Year End

Well, another year nearly over. I know we say this each year but this year really has flown!
I hope it has been a successful one for you all, we have certainly enjoyed blogging for you for the past 12 months.

Have a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

See you in January!!


All the team at

Gemini PR & Marketing

The Best Man Won!

Well, this may be an unpopular blog today, especially as I write it from an office in Nottingham but I for one am delighted that Chris Hoy won sports personality, and what’s more deserved it the most, except for maybe, Ben Ainslie.

I know Lewis Hamilton did exceptionally well this year, winning his first world title, Becky did incredibly well with 2 Olympic gold medals– Chris on the other hand has won 4 gold and one silver medal throughout an 8 year period...and four of those medals were in different events. Also prior to that he has been World Champion, and World Cup Champion a number of times over – you may not know that because he pedals a bike rather than kicks a football! This was a celebration of his career not just his Olympics.

There has been mixed reaction to his win, but I think the cycling team thoroughly deserve their success, this is a culmination of years of hard work and training, and being the anonymous best in the world at what they do. Their success wasn’t a surprise to those who were in the know – they’ve been top of the world for the past few years, and it’s about time they got some recognition.

It was a tough year, and I think in any other year, they all could’ve won. But I don’t doubt that Lewis will be back again, after becoming the youngest driver to win back to back world championships, and likewise we won’t have seen the last of Becky...only 1319 days to go to 2012!!

Ruth

A critique of mince pies...

It’s nice that Christmas allows us to indulge... and by indulge I mean scoff an inconceivable amount of mince pies.

So to me the best mince pie has to have the correct ratio of mincey goodness to tasty pastry. The pastry has to be buttery but not oily or do that fetching thing of falling all over your face whilst running in and out of the office. Also the filling has to be just the right level of cinnamon or it can feel like you’ve emptied out the quantity of a mixed spice sachet into your mouth. (These are crucial factors one must take on board if one is to perform an impartial study.)

Size is also a factor. It’s not particularly satisfying to gobble down miniature mincey pies but then again you can pretend the scoffing was in fact sin-free.

However there is some justification in the size of a larger mince pie as there is less pastry surface area and you can delude yourself that the sugary currents were in fact one of your five a day.

It is tricky. Luckily this research can remain on-going, at least until the end of December or I make myself ill on mincey pies... whichever comes first.

Next week: Christmas pudding analysis

Cat

How to Making Smoking Cooler by G. Brown

I don’t mean to sound cynical - and remember that I am an adamant anti smoker, no one was more pleased than me when the smoking ban came in 18 months ago - BUT by hiding cigarettes & tobacco products under shop counters will surely only make smoking seem ‘cooler’ and more ‘underground’ to rebel teenagers than ever before.
I know when I was at school; the smokers were those who were deliberately trying to be rebellious and bad, by doing something illegal rather than being attracted by the pretty colours on the boxes displayed so prominently on shop counters. Surely today’s teenagers are even more streetwise than they were 10-15 or so years ago, and if smoking, or getting hold of cigarettes, is more of a challenge and therefore naughtier than before, teens are just as likely to start/continue smoking!
I think it is a rather naive strategy...but we’ll see!

Ruth

Panto Fantastic

I had the pleasure of going to the opening night of Nottingham Playhouse's pantomine last weekend. Kenneth Alan Taylor is back for the 25th successive year, donning his dresses, wigs and heels as the ever popular Widow Twanky.

I haven't been to a panto since for about 15 years, and I wasn't sure what I'd make of it...but it was absolutely brilliant!
From the dancing penguins, the 'en masse' Time Warp (just one more time Kenneth!!)
it was a laugh fest from beginning to end. Mr Taylor kept the cast on their feet, adlibbing as only a pantomine great can do, he had the audience (and his players) in stitches.

My personal favourite bit though, had to be the tribute to the other famouse Nottinghamians celebrating their 25 year anniversary, Torvill & Dean's Bolero...absolute genuis!

If you don't have tickets yet, I would highly recommend it. Be it with children, parents, partners or a girly night out - its a great Nottingham night out

Ruth

Christmas is looming.

It has only just lurched into December and it’s time for the annual 25 days of non-stop Christmas-themed paraphernalia and we should all be revelling in it (or at least that’s what the Powers That Be are telling us!)

The Christmas decorations are already up in the shops and city centres are rivalling Las Vegas for the levels of light pollution!

Christmas is the time of year when everyone looks forward to that day when they can eat as much turkey as possible, open presents and will then all collapse round the telly to fall asleep whilst watching the Christmas afternoon film (trying desperately to dodge the Queen’s Christmas speech!)

It’s a shame though that there is really only one day when we can smile at people in the street and say hello and generally be polite to one another without looking like we’ve escaped from a psychiatric ward.

Rather than just the Christmas decorations being strung up excessively early and Mariah Carey’s familiar warble of “All I want for Christmas is you” reappearing on radio stations what might be a bit better is if everyone embraced what Christmas was really about; that old-fashioned notion of Christmas cheer and being just that little bit friendlier and dishing out good will to their fellow man (and woman!)

Cat

Bug Point Well Made

Well thank goodness someone is seeing sense!

The front page of today's Metro makes a complete mockery of 'I'm A Celebrity' which features c list celebs shocked at the thought of having eat bugs to survive out there, comparing it to children in Zimbabwe who are delighted to find a mere cricket to stave off their starvation.

Hundreds of thousands of people are dying of starvation there, and in the jungle these celebs are having a really hard time...I know it is light hearted and entertainment, but more than ever the gap between the first and third worlds is as wide as it has ever been!

Ruth

Remembrance Day

Another year, and the tradition of the poppies is still going strong. This time of year always leads to discussions as to whether we still need to mark it or is it old news?

It absolutely is relevant for all to remember the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. It is incomprehensible to think of the number of men who died in the many muddy battles of the flanders fields before the ceasefire was called. The amount of blood shed for the future of the country, is not something that should be forgotten.

If you missed the 2 minute silence today then maybe take 2 minutes later today, and when the bus is late, or you burn your toast or have the sniffles...remember the brave men who fought all those years ago

Ruth

Crazy cats

At the Gemini office we do love our pets, we've boasted an array of cats, dogs, birds, fish etc etc, both presently and in the past.

So a story on the BBC news website was met with much hilarity today. A new set of Government guidelines have been produced on how to look after your pets, bbc.co.uk/news reports that the Code of Conduct includes the statement;

"You should ensure that your cat has enough mental stimulation from you and from its environment to avoid boredom and frustration.

"It is your responsibility to provide opportunities for your cat to satisfy all of its behavioural needs, such as play and companionship."

Seriously, all my cat wants from life is food and sleep, and occasionally to go outside if it's not to cold / wet / windy. If I even try to entertain him with all the little furry, cat-nip-filled creatures I've bought for him, he looks at me like I'm idiot, and strolls off to bed.

I sense that most people get this sort of reaction from a cat which is older than one year.

It also says: "Cats need opportunities to climb and jump, such as a simple 'platform' type bed or safe access to shelves and the tops of cupboards." Yeah my cat loves to jump. Onto the bed. Or the work surface when I'm trying to open a can of tuna.

