly when it comes to conferences and events, there have been some fantastic opportunities to take advantage of venues offering fabulous rates and extras thrown in.
It’s a little ironic that when no-one is spending everything costs less but by the laws of supply and demand it seems to make sense. So where are we now? Heading back towards the halcyon days of big spends? Probably not, but in this interim period when the offers are still standing and the money is beginning to flow, there are definitely some fantastic deals out there.
If you need help tracking them down, give us a call.
As belts have (sadly only figuratively) become tighter many of us have adjusted our views on what constitutes value for money. Certainly actual cost has relevance but, particularly when it comes to conferences and events, there have been some fantastic opportunities to take advantage of venues offering fabulous rates and extras thrown in.
It’s a little ironic that when no-one is spending everything costs less but by the laws of supply and demand it seems to make sense. So where are we now? Heading back towards the halcyon days of big spends? Probably not, but in this interim period when the offers are still standing and the money is beginning to flow, there are definitely some fantastic deals out there.
If you need help tracking them down, give us a call.
Monday, 16 November 2009
The goose is getting fat
As indeed are most of us apparently. As an ‘in’ topic you can’t get much hotter than this and approaching the season when over indulgence is expected - if not downright encouraged - what are we to do about it?
Maybe what the world needs is a little gentle encouragement, a little positive reinforcement ... an incentive or two.
So what’s your company doing for Christmas? I’m going to stick my neck out and suggest that whether you’re holding an event or organising a motivational pressie the main ingredients will be food, drink or both. It’s traditional (i.e. easy), it’s festive (i.e. easy), everyone likes it (... and it’s easy).
So, working on the theme of easy, what else could you do? That is easier still. Find yourself somebody, let’s say, for instance, The Phoenix Partners, who have experience in providing alternative solutions to staff rewards and incentives and give them a call, or drop them an email. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Maybe what the world needs is a little gentle encouragement, a little positive reinforcement ... an incentive or two.
So what’s your company doing for Christmas? I’m going to stick my neck out and suggest that whether you’re holding an event or organising a motivational pressie the main ingredients will be food, drink or both. It’s traditional (i.e. easy), it’s festive (i.e. easy), everyone likes it (... and it’s easy).
So, working on the theme of easy, what else could you do? That is easier still. Find yourself somebody, let’s say, for instance, The Phoenix Partners, who have experience in providing alternative solutions to staff rewards and incentives and give them a call, or drop them an email. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Monday, 9 November 2009
Christmas is coming...
(Very tempted to add "but not through the post" ... but I shall refrain).
It doesn’t matter how much we think it’s still a long way away it is just a couple of pay days until the big event. Traditionally this is the calm before the storm. We have ages to consider, locate and purchase the perfect gift for everyone we care about, no worries.
Except for the fact that we don’t. Well, most of us don’t.
We all know a person who does though. They’ve bought their presents already and have probably wrapped them too. This means three things to the rest of us
1 - We have someone to pillory for being efficient and having the ability to plan forward and action things in good time.
2 - We are able to justify our own inaction by ridiculing their over zealousness.
3 - It’s too late to get on their Christmas list.
Oh dear, time to get on with it then!
It doesn’t matter how much we think it’s still a long way away it is just a couple of pay days until the big event. Traditionally this is the calm before the storm. We have ages to consider, locate and purchase the perfect gift for everyone we care about, no worries.
Except for the fact that we don’t. Well, most of us don’t.
We all know a person who does though. They’ve bought their presents already and have probably wrapped them too. This means three things to the rest of us
1 - We have someone to pillory for being efficient and having the ability to plan forward and action things in good time.
2 - We are able to justify our own inaction by ridiculing their over zealousness.
3 - It’s too late to get on their Christmas list.
Oh dear, time to get on with it then!
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Cost Effective Video Offer
The Phoenix Partners portfolio of offerings continues to expand with the launch of our Cost Effective Video offer. Following the successful format of set price packages in PR we are aiming to make our skills accessible to a wider range of businesses with video.
