As the current intern at the Primal PR London office, yesterday I was lucky enough to get an insight into the whirlwind industry of press shows – an invaluable experience indeed! I entered the stunning Swarovski Crystallized Lounge in central London and joined in the hustle and bustle of setting up the event space. The prominent black and white stripes of The Perfume Shop branded walls, contrasted with brightly coloured balloons plus bunny rabbits, daisies and petals all helped to create the eye catching display, with a sea of brand new fragrances glistening amongst it all.

After delicately placing perfume blotters around the room and greeting guests on arrival, I was lucky enough to shadow some of the Primal girls on The Perfume Shop PR team, who breezed through every detail of the different scents like true experts. The press seemed fascinated as they glanced over the new perfumes, limited editions, and GWPs before edging towards the bar to enjoy the extensive cake selection which included the most amazing colourful macaroons!

To top it off delicious smells wafted from the deli counter, with freshly made roasted vegetable couscous, shredded duck, caprese salad and much more. One delicious Rainbow Punch cocktail later and the event was well under way, but despite all the hard work it was over before we knew it, with the last few smiling faces practically being pushed out the door, complete with a jam-packed goody bag filled with the latest fragrances. All in all a very successful day for journalists, The Perfume Shop PR Team… and the intern!

Fiona Cooper

BWP Group goes ‘Green’ after installing solar panels onto the roof of their riverside office in Maidenhead.

The New Boathouse, where over 50 BWP Group employees work, is such a lovely location that the award-winning marketing and PR agency decided to appreciate their natural surroundings and do their bit for the environment.

Richard Beasley, CEO of BWP Group said: “The area in which we work is a beautiful place and I’m pleased to know that, in the long-term, we are saving costs both financially and environmentally.”

Sixty six 200-watt solar panels were fitted by All Energy Services onto the roof of the Mill Lane office and they will now play their part in saving energy as the cells within the panels convert sunlight into electricity.

Rooftop power is also a good way of supplying energy to a growing community and as the creative group of PR agency, Primal and marketing agency, BWP continues to flourish they recognise the importance of ensuring energy generation is in line with demand.

Loving the view out onto the Thames from our boathouse studio this morning.
If you’re thinking about a change of scenery you could do worse… why not drop us a line, we’re always interested in finding talented new crew.

Last Friday, the London Primalites joined forces with The Perfume Shop for an afternoon of ‘Colour Me Beautiful’ fun with style analysis guru Pat Henshaw. To start the session and evaluate our individual styles, everyone was asked to fill out a questionnaire, scrutinising our image choices and fashion consciousness.

With this ‘simple’ task complete, Pat was able to dissect our style and conclude whether we were dramatic like Victoria Beckham, romantic like Nicole Kidman or city chic like Kate Middleton! It was safe to say we were all hoping to be told we channelled a royal-like sense of style, with a hint of Posh Spice’s couture, however reality found the majority fell into the ‘classic’ category à la  Kate Winslet!

With our style personalities decided, we went on to enjoy a full colour analysis, with flourishes of deep, clear and cool fabrics being measured against our skin, eye colour and hair. Most important fact of the day? Everyone can wear every colour, the important thing is to find the perfect shade to complement your individual features.

Finishing the day off with body shape solutions and learning Louise’s blazer suited everyone in the room besides Louise, we were left with food for thought; next time someone compliment’s your look, take a minute and ask yourself, ‘Are they complimenting me or my outfit?’ you should always look better than your outfit, as mind boggling as that sounds!

As this years Christmas Party approached I must confess to degrees of trepidation. Normally we go off and are part of a bigger Christmas party. This year in a moment of bravado we decided that we were now big enough to do our ‘own thing’. Its easy to make decisions in July. I mean its hot, its sunny and Christmas is so far away. Having your own party. Doing your own thing. Its not such a big deal, after all what can go wrong?

Well… there’s close approaching 50 people in BWP now. What if it ends up like my early teen memories, boys one side of the room, girls the other and as the evening progresses a big pile of handbags that the girls dance around while the boys watch on. You see the last time Richard and I did our own thing and had our own office party was 17 years ago. There was me, Richard and Jackie Haniff having a meal out at the Chinese Restaurant in Farnham Royal, which was very pleasant, but as we decided to be part of a bigger picture a year later it must have involved somewhat stilted conversations (…reminder to self. Ask Jackie Haniff the next time you see her of her memories of that memorable event!). Anyway back to the point we booked a really nice large room at the Hotel Du Vin in Henley on Thames, arranged constant buffet food, an open bar and critically every taxi in the area to take people back home, hopefully merry and happy having had a wonderful evening.

