Launch PR

SCHNEIDER ASSOCIATES WINS JPMORGAN CHASE CORPORATE CHALLENGE T-SHIRT CONTEST

2009-06-26T15:58:46-04:00

Boston, MA – June 2009 – Schneider Associates (SA) is proud to announce it has won the Boston JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge T-Shirt Contest. The T-Shirt Contest is part of the annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series, a 5-kilometer race held to benefit charitable groups in cities around the world. Sixty-two companies competed in the Boston T-Shirt Contest. The winning T-shirt design was determined through online voting, which was open to the public.

The winning prize is a $500 donation to any charitable organization. SA is pleased to announce it will donate the money to The United Services Organization, Inc (USO). The USO’s selfless work helps to keep American soldiers safe and let them know they are not forgotten. Most recently, SA has collaborated with the USO and the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) to distribute Red, White & You Sweethearts® candies to U.S. troops in time for the Fourth of July. Schneider Associates is proud to support the USO with this donation.

“We are very excited to take home first place in this fun and creative contest,” said Patrick Richardson, Director of Integrated Marketing at Schneider Associates. “It is a big victory for our company, and a testament to the power of social media.”

The T-Shirt contest marks the launch of SA’s brand new Twitter handle, @schneiderpr. The Twitter handle will provide news, photos and video of all things happening at the agency. SA will also launch a new Web 2.0 site within the next month as they roll out a social media campaign for the company.

The JPMorgan Corporate Challenge Series takes place in 12 cities in six countries on five continents. The Boston race was held on Thursday, June 25, at 7:15 pm. The charitable beneficiary of the Boston race will be Camp Harbor View, a day camp for kids from at-risk neighborhoods and low-income families in the city of Boston.

A team of 15 Schneider Associates employees participated in the race – proudly wearing their winning T-Shirt design. You can view the t-shirt at: http://twitpic.com/7jmb0.

For more information, contact Patrick Richardson, Director of Integrated Marketing, at PRichardson@schneiderpr.com, or visit www.schneiderpr.com.

Schneider Associates Wins J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge T-Shirt Contest

2009-06-25T17:40:48-04:00

Schneider Associates is proud to announce that, after hours of spreading the word through Twitter, Facebook, and relentless calls to family and friends, we won the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge T-Shirt Contest in Boston!

The T-Shirt Contest is part of the annual J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series, a 5-k race held to benefit charitable groups in cities around the world. Sixty-two companies competed in the Boston T-Shirt Contest. Of them all, our design, featuring the adorable Twitter bird, was declared one of three winners! Many thanks to everyone who voted for us!

The competing T-Shirt designs, including our winning Twitter bird shirt, can be viewed here.

“We are very excited to win this fun and creative contest,” said Patrick Richardson, Director of Integrated Marketing at SA. “It is a big victory for a comparatively smaller company, and a testament to the power of Social Media.”

In addition to bragging rights, SA also won a $500 donation to the charity of our choice! Schneider Associates will be donating the money to The United Services Organization, Inc (USO). We’ve been working closely with the USO and the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) to distribute Red, White & You Sweethearts® candies to U.S. troops. The USO’s selfless work helps to keep our soldiers safe and let them know they are not forgotten, and SA is proud to be able to support the USO with this donation.

The T-Shirt design also marks the launch of SA’s brand new Twitter handle, @SchneiderPR. We will be tweeting live at the race tonight, including photos and video, so be sure to follow @SchneiderPR for all the inside info! The new handle is the first step toward our new Web 2.0 site, which we are launching within the next month! Stay tuned for more details.

A team of 15 Schneider Associates employees will participate in the race tonight, beginning at 7:15 at Boston Common. Proceeds from the race will go to Camp Harbor View, a day camp for kids from at-risk neighborhoods and low-income families in the city of Boston. So look for us there - proudly wearing our award-winning T-Shirt design!

SA News: Joan Schneider to be featured in the BBJ next week.

2009-06-19T13:10:45-04:00

Brett Pohlman

Five Questions with Joan Schneider, President, Schneider Associates

2009-06-18T12:42:56-04:00

Cross posted from PRSA Boston.