I do sort of get where they're coming from, some people do buy pets without thinking about how they need to be looked after, but the majority of us know how to entertain a cat. Leave it to sleep.

Helen

Government gone mad?

Firstly, does Gordon Brown not have anything better to do than comment on Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross? Seriously Gordon, shouldn't you be cleaning up hospitals and helping the poor or something?

Secondly, my homepage is the BBC News site, and when I clicked on it a moment ago the first two 'latest' headlines I saw were;

'Gordon Brown announces a £700m plan to buy new armoured vehicles for the Army' closely followed by...'Government to cut support grants for thousands of prospective students due to overspend'

Now I know that the Army need better equipment, but do the Government really have their priorities right here?

Helen

Cross/Gruff/Grass/Graph/Cruss

I am a member of a group on Facebook called, “People Who Always Have To Spell Their Names For Other People”. It is a worldwide collection of 381,326 who all join together to rant about the constant mispronunciation of their names – for anyone who has asked me for my name on the phone they will know me as Ruth Gross, G-R-O-double S for sugar...maybe not the correct phonetic letter but 95% of the time prevents mail arriving for Miss Cross/Gruff/Grass/Graph/Cruss

Rather a random topic to blog about it but I have been thinking about it this week following a conversation with somebody on the phone about my surname, who insisted I was wrong. Whilst I appreciate the anglicised pronunciation of my surname is Gross as in 144, the correct (and Polish version) is Gross similar to Cross. Yes it is Polish NOT English so if I correct you please don’t correct me back!

I apologise for the tirade but I know there are 381,325 other who know just what I mean!

Ruth G-R-O-S-S, granddaughter of Aleksander Gross, Zakopane, Poland

P.S. it is meant to be AleKSander, not AleXander

Credit Crunchie Escapes Cadbury

With all the news of doom & gloom there was some good news for Cadbury’s today as they saw a 14% increase their sales following the relaunch of 80’s favourite Wispa after a campaign on social networking site Facebook.

It is a very interesting turn of events from a PR practitioner’s point of view, as new media is becoming more important as a source of material. Thanks to over 2000 members of the BRING BACK CADBURY’S WISPA facebook group, the choccie firm have now brought the bar back. I don’t know if the person who set the group up actually works for Cadbury’s or not but in our research for current & new clients, and local radio stations, show that more and more employees/communications folks are setting up discussion groups, social groups to reach new audiences.

I’m not sure if we’ll be replacing our press releases with social groups but it certainly is starting to factor in our communications strategy...it will be interesting to see if any other firms follow suit, especially in the run up to Christmas.

Ruth.

Living legends at Notts Arena

I have met a lot of people in my life, I have met some of the best sportspeople in the world, cyclists and rugby player and I have even met Hollywood actors but on Friday night I was privileged enough to just share the same breathing space as three absolute living legends.

I went to watch Queen & Raul Rodgers at the Trent FM arena and it was absolutely amazing. Yes I hear you scoff, how can it be Queen without the presence of Freddie , I know because I was dubious about how it would work but it did, it really, really did.

Freddie was very much there in spirit and it was more of a celebration of the music than the ‘next generation’ of the band. A 15 minute guitar solo from Brian May and the same from Roger Taylor who beat out an impressive rendition of ‘another one bites the dust’ on an electric double base proved that these two chaps are indeed bordering on genius. Paul Rodgers was a sympathetic lead man, not trying to make the classics his own but very much doing justice to the fans young and old packed into the arena. I was concerned during the first few songs that his voice just wasn’t strong enough to be heard over the music, but a tweak from a sound guy and he was off, and in his element.

The highlights for me? Too many but I was particularly impressed with the Bohemian Rhapsody, a giant image of Freddie playing the first verse started the song which was continued by the band & audience alike. The other was ‘We Will Rock You’. I looked out to see 18,000 or so people clapping in unison –Brian May said to the audience, I wish I could swap places with every one of you so you could feel the electric atmosphere tonight. It was pretty good from where I was sitting!

Ruth

Pizza Hut PR

Yesterday I went on BBC Radio Nottingham to do their morning paper review and one of the stories I picked out was about restaurant chain, Pizza Hut, changing it's name to 'Pasta Hut'.

My opinion on this story was simple. It's a crime. Pizza Hut will always be about the pizza, and surely that's why we love it?

On the show, the presenter suggested that it was just a publicity stunt and I scoffed 'what's the point in that?'. But being in the PR business I looked at the story again today to see if it was, in fact, a stunt. And it is.

In an attempt to generate a healthier image, the chain is replacing it's pizza-dominated menu with more pasta dishes, and to promote this change they're temporarily renaming 30 outlets 'Pasta Hut'.

As part of the exercise, customers are being asked to express their views on the name change at pastahut.co.uk and the chain will then decide if it is to become permanent. So after my initial disbelief that they would go to all the trouble of rebranding just for a PR stunt, I'm actually quite impressed. It's certainly got everyone talking.

I just hope they don't change their menu too much, my Dad and I were frequent visitors on a Saturday when I was younger and I'd be sad to see it lose it's traditional appeal just to be healthier. We know it's not healthy, and we still love it!

Helen

Monkey business

A restaurant in Japan has hired two unusual waiters - a pair of macaque monkeys, Yatchan and Fukuchan.

The duo, who are popular with customers, serve hot towels and drinks and are given soya beans as tips.

Following a recent bad experience I had at a local pub where after waiting 20 minutes to be served at the bar I was met by a sour faced barman with an attitude, I think this restaurant may be onto something. After all, these guys are only to eager to please and I think it can be argued that they are likely to be much better waiters than some human ones.

A video of the monkeys at work can be found at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7654267.stm


Emma

Blog Response

We had a lovely e-mail on Friday from a client complimenting our blog!

We enjoy writing for the Gemini PR blog & do take time and effort to regularly update it with interesting/topical/amusing (we hope) articles so it is always nice to get feedback!

Thanks very much, keep reading!

Ruth

Goose Fair

I was sat in a meeting yesterday with one of our newest clients, the Djanogly City Academy, at their premises on Gregory Boulevard, and couldn't help sneaking a look out of the window at the log flume being constructed just across the road. It reminded me that Goose Fair is only a week away. I’m pretty sure my two children will want me to go with them – if for no other reason than to pay for the rides for which I’ll probably need a bank loan!

My son though who’s 15 will probably want to go with his friends but my daughter who’s 11 has already said she wants to go but with strict instructions that we go on the big rides – which I am sure we will! Maybe I’m just a big kid but I can’t help being a little bit excited about the prospect of the fair. It brings back fond memories of my childhood in Loughborough, when a fair used to (and still does) take over the town centre for a few days in November. I can still remember rides of the Waltzers listening to Hot Chocolate – that shows my age!

The only dilemma is when we manage to squeeze in a trip to Goose Fair. With a public meeting for one of our clients, Evans Concrete, about the proposed redevelopment of their site in Ripley on Thursday evening, a centenary party for Nottingham Northern Swimming Club of which I am chairman on the Friday and the Club Centenary Gala on the Saturday, not quite sure when we’ll manage it – but I’m sure we will! And with the forecast for the weekend looking good, it would be a shame not to wouldn’t it!

