Journalist of the Month

February's Journalist of the Month is Ginny Sanderson, a reporter on the Eastbourne Herald & Sussex Express. Ginny has taken time out of her busy schedule covering crime, politics and everything in-between as the unofficial cute animal correspondent to answer our ten questions!

1. What are the 5 words that best describe you? Opinionated, thoughtful, chilled, animal lover.

2. What magazine do you love reading and why? My guilty pleasure is having a good look through Glamour magazine; usually I get it when I'm going on a long train journey. It has the right balance of celebrity with fashion and life advice. I hope they still do the 'Hey, it's okay...' bit. It always has really relatable things that I only thought I did. 

3. What is your favourite book? This is so difficult, it's always changing. Stephen King's Wizard and Glass or Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. 

4. Which song makes you dance? Most of the Hamilton soundtrack at the moment. #work

5. What has been your best career moment? My favourite so far was writing a feature about a Harry Potter-style role play set up in a castle in Herstmonceux called Bothwell School of Witchcraft. Everyone was running around dressed in wizard robes, hunting dragon eggs or heading to potions class. It was one of the most surreal experiences but totally brilliant. And, as a HP fan, I was living the dream. 

6. What advice would you give your 20 year old self? My 20-year-old self was still at university, in the second year of my degree. So perhaps I would say get more involved in societies and go to more talks on campus. And the obvious: don't stress, enjoy yourself. 

7. Where are you happiest? This is a tad embarrassing but genuinely just when having really good food in good company. I love doing food reviews, which I'm lucky enough to do every now and again. 

8. Who would be your number one dinner guest be and why? I feel like I could talk to Jessica Chastain for hours about movies, politics, feminism...

9. If you could have any superpower, what power would it be and why? To transform into an animal. How cool would it be to be a tiger for the day?

10. If you had to ask us one question what would it be? Most bizarre press release? 

We love a weird and wonderful press release which we know will generate headlines. For us, it’s a toss-up between ‘Is Snoring Ruining the Nation’s Sex Life?’ for our client Good Night Anti-Snoring Ring or,  ‘How Well Do You Know Your Poo?’ – a Bowel Cancer Awareness Campaign for Ramsay Health Care UK.

We Achieved 103 Pieces Of Coverage In One Year (8.5 Pieces Per Month) Reaching Over 249 Million People

It's always a great feeling when you summarise the results from a yearly PR campaign and let's just say that there were high fives all around when we summarised the recent PR campaign for card company thortful.

Start-up company thortful is an online card company that focuses on supporting creative talent and having a card for every occasion. They came to us to help launch their brand to the media, opinion formers and target demographic. Their objective was to build brand recognition to boost card sales and boost repeat online purchases. The online card marketplace is crowded so we knew that we needed some seriously creative PR campaigns to truly make them stand out amongst the competition.

As well as promoting the general card range, Sunny Bird PR also developed a number of creative PR campaigns that would garner as much coverage for thortful as possible. This included the following:

-          Product placement and card round up pages
Throughout the year the team held multiple one to one media meetings in London and we ensured that thortful was always front-of-mind in advance of all key seasonal times of year (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day etc.). Press became so used to seeing our faces (which is only ever a good thing) and thortful became synonymous with original, fun and thoughtful cards. Many journalists requested card samples for themselves and family members as a result and it was a brilliant way to introduce the media to the brand.

-          Father’s Day ‘the best advice your Dad ever gave you’
The team travelled 1,000’s of miles across national train networks to collect the best advice people had received from their fathers. This campaign resulted in some great quality coverage within the Mail Online as well as social media and consumer engagement.

-          Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Sunny Bird PR enlisted a thortful creative to curate a range of empathy cards. The idea behind the campaign was to create a range of cards that is different to the traditional ‘get well’ cards on the market. The creative herself previously suffered from cancer and was positioned as an authentic case study. This campaign resulted in 20 pieces of coverage in titles such as Mashable, Metro, Elle Online, Independent.co.uk and Good To Know.

-          Gary James McQueen ‘Are you OK?’ card range
The team collaborated with the nephew of the late Alexander McQueen to create a collection of ‘Are you OK?’ cards to tackle mental health stigma and to give thortful the opportunity to be positioned within the fashion and health titles. A mental health charity partnership was secured to add authenticity to the collaboration and the collection was featured in 17 titles, including; Hello Fashion Monthly, Emerald Street and Country & Town House Online.

