our blog

It's been a while!

2011-09-14T03:44:00.000-07:00

Long time, no see!

One of the main issues we discuss with clients when talking about online engagement is whether or not they should blog.

Invariably we advise them not to start blogging unless they have the time, inclination, news stories and opinions required to create material on a regular basis that could be of interest to their audience. Otherwise, the blog will quickly become dated and stale.

Up until the time I press the 'Publish Post' button below, we've used our own blog as a prime example. Where has the time gone? And what has our absence said about us!

It's not as if we haven't had things to write about. It hasn't been the easiest of years, has it? And yet we've secured new clients. We're working hard on new projects for clients who've been with us for a considerable time. We continue to achieve great levels of relevant media coverage for businesses who readily recognise our efforts on their behalf. Our business development activity continues apace.

We have our own thoughts on how PR is impacting on the wider world. And we still have time to discuss the merits of the latest X-Factor auditionees, the tribulations of a plethora of celebrities and the relative merits of Fox's biscuits versus Morrisons' own-brand.

It's just that we haven't had the time to share it.

Maybe it's a sign of a siege mentality. We battened down the hatches and focused on our client work and ourselves. But there was no conscious decision to stop blogging. It just didn't happen, even though the material was still there. We lost the discipline as priorities leapfrogged priorities.

Well, the times, they are a' changing (again). We're back, and this time we're back for good.

Come on, come one, come on, come on Take That and party!!!

2010-12-15T05:06:00.000-08:00

When Take That recently announced the release of more tickets for their hotly-anticipated Progress tour on Friday 10th December, I was so excited! I’d missed out the first time round as the tickets sold out in record time. And it’s Take That with Robbie back after 16 years! Could it be magic?

I had a problem, the tickets went on sale at 10am and I was meant to be hard at work in the office, securing press coverage for my clients. A quick text message to Phil explaining my plight resulted in the required clearance to try and secure the coveted tickets.

I informed all my colleagues about my plans and Faye got excited as she also wanted to see the band. The whole team was poised by their computers and phones in the office, ready to secure eight tickets to see the boys in their hometown of Manchester.

10am came and went. All the phone lines were engaged and the websites were busy. I was praying to get through. It was quite frantic at one point. Phil strolled in and told me to have a little patience. Perseverance eventually paid off and both Faye and I managed to acquire our tickets by 10.15am. Yeah!

I hope Take That are back for good and can’t wait to see them. I expect it will be the greatest day of 2011.

Yet another award win for yet another client!

2010-11-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Honeywell Building Solutions, who managed to win the Partners in Corporate Social Responsibility category at last night's PFM (Premises & Facilities Management) Awards 2010.

Both companies have put a lot of work into ensuring that over 40 PwC premises across the country operate efficiently and cost-effectively. Energy management and corporate environmental sustainability play a big part in the process and were the focus of the award submission.

We put the entry together, but last night's success is down to the quality of the partnership and the results that have been achieved, pure and simple.

It was probably the easiest entry we have ever compiled, but we'll still claim a little of the credit for making a silk purse our of a... er... silk purse!

Well done guys!

New client for Quiet Storm

2010-10-28T02:22:00.000-07:00

As the toughest of economic times continue to test UK Plc, we are thrilled to report that we have picked up a prestigious new account with leading productivity solutions provider, RedPrairie.

With over 20 global offices and more than 34,000 customers in over 40 countries, RedPrairie provides technology-led productivity solutions in the fields of inventory, workforce and transportation management. The company’s EMEA headquarters are at Stokenchurch in Buckinghamshire.

In addition to helping RedPrairie to maintain its position as Europe’s leading provider of warehouse management systems, we are supporting the strategic and tactical marketing of RedPrairie’s workforce and transportation management solutions.

RedPrairie is a great fit with our existing client base and further cements our position as one of the UK’s leading providers of PR and associated services to companies in and around the supply chain industry.

But don't just take our word for it.

RedPrairie’s UK Marketing Manager, Natalie Green says: “From our very first contact with Quiet Storm, they have gone the extra mile - not only to win our business but, having succeeded, to meet and exceed our high expectations.

“Quiet Storm’s track record in a number of our key sectors was impressive and we are already seeing encouraging results in the media we know our prospective customers read and respect.”

