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Posts Tagged ‘mark stringer’

Paranormal – Things Aren’t Quite What The Seem

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

We should know better but we still can find ourselves whipped up by hype.   In America last week, Lisa and one of our lovely Clients braced themselves for some US horror at the local LA flicks.  Totally sold on the hugely appealing trailer, they opted for Paranormal Activity, set to hit UK cinemas next week.  This is the low-low-budget film that has swept America by storm, racking up huge sales, with people at best screaming throughout and at worst running for the nearest exit.  So how did they cope?  To be literally the only two in the screening room (ironically!) wasn’t exactly the best of starts but they sat through it, notching up two or three loud screams.  However, half an hour on leaving the cinema they concluded that it wasn’t that terrifying after all – and these two are real scaredy-cats.

The film has drummed up significant word of mouth thanks in part to a cleverly shot trailer.  Timely, as we were talking trailers with a Client the other day, discussing the importance of building drama without of course giving too much away.  Sounds so easy but it’s actually pretty hard when you’re so involved and close to a project.

So, has the Paranormal Activity marketing strategy been a bit too clever for its own good?  We do give it hats off to its pre-premiere tactic of showing screenings at US universities and colleges to kick start word of mouth – and that hype.  But does the film match up to the trailer?  We’ll leave you to make up your own minds (as we help spread the hype!)…

Continuing the theme of Hot Air. Strings was asked to comment on the new British Gas Open Letter ad campaign for PR Week.

He said ‘Consumers have seen gas prices rise by over 15 per cent, and utility companies seem to still be making huge profits. Being more transparent is great, but quite simply consumers want lower prices when profits are being made. They also don’t want token gestures, they want meaningful actions.’

He added: ‘As it’s becoming easier to switch all the utility companies are looking to drive brand loyalty and make their service more attractive, but fundamentally the token touch points need to be backed up with high service levels and competitive prices.’

Basically stop making huge profits, stop putting up prices, stop having call centres that take you 10 minutes to talk to, a further 10 minutes go through the right department, and stop trying to run emtional we care ad campaigns, when quite clearly if you did you’d have done something about it.

The only hype from the utility companies have been their prices to date, but we’re happy to be proved wrong.

What you thinking?

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Last week Strings was asked to go to a Director Generals house and “House Sit” for the 1st of the PRCA’s Thought Leadership programe. If you want to find out about locks on toilet doors click here

Poultry in Motion (or not in some cases)

Monday, September 28th, 2009

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This weekend, the Pretty Greeners were at the last stop of the Nando’s Xperimental Skate Jam at London’s BaySixty6. After the success of Leeds and Leicester last weekend in which over 500 kids turned up to learn how to skateboard and meet some of the UK’s top Pros, by 10 o’clock the streets of West London were lined with the skateboarding yoof ready to tear it up.

The BBC’s Mark Bright was at BaySixty6 the night before to do a special feature on the London News and our resident skateboarder Hamo took this opportunity to perform a trick in front of weather-girl Wendy Hurrell (and the whole of TV-watching London!) As you can see from the video, this turned out to be the weather’s biggest blunder since Michael Fish’s infamous 1987 broadcast….

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Click on “Hamish it wasn’t me I wasn’t wearing that coloured top” (click again on the still, it’s right at the end when the Beeb do their weather round up from Nando’s Skate Jam, he’s the one under the weather map crawling on his hands and knees).

The event itself was a huge success and with hundreds of kids at the event and DJ Example pumping out the tunes, the atmosphere was absolutely electric. The Nando’s Peri-Peri BBQ chicken went down a storm as kids needed refueling for the afternoon of competitions, and we needed refueling to keep our energy levels on par with the youngsters – we’re not as young as we used to be!

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To top off a high-energy day, Nando’s carried out the legendary throw-out from the half-pipe giving away limited-edition skateboard decks and t-shirts to ensure everyone went home with a smile whether they can kick-flip or not… we hadn’t quite mastered it, so we’re already signed up for next year!

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One Shot’s All It Takes

Friday, September 25th, 2009

We came across this today. Claire’s been trying out a few moves round the office, currently we have 3 broken cups, 2 smashed plant pots and a cracked window.

We’re Not Sure If That Was A Good Or Bad Week

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009

It was one of those contradictory weeks last week  – Long but short, good but bad, quiet, but loud, you know the ones, everything goes right, but it’s not quite right, you can’t quite put your finger on it, but t come Friday everyone’s ready to go and get drunk (responsibly).

We think some of it might be down to the fact that everyone needs a good night out and a little party to celebrate all the hard work. We’re trying to decide whether to wait until we move into our new office in Clerkenwell (which is looking promising for the end of the month), or to get one in quickly to help celebrate August plus all the great work everyones being doing.

The years racing by and we’re worried that we’re not going to get to celebrate the summer, or any of the successes. That said, we’ve got two great Red Bull parties coming up this month. The 1st a Red Bull Cola party we’re organising with Wonderland in a church (apparently we can’t pour beer in the church, we have to do it outside, which we found a little odd, as with Him being all seeing, we thought he’d know we poured beer outside and then just brought it in), and the 2nd the X Fighters post event party, which we know will be a quiet one!!!!