Dianne

Love poetry

I've just read that the charity Booktrust is planning to give reception pupils a book of poetry to inspire a love of reading.

I love this idea, when I was younger I used to read all the time, my parents frequently read to me and I had a great collection of poetry books, many of which I've kept to this day.

Although I'm a lot busier now than when I was when I was five, I still find time to read as much as I can.

I honestly think that reading so much helped my vocabulary and spelling when I was growing up and led me to the career I'm in now. At Gemini PR we can often tell if a candidate for a job is a reader because the standard of their CV and their writing is much higher.

So I'm all for this, I'm just disappointed I don't qualify for the free book!

Helen

Speak clearly, Darling

I don’t know if anyone say Alistair Darling’s interview on the BBC this morning, it was an excellent demonstration in avoiding answering questions...trainee/wannabe politicians should take note.

When Bill Turnbull asked whether our income tax is going to be increased, three times he managed to waffle of for a good five minutes, without actually answering the direct question. Flirting around the subject but, as tax payer I still don't know if my taxes are going up or not?

He did well, he managed to run out of time so the interview was stopped...I might employ this technique next time my boyfriend asks me to cook dinner, “well, listen its not that I don’t want to cook dinner but now is not the time to start taking food out of the fridge. It will improve, dinner will be made but not by any specific technique and not taking food out...” you get the idea

But what I really want to know, ARE OUR TAXES GOING UP?
Ruth

PR in the dark

According to a recent report we could all be working in the dark in five years time if the country's energy policy isn't reviewed.

The Fells Associates report says that old nuclear and coal stations are being decommissioned but not being replaced fast enough. And with the loss of this energy generating capacity will come blackouts, anarchy and chaos apparently. Oh, and a three day working week.

The Daily Express reports that underground trains would need to be stopped regularly to save energy, schools would have to close, hospitals wouldn't be able to carry out operations and food prices would increase further.

So will we all be writing our press releases by hand in a candlelit office? What will we do without the Internet? Email? Phones?!? Bring back the carrier pigeon I say.

Helen

Final Bell

It's the end of an era today, popular TV show Grange Hill comes to an end this afternoon after 30 years.There must be few folk between the ages of 15-45 who haven't watched at least one episode of the popular show.

Bosses say that the show no longer reflects modern children's lives, I imagine filming kids playing playstations & interacting online with virtual friends isn't as captivating as addressing serious issues such as drug addiction, kidnapping etc.

I wonder what the next classic will be...

Ruth

No sign of a Big Bang here

We're all mightily relieved here at Gemini PR that we're still standing after the start of the Big Bang experiment this morning.

All the fuss and usual 'the end is nigh' talk appears, for now, to have been wrong. Although a couple of us did have a headache that we immediately put down to all those whizzing particles in Geneva.

I'm even quite glad that I was around to witness the start of such a ground breaking experiment. Don't get me wrong, I'm no scientist and I couldn't begin to tell you how it works, but that machine looks pretty impressive to me.

So for now Nottingham remains intact and we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Until we get sucked into the Indian Ocean in four years time.

Helen

New PR Targets

I've just finished scanning the copy of PR Week and read about an interesting new PR concept the PR department at Cambridge University have launched. Apparently they approached Eastenders and Corrie about featuring a storyline about their University and how it is't as elitist as it makes out.

It is a great idea -and if it is successful - what a way to reach a huge audience. They must have been playing close attention to the recent episodes of Hollyoaks where the writers have addressed common issues such as Bulimia and drug abuse, by running big storylines around these issues.

Whether it will work, remains to be seen but good luck to them I say!

Ruth

The end of summer!

Without wanting to sound all doom and gloom, after today’s seriously awful weather I think it is safe to say that summer 2008 is now well and truly over.

This doubled with the kids going back to school meaning busier roads forcing me to get up half an hour earlier in the mornings, my summer break to Cornwell now seems a long time ago.

With nights also noticeably drawing in, conversation here at the Gemini office has been about how fast this year is going by. We’ve even been talking about booking our Christmas night out today!

I’m sure it won’t be long now until Christmas trees begin to dominate many a shop window display!

It’s scary really!

Emma

Does less mean more?

A helpful guide on bbc.co.uk/news says: 'Less' means 'not as much'. 'Fewer' means 'not as many'. 'Fewer' when items that can be counted individually. Confused? You will be.

This week Tesco have announced that it's changing the signs at some of its checkouts because of a grammatical error. The '10 items or less' aisle is now set to become 'up to 10 items'. Is it just me, or is this less (or should that be fewer) clear? Up to ten, it that up to and including 10? Or fewer than ten? So no more than nine? So just nine?

Whatever it is, I can sort of understand the reasoning behind it. If you write for a living like we do here at Gemini PR, you might be a bit of a grammar geek and enjoy pointing out glaring mistakes on public signs. Don't these people check what they write?

I'll always remember a sign about good behaviour which was put up in all the classrooms at my old school. It was written by the Headmaster and, embarrassingly for him, was full of grammatical errors - which the pupils gleefully corrected in red pen throughout the school.

Should it really be up to pupils, or more frequently, the Plain English Campaign to tell adults in professional jobs that their writing isn't correct? If schools don't teach this properly, the likelihood is that the situation will only get worse as computer grammar checkers make us even lazier.

Helen

p.s I would very much appreciate it if you didn't check this blog post for grammatical errors....

A sob story too far?

Even if if you claim you don't like it, it's hard to resist watching people making a fool of themselves on national TV, and the X-Factor auditions certainly provide plenty of them. Has nobody ever told them they can't sing / rap / dance??

Unfortunately, with the hilariously misguided auditionees also come the sob stories, you know the ones, a Westlife track starts playing in the background, Dermot's voice goes down a tone.."Sharon has come a long way to be here today. She lost her dog when she was seven and is here to make Fido proud" etc etc.

Last week, contestant Alan Turner was no different "I just want t'make me real family proud" he said in front a swooning Cheryl and Danni. Alan told judges he was put into foster care at the age of four and doesn't know his real family. The X Factor is apparently his only chance to change all that.

But in the emotion of the audition it appears that the poor fella got confused, by 'foster care' he actually meant his Nan, and by 'I just want...to know my real mum and my real dad' he meant that he spoke to his Dad regularly until last year. Oops.

Do contestants really need a sob story to get them through the rounds? Or is it the X-Factor producers doing their best to seek out even the most tenuous link to a troubled past to get some good TV?

As one X-Factor spokesperson put it, the confusion was 'unfortunate'. But for who? Alan got himself through to the finals, where he and his half decent voice are staying despite the furore, and the X-Factor got some PR different to 'Danni: What I really think of Cheryl' in Heat magazine. All publicity is good publicity right?

Helen

Tackling UK business waste

A parliamentary committee has announced that the Government needs to step up effects to reduce waste from businesses.

I wholeheartedly agree with this because even though we are a small office, it is surprising how much rubbish we manage to accumulate, particularly through the amount of newspapers and magazines we track for our clients.