Sharing is caring

2010-06-22T01:29:00.000-07:00

We recently sponsored one of our clients (Nick Payne) to complete the Three Peaks 24 hour Challenge and he climbed the three highest peaks in the UK in 23 hours and 15 minutes.

We were all very impressed by his achievement in the office and the money went to Cancer Research UK.

Needless to say we were all very touched when we received a thank you note in the post from Nick and his wife Amanda.

Amanda said: “We have raised an amazing amount, rest assured every penny will make a difference towards valuable research but also by helping to raise awareness of the disease.

“Thank you, once again from the bottom of my heart for helping us make a difference.”

Keep up the good work Nick and Amanda!

A double whammy

2010-06-08T07:41:00.000-07:00

Great news. Yet another award win! That's the second for this particular client in a matter of a few weeks - and both from the top two industry events of the year.

Although the submission requirements were very different to the first award we put together, it just goes to show that consistent, unrivalled levels of service and a good reputation will eventually win the day.

Personally, I think the regular press coverage in the trade media may have also helped!

The awards were judged by an independent panel of industry peers. One judge commented: “It was a tough category to win this year.” This makes it even more satisfying that my client beat off stiff competition to triumph.

The award was presented by star of stage, screen and stand-up, comic Rufus Hound at an extravagant black-tie ceremony held at the Grade II listed Brewery in London. Apparently a good time was had by all!

At this rate my client will have to purchase a trophy cabinet.

Taking control at the awards

2010-05-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

For the second year running, one of our building controls clients has bagged a top award at the industry’s leading awards event - the Building Controls Industry Association Awards.

Beating off tough competition, the company was rewarded for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to high professional standards and customer service – something that we feel we have helped them to shout about over the past few years!

It’s great for them to have the industry recognition they deserve and, for us, it’s another welcome addition to our growing portfolio of award-winning clients!

If you need help with an award entry of your own, you know where we are!

Election rule no. 1

2010-04-28T05:16:00.000-07:00

Never say anything derogatory about anything or anybody until you've checked that your microphone is switched off.

Offering Samaritans a helping hand

2010-04-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

We're delighted to announce that we have agreed to take on Leicester Samaritans as a client on a pro bono basis.

Leicester Samaritans is one of over 200 Samaritans branches nationwide, and offers confidential emotional support to anyone is distress.

Samaritans' vision is for a society where fewer people die by suicide because people are able to share their feelings openly without fear of being judged. Samaritans believes that providing the opportunity to be listened to in confidence, and accepted without prejudice, can alleviate despair and suicidal feelings.

The Leicester branch is one of only 12 throughout the country that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It handles approximately 40,000 contacts each year.

The service is offered by around 140 trained volunteers and is entirely dependent on voluntary support - no Government grants, NHS budgets or taxpayers' money spent here (which is another blog - actually, a rant - completely).

Even using the team of volunteers, the running costs of the branch are in excess of £55,000 per annum.

Leicester Samaritans is always looking for new volunteers and needs financial support if it is to continue with its fantastic work.

In addition, the organisation wants everybody in the county to be aware of the work it does, so anybody feeling low and who wants to talk knows where to turn.

Our job will be to help to convey those messages. We’re delighted to be involved.

If you feel you may be able to offer Leicester Samaritans some form of help or support, give us a call on 01530 276550 and we'll put you in touch with the right people.

We are the champions!

2010-03-22T02:23:00.000-07:00

We aim, we shoot, we score! Goooooooaaaaallll! The results from the big award ceremony are in… and wait for it… our client won! I bet this is how Wayne Rooney feels when he scores a winning goal for England. There was much joy and jubilation in the office this morning when we heard the great news... although not as much champagne as I had expected. :0)

The award was presented by the hilarious stand-up comedian Michael McIntyre at a lavish black-tie dinner and dance ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in London, which went on until the early hours of this morning.

Although I didn’t get an invite to the award ceremony (huh), it was reward enough to know our team were the champions (honest).

The slick Subbuteo-themed design carried out by Hill Langdell (www.hilllangdell.co.uk) helped the entry stand out from the crowd.

Let’s just hope the England team has the same success this summer at the World Cup in South Africa. Come on England!

Ten rules of reputation management

2010-02-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

We've handled more than our fair share of crises - although none have been more dramatic than the first I experienced, which happened to be the assassination of Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt and entailed a mad dash back to the Middle East from the UK.

Nowadays, the focus tends to be the impact on our client's reputation rather than the threat to world peace.