-          Launching the Father’s Day Sock Card
Father’s Day 2017 saw the launch of the Father’s Day Sock Card – a gift and card in one. The team issued personalised samples to leading TV producers and male presenters who were also fathers. Not only did the team source the names of the influential fathers, but the card designs were chosen for them based on their public persona and taste. This activity resulted in stand-out coverage on ITV’s This Morning with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in a Father’s Day gift guide. The programme was watched by over 3 million viewers and thortful saw a direct increase in sales as a result.

-          Launching the Keepsake Cards
Sunny Bird PR pitched the Keepsake Cards as an alternative Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day ‘gift and card in one’. The press feedback for the Keepsake Cards was very strong, especially among the supplements. All key journalists received personalised Keepsake Cards and we offered them the opportunity to order a free Keepsake Card as a gift from thortful for a loved one of their choice. The activity was in line with thortful’s key messaging of always being thoughtful and it resulted in some great coverage, including pieces in S Magazine, Notebook and Fabulous.

-          Trade and Business outreach
Sunny Bird PR targeted key trade and business titles to ensure that thortful was positioned as a voice of authority and a start-up that was shaking up the card industry. The founder, Andy Pearce, was pitched as a successful entrepreneur and the face of the brand which resulted in standout coverage being achieved within the following titles; Marketing Week, Growth Business, Fresh Business Thinking, Progressive Greetings, Entrepreneur & Investor, Campaign Week and Enterprise Nation.

-          App reviews
One of thortful’s secondary objectives was to encourage sales through the thortful app to boost repeat purchase. Sunny Bird PR targeted journalists who often write app reviews specifically and also seeded the app and a free code to key mummy bloggers. This activity resulted in positive app reviews both in key national newspapers and on high circulation blogs. These reviews often included direct hyperlinks to the app store so that the app could be purchased. The blogger coverage also provided an opportunity for a ‘step-by-step guide on how to use the thortful  app’ to be published which educated the reader on the pros of using thortful over the competition. Coverage secured included; Metro, Mummy Constant and The Mirror.

The results are in!!!
One year, lots of media meetings and multiple creative PR campaigns later and we have secured 103 pieces of coverage with a reach of 249,370,993. The coverage spanned from high circulation online titles such as Mail Online, Mashable, ElleUK.com, Express.co.uk and a prime daytime TV slot on This Morning’s Father’s Day gift guide that resulted in a direct spike in thortful website traffic and Father’s Day sales.  

Want to find out more? Drop us a line on 01202 293095 to find out how a creative PR campaign could work for you too.

Journalist of the Month

Gemma Ralph is the Deputy Editor at Hospitality Interiors magazine. A self-confessed foodie, fairy light fiend and lover of all things cosy, she has taken a few moments away from glam interiors to ask the infamous Sunny Bird PR questions for Journalist of the Month…

1. What are the 5 words that best describe you? Perceptive, odd, bookworm, nosy, romantic

2. What magazine do you love reading and why? Women’s Health – I sit and read it cover to cover every month because it has so many in-depth and inspiring articles.

3. What is your favourite book?  This question is my nemesis, I LOVE all books. I’d have to say Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf as she is my absolute hero, but if I could sneak a cheeky close second in it would be Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.

4. Which song makes you dance?  Any song that comes on when I’m 5+ drinks down…I’m definitely not a natural when it comes to dancing!

5. What has been your best career moment?  I count myself lucky any time I get a sneak peak of new interiors, sometimes when they’re still building sites. A highlight would definitely be touring Mondrian London with Tom Dixon and hearing all about his inspiration and vision for the project – I’m so privileged to be part of such an interesting and creative industry.

6. What advice would you give your 20 year old self? Don’t devote so much of your headspace to other people and their opinions of you.

7. Where are you happiest?  Probably when I’m in a restaurant with good food and drink.

8. Who would be your number one dinner guest be and why? I’d say Bill Murray – he’s immensely talented, doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously, and I think he would have some epic stories to tell … also I might have a slight dad-crush on him!

9. If you could have any superpower, what power would it be and why?   I think I would choose the ability to time travel – I’ve always felt like I was born in the wrong era, so I’d love to travel back in time to experience different periods and historical events.

10. If you had to ask us one question what would it be? What would you say is the most rewarding element of your work?

The team all had the same answer – seeing the coverage they’ve achieved come out in publications and online – our favourite was of course in Hospitality Interiors!