Also finally got the Greenlight on a great Fashion Week even with Red Bull, which is looking amazing. Any freelancers looking for a few months work, drop us a line. A great event lined up, during Fashion Week, which should be fantastic, more details as it’s revealed.

We’re also still trying to organise our 1st Birthday party, but it’s slightly been side-tracked by launches, events and office moves. Note to self “put date in and make happen”.

Got a new game in the office we’re currently playing, it’s called “Where’s Hamish”, it’s not because he’s a work dodger, or always late. It’s more that he’s in every Client project either as a v/o, backing singer, stand-in extra, crowd shot, or sound-bite. It’s got to the stage where we’re expecting to see him on X Factor or Britain’s Got Talent.

That said, he is tearing up the turf. Especially with Nando’s X-Perimental. The boy knows his way round a skate-board, but enough of the stories about being a semi-pro (the word semi, just leads to playground giggles).

Claire and Hamish actually went off to Camp Bestival with a Client and we were slightly worried as to whether the Client was going to persuade them both to become extra’s in the experience, as she was after two naked people to  inter-act with people to show the naturalness of the product (not sure anyones willy swinging in the breeze is going to make you want a glass of anything). We’ve heard they both kept there clothes on, but we’re still waiting for the pictures to be developed (we wouldn’t be surprised if there was a shot of his arse in the background).

We’ve also got a new game we’re playing “Lame To Fame”, the random inane stories of our connection to celebrities. We’ve compiled a list, we’ll post this week.

However, the most fun we had was being in the office when two bailiffs turned up and threatened to lock-down our office. They were very polite, one looked like Simon Cowell’s minder, the other who did all the talking, looking like the sort of bloke who’d bite off your ear in a fight, and then apologise afterwards telling you, he had to do it, to ensure you respected him.

It turned out, that they’d actually got the wrong office and it wasn’t anything to do with Pretty Green, but it took a good 4 hours for them to leave. Apparently someone hadn’t been paying rent, somewhere. Naughty people (we’re actually looking for someone on Percy Street with one ear now).

Talking about the Street. There’s some very poor etiquette over scooter parking going on of late. Obviously there’s not enough spaces for scooters and motorbikes and they need shuffling along, but it’s a poor show if you move someone’s scooter, but in doing so when you reverse yours in, you put a big scratch-mark down the side. We know who you are, and we’re waiting for the phone call, we’d hate to have to call in the ear-biter and his friend to have a word.

Actually as we’re sat writing this, we realise last week was actually quite a good week, and we still had a lot of  fun (doesn’t mean we’re not glad it’s over).

Born on the 4th July

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

It’s a year since we came to be and what a year it’s been. We probably should tell you how stressful it’s been setting up a new Agency during the worlds greatest recession since the 1930’s, and that it’s been a ridiculous amount of work to get Pretty Green up and running.

But if truth be told, the hard work, stress, long hours, cash flow nightmares, aren’t what the last 12 months will be remembered for. The lasting memories will be of:-

  1. laughter
  2. lots of quick witted banter and office put downs
  3. surreal debates about life
  4. meeting and making new friends
  5. being amazed by the friendship, loyalty and generosity shown by so many
  6. building on already strong friendships
  7. Client/Agency camaraderie and togetherness through adversity
  8. exciting new relationships
  9. creating a new business model with our Brand Incubator
  10. delivering work that we’re really proud of
  11. inspiring each other with creative thinking and writing
  12. just getting things done without any politics or nonsense
  13. being asked by a Client if we’d set-up an Agency
  14. being invited to do it from a Clients office
  15. having a logo, name and business card that we still love (thank you Nat)
  16. moving into our first office with a wonky floor that meant we all slid into the same corner by the end of the day
  17. realising we had no desks on our first day in our new office and having to hire them from HSS
  18. getting a new wi-fi, mobile phone system so everyone could work 100 yards from the office  (even if it doesn’t work)
  19. Liam copying our name (OK we copied someone else)
  20. winning pitches against the Best in Class and celebrating success (Lucky Voice anyone)
  21. watching a new team blossom and flourish
  22. a belief that it’s all worth it and anything is possible

We could keep going, but 22’s a good number to stop on as it doesn’t feel complete, which is what Pretty Green is currently about. We’re only just starting out on our journey and we’re not sure where this crazy roller-coaster ride is going. We’re a relatively small business and it’s not all a bed of roses, we’ve got lots of big challenges ahead of us, but that’s what it’s all about, that’s why we do it.

We can’t tell you where will be this time next year. We might be down to one person sliding round a wonky floor on his own, but at least we’d have tried to be something and we’ll have a bucketful of positive memories from it.

The Colour of Money

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

We were busy selecting a logo for our new Spirits brand this morning.  We’re not yet decided on a colour, but we’ll be sure to take heed from the below colour/mood chart when doing so.