This month, we spoke with Joan Schneider, President of Schneider Associates, one of the region's leading agencies. An alum of Boston University's College of Communications, Joan has worked with some of the most esteemed consumer brands, including Baskin-Robbins and Woolite, as well as NECCO, the agency's longest-standing client. Joan is also the author of New Product Launch: 10 Proven Strategies (2004) and is writing a second, The New Launch Plan: 101 Tips, Tactics and Trends from the Most Memorable New Products.

What has kept you in the public relations field all these years?

What I love about public relations is that every day I get paid to learn something new. Not only does the client work change every day, but the technologies and methodologies we are using as practitioners are also changing. And in our profession, we must either adapt to the latest ways to communicate or become extinct.

Schneider Associates has been honored for its growth amidst the downturn by publications including The Boston Business Journal and Inc. Magazine.

What has been the key to your success when several other agencies have been forced to shut down?

We have been in business for 29 years and this is our fourth recession. I have learned to focus on both the top line (sales) and the bottom line (profits). All of us at Schneider are very focused on developing creative ideas that bring measurable results. We work hard at understanding our clients' businesses so we can provide a return on their marketing communications dollars that keeps them profitable, even in challenging economic times. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and my parents taught me to never give up or take no for an answer -- two good business tenants to continually have in mind during tough times.

I also am fortunate to have two partners who are incredibly smart, executive vice presidents: Phil Pennellatore, with Schneider for nine years, heads up the Corporate and Public Affairs Group; and Julie Hall, with Schneider for seven years, leads our Consumer and Social Media Group. With their help, and that of our amazing staff, I feel confident Schneider Associates will be a factor in public relations and marketing for years to come.

What industries, in your opinion, provide for the most interesting campaigns?

The most interesting campaigns we create are for products that are revolutionary and for clients who are willing to invest in a launch that brings attention to these products. Over the years we've learned it takes more than a new product to capture the imagination of the media and consumers. Now you need research to prove why the product is effective, consumers who have tested the product and are willing to go on record saying the product has merit, experts who are willing to corroborate the science is real or the technology is effective, and trained corporate or professional spokespeople who can tell the company story in an interesting and credible way.

For me, it's not the industry that makes the product or campaign interesting. It's the creative strategy behind the campaign and the flawless execution that makes our campaigns successful. We've launched many interesting campaigns for relatively ho hum products that we made interesting by wrapping something "big" around the product to make it special and newsworthy.

As the head of one of the region's leading agencies, how do you envision the business model of the typical PR agency changing?

The public relations business is changing rapidly and dramatically. With newspapers literally going out of business, one major channel for distributing news is disappearing while many other new channels are appearing. Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, mommy blogs, YouTube, vlogs, online news services or "the next big thing," the agencies who are going to survive have to be able to transform themselves to accommodate new media distribution channels.

We've been offering integrated marketing for several years now and have our own graphic design department, social media department, and video production, web, advertising, promotion and media training partners so we can develop campaigns that draw on these many different disciplines.

What new (or existing) industries do you think will provide the biggest growth opportunities for PR practitioners in Boston over the next few years?

Looking ahead, there's no doubt that technology, health care, consumer products, real estate, financial services and general business will all recover from today's economic downturn. We need to be ready, willing and able to provide the kind of strategic advice for which people count on public relations counselors to deliver.

In my 29 years in business, the same axioms continue to hold true; it's just the way we deliver the messages that change. Smart, savvy, aggressive, well-educated and personable practitioners will always be in demand. We need to remember that public relations is the cornerstone of communications and no matter how we deliver the messages, the tenants of sound communications theory hold true.