We did kind of set things up to have everyone in a happy mood. We’ve done well this year. Lots of new business, delivered some cracking work and won lots of pitches and it is all down to ‘them’. They work ‘bloody hard’ and they are all very, very good at what they do. We gave them their bonuses earlier in the day which they were very happy with and then they all went off to change into their glad rags (well the women did. Going by what the men were wearing which was a predominance of jeans with a shirt and jacket smart/scruffy is in) and we asked them all to be back at the office for 5.00 prompt for a little motivational talk prior to getting a coach to the party at 6.15. Everyone was on time (except Natalie and Louise, but as Natalie was driving them back to the office, and as she is nigh on six months pregnant we thought it better to not say anything!) Anyway at 5.20ish all were present. Richard kicked things off with a nice speech and then I was supposed to do a longer bit about how much we appreciated them… the board wanted to do something special as a thank you… you’re an exceptional bunch etc. But I found myself getting a bit chocked up with emotion so my speech wasn’t as long as intended (Richard did confess afterwards that he was also feeling teary so in hindsight I’m glad I did shorten it. Two main board directors blubbing in front of their staff would not have done our street cred much good at all) and we handed them out a beautifully gift wrapped (compliments of John Lewis) present, got them all to wait and then let them loose …an iPad2 each as a personal gift, from us, to them. To say happiness was abounding would be an understatement (if only women had found me so cuddly and attractive when I was in my twenties. Its nice at @!% years old, but it doesn’t have the same meaning). I’m so glad we did it. Things out there are pretty awful, but these people have worked so hard this year to deliver some outstanding results and this perfect present was so richly deserved.

I rushed off home to collect Jo and kiss the girls goodnight and then we got a taxi to the Hotel du Vin. Would I find the girls all lined up on one wall and the boys on the other …. not at all. The evening was an outrageous success. Lots of happy people telling me how much they love working for BWP, lots of cuddles, tears. Lots of loud music (most of which I had never heard of. Although they did play I’m a Believer, but it didn’t sound like The Monkees) and culminating in a kind of arms around each other Hokey Cokey to the tune of ‘Fairytale of New York’. Fifty people, arms around each other, swaying around the room was a bit scary. I spent the whole song with my arms around Natalie trying to make sure she didn’t fall over.

And there it was. A wonderful end to a wonderful year. As I said to Richard, Natalie and Jimbo. You’ve got to stop worrying about things. I knew it would be brilliant!

Our fabulous BWP Christmas party preceded by Secret Santa at 5pm today; a later start with massages promised for tomorrow morning…  and a moment ago this incredible festive cupcake Nativity as a thanks from one of our clients!

*Merry Christmas!*

Cupcakes made by michelletimms19@gmail.com

STIHL, the number 1 brand in chainsaws and garden power tools has today announced the appointment of BWP Group as their new marketing agency following a five way pitch. German owned brand STIHL started out as one man with a vision in 1926. Now, more than 85 years later, the STIHL Group has over 35,000 dealers in more than 160 countries and, due to the excellence of their products and craftsmanship, STIHL has become the preferred choice of many professionals and hobby gardeners worldwide.

The appointment of BWP Group has come about after a full marketing review and a decision taken by the UK board to increase activity for 2012. The initial brief was for a spring campaign to boost sales of 3 specific garden products; a Viking lawn mower, a STIHL power washer and a line trimmer.

Richard Beasley, CEO BWP Group added “As an agency we pride ourselves on approaching all briefs from a sales and marketing point of view rather than pure marketing. We understand that ultimately all marketing needs to result in sales and this premise formed the basis of our pitch. We are really excited about working on the campaign and look forward to a strong working relationship with the STIHL team.”