Here in the Gemini office we are careful not to print unnecessary documents and always make use of scrap paper, however it is not always easy to recycle. We do have a recycle bin, but even that got took away at one point and we had to call a number of different people to get it back.

It definitely needs to be made easier for people to be able to recycle else other wise many may just choose to not to bother, however lazy that sounds.


Emma

Clarkson for PM

There's been a real sense of humour failure at Conservative HQ this week.

After 55,000 people called for Top Gear presenter, Jeremy Clarkson, to become Prime Minister in a recent petition (I believe I'm included in that number), 10 Downing Street has produced a 'jokey' 55 second video clip for it's You Tube site in response.

Not the type to let a good PR opportunity go to waste, the Tories quickly released a statement which said: "While the British public is having to tighten its belts, the government is spending taxpayers' money on a completely frivolous project." (bbc.co.uk/news)

They also said it showed that the Government had lost touch with reality, I personally think this is first thing they've done that I can relate to in a long time.

Downing Street insist it was produced without any cost, by a member of staff who had a spare half hour, and probably enjoyed every second of making the clip.

I didn't realise a dwindling economy meant we all have to trade in our sense of humour too. Lighten up chaps.

Helen

Super Saturday & Sunday!

Saturday was hyped up to be ‘the’ day of the Olympics for Great Britain, but it turned into a winning weekend for our sportsmen and women!

The best thing was not just the number of medals we won, but the diversity of sports – cycling, swimming, rowing, sailing and gymnastics, and the number of double medallists, Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Rebecca Adlington won two gold medals each and Ben Ainslie picking up his third gold in as many Games- the Sports Personality of the year will be a tough one this year!

My overseas vote though is for Michael Phelps closely followed by Usain Bolt! What a 100m final...I haven’t seen anyone win by that much for a long long time – there was no dipping for the photo finish needed there! Part of me was a little bit disappointed that Bolt didn’t ‘run through the line’ so we could see exactly how fast he can go, but I know it was more about the victory than the times.

I am eagerly awaiting the results for the next six days!!

Ruth

Staying ahead of the game

Spend on marketing and PR is often one of the first things to be cut when business conditions get tougher as it is generally viewed as expenditure that is not critical to the business.

Yet when trading conditions are more difficult, that is just the time when you need to stay ahead of the game - and your competitors – and marketing plays a key role in helping you to do just that.

It is no good running a business with your head in the sand. You need to think about ways in which you can communicate cost effectively with the people you need to reach – your customers/clients, suppliers, staff, business contacts and other people important to your business, both existing and potential. There are lots of ways in which you can do this; through advertising, media relations activity, promotional material, direct mail and networking to name but a few.

Rather than cutting out the marketing budget altogether, it is more advisable to make sure your spend works harder for you and ensuring it is cost effective. Particularly important is expenditure on marketing communications.

It’s essential to know how to get best value for money and ensure that your spend gains you maximum advantage in terms of profile and securing new business opportunities. For instance, the current economic climate is putting pressure on the media to ensure that advertising rates are competitive, so you may be able to get some good deals if you decide to book advertising. Don’t forget to use any advertising spend as leverage to see if you can secure some editorial coverage as well. Obviously this is not always possible but it is certainly worth exploring.

Media relations activity is also a cost effective way of helping you to secure new business. A well planned media relations programme will often generate significant coverage and be highly effective. It is also important to go out and network with the people that are going to make a difference to your business.

In isolation though, individual promotional activities are not going to give you the best results; a planned approach using a combination of activities is going to be more effective and you don’t necessarily need to have the specialist resources in house to handle this for you.

Outsourcing your marketing and PR (or certain parts of it like media relations activity) to an external agency rather than having them in house can prove to be a highly cost effective solution. It means your fixed costs are lower and also that you have access to experienced specialists on a part time ongoing basis or you can call on their services as and when you need them.

Whilst a business may survive in the short term with little or no marketing, it won’t in the longer term. So if you are going to survive the current credit crunch and come out the other side, marketing does need to stay on your business agenda. Just make sure you spend wisely!
Dianne

Golden Girls being Olympic Campaign

Unusually I was pleased that the weather was so bad at the weekend as it meant I didn’t have to feel guilty about watching hours and hours of the Olympics on TV.
On Saturday, thanks to the BBC multi screen, I watched the gymnastics, rowing and archery as well as cyclist Nicole Cooke - who took a spectacular gold medal in the pouring rain.

My cycling ace sister used to race against Nicole ten years ago and even then she was an incredibly determined and focused athlete so she really does deserves the gold. A ten year campaign has reached the pinnacle of her career, but at just 25 she could make it a double in London 2012.

I was also thrilled this morning to watch the highlights from the women’s 400m individual freestyle where Nottinghamshire’s own Rebecca Adlington took the gold, with Jo Jackson taking the bronze...you go girls!

Great start to the games, and I can’t wait for the rest of it to unfold...I’ll be watching the athletics closely as another athlete I competed against, Jennifer Meadows begins her challenge to win the 800m on the track...

Ruth

Stay away from our tot!

Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban have pleaded with paparazzi to stay away from their new born daughter Sunday Rose because they frighten her.

“I get the interest there is, but it’s our little girl,” said Keith. “Sometimes people come right up in your face and you think good god would you do that to somebody else’s child?”

Now call me harsh but honestly if it meant that I would get a nice big wodge of cash for doing so then yes I jolly well would! Sorry Keith.

The couple have not released any photographs of the tot, nor do they have any intention of selling any. Personally I think that this elusiveness adds to the unwanted attention as photographers race for that all important first shot. I think they would do well to take a leaf from Brad and Angelina’s book by disclosing exclusive photos to a source of their choice.

They are going to get attention whether they like it or not so they may as well ensure that as much of it as possible is on their terms and in an environment they can control.


Emma

Positive PR for Nottingham

I went to the Riverside Festival over the weekend, the first time since I moved to Nottingham just over two years ago...and was really pleased of what I saw. Well organised and good fun, it brought together hundreds of Nottinghamians on the river bank to watch the spectacular firework display.
What a shame events like this don’t get reported nationally instead of the crime levels.

Well done to the organisers .

Ruth

Olympic journalists denied free reign on the web

As 20,000 thousand foreign journalists descend on Bejing for the 2010 Olympics, China's officials have announced that they will not be given full access to the internet during their stay.

The BBC reports that journalists will be subjected to China's usual practice of censoring web access. The sites currently in the spotlight include those about spiritual movement, Falun Gong, those relating to human rights issues and other unspecified sites.

The decision to award China these games has already caused much controversy, highlighted by recent protests surrounding the Olympic torch.

The move has been met with disappointment because China's bid for the games stated that journalists would be free to report. A spokesman for the Olympic organising committee is quoted on the BBC News website as saying: "During the Olympic Games we will provide reporters with sufficient and convenient internet access so the Olympic Games will not be affected." I suspect the journalists are more concerned about their reporting being affected, rather than the actual games.

But is it China's right to block sites which give the country a negative image while it hosts thousand of international visitors, or should they be given free and uncensored access to the web? Maybe it's all in vain anyway, all it takes is a phone call to the office back in the UK and a quick Google search to still find what they need.

