Blue Peter sails into Blackpool Zoo!

The ICG PR team have been celebrating a huge TV coup after they invited Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere along to Blackpool Zoo to get to grips with training the resident sea lions!

The BBC producers loved the idea and Blue Peter sailed into the Active Oceans Arena during the half term holiday.

In the run up to filming we worked hard to publicise the arrival of the world’s longest running children’s programme.

The coverage meant that the people of Lancashire and beyond packed into the zoo during two very wet half term days to cheer on Andy as he trained hard to lead a sea lion display.

We were also on hand to ensure the filming ran smoothly and, seven sea lions, four zoo keepers, three camera men, a production director, a well-known children’s presenter and two rainy days later we heard the call ‘that’s a wrap ladies and gentlemen.'

The footage will air on Wednesday 23rd March.

CREATING A LEGACY AT ICG

We’ve been busy working on the branding and literature for Create Your Legacy an exciting joint sports careers event between the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust and League Football Education’s Progression initiative.

Working closely with the client we developed an identity that would convey the quality and ethos of the brand, which we then used across a dedicated website, stationery and flyers.

The event is a ‘must attend’ for elite athletes and football apprentices looking to develop or diversify their careers in sports, fitness or related industries.

Between now and ‘kick off’ on March 17th we will be designing and developing adverts, exhibitors’ manuals, floor plans, visitor guides, display stands and lanyards.

LAST CHANCE TO SCOOP £10,000 RETAIL PRIZE PACKAGE

Time is running out for budding retail businesses in the North West to take their plans to the next level with a £10,000 prize package.

The Mall Blackburn is offering two month’s rent-free space, a laptop and tailored business mentoring sessions from the National Skills Academy to the winner of its annual business competition, The Retail Factor.

Entrants can submit ideas until Sunday 20th February and management at The Mall will select a shortlist of entries to trial their businesses on an RMU (Retail Merchandising Unit) in The Mall for a period of two weeks.

The judges have been unveiled as Debenhams store manager, Matt Cooper, Primark store manager Dawn Smyth as well as The Mall Blackburn’s general manager Loraine Jones and marketing manager Samantha Butcher.

Together they will look at how innovative each business had been as well as taking into account trading results to select an overall winner, who will be presented with the £10,000 package.

The successful entrepreneur will also be in with a chance of winning the national prize of a place on the exclusive retail business course BHF-BSSA Oxford Summer School.Entries to The Retail Factor can be made online at www.themall.co.uk/business/retailfactor or by completing a form available at The Mall Blackburn’s Ask Me Point.

TOP FLIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR SERVISAIR

A photo shoot at Gatwick and Heathrow Airports by ICG captured the relaxing atmosphere and comfortable surroundings of Servisair Airport Lounges.

ICG’s creative team was tasked with providing photography and art direction at six of Servisair's busiest lounges.

The images were taken by ICG’s in-house photographer and are being used for a variety of marketing campaigns including e-news alerts, point of sale material, internal signage, promotional literature and PR.

Servisair Lounges operates more than 25 airport lounges in the UK and overseas, providing an affordable solution for travellers who value the opportunity to work or relax away from the busy airport crowds.

Guests enjoy complimentary refreshments, newspapers and magazines while many of the lounges also offer free wi-fi access.

To take advantage of Servisair Lounges’ most competitive prices and for easy and convenient bookings, visit www.executivelounges.com

TWO ‘IN THE BAG’ FOR ICG

ICG is celebrating a great start to 2011 with two retail account wins – Realm Ltd and The Mall Blackburn.

‘Realm’ specialise in the management and development of outlet shopping centres and villages across the UK and Spain. ICG has been tasked by the company to devise and deliver design solutions to promote outlets in five counties from Clarks Village in Somerset to Freeport Fleetwood shopping centre in Lancashire.

New branding concepts, outdoor advertising campaigns from bill boards to buses, on-site point of sale materials, and direct mail activities are all part of the exciting brief.

Our PR team is also working hard to promote Blackburn’s £66m refurbished shopping centre, The Mall. The centre which boasts leading retail names such as Debenhams, Primark, Next, Tesco and River Island selected ICG after a four-way pitch.

We’ve already kick started the new year by achieving media coverage for The Mall Blackburn’s ‘Retail Factor’ competition which offers a £10,000 prize package for a local start-up business including free trading space at The Mall Blackburn, mentoring and a place on an exclusive business course.