There is a misconception that video production is a ‘high spend’ medium through which to communicate and therefore not within reach for most SME’s. This just is not true. Video is an effective way to communicate with both your customers and your staff and can be used in a variety of ways. Whether you are looking to put together training materials, product demonstrations or advertorials, video is an excellent tool with a limitless audience.
The rise of the internet and social networking has given airtime to all sorts of footage and there is a very real chance that your film will be seen around the world by people that you would otherwise not have access to. So whatever your preconceptions are now may well be the right time to reconsider. You can download our brochure through this site or contact rachel@thephoenixpartners.com for a coffee and a chat.
There is a misconception that video production is a ‘high spend’ medium through which to communicate and therefore not within reach for most SME’s. This just is not true. Video is an effective way to communicate with both your customers and your staff and can be used in a variety of ways. Whether you are looking to put together training materials, product demonstrations or advertorials, video is an excellent tool with a limitless audience.
The rise of the internet and social networking has given airtime to all sorts of footage and there is a very real chance that your film will be seen around the world by people that you would otherwise not have access to. So whatever your preconceptions are now may well be the right time to reconsider. You can download our brochure through this site or contact rachel@thephoenixpartners.com for a coffee and a chat.
Show me the Money
With the Global economy lurching from one largely unexplainable catastrophe to the next. I’d like to draw a couple of parallels which may help to illuminate the inherent ridiculousness of trading without substance.
In 1593 Tulip bulbs began to become popular across Europe. Particularly sought after were those affected by a virus which caused a distinctive ‘flame’ pattern on the petals. Tulip connoisseurs began to buy at inflated prices and soon Tulip bulbs were seen as an investment. At the height of Tulip bulb mania the value of just one bulb could increase twenty times in a month and ordinary people were swapping their homes, savings and businesses for one or two bulbs. These bulbs were never planted, so their intrinsic worth was never relevant. When the crash came the whole continent was brought to its knees. This has long been held as an example of economic naivety.
Moving swiftly forward to the 1990’s and here we go again. This time Beenie Babies are the fantastic investment. A $10 toy that you can sell on for thousands – understandably (perhaps) a lot of people were very interested. The company that produced them had a fantastic marketing strategy which involved releasing small numbers of each design in different areas to perpetuate the myth that these were limited edition toys. People would miss work and travel hundreds of miles to acquire the one toy that would be their pension plan.
Nobody seemed to realise that there were thousands of complete collections and that the rarity just was not there. Even the famous ‘Royal Blue Peanut’ an elephant produced in the ‘wrong’ colour only ever topped the scales at just over $3,000. A good investment by any standard but not one that was repeatable for every collector. Ten years on from the end of production the average Beenie Baby kept in pristine condition is worth approx $15 - $20. This is held as an example of economic naivety.
Scrolling forward to today - and please bear in mind that I profess to only a lay mans grasp of international economics. I have a house that I could mortgage for approximately three times what it would cost me to build an identical replacement, so which figure represents its actual value? Unfortunately both figures are correct. One to me (how much would it cost me to replace?) and one to the banking world (how much is it worth to mortgage?).
This means that 66% of the value of my house does not, in real terms, exist. With over 25 million homes in the UK, the difference in one country, relating only to property must be absolutely mind boggling. I think that this should be seen as an example of economic naivety.
Am I worried? Not really, I’ve got a garden full of tulips and a loft full of Beenie Babies!
In 1593 Tulip bulbs began to become popular across Europe. Particularly sought after were those affected by a virus which caused a distinctive ‘flame’ pattern on the petals. Tulip connoisseurs began to buy at inflated prices and soon Tulip bulbs were seen as an investment. At the height of Tulip bulb mania the value of just one bulb could increase twenty times in a month and ordinary people were swapping their homes, savings and businesses for one or two bulbs. These bulbs were never planted, so their intrinsic worth was never relevant. When the crash came the whole continent was brought to its knees. This has long been held as an example of economic naivety.
Moving swiftly forward to the 1990’s and here we go again. This time Beenie Babies are the fantastic investment. A $10 toy that you can sell on for thousands – understandably (perhaps) a lot of people were very interested. The company that produced them had a fantastic marketing strategy which involved releasing small numbers of each design in different areas to perpetuate the myth that these were limited edition toys. People would miss work and travel hundreds of miles to acquire the one toy that would be their pension plan.