However it does beg the question, what did we do before the internet was invented??

Helen

Fame Formula

According to Yahoo news, a (I hate this term) PR guru, Mark Borkowski has been looking at a study of a of celebrities and has worked out a formula for working out their eventual decline from the limelight which, for most Big Brother contestants is 15 months.
Apparently it is: F(T)=B+P (1/10T+1/2T squared)
(F is level of fame, T is time measure in 3-monthly intervals. T=1 is after three months, T=2 is after six months and B is the base level of fame identified and quantified by analysing the level of fame in the year before peak)

Hmmm, not the same method of evaluation that we use here at Gemini PR for our clients but I’ll be intrigued enough to have a flick through his book!

Ruth

Pop PR in the Den

Well the Dragons are back in the den for another series of shouting at disillusioned inventors.

In the first episode of Dragon's Den this week we saw an interesting 'product' being pitched. Indie band, Hamfatter, put themselves forward for investment and had three dragons practically throwing money at them (unlike the poor couple who pitched the totally pointless lay line sheet, what is that for??). In the end, giant Dragon Peter Jackson won.

But would it have really mattered which Dragon, if any of them, invested? It was money can't buy publicity for the band. They've been all over the news since their high profile busking session on the BBC 2 show, which earned them £75,000 for their next two albums.

The genius PR move has led to them becoming an almost overnight success. Entertainment retailer, Play.com, said that the band's single 'The Girl I Love' was downloaded 755 times between 10pm and midnight, directly after the show, using its MP3 download service.

It seems a lot of bands are turning away from big record companies to promote their albums, The Mail on Sunday's circulation rose by 300,000 this weekend with a free giveaway of McFly's new album and last year Radiohead offered their album for download at whatever price people wanted to pay.

What creative PR tactics will we see next?

Helen

Faux pas or fair play?

According to the Daily Mail she once remarked that a good suit goes on forever, and she’s right. Princess Anne is on the front of many of today’s daily papers for wearing an outfit she bought 27 years ago for the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Good for her I say, especially in the current economic climate. Rather than splashing out on new outfits she has re-worn an old fave. I just can’t believe that people have remembered – I would’ve thought that nearly 30 years would be long enough for people to forget it. That said the original wedding wasn’t exactly a small, private affair!

Next time the royals get a public bashing for costing too much public money – we should remember this!

Ruth

Chav off!

It’s official -the word ‘chav’ is now politically incorrect because it is deeply offensive, patronising and reveals a level of class hatred!

Whilst I disagree with the idea that the term is offensive and consider it a bit extreme to declare it politically incorrect, when I look at a teenager clad in gold earrings and chains, with tracksuit bottoms tucked into socks I must admit that I think; ‘they look stupid!’ This I suppose is a bit of a contradiction, but a view that I’m sure many people share.

Sub groups have always existed in all areas society, from mods and rockers to punks and all, at their time, have received stick from the status quote, quite often perceived to represent the worst thing ever.

The difference today is that the whole idea of political correctness has gone mad, with many people terrified of saying the wrong thing and offending others. Quite frankly if chav is the worst thing they have said to them I don’t think they will have done bad!

What’s funny is that most members of these groups can quite often feel a sense of pride and belonging – a positive thing. I would love to know who actually decided this was necessary - my guess is some old fuddy duddy who is completely detatched from the real world1

I just wonder what will come next!


Emma

A blogging tribute

Today's blog is a tribute to Olive Riley, the world's oldest blogger who died this week at the age of 108.

Australian Olive starting blogging last year at age 107, given that my Mum finds it difficult to send a text message, this is an achievement in itself.

She posted 70 blogs detailing her life through two world wars and a depression before she passed away in a nursing home.

We do love a good blog here at Gemini PR and I've got to say that Olive's is one of the most interesting I've ever read. It just goes to show that it's never too late to learn a new skill!

Check it out at http://www.allaboutolive.com.au/

Helen

Modern Slavery According to Ronaldo

Regular readers will know that I’m not really a huge football fan, in fact I am the complete opposite and will take any opportunity to criticise the so called beautiful game. However, this time I have been given the opportunity on a platter!
Sepp Blatter referring to Ronaldo’s Manchester United contract as ‘modern slavery’ no less!

What...? Have I missed something here?? According to the Oxford dictionary slavery is defined as “a helpless victim of some dominating influence”, not “overpaid pretty boy has tantrum after changing his mind so soon after signing a contract by his own choice...”

I’ve heard Alex Ferguson being called a slave driver in the past, but this is ridiculous. Slavery was cruel, hard and often involved working to the death – I hardly think being paid £120,000 per week to kick a ball around constitutes this.

When will these ball-kicking plonkers think before they speak!

Ruth

CRB check for school run mum!

I read a particularly ridiculous story on the BBC news website today about a mother who has been told that she cannot travel to school with her severely epileptic son because she has not been police checked.

Jayne Jones, of Aberfan near Merthyr Tydfil, used to travel with her son Alex, 14, in the council-provided taxi when she was worried he may have a fit.

Apparently the council, in order to cover themselves, carry out CRB checks on any adult escorting children as a standard procedure. Of course this is necessary in many situations but I think in this case it is a bit extreme and not to mention time wasting! She’s his mother and looks after him for the other 99% of the time so I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.

There is no room for common sense in these so called standard procedures and this story perfectly illustrates the silly length of red tape that we have to work through today.

Emma

Ad madness

I read a story on the Media Guardian website today about a National Lottery advert which has been scrapped by the Advertising Standards Agency.

The ad apparently features an elderly woman going past a bingo hall which is shut, then cuts to the same old lady on holiday after winning on a National Lottery scratchcard instead. The Bingo Association has complained about the ad, saying that it "implied that bingo clubs were closed and that the industry was dying"

Camelot's response? As stated in the Guardian 'the ad was set early in the morning and most bingo clubs were not open 24 hours a day, so it was possible that the woman had purchased a scratchcard when her club was closed.'

Should companies really have to defend themselves like this? I would never have seen the advert and connected it to the thought that the bingo industry is dying out, not until the association highlighted it anyway!

This begs the question, if this has been banned, what's next for adverts?? You can't have a dishwasher advert incase washing up liquid firms get upset? No car adverts because it makes it seem like you have to drive everywhere? It just seems ridiculous to me.

Helen

Game of Champions

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who managed to catch the Wimbledon men’s final yesterday – it was on for nearly five hours after all. What a game!
It was one of the best sporting competitions I have ever seen and what a display from two incredible athletes Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.

I’ve got to say, I was rooting for Federer and after the first two sets I was willing him get back into the game although I didn’t feel that Nadal deserved to lose either. Both players are real gents, and very modest considering they are by far and away the best in the world at what they do – maybe some sport stars should take note?? As everyone knows Nadal took the trophy home with him after an epic battle.
It was a great spectacle and I can’t wait to see Federer come back next year and regain his crown!!

Ruth

The weather

I really wish the weather would sort itself out! You just never know what it’s going to do so you can’t plan anything, particularly any outside activities, and you just never know quite what to wear! Here we are, into July, and the sun can be shining one minute, then it can be throwing it down with rain the next.