Logos can be immensely powerful and are proven to have the capacity to change buyer behaviour – you only have to look at the brands that we work for to begin to understand how the brand architects have come to create their identities.

cadbury-logobmpTake Cadbury for example.  It is no surprise to hear that (according to psychological studies) purple connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It is also feminine and romantic….Perfect for a chocolate brand.

red_bull_logoRed Bull is another prime (excuse the pun) example.  The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing.  Why would an energy drink look any further?

colorchart

In terms of our own identity, we’ve gone for a spectrum approach.  Combining the colours of Green and Blue provides us with not only the “durability, honesty, optimism and profitability” of green, but also the “depth, professionalism, loyalty, reliability and trust” of the blue.  Best of both worlds.

For all those soliciting for jobs on The Green – you’d be advised to think carefully about what colours you wear to your interview.  Fashion consultants recommend blue because of the loyalty factor, but we may be more impressed by the bright yellow hot pants/mankini approach.

The other big debate we had today was over the riding to work. Obviously with the tube strike lots of people cycled in and the big question was if you just happened to stop off at the pub, had one too many and cycled home (obviously very dangerous and not recommended) and as you were wobbling home your collar was felt by the strong arm of the law, could you lose your driving license?

Mixed opinions about this, but when Strings asked would the same be true if you were on a skateboard, we seemed to think that you wouldn’t.

No Liam, We’re Pretty Green!

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

picture-112We’re looking forward to our namesake launching this week. Be interesting to see how many parcels turn up, wrongly delivered by Mr Postie to our door.

We also found out, via a chance encounter on a tube, that an old friend (she’s actually quite young), is involved in handling some of the launch marketing for Pretty Green 2 (obviously we’re Pretty Green 1 as we launched 1st). I think the conversation went something like

“great to see you, what are you up to”

“work at Pretty Green”

“what with Liam”

“No, Strings’ new Agency”

“that’s really bizarre, I’m helping out Liam with his launch”

As the saying goes, “small world (but you wouldn’t want to paint it)”.

Will Experiential Budgets Go Before PR Budgets

Friday, May 29th, 2009

picture-101That’s the question we were asked this week by PR Week and it’s a complex question to answer, but probably the simple answer is yes.

If brand experiences become indulgent brand behaviour that doesn’t deliver a short term return then they become difficult to justify. Innocent Village Fete probably being a case in point.

Experiential is a great way to build an emotional connection with a brand, but direct sales and a high ROI are difficult to achieve. However it can be used as effectively as part of the marketing mix, but usually it requires strong amplification to make it work (ie) PR.

Therefore you could argue that experiential budgets will be cut when PR agencies can’t use the activity or platform to effectively amplify the activity to wider audience to engage them in the brand and deliver strong ROI.

What we’ll probably see is PR Agencies move away from the plethora of big brand experiences to the creation of more punchy brand activity that requires a lower level of investment and commitment, but that still delivers strong PR hooks, and Experiential Agencies will move experiences closer to the point of purchase to ensure they deliver direct sales.

All that said, then there’s Red Bull…brand experiences are just getting bigger and bigger (but so is the amplification so maybe our correlation argument still works for RB).

This weekend sees X-Fighters in Calgary, and this picture ran as a DPS in the Guardian and as a smaller image in the Metro (check out the really small logo on the wagon), and this week we also announced that Battersea is the location for X-Fighters London. Not sure it’s gets any bigger than that.

RED BULL X-FIGHTERS RECHARGES BATTERSEA POWER STATION

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

picture-81We told you we’ve been busy.

A surge of energy will bring Battersea Power Station to life on 22 August 2009 as the dramatic setting is transformed to play host to the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour finale. Twelve of the world’s best Freestyle Motocross (FMX) riders will descend on the British capital to thrill a 17,000-strong crowd as they perform gravity-defying tricks to battle it out for the world title in front of the famous white chimneys.

A double first: not only is it the first time Red Bull X-Fighters has touched down in the UK, it’s also the first time that both the inside and outside of Battersea Power Station will be used as part of the set to entertain the general public.

Red Bull X-Fighters is a high-energy spectacle in which riders on motorbikes combine power, skill, showmanship and bravery to excite fans. The World Tour has garnered a huge international following since its conception in 2001 with jumps and tricks getting harder, higher and longer every year – often reaching heights of 40 feet.

In 2008, 170,000 spectators saw the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour climb to new heights with spectacular contests in the bull fighting arenas of Mexico City and Madrid, the stone quarry of Wuppertal in Germany, the Sambadrome parade ground in Rio de Janeiro, a rodeo arena in Texas and a gigantic historic stadium in Warsaw – which was brought back to life for a day before it was then taken down by the wrecking ball.

The 2009 calendar is no less impressive and before making its debut in London, the series will have already touched down in Mexico City (Mexico), Calgary (Canada), Fort Worth (Texas, USA) and Madrid (Spain).

Sally Chatterjee, Interim Chief Executive, Visit London says: “Red Bull has a history of creating innovative and highly entertaining events that make the most of London’s unique landscape. As such I’m delighted Red Bull X-Fighters has chosen the iconic Battersea Power Station to host the final of its World Tour. The Power Station is a spectacular urban venue and will serve as an incredible backdrop for thousands of people to enjoy such a dynamic show.”

Tickets will be on sale from 1st June and range between £20-45, for more information visit www.redbullxfighters.com