Nobody seemed to realise that there were thousands of complete collections and that the rarity just was not there. Even the famous ‘Royal Blue Peanut’ an elephant produced in the ‘wrong’ colour only ever topped the scales at just over $3,000. A good investment by any standard but not one that was repeatable for every collector. Ten years on from the end of production the average Beenie Baby kept in pristine condition is worth approx $15 - $20. This is held as an example of economic naivety.
Scrolling forward to today - and please bear in mind that I profess to only a lay mans grasp of international economics. I have a house that I could mortgage for approximately three times what it would cost me to build an identical replacement, so which figure represents its actual value? Unfortunately both figures are correct. One to me (how much would it cost me to replace?) and one to the banking world (how much is it worth to mortgage?).
This means that 66% of the value of my house does not, in real terms, exist. With over 25 million homes in the UK, the difference in one country, relating only to property must be absolutely mind boggling. I think that this should be seen as an example of economic naivety.
Am I worried? Not really, I’ve got a garden full of tulips and a loft full of Beenie Babies!
Monday, 19 October 2009
Opportunity Knocks
It has always struck me as a little odd that we are expected to choose a career for life at a time when deciding what to wear can take up most of the day. The teenage years are not really a time for opting in or out of anything more transient than a hairdo but still decisions have to be made. Careers advice is fine but you can almost be certain that after listing the qualifications you will need to follow your chosen path there will be some bias away from the mundane aspects of your choice. So how can we ensure that decisions are made on maximum information; by giving it a go!
Work experience can be the thing of nightmares (just read the article in this month’s IoD magazine about the experiences of one unlucky work experience’r if you need any further proof!) – two weeks of tea making and filing is soul destroying on every level. Any job combines skills and tasks to make the whole and, in our humble opinion, giving half an experience is giving no experience at all.
The Phoenix Partners had a very successful ‘summer of students’ and when done correctly work experience can be beneficial to everybody involved, so we are excited to report that we are currently able to offer an opportunity to get a real taste of PR. If you are interested in finding out just how frustrating, challenging and rewarding it can be to drive forward a campaign please get in contact. You don’t have to be a student, you may be someone who made their initial decision under the influence of Duran Duran and would like to try another option, all that matters is a willingness to work, a taste for free thinking and the ability to communicate confidently. If you are interested or you would like some further details please email rachel@thephoenixpartners.com.
Work experience can be the thing of nightmares (just read the article in this month’s IoD magazine about the experiences of one unlucky work experience’r if you need any further proof!) – two weeks of tea making and filing is soul destroying on every level. Any job combines skills and tasks to make the whole and, in our humble opinion, giving half an experience is giving no experience at all.
The Phoenix Partners had a very successful ‘summer of students’ and when done correctly work experience can be beneficial to everybody involved, so we are excited to report that we are currently able to offer an opportunity to get a real taste of PR. If you are interested in finding out just how frustrating, challenging and rewarding it can be to drive forward a campaign please get in contact. You don’t have to be a student, you may be someone who made their initial decision under the influence of Duran Duran and would like to try another option, all that matters is a willingness to work, a taste for free thinking and the ability to communicate confidently. If you are interested or you would like some further details please email rachel@thephoenixpartners.com.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
An Interesting Brief
Please create 200 stunning and unique giveaways, here is a small pile of crashed motorcycle parts. Hmm…. this may take a while.
Crashed motorcycle parts are beautiful to only the select few (including yours truly) and with my anorak firmly on, I can tell you that by the time they’ve been made into something else they’re not so aesthetically pleasing. Never people to shy away from a challenge, we got our thinking hats on. Photography - that might just work. Alas the inherent beauty of a MotoGP bikes’ foot rest hanger retained only niche market appeal and even I had to admit it lacked impact. I know, why don’t we set the whole thing on fire? (you’ve got to love a designer). After brief but intense HSSE input it all came to pass. And that, my friend, is art.