Take this event that I am planning at the moment. I’m chairman of a local swimming club – Nottingham Northern Swimming Club – and we are supposed to be holding a family barbeque and fun day this Sunday to celebrate the club’s centenary. As I write this the weather is great – the sun is out and its quite warm but the forecast for the weekend is heavy showers. Do we cancel or do we go ahead? It’s a major dilemma but we’ll have to make a decision tonight before I go out and buy all those burgers and sausages! Bring on that sunshine!

Dianne

Hitting the headlines

It gives you a real boost when the fruits of all your hard work pay off and that’s just what’s happened this week. When our copy of the Nottingham Evening Post arrived today, we scoured the pages, as we always do, to see if any of our stories had made it into print and you can imagine our delight when we saw that the two main pieces on the business pages were down to us.

The Hiltons buyout made the lead story and the Towergate acquisition was the only other story with a photo. Coupled with this, one of our other clients, Pub People, featuring heavily in the series that the Post has been running this week about the state of the pub industry.

I know that our clients will be really pleased but it’s also a great feeling for us too. Even though I’ve run a PR agency for 18 years and have been in the PR industry for longer than that (not saying quite how long!), I still get a real buzz from seeing our stories getting some great coverage. Keep ‘em coming!

Dianne

First day faux pas

The vast majority of us know the rules for starting a new job; don't be late, dress smart, look enthusiastic... oh, and turn up.

Apprentice winner Lee McQueen has been in the firing line (geddit?) this week for calling in sick on the first day of his new job. Nightmare.

It can be bad enough making that call to the boss when you're not coming in, but when your boss is Sir Alan Sugar and you beat 20,000 applicants to the job, it's not going to go down well.

It's not great PR for Sir Alan either, after apprentice Michelle Dewbury went awol a couple of years ago and his choice to hire Lee, who lied on his CV, was criticised. He could've done with a better start.

I do feel sorry for Lee though, I can't imagine he'd have won many friends in his new work place if he'd gone in and infected the rest of the staff with his virus. But he'd better make a good impression when he does start!

Helen

Bargain Royals

Today the Buckingham Palace accounts have revealed that the Royal Family cost each taxpayer 66p last year. Most of it spent on the Royals' PR visits abroad

I don't know about you, but I think this is a bargain. 66p for endless hours of Wills and Kate scandal and photos of Prince Harry in Iraq / out of Iraq / falling out of bars? It's the best 66p I've ever spent.

Helen

Big Breakfast, Small Stomach

We Gemini PR ladies were very happy to read that big breakfasts can help in a quest to shed pounds...Hooray!!
Saying that, I can’t remember the last time I missed breakfast – Dianne and I had two yesterday!? (one of those days you know) and then Emma and Helen enjoyed a full English at a networking event ... but apparently it is all good because our metabolisms have well and truly kicked in...Now, where are those biscuits?!?
Ruth
p.s. we've reached a milestone today - we've published 100 blogs, keep reading folks!!

It’s a dog’s life

Photo courtesy of bbc.co.uk

I was not surprised to hear that Trouble, the nine year old Maltese terrier who was left $12m in a trust fund by his owner, real estate billionaire Leona Helmsley after she died last year, has had $10m of it slashed by a New York judge.

The $10m is now set to switched to Mrs Helmsley's charitable foundation, a much more worthy cause but leaving poor old Trouble to get by on a measly $2m. However the pampered pooch’s lifestyle shouldn’t be affected to much as, according to Carl Lekic, the general manager of the Helmsey Sandcastle Hotel and who now takes care of Trouble has estimated his expenses at $190,000: $60,000 for his guardian fee, $100,000 for the dog's security squad, $8,000 for grooming, $3,000 for miscellaneous expenses, $1,200 for food and anywhere from $2,500 to $18,000 for medical care.

However since receiving his fortune, Trouble has had nothing but trouble, including being dogged by death threats and even sued by an ex caretaker, so this may prove a blessing in disguise for the little fellow – keep your chin up Trouble.

Emma

Lee's hired!

I couldn't let today pass without a quick blog on The Apprentice. Last night, Lee 'that's-what-I'm-talking-about!' McQueen took the title as Sralan's next apprentice.

I was totally, utterly convinced that Claire was going to win but I'm glad Lee did, I had to grow to like Claire but I've always had a soft spot for Lee - who has gracefully survived a whole array of manipulating, lying and backstabbing in the boardroom.

Thank goodness Helene didn't win after she was graciously accepting praise from an industry expert for a bottle which Alex (guided by Little Britain star Matt Lucas / Kevin) designed. Then after they'd been fired for cost of said bottle, cut to shot of her in the car on the way home and a total denial that it was anything to do with her. How I love The Apprentice.

Now I'm off to fill in my application form for next year.....I'm 24 you know, I have lots of experience for 24.

Helen

Biscuits for Business...?

I read a funny article t'other day on the BBC about how biscuits are key to clinching business deals, but only if they are the non crumbly type and definitely not digestives, well unless they are covered in chocolate.

This news follows the results of a Holiday Inn survey where they asked 1,000 business professionals on their thoughts. Out on top were chocolate digestives, shortbread and hobnobs, closely followed by jammie dodgers and bourbons.

Anyone who has been to the Gemini PR offices will know that we like to have a selection of delicious delights on offer for our visitors, and we ask you to look beyond the humble biscuit in favour of fresh muffins, morning pastries and chunky cookies. We have found these go down very well indeed, despite being a little harder to eat delicately.

Incidentally, meeting biscuit etiquette suggests two biscuits from a communal plate is the most acceptable amount...good job we wait for guests to leave before we ahem, dispose of the spares!

Ruth

Big Brother...Big Bother

It’s that marmite time of year again when our lives are invaded by Big Brother. Love it or hate it (geddit?), it is impossible to avoid the goings on in ‘THE’ Borehamwood House.

I sit on the ‘hate’ side of the fence, strong yes I know but my favourite show to come home and veg out to, Scrubs, has been taken off E4 for the duration of BB9! I haven’t watched any of the BB coverage, and I have no intention of doing so but I already know there is a secret wedding planned, a couple are in there are undercover to fool their housemates into thinking they are actually with someone else in there(?) and there is a student from Derby.

This is my problem with it - I don’t want to watch it or indeed hear about it but the radio stations, TV stations and newspapers seem to think everyone wants to know...(weren’t viewing figures down to 4 million last year?) I don’t disagree with it being on, just the fact that I would have to go and live at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean or on the top of Mount Everest to avoid hearing about the escapades of Mario 43 from Warrington or Michael the blind chap with a penchant for cross dressing!

Honestly C4 & E4 please feel free to continue making series after series but everyone else...leave the coverage to them so I can remain blissfully unaware!

Ruth

Viva Villa

Listen carefully, because this is the one and only time you will hear this sentence from me, but....I think all sports teams could learn something from Aston Villa.

This week they announced that instead of a garish sponsor their shirts, they will be supporting Acorns Children's Hospice and sporting their logo on the kit.

FC Barcelona has supported UNICEF for years (my partner who supports both Barca and Villa is now feeling particularly saintly) and I think more teams should follow their example.