A quick confession - I love handling crises. Clients, however, don't share my affection and so - reluctantly - we have compiled a list of rules on how to manage the reputation of a business without needing to call on us.

Although you know where we are if we're needed!
Reputation

They think it's all over! It is now!

2010-02-26T02:51:00.000-08:00

I have to say it takes a lot to impress me… but when I saw the amazing job that the designers Hill Langdell did with the award entry I’ve been working on over the last few weeks, it exceeded all my expectations.

With it being a World Cup year we wanted to go with a football theme, but not in an obvious way. So, after a get together and several cups of tea, we came up with the stunning idea of using Subbuteo as the theme.

We shoot, we score! Based on this, the entry folder was made as a Subbuteo game box, with players included (all in my client’s branded colours of course) and with the award submission document inside. This had the same theme and featured page numbers on Subbuteo players’ shirts.

The big challenge was getting hold of Subbuteo - it doesn't appear to be sold any more, but friends and family raided attics and toy cupboards and we ended up with more than we needed.

Hill Langdell took some great photographs and they used these throughout the entry to convey my client’s key messages. It looks like all the long hours and sleepless nights that they put in have really paid off.

Just like the England team, we’re looking forward to a good result once the competition is finished.

To find out more about Hill Langdell visit www.hilllangdell.co.uk or call 01332 363388.

Money well spent

2010-02-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

For the second time in recent months, we have a client who had intended to reduce their PR budget after the first six months, deciding to maintain the original level of activity.

In an economic climate where every penny still counts, this goes to show that the results we have achieved for them represent a healthy return on their investment. In this case, in addition to media coverage with a value of more than seven times the fee, the client has also received a number of sales enquiries as a direct result of this work - not bad for a company which only set up in the UK last year.

Their decision makes the hard work, and in some cases, sheer persistence, involved in achieving these results all seem worthwhile. And who knows, if we can improve on the success of the first six months, they might even increase the budget...

Awarding success

2010-02-10T03:35:00.000-08:00

Well I’ve nearly finished compiling the award entry I’ve been working on for the last few weeks. 10,664 words and 159 pages later there is light at the end of the tunnel. Now comes the fun bit … where the whole document is sent off to the designers to work their magic and add that professional touch to the entry.

It then comes back to me for final proofing before going to the printers. The whole office will wish the entry luck when the courier comes to collect it.

Only one month to wait then it’s the star-studded award ceremony presented by comedian of the moment Michael Macintyre. My client will face the moment of truth and find out if they win!

It's the winning that counts...

2010-01-26T05:22:00.000-08:00

An interesting client meeting on Friday to discuss the possibility of entering (and hopefully winning!) one or two industry awards, primarily as a means of attracting positive publicity.

The client already had a very clear idea of which awards they'd like to win, but was somewhat less clear on what it was about their business that might justify such aspirations. This is a common mistake, which often leads companies to enter awards that the proverbial 'cat in hell' stands more chance of winning.

Believe it or not, in order to win an award, you must have done something 'award-winning' and we encourage clients with such aspirations to look first at their business, products and services to identify those elements that genuinely differentiate them from their competitors. Then look at the award schemes, categories and criteria and identify those which 'match' your particular success story - if you've done this properly, there probably won't be many.

Having done this with the client in question, we now have a realistic shortlist of awards which they might actually win!

This was also the first time this company has enlisted external help to produce awards entries. In the words of the marketing manager: "We've always cobbled them together ourselves, but we've never won anything."

Far be it for us to suggest that the two things might just be connected! Whilst there are never any guarantees, with our proven track record in producing winning award entries, I get the feeling their luck might be about to change...

Reaping the awards

2010-01-21T04:04:00.000-08:00

Finally, after months of preparation and planning, award time is here! I’m currently knee deep in compiling an award entry for a client – this gives me memories of writing my dissertation all those years ago.

Apart from having a new piece of glassware for the trophy cabinet, awards bring much more value to a client. They boost team morale, add more weight to PR and marketing activity and reassure customers that they are dealing with a quality business.

This client was the runner up in last year's awards. Let's hope we can go one better in 2010!

Every cloud has a silver lining

2010-01-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

Just like the weather at the moment this job can be very unpredictable!

A few days before Christmas I came up with an idea for an article for one of our clients in the supply chain and, after a few discussions with the editor, sold the idea of a feature in a sector magazine.