Crashed motorcycle parts are beautiful to only the select few (including yours truly) and with my anorak firmly on, I can tell you that by the time they’ve been made into something else they’re not so aesthetically pleasing. Never people to shy away from a challenge, we got our thinking hats on. Photography - that might just work. Alas the inherent beauty of a MotoGP bikes’ foot rest hanger retained only niche market appeal and even I had to admit it lacked impact. I know, why don’t we set the whole thing on fire? (you’ve got to love a designer). After brief but intense HSSE input it all came to pass. And that, my friend, is art.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Laura Summer Project
As I entered the office I was greeted by two, loud, spotty office dogs. The Phoenix Partners was definitely no ordinary office - that’s for sure!
My first day was really good and everyone made me feel so welcome. Now I had to get to grips with the task ahead of me…
Digital and New Media!
Currently I am studying a degree in Advertising and Marketing, so this did seem a challenge; yet the more research I did I soon began to see how it can fit into a businesses communications strategy. The possibilities were endless but the results were the same. A well constructed campaign will ensure that your company will reach an incredibly large audience.
However, in the early days of the project I began to feel overwhelmed. There are so many platforms and software applications that you can use - but what is the right one? Should I talk about them all? As The Phoenix Partners are an agency I could not target a specific audience and say ‘this medium would be right for you’ because every client is different and each has their own individual needs. So I knew that I had to select a range of platforms that Digital and New Media offered that could be suitable for a number of sectors.
All of sudden everything began to fit. I started developing a plan for what The Phoenix Partners could use for both themselves and for their clients. After constant checking and re-writing I ended up with a document well in access of 100 pages which included all things Digital and New Media.
The Phoenix Partners are now ready to offer relevant aspects of Digital and New Media to their clients. For me this was the best part of my placement – actually being encouraged to meet live clients and sharing my ideas with them.
The Phoenix Partners is a unique place to work and as I have mentioned earlier the two spotty office dogs, Dyson and Square, really give the office a great atmosphere. There was another bonus to the job too. On hot sunny days (not that we got many of them this summer!) we got to have a barbeque and a beer. That always went down well and was a great way to motivate the whole team too!
What makes The phoenix Partners a really great agency and a brilliant place to work though is the people. Yes we know we have got work to do (and they are excellent at what they do) but it is also important to have a laugh and that is what made working here so enjoyable. An agency where you can be yourself, where your ideas count (even if you are a Uni student!) and where you are encouraged ... I wonder if there will be any vacancies next year???
My first day was really good and everyone made me feel so welcome. Now I had to get to grips with the task ahead of me…
Digital and New Media!
Currently I am studying a degree in Advertising and Marketing, so this did seem a challenge; yet the more research I did I soon began to see how it can fit into a businesses communications strategy. The possibilities were endless but the results were the same. A well constructed campaign will ensure that your company will reach an incredibly large audience.
However, in the early days of the project I began to feel overwhelmed. There are so many platforms and software applications that you can use - but what is the right one? Should I talk about them all? As The Phoenix Partners are an agency I could not target a specific audience and say ‘this medium would be right for you’ because every client is different and each has their own individual needs. So I knew that I had to select a range of platforms that Digital and New Media offered that could be suitable for a number of sectors.
All of sudden everything began to fit. I started developing a plan for what The Phoenix Partners could use for both themselves and for their clients. After constant checking and re-writing I ended up with a document well in access of 100 pages which included all things Digital and New Media.
The Phoenix Partners are now ready to offer relevant aspects of Digital and New Media to their clients. For me this was the best part of my placement – actually being encouraged to meet live clients and sharing my ideas with them.
The Phoenix Partners is a unique place to work and as I have mentioned earlier the two spotty office dogs, Dyson and Square, really give the office a great atmosphere. There was another bonus to the job too. On hot sunny days (not that we got many of them this summer!) we got to have a barbeque and a beer. That always went down well and was a great way to motivate the whole team too!
What makes The phoenix Partners a really great agency and a brilliant place to work though is the people. Yes we know we have got work to do (and they are excellent at what they do) but it is also important to have a laugh and that is what made working here so enjoyable. An agency where you can be yourself, where your ideas count (even if you are a Uni student!) and where you are encouraged ... I wonder if there will be any vacancies next year???