The Palm Pre vs. The iPhone 3GS

2009-06-16T12:10:24-04:00

The first week in June was huge for techies and Smartphone lovers, as two of the most highly anticipated launches promised both fierce competition and delight for users. On Saturday, June 6th, Sprint users lined up for the Palm Pre Smartphone. In the 1990s, Palm led the way with handheld computers and made headlines with the Palm Treo, but recently Palm has been overshadowed by Apple’s iPhone and Research In Motion’s (RIM) Blackberry. Palm hopes the launch of the Pre will help reestablish brand relevance. Just two days after the release of the Pre, Apple unveiled the iPhone 3GS, which becomes available June 19. Palm and Apple are both sure to advertise heavily, but are embarking upon two different strategies.

BREAKDOWN: Palm Pre vs. Apple iPhone 3GS

Palm Pre and the iPhone 3GS have been trending topics on Twitter for the several weeks. Palm was quick to use social media in its marketing campaign, launching the Pre on Facebook. The visually stimulating, 60-second ad, shot in China with a Zen-like theme, plays on viewer emotions and demonstrates how the phone can manage the user’s life with ease using the breezy, glide-touch screen.

Ad executives unofficially estimated that Palm spent $50 to $75 million on its ad campaign, but are also relying on the buzz created on social media networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, to amplify the chatter about the product. Sprint (Pre’s carrier) has even plugged Twitter into their “Now Network” campaign, hoping to appeal to early adopters on social media sites.

Apple, already a dominant presence, holds 20% of the U.S. Smartphone market, second only to Research In Motion (RIM) which holds 55%. In 2008, Apple spent $486 million on advertising, and it’s safe to assume with the rise of the iPhone 3GS, 2009 will follow that trend. Apple hired movie director, David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) to direct the advertising for the 3GS, which takes center stage in the commercial, unlike the Pre in Palm’s spot. Currently, Apple does not maintain a presence on Twitter and its advertising far outshines their Facebook Page.

With society becoming more active in social media, but still engaged by traditional PR and advertising tactics, which launch to do you think will be more successful? Is it the campaign or the product that will win the day?

PR Week Cites Schneider Associates’ Efforts For Woolite’s Find The Look Keep The Look Campaign

2009-06-02T18:22:08-04:00

Schneider Associates (SA) is styling for sure with a recent feature in PR Week on the Woolite integrated marketing campaign “Find the Look, Keep the Look.” The campaign was designed to promote fabric care to fashionistas. Launched with the assistance of TLC’s Stacy London, host of the popular show “What Not to Wear,” the SA campaign included a contest encouraging consumers to submit photos of friends and family sporting mismatched attire and fashion ‘faux-pas.’

JP Gonzalez, Brand Manager at Woolite added “We took a very integrated approach, and we had our other agencies tie in... to what Schneider had created.”

The campaign incorporated expert tie-ins with ‘Style Stars,’ noted fashion boutique owners in 10 major markets around the country. After spurring a 250% increase in site traffic year over year for Woolite, SA will continue to create continued increased awareness in our partnership with the Woolite brand.

Find the PR Week article here: http://bit.ly/FTLKTL.

Visit the Find the Look Keep the Look Web site at: www.findthelookkeepthelook.com.

The Scoop at SA: We All Scream for Baskin Robbins!

2009-05-04T16:09:40-04:00

SA is proud to congratulate the Baskin-Robbins team for making 31 Cent Scoop Night another successful sweet celebration!

For the third consecutive year, SA partnered with Baskin-Robbins to promote 31 Cent Scoop Night on April 29^th, 2009. As a thank you to Baskin-Robbins loyal customers, the iconic ice cream brand reduced the price of all 2.5 oz. ice cream scoops to just 31 cents. As part the event, Baskin-Robbins made a $100,000 donation to the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) National Junior Firefighter Program. Baskin-Robbins also invited local fire departments to scoop ice cream and collect donations in select neighborhood shops. SA worked with Baskin-Robbins to generate awareness for the event, build community involvement and offer families a way to have fun while spending less than a dollar for three scoops.

Thousands of people lined up at Baskin-Robbins shops across the country to celebrate 31 Cent Scoop Night. Ice cream fans flocked to Facebook and Twitter to fuel the Baskin-Robbins flavor buzz and encourage their friends to attend 31 Cent Scoop Night.

