PR, marcomms, recruitment and all the bits in between

'The Beast’

The first pictures of Obama’snew limousine have been unveiled this week. Nicknamed The Beastit is set to make its public appearance next Tuesday, as part of the inaugural parade.

This car is said to be the most “technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world” and to be honest, it would look more at home in a James Bondfilm. What with its bullet proof glass, armoured body, separate oxygen supply, and a completely sealed interior to protect against a chemical attack, some may say its a little OTT... but wait there is more, it has a fully functional bar, disco ball and 80’s themed jukebox... okay so now I’m going a little over the top. But seriously – its own oxygen supply....!?

All this aside, I really do wish Obamaand ‘The Beast’ all the best for his move and time in the White House.

By Jessica Greatrex

 

E-Marketing Paris 2009

 

The E-Marketing Paris 2009 show is starting on the 27 & 28th of January, in Palais des Congres, Paris. This event shows all the new numeric marketing trends in all industries : e-marketing, video-marketing, comportemental marketing, etc….

More than 200 stalls, 200 meetings and 8 training seminars are organised during this important annual show. 

By Guillemette Faure

Mind your Butt…

Branding and Design agency Blue Marlinhas designed the identity and design for a new handy portable ashtray. 

The product is part of a national “ButtsOut” Campaign organised by CSR Solutions, a bath based CSR consultancy aimed at reducing the amount of cigarette butts thrown on to streets.

As reported on Design Weekthe pocket-size ashtray, are to be available from Londis and Budgens from next week priced at 99p.  The design aims to combine the serious environmental purpose of the product with playful form of the object itself.

Do you have an opinion on a brand? Email Olivia

By Olivia Taylor

11 Questions We Just Had To Ask Jamie.....

Struggling with ideas for what to write about for our last blog before Christmas Jamie and I decided to put our creative little minds together (or steal Heat Magazine’s idea) and find out a little bit more about what goes on in the complex mind of Jamie McLaughlin....

 

To set the scene....We are sat in the office. Jamie is looking out onto the breathtaking view of Centre Point eating frosties out of the box....

 

Thea: Where did you wake up this morning?

Jamie: In bed at home in Hampstead, incredibly flustered with a very dry mouth having left the heating on all night (Jamie would like to take this opportunity to apologise to his flatmate.)

T: Who did you last receive a text from, and what did it say?

J: From you: ‘Aargh, really sorry, will be about 10-15 mins late.....Slight oversleeping issues.....Sorry’.

T: What’s been the most embarrassing moment of your life?

J: On a school trip someone pulled my trousers down in front of a group of girls. But they pulled my boxers down too. And it was a very cold day......(Potentially too much information?)

T: Apart from your home and car, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?

J: That would be my scooter. (It broke down numerous times and finally was stolen. Clearly worth every penny.....)

T: What do you dislike most about yourself?

J: My inability not to be the centre of attention....

T: When was the last time you cried?

J: All Soul’s Day.

T: What was the last lie you told?

J: I don’t lie, I’m a recruitment consultant. I am just flexible with the truth.

T: When were you last naked in front of another person?

J: Monday night, in front of my (male) flatmate. (Jamie would just like to stress here that he is definitely NOT gay in any way though....Despite what many may think..)

T: If you were invisible for a day, what would be the first thing you’d do?

J: Something involving being backstage at a Victoria’s Secret fashion show....

T: Ever been chatted up by a(nother) celeb?

J: Obviously every day....(I would just like to add that Jamie also admitted to trying to kiss Sadie Frost once without much success.)

T: Define yourself in three words....

J: Loud. Modest. Pale.

 

And there we have it folks. Possibly the most insightful interview of all time into a life in the day of Mr Jamie McLaughlin. And now we know what really goes on in his head.....Apparently not much....

 

By Thea Foote

Credit Crunch hits home....

As a North American living in London, I’ve always been able to justify the high cost of living against the strength of the pound at home.  I stopped converting prices into dollars within a week of arriving; it was simply too painful to realize I was paying 4 times as much for my travel card here as I had paid in Boston.  I saved all my clothes shopping for trips back to the US or Canada, and promised myself that saving more and spending less on London’s amazing restaurants was well worth it because I would be, literally, doubly repaid when I moved back home eventually.

That was last January. 

 

 

In a cruel twist of fate tied directly to the implosion of the world economy, the pound has now plummeted against the US dollar.  I’m not quite sure how this could happen given that the US economy is on the brink of collapse if you believe the news.  Apparently the US dollar is still one of the safest investments for people who still have enough money to invest.  While I’m grateful they have such faith in the future of the US, I am not impressed they have just cut my US budget in half.  Faced with rising prices here in London and falling purchasing power at home, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place just like everyone else in the world.

So what a girl to do, besides crossing fingers that the pound will rise again?

I guess it’s finally time to indulge my sultry voice side at M&S.    After all, these aren’t just British pounds, these are spent-at-M&S British pounds.

By Jenna Morton-Aiken

 

Bocuse d’Or

 

Created in 1987, the most prestigious international competition of cooking, the Bocus d’Or, was the first one to take place live in front of the eye of the public and the cameras. More than 1100 journalists, radios and televisions of the whole world cover the event today.

Every year the competition is really famous and strict. This year the show will be on the 27th and 28th of January 2009, in Lyon.

 

Pau Bocuse is one of the best cooks in the world and he his work represents Frech cuisine perfectly.

 

Guillemette Faure