Aims and Incentives
What makes a successful incentive scheme? Let’s be honest, it’s all about the gifts. A scheme can be well run, effectively publicised to staff and within budget, but if the gift isn’t fantastic, then really - why bother?
So, how about an all expenses paid week on an exclusive, tropical island? Sorry, but I hate flying and the sunshine will bring me out in hives. There really is no pleasing some people and that is the challenge for incentive schemes. Incentive gifts need to be as varied as the incentive participants.
Aspiration is very personal. Some people will respond to long term targets and some need instant gratification, some will love a holiday and some will want an i-pod. There are also those who will use their rewards to buy gifts for others, making the ‘customer’ demographic as easy to pin down as fog.
That is why www.incentivise-me.com was created and this is how part of my job became the search for what everybody wants. How fantastic, shopping in the name of work! And it would be, if I were buying for me - but I’m not – I’m buying for you. I am a personal shopper for thousands of people that I have never met. Imagine having to buy all the Christmas presents for the extended family of a person randomly selected from a phone book in another country – without even talking to them. Challenging - certainly, Brilliant – definitely.
So ... how am I doing? Why don’t you have a look and tell me?
justine@thephoenixpartners.com
So, how about an all expenses paid week on an exclusive, tropical island? Sorry, but I hate flying and the sunshine will bring me out in hives. There really is no pleasing some people and that is the challenge for incentive schemes. Incentive gifts need to be as varied as the incentive participants.
Aspiration is very personal. Some people will respond to long term targets and some need instant gratification, some will love a holiday and some will want an i-pod. There are also those who will use their rewards to buy gifts for others, making the ‘customer’ demographic as easy to pin down as fog.
That is why www.incentivise-me.com was created and this is how part of my job became the search for what everybody wants. How fantastic, shopping in the name of work! And it would be, if I were buying for me - but I’m not – I’m buying for you. I am a personal shopper for thousands of people that I have never met. Imagine having to buy all the Christmas presents for the extended family of a person randomly selected from a phone book in another country – without even talking to them. Challenging - certainly, Brilliant – definitely.
So ... how am I doing? Why don’t you have a look and tell me?
justine@thephoenixpartners.com
Friday, 3 July 2009
A real hunger for innovation
Public sector: these are words which strike fear (or worse) into the hearts of even the most open-minded people. But is this reputation really warranted?
It is easy to look at the public sector as a whole and see it as a monolithic beast burdened by inefficiencies, bureaucracy and red tape, a place where jobs for life still exist. When we started working with the publc sector, there did seem to be a very different culture in place, one where you covered your back and didn't rock the boat.
The language used was different too, and in places we just didn't percieve the same drive and energty that existed in the private sector. However, during the past five years we have witnessed a real change in approach throughout the parts of the public sector with which we have worked. There now seems to be a real hunger for innovation. Read more.
It is easy to look at the public sector as a whole and see it as a monolithic beast burdened by inefficiencies, bureaucracy and red tape, a place where jobs for life still exist. When we started working with the publc sector, there did seem to be a very different culture in place, one where you covered your back and didn't rock the boat.
The language used was different too, and in places we just didn't percieve the same drive and energty that existed in the private sector. However, during the past five years we have witnessed a real change in approach throughout the parts of the public sector with which we have worked. There now seems to be a real hunger for innovation. Read more.
Friday, 26 June 2009
PR and beyond
Somebody who should know about that sort of thing once said “If I was down to my last dollar, I’d spend it on PR” and we all know that right now it’s important to make that PR ‘dollar’ go further than ever.
Public Relations, though it may often slip into a cliché of its own design, remains an important issue in an age where information has almost currency status. On every level people hunger for the power of information, gossip made real by reiteration is a modern phenomena and we ignore its’ power at our peril.
At The Phoenix Partners we place great importance on ‘The power of story’ and now we need to focus not only on content, but also on the method of storytelling. As communication continues its journey into New Media it becomes more and more important to match message to vehicle and to tailor our stories to the strengths and restraints of each.
