Merry Christmas from Manchester. It’s a special time of year, but with a big client win, an adventurous US trip, and some great results we’re filled with more than festive cheer.
November’s been another successful month here at Smoking Gun PR, meaning as the nights have drawn in we’ve been working well past sundown on some great projects for quality brands. Perhaps most significant of all though is the contract we have just signed with furniture giant MFI, as the company prepares for a major online-only relaunch.
It has been 36 months since operations ceased, but now a new UK family ownership is set to bring the aspirational but affordable British retailer back. As one of the biggest names in the retail industry we’re delighted the firm has turned to us, and even happier to hear Adrian Storr, Commercial Director, say: “Smoking Gun PR has impressed us with their knowledge, proven track record, and made it very easy to work with them.???
We’ll be taking responsibility for a comprehensive campaign, beginning with a consumer media launch event. With ongoing product placement, press office, social media strategy and management also under our remit the office will certainly be kept busy, and the team can’t wait to get started.
In October we announced the arrival of another huge addition to our list of clients, Mountain Hardwear of the Columbia Sportswear stable, and this month we can reveal how hands on our work has been. A recent trip to Oregon saw us shake hands with Yogi Bear, gaze over some stunning views of the US Pacific North West, and still have time to take in an inspirational talk by Mike Libecki, one of the company’s sponsored athletes who’s best known for his work climbing unclimbable mountains.
It has not all been working trips though, with plenty of hard graft getting great coverage too. Our campaign for Greenhalgh’s Craft Bakery, involving the Asti Pasty, a delicious savoury pastry inspired by Aston Merrygold of JLS fame, managed to make national headlines, a tasty result for a local bakers.
Meanwhile, Panda Liquorice won the Best Healthy Snack award at the Your Healthy Living Best Products Awards. Not that this is the first accolade the brand has been linked to, what with our social media success at the Some Comms awards in October.
So as we round off another month, and set our sights firmly on Christmas, we also can’t help but reflect on an unquestionably monumental year here at Smoking Gun, from Mount Street to Spinningfields, new staff to new brands. And, of course, December’s not even begun yet, so we’re looking forward to what 2011’s last days will bring, and intend to stay focused on securing great results for all of our clients.