The article was supplied on time and I called to check it had been received. All seemed well. However, in one of today’s trade e-newsletters I discovered that a new editor has just been appointed to the publication.

A quick call to the now former editor confirmed this. It also transpired that the article hadn’t been passed on as the magazine was taking a new direction.

I immediately contacted the new editor, he seemed to like the idea as well, wanted to take a look and would let me know. I fired it over with some relevant photos and crossed my fingers.

Bingo! We’re on. He wants to run it as an exclusive in the next issue and also commented: “Great pix.”

Particularly good news as I have a meeting with the client tomorrow.

Going Dutch!

2010-01-12T01:31:00.000-08:00

For only the second time in more than 15 years, tomorrow, work is taking me outside the UK - to visit the head office of a client in Kessel, Holland for a plan and review session following a very successful first four months.

This news has been met with a degree of jealousy by family and friends and serves to confirm their belief that PR is a highly glamorous and jet-setting occupation. This is short-lived when I then tell them that in order to be on board a 6.55am flight from Birmingham to Dusseldorf, my 14 hour day will start at 4am!

However, whilst this prospect does not fill me with great joy, a job which, over the years, has also taken me to lunch at Claridges and The Ivy and to the International Motor Show in Geneva (now that really is glamorous!), can't be all bad! In between, there have been long stretches of hard work and trips down the M1; these much more representative of what a job in PR is all about. Would I have it any other way? Ask me at 4am tomorrow!

It's not what you know

2010-01-11T05:03:00.000-08:00

Finally, after months of chipping away at a longstanding freelance journalist contact, my efforts have been rewarded! He called to say that he's been commissioned to write a logistics feature for the leading wines & spirits sector magazine and asked whether I can line him up with an interview with someone from my client organisation. This is no coincidence - my client is actively seeking to extend their presence in this sector and I have been knocking on the door of this well read and respected publication for some months. As the editor is more slippery than most, I also approached this freelance journalist in the knowledge that he regularly writes for the magazine proving that in PR, it's all about who you know.

Now I just need my client to come back to me...!

Some bits and bobs about us...

2010-01-08T03:13:00.000-08:00

1. The name of the business – Quiet Storm – was decided upon after being caught unawares by a heavy rain shower in the middle of Derby, following a new business pitch. The decision was celebrated immediately in the nearest pub.

2. Since then, we have seen the name used as a regular segment on a Friday night national radio show. It is also the name of a nightclub in London, a fashion house in Naples, Florida and an American laxative brand. We thought the association with each of the first three - radio, leisure and fashion - was quite cool. Make of the fourth what you will.

3. We’re the leading PR name in the supply chain industry. You can’t drive for more than ten minutes on a UK motorway without passing, or being passed by, a vehicle sporting the name of a business on our client list.

4. We handled PR activity for Hotpoint for two years, but one of our major successes for the brand was on the advertising side. Of all the advertisements run by Hotpoint on the television and in consumer publications over a two-year period, the most successful was a double-page spread advertorial in the M&S magazine – recommended, written and produced by our good selves.

5. When required, we’re good at minimising, rather than maximising, editorial coverage. Examples where we can’t show you lots of cuttings include poor financial results, racist graffiti, slow response times to emergencies, dodgy customer damage claims, depot closures, road accidents and obnoxious security guards.

Expressing ourselves in the form of Wee Mees

2010-01-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

Unite’s BA blunder could have been a stroke of PR genius.

2009-12-18T03:18:00.000-08:00

Analysts and journalists have been quick to point out the Unite union’s ‘breathtaking strategic blunder’ in calling a 12-day cabin crew strike at British Airways over the Christmas period.

With a colleague due to fly with the airline to the USA on 24th December, we have been made only too aware of the angst, confusion, frustration and downright annoyance the issue has caused amongst those travellers directly affected by the planned action.

Union members who voted for industrial action also appear to have been taken aback by the timing of the strike – showing they are more in touch with public opinion than their union leaders.

British Airways looks to have avoided losing hundreds of millions of pounds for the moment, thanks to sharp legal minds and the ineptitude of the union in including votes from former BA employees in the ballot result.

Of course, Unite could appeal against the high court verdict, but surely even the most rabid union leader recognises that such an action would lead to even greater disaster – irrespective of the appeal outcome.

And yet it could have been so different. Having secured a clear, legitimate mandate from its members for industrial action, the union could have ‘considered its options’ – including a strike over the Christmas period.