Why Working By The Sea Can Boost Your Health, Happiness And Productivity

The Sunny Bird PR office is literally five minutes from the beautiful Bournemouth sea front. With seven miles of award-winning beach to choose from, its own micro-climate that provides us with smog-free, blue skies and a bustling atmosphere with lots of exciting start-ups. I’m going to try my hardest not to city bash (although a number of us are ex-city dwellers) but living in Dorset truly is a dream.

As a team, being based in Dorset helps us to achieve that elusive work/life balance, encourages us to get outside and exercise more and nothing beats a sun downer on your doorstop whilst taking in the stunning views of the Purbecks. All of these factors (and many more) contribute to happy, healthy staff members who come into work ready to smash our PR targets.

Being based on the costa del Dorset coastline may make us biased, but recent environmental research has found that living and working by the coast can improve the following:

1. You don’t have to get your feet wet to reap the health benefits – even just a view of the sea can promote reductions in heart rate and improvements in mood

2. You rate your health as significantly better if you live within 5km of the British coastline

3. You are more likely to exercise regularly if you live within 1km of the English coastline

4. You are more likely to have better mental health if you live within 5km of the British coastline

5. The UK economy could benefit to the tune of £176m of healthcare savings per year from water-based recreation alone.

Still not convinced? The team have compiled their favourite places to eat, drink and visit so that next time you consider a weekend away (or perhaps a PR company) Dorset will be front of mind.

Sunny (MD & Founder)

Eat: Koh Thai in Boscombe – The best 24hour ribs and they do an amazing Pad Thai. I love that it’s a Dorset company set to take over the world!

Drink: 1812 (Bournemouth) or The Kings Arms (Christchurch) – I love a cocktail or two and I’m completely torn between two places… the drinks in both are incredible.

Visit: The New Forest – Fall in love with the forest’s idyllic glades, ancient woodland and cliff top walks. You may even bump into a few ponies or donkeys that run wild near Lymington.

Why you love living in Dorset: Nothing beats being able to walk on the beach in your lunch break. Being just 2 hours away from London allows us to be able to work with regional, national and international clients without giving up on our wonderful lifestyle.

Lizzie  (Account Manager)

Eat: Urban Reef – 5 minutes’ walk from my flat, right on Bosombe’s award-winning beaches and undoubtedly serving the best Eggs Royale and Bloody Mary.

Drink: Chaplin’s – Quirky and cool, an award-winning bar and live music venue in Boscombe.

Visit: Worth Matravers – One of my favourite places in the Purbecks, the Square and Compass serves the best pints and pasties and there’s the beautiful walk down to Winspit caves and the sea. Perfect for any time of year.

Why you love living in Dorset: In my opinion it is the best place to live in the UK, best beaches, best nightlife, best countryside, best climate and the best people!

Rian (Senior Account Manager)

Eat: The Stables – Nestled on Weymouth’s harbour side in the old harbour master’s building it has a great atmosphere and a great selection of ciders. The company started in Dorset and now has restaurants in Cardiff, Bristol and London to name a few – definitely worth checking out. http://stablepizza.com/

Drink: The Cove House Inn – A bevvy at The Cove House Inn on Portland’s Chesil Beach can’t be beaten. In summer it boasts the BEST sunset and in winter you can hunker down by the fire and watch the crashing waves as they pound the pebbles.

Visit: West Bay – The home of Itv’s Broadchurch and not far from Bridport, which is worth a visit too. Stunning sheer cliffs and the perfect place for random celeb spotting (PJ Harvey and Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie have both been spotted in the last month).

Why you love living in Dorset: Nothing beats a walk down to the beach and being able to take a deep, breath of fresh sea air. When you hear the phrase “why do you need to go on holiday when you live in a place like this” then you know you’re on to a winner.

Lucy (Account Executive)

Eat: Vesuvio – If you take a stroll along the beachfront to get to Vesuvio, it offers a relaxed vibe and a range of pizzas and pastas.

Drink: Aruba – Right on the beachfront, you can walk out onto the balcony with a cocktail and enjoy the amazing views of the pier and beach.

Visit: Durdle Door – no matter if the sun is shining or if it’s slightly overcast, Durdle Door is the most beautiful place on the coast. The water is crystal blue and the views are breath-taking.

Why you love living in Dorset: Originally from Oxford, I’ve always known that I wanted to live near the south coast. The weather is 100 times better and it never takes any longer than 20 minutes to get somewhere. Places to visit and attractions to see are never far and come summer, the beach is just on our doorstep.