Needless to say, SA’s team trip to Baskin-Robbins Cambridge shop was the most delicious part of our day. Check out the pictures below. Our favorite flavor? It’s a tie between Daiquiri Ice and Oreo Cookies n’ Cream…Yum, more ice cream breaks please?

To learn more about Baskin-Robbins flavors or promotions, follow @Baskin-Robbins on Twitter, or become a Baskin-Robbins fan on Facebook!

No one ever said you couldn’t smile with your mouthful!

Joan takes two for the road!

We hear ice cream breaks increase productivity...

Colgate’s Portable Wisp Targets Young, On-the-Go Consumers

2009-04-21T18:54:27-04:00

The new Colgate Wisp, a 3.5 inch, disposable toothbrush (no water required), has risen to become one of the most notable and relevant new products since its early spring 2009 launch. The brush’s miniature bristles surround a minty-fresh gel bead while its handle features a “soft pick” for reaching tight spots between teeth. The product is available in peppermint, cinnamon and spearmint flavors.

Colgate is marketing the Wisp particularly to young people, as shown by a recently premiered television commercial that appeared even earlier on its website. During the ad, a twenty-something man and woman dance together in a nightclub until the girl flies off to freshen her breath with a Colgate Wisp. The commercial ends as “Don’t Get Caught Without It” flashes across the screen while the couple flirts with the camera.

The question is: will consumers adopt it as a mainstay, or let it slip away after a May-December romance?

On Friday, the female-oriented online magazine, Missbehave, hailed the Wisp as the “one use toothbrushes that should become a staple in every girl’s handbag.”

While there’s been much less buzz about the Wisp among men online, the male-oriented product-reviewing blog, [Your daily vitamin of] Everything That's Vital...For NY & LApromises that men will “LOVE” he Wisp if they are “obsessive about [their] teeth.” The blogger suggests that it “can fit inside a small jacket or pants pocket.”

The launch is supported by promotional and distribution effortsto build buzz and product trial. The Colgate Wisp microsite hosts a New Face of Wisp contest, which encourages consumers to submit their photos and vote for the winner in early May. A 16-pack of Wisps sells for around $8-$9. Drugstores like CVS and superstores of accessibility like Wal-Mart carry the surprisingly inexpensive but effective Colgate Wisp.

So, does it have enough power to fix a problem important enough to warrant carrying this disposable toothbrush around? When it comes down to it, that will prove the deciding factor for the product’s ultimate success.

SA Launches d-CON's Online Video Series to Help Consumers Be Rodent Free!

2009-04-02T17:31:27-04:00

SA and d-Con® have teamed up to launch a new series of how-to videos to help consumers address rodent problems in the home. With the approach of spring’s wet weather, d-CON® is making sure consumers are ready to treat rodent problems that occur with the change of seasons quickly and effectively.

The videos feature signs of mouse problems in different rooms, such as the kitchen and bedroom, to help consumers quickly and easily understand how to address the issue. Each video outlines methods of spotting and addressing a rodent problem, and are full of helpful tips and “Did You Know?” facts.

The videos are available on the d-CON® Web site and can also be seen on youtube.com. Plus, you just might see some SA stars making their first commercial debut ;)

SA's Julie Hall to Speak About the Power of Social Media at Ad Club Breakfast

2009-04-02T14:48:47-04:00

How to Harness the Power of Social Media for You and Your Brand

Presented by Julie Hall , Executive Vice President of Schneider Associates, Founder of Mommies Clique and committed Mommy Blogger.

Learn the ins and outs of personal branding on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook and how to leverage knowledge and marketing potential of social networking for you and your clients. With the advent of social media platforms like Facebook, MySpace and YouTube, content sharing sites like Digg and Delicious and microblogging tools such as Twitter, everyone has the ability to brand themselves as an industry leader.

Here you’ll learn how social media branding efforts will work for your clients. Everyone wants a piece of the social media pie. Join us as we explore tips and techniques to help provide unique content and value which will set you apart from the competition.

START
April 16, 2009, 8 - 9:30 AM

LOCATION
Digitas

Register Now!