With all the ridiculous amounts of money that the top sports teams have floating around, I'm sure they all have more than enough to do the same.

They should take up the corporate social responsibility gauntlet and set an example.

Helen

Networking practice

Ah, that old business adage - it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Networking is an important part of life here at Gemini PR agency but it can still be a daunting task to turn up to an event alone.

However, recently Helen, Emma and I went along to an event specifically for young professionals in Nottingham, Network NG. The events are targeted at professionals less than ten years qualified, so everyone you meet is around the same stage in their career.

The event this time was a pub quiz - what a great way to break the ice, a couple of drinks, some good food and the chance to show off our outstanding general knowledge! We had an absolutely great time, which ended a good few hours after the quiz...and made acquaintances, nay friends, with a new network of business folks in Nottingham...watch this space!

Ruth

Leave Fern Alone

We’ve just been having a debate about the Fern Britton story which is all over the news today about her choice to keep her gastric bypass operation private.
Newspaper columnist Carole Malone of the News of the World has said “"She also has made a career out of being a trustworthy person - a person that people look up to. She shares lots of parts of her life with the viewing public, and she gets paid an awful lot of money for that. She has made a little bit of a career out of dieting.”

So what! She may share part of her life with the viewing public, but not all of it and I wouldn’t expect her too. She has hardly made a career out of dieting, more to encourage us to eat healthy snacks. I really can’t see how this is any business of anybody’s except hers? I can’t see how she us untrustworthy at all, just willing to undergo major surgery to maintain a healthy weight (and heart) as dieting hasn’t worked, and to be honest, if I was married to a chef I’d be her size too! She is more of a role model then the size zero stick insects.

There surely is a sensible limit to how much we need to know about celebrities and I think this is hardly worthy of column space. Leave the poor woman alone!!

Ruth

PR strategy – British Airways Style

I saw an interesting article on the internet yesterday, an interview with one of Britain’s Olympic medal hopefuls, Campbell Walsh. He was commenting on a very interesting point which could prove to be yet another embarrassing PR moment for his name sake at British Airways, Willie Walsh.

For those who didn’t know British Airways are now in partnership with London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. They are also “honoured and excited to be flying Team GB and Paralympic GB to Beijing” in the summer and to quote their website “we are delighted to be playing an active role in helping create a lasting legacy for the community as sport in the UK.”

Hmm, that’s not strictly true now is it BA? Back in November BA changed their baggage allowance for some sporting equipment, and now longer accept the following: kayaks, canoes and oars (I think you mean paddles BA?!), pole vaults and javelins.
Now correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t pole vault, javelin and canoeing all Olympic sports? How then, can the athletes compete in the canoeing without their boat? All these items are custom made for each competitor, so it’s not like they can just borrow one when they get to China?

Likewise, it isn’t just about the actual Olympic games themselves, the top level competitions and qualifying rounds for canoeing take place all over the world in the years running up to the Olympic competitions, and rather that playing an active role in helping UK sport, BA are now impeding our medal hopefuls. I am watching this with story with interest to see if British Airways change their policy, or whether they will end up with egg on their faces?

Ruth

Product Placement Power

Working in the PR industry, I often notice screaming examples of product placement in TV programmes and films, i.e. the pointless two second shot of a Ford in Casino Royale.

So I was interested in the idea that a committee chaired by Schools Secretary, Ed Balls, is considering getting the new Diploma qualification featured in soap operas to encourage take up.

The BBC website today quotes....Among the proposals are calls for "imaginative communications strategy, for example involving pop stars and Hollyoaks storylines".

So getting one of the characters in teen show Hollyoaks (I say 'teen' like I don't still watch it every night....) to study for a Diploma on the show will hopefully raise awareness and take up of the new courses. Sneaky marketing or genius idea?

Whichever it is, it shows the power that TV, radio and celebrities all have over youngsters today and PROs and marketeers should be considering this in campaigns. I say bravo to the National Council for Education Excellence for moving with the times and doing something about the currently low take up of an excellent qualification.

And if a Hollyoaks babe studying for a Diploma in Health & Social Care sparks an idea in at least one educationally-confused viewer's head, then surely it's worked?

Helen

Some of our bits

Although we spend our time working hard for our clients here at Gemini, we do occasionally like to steal a bit of the limelight for ourselves....so here are a few links to what we've been up to lately with the Nottingham Evening Post - and look out for Gemini PR appearing in a paper near you soon!!

Our wise and wonderful fashion tips for the SATC ladies

Ruth munches on some brownies

Flushed with love

Dianne with her Nottingham Northern Swimming Club hat on

Thoughts on the big cup final

Before I start this blog I would just like to clear something up. As a Liverpool fan, and not bitter in the slightest that we weren't in the final...honest, I didn't want either Chelsea or Manchester United to win last night. If I had my way, they would have called it quits at half time and all gone to the pub.

But as it was, I thought it was quite fitting for Manu to win in the 50th anniversary year of the Munich air disaster and the look on Bobby Charlton's face was worth the, begrudging, decision that it was best for them to win. Now I wish Alex Ferguson would retire and give someone else a chance to win the league.

But my heart definitely goes out to John Terry, he's the one player I actually like in the Chelsea team, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who share my view. To put so much hard work in through the season and the match only to miss a penalty must be gutting beyond belief.

I can only hope that it isn't what people remember him for. Instead, let's remember Ronaldo's miss - less time in front of the mirror and more penalty practice Cristiano?? - and the satisfying moment when Drogba got his comeuppance for all the season's moaning and diving and was shown the big red.

And one last tip for the Chelsea fans, perhaps you should your replace your 'scouse free zone' banner with a 'trophy free zone' one.....

Helen

The Theories of the Female Voters

The results are in! Grazia magazine have just released the results of their women and politics survey...with some interesting findings.

Apparently, according to the findings our ideal PM would be a modern thinker, trustworthy, aged between 42-45 and if we had to vote for a celebrity George Clooney or Helen Mirren would be the favourites!

Also the most common features of female politicians are intelligent, dowdy and in need of a make over and 79% thought that no female politicians were stylish.

Luckily for us though, the most important reason for voting for a candidate is their policies and ideals as well as being trustworthy and social conscious. Reasons for not voting include allegations of sleaze, supporting George Dubya and being a heavy drinker...so we’re not all shallow then!!

My favourite statistic though is that 73% of Grazia readers think that things would improve if there were more female MPs...here here.

So, if DC, El Gordo and Cleggy are listening, stop telling us about your love life, celebrity friends and do something about our yobbish nation...oh and if you do this and look like George "Swooney" Clooney that would be great thanks!

Ruth

David's Red Tie

As David Cameron swept into Crewe yesterday to try and steal a traditionally labour area, I couldn't help noticing his bright red tie....which party do you belong to again David?

Helen

Vote for St George!!

This April 23rd could be the last that all of us will be in work because if the rumours are to believed, then as close as next year we could see St George’s day made a national bank holiday.

Thanks to petitions that have gathered huge public support, as well as the Scottish Governments decision to make St Andrew’s day a national bank holiday in 2006, more pressure has been put on our Government to follow suit.