Once again we received such positive feedback about the BWP Christmas gift we donated to local children’s charity Peapods, we decided to do the same for a second year. Peapods is a parent run organisation that supports physically disabled children and their families (www.peapods.org.uk). Our gift last Christmas paid for two wheelchair accessible coaches to transport the whole family, play leaders, all the toys and a superb picnic lunch (complete with large quantities of ice cream) to spend a wonderful day out on Mudeford beach in Dorset. As we said last year we really do feel very privileged to be involved with this charity and be able to ensure this unique trip carries on.

We thought you might like to see some pictures of the day and please take a look at a fantastic blog from one of children involved below:

On Saturday the 2^nd of July I woke up very excited and it was a nice sunny day but of course the blue sea was at its usual state [cold!]

After we’d set up and the coaches had arrived we did some swimming in the sea but as I said before it was very cold. Amazingly though Alice thought the freezing cold water was nice but then I suppose that’s because she does canoeing regularly.

This year Gaye did the cooking and she wore her apron and her chef’s hat with pride on top of her bikini! She made lots of little snacky bits that were left out throughout the afternoon.

In the afternoon many people went crabbing. They only caught two but they had a good time. One of the crabs tried to escape and climbed out of the bucket and because they’d only caught two, all of them started to chase after it and when a man further down the quay stopped it he gave it to Ramona who held it at the front and not at the back so on the way back to where they were all crabbing it sunk it’s claws into her! Also they nearly caught four big ones that were so heavy that they fell back into the sea [allegedly].

Back on the sand children made sandcastles and everyone enjoyed seaside ice cream which was yummy. My one was a double and it was huge and kept melting so I was very sticky by the time I had finished it. The whole day had been amazing but the only bad part of the day was that we had to pack up and leave.

Rhianna Monaha, age 11

It was an evening of glitz, glamour and a cascade of champagne as the Primalites graced the 2011 CIPR PRide Awards at the esteemed Oxford Belfry Hotel. Hosted by former Big Breakfast reporter Phil Gayle, the Primal girls were on fire picking up the Gold Award for ‘Best Website’ and ‘Best Consumer Relations’ for ‘Make your Mother’s Day with The Perfume Shop.’ Also scooping Silver Awards for ‘Best Community Relations’ for ‘Lewisham Shopping centre- Shop 4 Schools’ and ‘Best Campaign £10,000 and Under’ for the fantastic ‘Lakeside Shopping Centre’s Flash of Fashion’ campaign!

The highlight of the evening of course went to the most prestigious award ‘Outstanding Public Relations Consultancy’ for which Primal was proud to collect the Silver Award! By far the best looking table in the room, our PR girls completed the night by hijacking the dance floor for a Gold Award worthy performance to remember! Thanks CIPR!

Most things in Jerim’s part of the world are still communicated not by television and radio, but by word of mouth. Any news, good or bad (particularly bad), spreads like wildfire and becomes exaggerated. It’s understandable with constant cholera outbreaks and huge swathes of the population having contracted malaria, but now this ‘fear’ has moved into a totally different dimension.

The international media has been reporting on the three separate kidnapping and murder attacks on Western tourists and Western aid workers over the past month, and repeated threats by the Somali-based militia Alshabab to attack African countries like Kenya and Uganda.

What they don’t report on is the fear this instils in the Kenyan population living in or around the border region. I have no way of knowing how real the threat is, but where Jerim lives they obviously believe that their very lives are in constant danger. Just to put it in perspective; Kisii is a big, bustling town with a resident population of about 90,000 and another 100,000 people living in the surrounding area.

I received this text from Jerim today. He is not asking me for any money, just reassurance.

“Hallo Chris, how are you? Us here, there is no buying and selling. Streets of Kisii have very few people walking. People are afraid of Alshabab revanging randomly through out the cauntry as they promised, until our country army men are withdrawn from their country, food supply is also very small and cost much more. You friends, help us in praying, we are having it very had. Jerim”

I guess in some ways it is similar to the fear that we had in going into London after the July bombings, but more constant and all encompassing. It’s difficult to know how to reply without sounding like a pretentious preacher, so I sent him a story that a good friend of mine Sue Cheshire, once told me.

“Jerim it is easy for me to preach from the comfort of my home, but I thought one of my favourite stories might help you.

An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life…
He said to them; “A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.

One wolf is evil – he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego.

The other wolf is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too”. The children thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”"