With this in mind we would like to welcome Creative Leicestershire, DeMontfort University and Serious Waste Management who have all chosen to travel forward with The Phoenix Partners into the ever evolving world of PR.
Public Relations, though it may often slip into a cliché of its own design, remains an important issue in an age where information has almost currency status. On every level people hunger for the power of information, gossip made real by reiteration is a modern phenomena and we ignore its’ power at our peril.
At The Phoenix Partners we place great importance on ‘The power of story’ and now we need to focus not only on content, but also on the method of storytelling. As communication continues its journey into New Media it becomes more and more important to match message to vehicle and to tailor our stories to the strengths and restraints of each.
With this in mind we would like to welcome Creative Leicestershire, DeMontfort University and Serious Waste Management who have all chosen to travel forward with The Phoenix Partners into the ever evolving world of PR.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
I Hate Lisbon! I Love Lisbon!
I have never been a fan of Portugal. There was no great disaster that turned me away from it. In fact it strikes me as odd how you can take against a place for very little apparent reason.
My “reason” – if you really can call it that - was that many years ago I flew to Madeira and had to transfer via either Lisbon or Faro (it’s so long ago I can’t even remember which it was now). On the journey home we had flown back to mainland Portugal without any incidents. However, from Portugal to the UK we experienced extreme turbulence. That wasn’t the problem.
The problem was that on board with my party was a group returning from a religious retreat. The Beyond Dover retreat proceeded to join hands and sing “Abide with Me” and other classic hymns to help us, I presume, survive the turbulence. For many passengers this threw them into complete panic whilst one of my party (a hugely witty Scot named Peter) turned to me and said,
“Thank God I haven’t got shoelaces or a belt or I would have ended this misery permanently.”
From that day forward I have never been able to think of Portugal without thinking of the Beyond Dover retreat, “Abide with Me”, Peter and his lack of belt / shoelaces etcetera.
So Portugal, rather unfairly, became my horror destination. That was until recently. A client of ours was working with one of their Industry Associations to put on a conference and networking event. They were interested in three destinations which were Vienna, Prague and Lisbon. My heart started to beat faster and I began to hyperventilate. No, not Lisbon!
We did the research, put together three programmes and their budgets and to my absolute horror Lisbon worked out the best in terms of budget. As this was of huge importance to our client I knew I could be in trouble.
I had noticed something else though. Whilst we were working through the options and putting each programme together the first person back to us was our DMC in Lisbon. A lovely lady called Ana looked after us and guided us through all the different options. Ana works for AIMS Portugal and was introduced to us by their UK representative at the C&IT Corporate Forum where we were both exhibiting last year. Ana turned each of our requests around within (maximum) 12 hours whereas Vienna and Prague both told us how busy they were and asked us to give them more time. Now of course I am immensely pleased that they are busy ... but so am I, so are our clients.
Our clients had wanted to go to Vienna ... but the budget wasn’t allowing it. Prague just wasn’t doing it for them at all and was even coming in more costly than Lisbon. We all looked at Lisbon.
“Well, I’ve always liked Lisbon,” said Dan, our client.
“We’d better go and see if it lives up to expectations then,” said I (not telling Dan that my expectations were not the same as his).
We flew out, were met by Ana taken to our hotel and then after a quick show around out for dinner. Dinner was food and wine heaven! In one of the many restaurants in the Dock area we sat and ate and talked. This was one of the dinearound options and got the thumbs up from Dan. However, the hotel was not cutting the muster.
“We’ve got another three to see tomorrow,” I reassured. “I’m sure we’ll find the right one. Right Ana.”
“Absolutely,” said Ana.
The next day we recced, looked, ate and saw. The weather wasn’t too bad for early January either and Ana had everything organised to perfection. I was bowled over by a beautiful, cosmopolitan city steeped in history whilst being bang up to date in terms of fashion, culture, food and activities.
Dan and I agreed that Lisbon was the place. We found our hotel - the newly renovated five star Hotel Corinthia (we had thought for our budget that we would only be able to afford a four star property) and still our budget sat at where it should!
Now the only issue we have is to make a final choice on restaurants and activities. Ana showed us her city and in the process completely converted me.
