ICG DOUBLE SHOWCASE SUCCESS

ICG is enjoying some well-deserved recognition after being featured in two industry titles.

Our own marketing material has been featured in a creative design publication called Design Matters//Portfolios by American publishers, Rockport.

The six-page case study features colour pictures and in-depth editorial, focusing on ICG's marketing campaign and clever use of branded gift items including scarves, hats, and even socks! If you're visiting our offices, a copy of the book will be in the reception area.

Meanwhile ICG PR was also delighted to see it had made it onto the pages of PR Week. Our work for St Deiniol's Library was featured on the magazine's Campaigns pages which identify interesting and thought-provoking projects. To read it for yourself, check out.

VOLCANO FLIGHT CHAOS STORIES

ICG PR sprang into action during the volcano flight chaos to help three clients report on events as they happened.

Regular media updates were distribited to the North West and national press for client Blackpool International to reassure passengers about the on-going situation for flights with Jet2.com, Aer Lingus and Manx2.com.

Since flights have resumed, the airport is getting back to normal and information is being issued online and through e-marketing to update passengers.

We also reported on how client Scott Rees & Co Solicitors rallied round to help get their Marketing Partner back from Poland after being stranded at the end of his holiday.

His colleagues back in Skelmersdale pitched in to make alternative travel arrangements for the 1,000 mile journey back home and the story was picked up by the local and regional press, with front page headlines!

And, for client Servisair Executive Lounges we released media updates to inform customers that all bookings during the flight ban would be honoured, and could be transferred to alternative dates.

Not bad for a week's work!

Yorkshire Copper Tube set to shine at PHEX

Yorkshire Copper Tube will certainly ‘stand out’ when it exhibits at the Plumbing and Heating Exhibition - thanks to the creative team at ICG.

A state of the art exhibition stand featuring eye-catching photography and snazzy copywriting should certainly pull in the crowds.

From initial concepts through to final design and overall project management, our Creative Director Simon Couchman worked with Senior Designer Ian Jones to map out and bring together all the aspects of a productive exhibition stand.

From leaflet holders to podiums and even a strategically placed table and stools – the results speak for themselves.

But that’s not all. We also sourced branded lolly pops, flasks and carrier bags to complete Yorkshire’s professional look as it makes its inaugural appearance and the industry leading trade show.

Watch this space for more information on how the ICG PR team got involved by making sure Yorkshire has plenty of information to give to visiting journalists.

ICG PR gets digital makeover

ICG PR’s shiny new website has burst into action on the net, following the huge success of the ICG’s full service site, which was launched earlier this year.

With more information than ever before, it’s a real showcase of how ICG’s PR team delivers great results for clients and the broad range of services that we offer – from copywriting and press releases to publicity stunts.

Our case study section shows the team in action as well as providing bite size examples of the diverse range of work that we have undertaken for clients over the years.

Other features include links to all our social media sites and a downloadable version of ICG’s company literature.

The ICG full service site has shot up the rankings since its launch thanks to constantly refreshed content and the digital know how of the team.

We are looking forward to the PR site mirroring that success.

Newsletters news…..

The creative team at ICG have been awash with newsletters of late and the most recent three are signed off and ready to go.

Firstly, long standing client League Football Education tasked us with refreshing the look of its term time newsletter Touchline, which goes out to 1700 apprentices, football clubs and other stakeholders.

The new look includes a fresh cover design and masthead and a page increase from 16 to 20.

Next is Horizons, Blackpool International Airport’s twice yearly newsletter. With 20,000 copies distributed around the airport, tourist information centres and hotels, our designs work hard to make sure they catch the eye of passers by.

Last, but certainly not least, was the latest edition of Insight, the employee newsletter for support service giant Enterprise.

The company has embraced the recent trend for electronic versions of newsletters and an interactive PDF is sent direct to the inbox of the company’s 14,000 staff three times per year.

There’s never a dull moment here at ICG - and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

ICG in peak form with new retained client

A new retained account win at ICG will see us all flexing our creative muscles.

Central Training, one of the UK’s largest training providers to the active leisure industry, operates Central Skills, Central Fitness and Central Sports.

ICG has been working with the company on a project basis for over three years and management at Central Training signed up to a retained contract after the successful completion of its ‘Update’ newsletter in March.

We will be working on all marketing and public relations activities and initial projects include promoting a charity fundraising scheme at St Helens based Central Fitness sports, fitness and training centre and raising awareness about upcoming open days for apprenticeship programmes run by Central Skills in Wigan.

Denise Dawson, ICG’s Managing Director, said: “We have built a very strong relationship with Central Training and its division over the years and we are delighted that they have joined our retained client list.

“Our design, marketing and PR teams will work very closely to devise a strategic plan that will allow maximum return on investment for the company.”

Blackpool Zoo's Tall Tale on GMTV

ICG PR sealed more national TV coverage for client Blackpool Zoo, when GMTV chose its idea for the show’s annual April Fools joke.

A spoof recruitment drive at the zoo, for giraffe keepers that are over 6ft 2inches tall, was devised and put to the programme, who loved it!

The wind and rain didn’t dampen spirits and an afternoon’s filming in Giraffe Heights with presenter Matt Arnold was all it took to fool the nation.

Marketing and PR Coordinator at the zoo, Jude Rothwell, took the position of official zoo spokesperson and three members of ICG’s team put their acting skills to the test.

Managing Director Denise Dawson became a lawyer for the afternoon whilst Commercial Director Peter Cobley and Marketing and PR Manager Paula Holden stepped in as applicants that didn’t quite meet the required height.

Another ICG client, Freightlink, was drafted in and Office Manager Lee Rossall joined Peter and Paula wearing an ‘I Love Giraffes’ t-shirt.

Viewers were invited to visit the GMTV website to view an extended version of the footage and either apply for the position or sign a petition against ‘heightism’. When either of the links were clicked a message flashed up to say it was an April Fool’s Joke.

The news item was aired on GMTV every half an hour as the ‘and finally’ news piece from 6.00am until 9.00am on April 1st and a specially extended version of the filming was put on the GMTV website.