The result would have been a day’s worth of media speculation over what that would mean for the travelling public, together with similar volumes of coverage over the union’s grievances.

Unite could then have announced that the public’s ability to travel was paramount at this special time of year and that strike action would not take place until the second half of January – giving time for families to enjoy the festive period and to return safely.

Crucially, a delay until then would hit business travellers, who provide much of BA’s revenue. But it would also give companies plenty of time to book alternative corporate flights for that period with other operators.

Business bookings with BA would start to tumble straightaway. The airline would see its budgeted, lucrative revenues for that period start to diminish. The result would be a return to the negotiating table sooner rather than later to minimise the commercial damage.

Unite would be seen as a union fighting to protect its members’ rights, rather than a bumbling Scrooge-incarnate.

The union’s message has rather been lost in the media snowstorm of the last four days.

Fortunately, the high court ruling means the travelling public will get what it has already paid for and has a right to expect.

But Unite has lost huge amounts of credibility both inside and outside its membership.

It won’t be much fun being a member of British Airway’s cabin crew in the immediate future.

The airline’s slow and painful struggle back to profitability looks set to continue for quite a while.

There are no real winners in this winter’s tale.

If PR vs Advertising was a football match...

2009-12-17T06:33:00.000-08:00

Think about the last time you read a newspaper or magazine. It doesn’t have to be a ‘worthy’ title – if it was this morning’s Sun, then it was this morning’s Sun. (After all, this is just between you and us!)

Can you remember some of the stories you read? What were they about?

Okay, now thinking about the same publication, how many advertisements can you remember?

Over the years, we’ve asked these questions to many clients and potential clients and the answers are always the same – they remember what they read and nothing (or next to nothing) of the advertisements that were in the same publication.

Public relations 1 Advertising 0

Now, looking at the stories you remember, how much of that editorial did you believe? We reckon your answer is 'all of it' (or pretty damn close).

That’s because a publication’s readers accept that the editor has filled his or her pages with information that he or she believes is credible and genuinely of interest. The vetting process has already been completed. The printed results can be taken at face value.

Can the same credibility be attached to products and services featured in an advertisement, or is there an obvious bias?

Public relations 2 Advertising 0

Now don’t get us wrong. Advertising has a significant role to play in the marketing mix assuming (a) you have the budget required to achieve the impact you need and (b) the resulting sales justify the expenditure.

Taking out advertising space enables you to say exactly what you want about your business and to present those messages in an eye-catching format.

Public relations 2 Advertising 1

But what if you don’t have the budget necessary to make the campaign a success? Normally, one advertisement won’t do. You’ll need a campaign over a period of time. Cutting your coat according to your cloth may mean cutting the size of the advertisement, but a small advertisement – or even a series of small advertisements - can be easily overlooked.

Placing a full-page advertisement in a well-targeted trade press journal can set you back £1,000 just for the space. But what if your potential customers have, say, three or four well-targeted journals to read. What if your customers are ranged across different market sectors, each of which has their own relevant publications?

An effective advertising campaign can quickly go beyond the economic reach of the vast majority of businesses out there,

Yet for the price of one full-page advertisement or less, a public relations campaign could secure editorial coverage for your business across a range of relevant titles and over a period of time. For a fraction of the cost of a successful advertising campaign, public relations gives you the opportunity to reach a larger target audience and to vastly improve your sales prospects.

3-1.

Full time. And thanks for yours.

Hello! Why the funky pictures?

2009-12-14T02:53:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to our new web site!

Thanks for taking a look.

We thought we'd better start by explaining about the pictures that head up each page... not the people ones, obviously - they should be fairly self-explanatory. We're on about the pictures that give you an interesting (in some cases disturbing!) insight into the people that make up Quiet Storm Consultants.

It's an old adage, but public relations is very much a people business. Clients work with us because of what we can offer to them, but also because of who we are.

To help you get beneath the highly polished, professional surface of each member of our team, we hereby present their favourite books, biscuits, hobbies, mugs and God knows what else.

To make sure you don't associate fashion shopping, high heels or golf balls with the wrong person (and to avoid future potential legal action!), we've even put collections of our favourite things next to the relevant person's profile.

It's a bit of fun. Maybe an ice-breaker. And certainly a psychologist's dream... or should that be nightmare?

Anyway, enjoy!