I love Lisbon!
My “reason” – if you really can call it that - was that many years ago I flew to Madeira and had to transfer via either Lisbon or Faro (it’s so long ago I can’t even remember which it was now). On the journey home we had flown back to mainland Portugal without any incidents. However, from Portugal to the UK we experienced extreme turbulence. That wasn’t the problem.
The problem was that on board with my party was a group returning from a religious retreat. The Beyond Dover retreat proceeded to join hands and sing “Abide with Me” and other classic hymns to help us, I presume, survive the turbulence. For many passengers this threw them into complete panic whilst one of my party (a hugely witty Scot named Peter) turned to me and said,
“Thank God I haven’t got shoelaces or a belt or I would have ended this misery permanently.”
From that day forward I have never been able to think of Portugal without thinking of the Beyond Dover retreat, “Abide with Me”, Peter and his lack of belt / shoelaces etcetera.
So Portugal, rather unfairly, became my horror destination. That was until recently. A client of ours was working with one of their Industry Associations to put on a conference and networking event. They were interested in three destinations which were Vienna, Prague and Lisbon. My heart started to beat faster and I began to hyperventilate. No, not Lisbon!
We did the research, put together three programmes and their budgets and to my absolute horror Lisbon worked out the best in terms of budget. As this was of huge importance to our client I knew I could be in trouble.
I had noticed something else though. Whilst we were working through the options and putting each programme together the first person back to us was our DMC in Lisbon. A lovely lady called Ana looked after us and guided us through all the different options. Ana works for AIMS Portugal and was introduced to us by their UK representative at the C&IT Corporate Forum where we were both exhibiting last year. Ana turned each of our requests around within (maximum) 12 hours whereas Vienna and Prague both told us how busy they were and asked us to give them more time. Now of course I am immensely pleased that they are busy ... but so am I, so are our clients.
Our clients had wanted to go to Vienna ... but the budget wasn’t allowing it. Prague just wasn’t doing it for them at all and was even coming in more costly than Lisbon. We all looked at Lisbon.
“Well, I’ve always liked Lisbon,” said Dan, our client.
“We’d better go and see if it lives up to expectations then,” said I (not telling Dan that my expectations were not the same as his).
We flew out, were met by Ana taken to our hotel and then after a quick show around out for dinner. Dinner was food and wine heaven! In one of the many restaurants in the Dock area we sat and ate and talked. This was one of the dinearound options and got the thumbs up from Dan. However, the hotel was not cutting the muster.
“We’ve got another three to see tomorrow,” I reassured. “I’m sure we’ll find the right one. Right Ana.”
“Absolutely,” said Ana.
The next day we recced, looked, ate and saw. The weather wasn’t too bad for early January either and Ana had everything organised to perfection. I was bowled over by a beautiful, cosmopolitan city steeped in history whilst being bang up to date in terms of fashion, culture, food and activities.
Dan and I agreed that Lisbon was the place. We found our hotel - the newly renovated five star Hotel Corinthia (we had thought for our budget that we would only be able to afford a four star property) and still our budget sat at where it should!
Now the only issue we have is to make a final choice on restaurants and activities. Ana showed us her city and in the process completely converted me.
I love Lisbon!
Sunday, 11 January 2009
First Hand Experience v's Internet Research
The internet is useful – very useful! Gone are the bad old days of PA’s sitting in libraries researching information on many and varied topics only to be thrown out at closing time or, even worse, realising that the book they need is not for loan and the photocopier had broken down; a nightmare for all concerned.
Oh yes, the internet is very useful ... but can anything ever take the place of firsthand experience? It seems that in one area at least the answer is possibly not. Recently a friend of ours decided to go to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt. They had heard a lot about the place; how cost effective it was, how the weather was always good and how relaxed it was whilst still being strategically positioned so that you could go out and experience the culture of the area if you wanted to.
They were sold and so off they went and indeed a good holiday was had. However, afterwards they said that their first impressions were not so good. As they transferred from the airport to their hotel they travelled down a main through road on which just about every possible hotel chain had a property. There are over 200 hotels in Sharm el Sheikh and its immediate surrounding area and first impressions can be of a sprawling mass of hotels, restaurants, shops (both high end and not so high end), British bars etc. If you are a tired traveller then you could, very easily, be put off.