Darren(In-house Graphic designer)

Eat and Drink: Aruba – I often take clients or have internal meetings in Aruba, I love the fact you can eat and drink and look out on Bournemouth’s amazing beach. When the sun is shining you could be anywhere in the world.

Visit: Mudeford Spit – Is a lovely place to visit with great views of Christchurch on the harbour side. My kids will say “the best part is getting the noddy train” to the beach.

Why you love living in Dorset: I love working in Bournemouth, we are a stone’s throw from the amazing beaches and a 5 minute walk into the heart of Bournemouth town centre.

Sunny Bird PR’s Top 10 from 2016

2016 was an incredible year for Sunny Bird PR. Not only did we rebrand but we raised the bar when it came to achieving brilliant PR results for our clients. 2017 is set to be a fantastic year and we are already off to a flying start. We thought we’d share with you our top 10 from 2016 and we also have some very exciting news to share, read on to the end to find out!

In the words of Craig David: “re-re-wind…”

1)      We turned three years old and the PR team expanded. We gained Louise (Head of Strategy), Lizzie (Account Manager), Sian (Account Executive), Natalie Brown (Senior Journalist & PR Consultant), Katy (Well-being Officer and PT) and we are no longer an all-female office as we gained a man in the shape of Darren (Head Designer). Find out more about the new staff here. To celebrate our third birthday, the team threw themselves off of Bournemouth Pier! But don’t panic, as we had secure harnesses and hard hats.  We spent a sunny, summer day zooming down a high speed zip wire. Trust me; it’s scarier than it looks. Take a look at our Instagram here to see Lucy flying through the air.

2)      This year saw us move offices. We now have an amazing, spacious office that is just five minutes away from the beach. Brighter, bigger and better with lots of room for growth – our office embodies the Sunny Bird PR brand with bright colours and stand-out branding. Located in the centre of town, we love being here and welcome visitors so do feel free to pop in for a chat.

3)      We had a makeover. Not only did we spread our PR wings and grow from Little Bird PR into Sunny Bird PR but we now have some great signage, personalised business cards (chosen by the team) and a brand new sparkly website. Make sure you check it out here.

4)      Lights, camera, action! From promotional videos for hair brand Regrowz, ‘a day in the life of a cataracts sufferer’ for Ramsay Health Care UK and sourcing the nation’s best fatherly advice for thortful. Not only did we get the opportunity to script write, direct and produce some great video content, but we secured some brilliant PR coverage on the back of it too.

5)      We did numerous presentations and events last year including ‘how to do PR on a shoestring budget’ for the Grocery Accelerator Scheme and what ‘national press are looking for’ for our client Ramsay Health Care UK PR and Marketing teams. We organised a successful seminar for Greenwood Campbell by inviting key, local businesses, booking inspirational speakers and creating important networking time which won Greenwood Campbell fantastic new business as a result.

6)      At Sunny Bird PR our relationships with journalists are paramount. Last year we amassed over 150 one to one media meetings to introduce press to our brilliant clients. 

7)      Conker Spirit mingled with the stars! We organised for Conker Spirit to sponsor the ‘Q Hero Award’ at the official Q Music Awards in London! Conker Spirit had free sponsorship of the high profile event and it was the ONLY gin at the ceremony as well as the VIP after-party. This partnership also achieved over 160 pieces of coverage for our favourite gin!

8)      We smashed it out the park with countless national newspaper exclusives for our clients last year. From an undercover investigation at a pre-school for Naturelly to a Facebook social experiment on teeth and dating for Brighton Implant Clinic. We created some brilliant headlines for our clients. Check out some of our work here.

9)      In 2016 we introduced two, new weekly activities for staff. Jacket Potato Wednesdays enable us to catch up as a team whilst indulging in some beans, cheese or caviar (if you are Lucy). On Thursday’s we burn off the potato from the day before with a high impact boxing class. A team that trains together stays together!

10)      December was the icing on the cake for us here at Sunny Bird PR. Our website launched, we held an amazing Christmas party, Rian got engaged and Sunny announced her pregnancy! 2017 is set to be an eventful and successful year and we can’t wait to meet baby Bird in May.

Thanks to everyone for supporting us from Little Bird PR through to Sunny Bird PR.

(and thanks for making it to the end of this blog post – we know who you are and we will reward you when you least expect it!)

PS. If you haven't already, please like us on social to keep up-to-date with our latest adventures :)