“What happened once you arrived at your hotel?” we asked. Our friends had stayed at a three star property and so weren’t expecting The Ritz. The service wasn’t bad and the people were friendly they reported.
“Did you go out to see the sites?” we asked. Our friends said no. After a bit of a false start regarding a planned visit to Petra by plane, they were told that a road and boat option was all that was available, meaning that they would have to get up at 3am in the morning and would probably not get back to the hotel until about 10pm that same day (or is that night?).
“The weather; was that good?” we asked. It was they reported. Though not as warm as you might think ... but then it was December.
“And value for money?” Not bad at all. Outside of the hotel it was very reasonable but in the hotel – well – they know how to charge though not nearly as much as back in the UK of course.
Now this was a private holiday and not a group incentive trip or conference. The fact remains though that the internet can paint a brilliant picture, whether that is of Sharm el Sheikh or just about any destination in the world for that matter. So what tips for a corporate organiser? Should you discount the internet entirely?
No of course not. The internet is great for background research and to get a sense of a place and the opportunities it provides. The key, however, is to know your group, know your client and to know your proposed destination(s) personally and not by having just Googled them.
Sharm el Sheikh has been recommended by The Phoenix Partners for both midsized conferences and incentive travel groups, but you have to know your properties, your areas and how to communicate both its strengths and potential issues openly so that your client can make an informed decision. That decision then needs to be followed up with a detailed recce where your client can experience the country, properties, activity options and restaurants for themselves. In other words – you must ensure that your client tries before they buy.
In the end experience and not the internet should be your guide and that experience is well worth paying for.
Oh yes, the internet is very useful ... but can anything ever take the place of firsthand experience? It seems that in one area at least the answer is possibly not. Recently a friend of ours decided to go to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt. They had heard a lot about the place; how cost effective it was, how the weather was always good and how relaxed it was whilst still being strategically positioned so that you could go out and experience the culture of the area if you wanted to.
They were sold and so off they went and indeed a good holiday was had. However, afterwards they said that their first impressions were not so good. As they transferred from the airport to their hotel they travelled down a main through road on which just about every possible hotel chain had a property. There are over 200 hotels in Sharm el Sheikh and its immediate surrounding area and first impressions can be of a sprawling mass of hotels, restaurants, shops (both high end and not so high end), British bars etc. If you are a tired traveller then you could, very easily, be put off.
“What happened once you arrived at your hotel?” we asked. Our friends had stayed at a three star property and so weren’t expecting The Ritz. The service wasn’t bad and the people were friendly they reported.
“Did you go out to see the sites?” we asked. Our friends said no. After a bit of a false start regarding a planned visit to Petra by plane, they were told that a road and boat option was all that was available, meaning that they would have to get up at 3am in the morning and would probably not get back to the hotel until about 10pm that same day (or is that night?).
“The weather; was that good?” we asked. It was they reported. Though not as warm as you might think ... but then it was December.
“And value for money?” Not bad at all. Outside of the hotel it was very reasonable but in the hotel – well – they know how to charge though not nearly as much as back in the UK of course.
Now this was a private holiday and not a group incentive trip or conference. The fact remains though that the internet can paint a brilliant picture, whether that is of Sharm el Sheikh or just about any destination in the world for that matter. So what tips for a corporate organiser? Should you discount the internet entirely?
No of course not. The internet is great for background research and to get a sense of a place and the opportunities it provides. The key, however, is to know your group, know your client and to know your proposed destination(s) personally and not by having just Googled them.
Sharm el Sheikh has been recommended by The Phoenix Partners for both midsized conferences and incentive travel groups, but you have to know your properties, your areas and how to communicate both its strengths and potential issues openly so that your client can make an informed decision. That decision then needs to be followed up with a detailed recce where your client can experience the country, properties, activity options and restaurants for themselves. In other words – you must ensure that your client tries before they buy.
In the end experience and not the internet should be your guide and that experience is well worth paying for.
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