I for one am in favour of this, and not just because it means another long weekend but because it will provide an opportunity to celebrate our culture and help restore our national pride, something that has diminished over recent years.

So come on fellow English people stand up and make your voice heard! Vote for this English holiday by visiting www.stgeorgesholiday.com


Emma

Thanks Trent Fm

Picture courtesy of www.trentfm.co.uk
We would just like to say a big thank you to Trent FM for the ‘Live at the Local’ gig at the Trent FM Arena last night. We rocked our socks of to the sounds of the Hoosiers and had fab time!!
Thanks Trent FM!

Recycle your bottles for 10p - we’d give it a go!!

I heard on the news this morning that there was talk of introducing a 10p deposit on plastic bottles to encourage consumers to recycle them rather than dump them in our already full landfill sites.
Ex-MP Neil Hamilton wasn’t convinced that it was fair to ‘tax’ consumers further with already stretched finances, I though, wholeheartedly agree with the idea. I know the theory is to get your own money back, but I see it as a lucrative way of earning my beer money on a Saturday night.
I recently took a walk along the River Trent from Radcliffe and the amount of debris littered along the banks was appalling. Most of it looked like it was the remains from the flooding last year rather than fly tipping I might add. I would be happy to pop down one weekend with a couple of sacks to fill with plastic bottles and make a few quid in the process...what’s not to like!?
There is the potential for a whole new business venture here, and it surely won’t just encourage recycling to save the landfills, it could also be a very clever way to tidy up the countryside again.
Ruth

Heart bring us brunch!

We'd like to thank Heart 106 for bringing us more food than we could ever eat yesterday.

They turned up with brunch for us and we're still munching our way through the many packets of sandwiches and naughty but very nice cakes!

We're also enjoying our free mugs and keyrings...

Thanks Heart!!
www.heart106.com

Run Away from the Bigger Boys Dwain!!

Regular readers will know one of my favourite topics to rant about is sport and negative coverage etc, so before I launch into my monologue of despair, I would like to commend the BBC and their coverage of the track cycling world championships at the weekend – and send my congratulations to all those British cyclists who took part!

But what has made my blood simmer this week is the news that Dwain Chambers has joined rugby league team Castleford Tigers. For those who are unsure – Rugby League is the 13 aside one that they play oop north and Cas are currently sitting at the bottom of the Superleague having won just one (flukey) game.

Anyway, I can’t help but think this is a pretty lame PR stunt by Cas, to recruit a shamed athlete to join their team, despite making no secret of the fact he knows NOTHING about the game, and has never even thrown a ball. I'm all for national coverage of the game, because I tend to miss the games at the moment because I don't have sky sports at home, but this isn't the coverage I had in mind!!

It makes a complete mockery of all the professionals who play the game and have done since they were knee high, and those youngsters striving to break through to the super league. It suggests that you have to be just big and fast to be a good player, disregarding any need for skills, tactics, strategy…I know a sports scientist for a top flight club who looks after the nutrition, psychology, match analysis and some fitness testing – he is one of a coaching team of seven!

His response echoed one that I read today in the Metro, England player Ben Worsley, “he’ll be killed”. Not actually killed but rugby is a very physical game which last for 80 minutes not 10 seconds, he’ll have to run extremely fast to avoid being tackled by a couple of 18 stoners…IT WILLL HURT!

I just can’t see how this can’t back fire for both Castleford and Chambers, allegedly the only reason he is considering playing the game is to earn some money to pay back the sports promoters he owes money to following his drugs ban from athletics. It is also worth noting that if he wasn’t ‘disgraced’ he would be preparing for the Olympics in August…as it happens he is making a mockery of the sport of Rugby League!

He’d better be careful - this time it’s a contact game, this time he is playing with the bigger boys, and they may be out to get him!

Ruth

Spacey speaks up for local theatre

Today Kevin Spacey has criticised the BBC for airing programmes such as 'I'd Do Anything' and 'Any Dream Will Do'. He believes that they're just a 13-week advert for a musical and, as artistic director for the Old Vic theatre in London, Spacey says 'where's our 13 week programme?'

I can see where he's coming from, the BBC are meant to be impartial and in some way it is a product they are helping to sell.

As a member of The Festival Players, an amateur theatre group in Loughborough, we would love a 13-week programme on our group - which is now on it's 209th performance. As would every other theatre group in the country, amateur or professional.

The fact is, selling tickets for local theatre can be hard work unless it's a big budget musical, so I do like that these shows promote theatre in general and may encourage people see what's on in their local area. But why just musicals?

It seems to me like these shows are only looking for pretty/handsome/glamourous/all singing, all dancing people. I for one cannot sing, or dance, but I've found a group that puts on some wonderful plays without all that, and anyone is welcome! We want people to come and see us too.

So, if you like these shows, have a look at what is on locally and go and see something different - you might just enjoy it!

As an aside - we've got to give some PR brownie points to Spacey for speaking up and giving the Old Vic and it's current production some nice mentions in the process!!

Helen

p.s. If you're free and near Loughborough this week, come and see our production of Pride and Prejudice, at the Cope Auditorium from Tues 1st - Sat 5th April. Tickets available from www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk.

I know it's a sneaky plug but you'll love it I promise!

Mind Your Manners

I'm loving Japan's new idea of 'Manners' police on their Metro systems.

On the BBC news website it states, 'Newly appointed "etiquette police" will be asking travellers to turn down their headphones and give up their seats for their elders and betters.'

The idea comes as 9 out of ten people polled in the country thought public behaviour had declined. What a great response from the Japanese transport authorities to introduce something like this.

At Gemini, we all use public transport to get into work and we know how annoying it is to listen to a dance song blasting out of someone's ipod at 8.30 in the morning, or to have to ask someone to move their bag off the empty seat next to them so someone can sit down.

However, I can't help thinking that being part of the 'manners' police in this country wouldn't be a fun job, it's all fine asking a respectable looking adult to give up their seat but try it with one of David Cameron's 'hoodies' and they'll surely be met with a wall of abuse.

Shame, because it's a service I'd love to see on my bus!

Helen

Heather – go away!!!

Heather Mills is so ungrateful! Whist she is moaning about receiving ONLY £24million in her divorce settlement, many others are struggling to keep their head above water with the recent economic crisis.

Her constant whining about how hard done by she is has done her no favours. Can the woman honestly expect sympathy!? I think, like the judge in her hearing said, she really is living in a world of ‘make believe’.

Apparently in order to support her ‘reasonable’ needs for a year Heather requires;
o £3,250,000: income needs
o £645,000: to fully staff all seven homes
o £499,000: holidays to escape the press
o £125,000: clothes
o £30,000: equestrian activities (even though she doesn’t ride horses anymore)
o £43,000: for her driver…

and so the list goes on.

I’m afraid, like most people she certainly won’t get any sympathy from me! Heather, just stop talking! Take your £24.3million and go away - at least try and salvage a little dignity.


Emma

Change in career – politics anyone? Free luxury housing??

We’ve been having an interesting discussion this morning in the office about the MP’s spending allowance…and we have decided that a change in career in maybe needed…

As young professionals struggling to get on the property ladder with the continuing council tax increases, car tax increases, hikes in petrol price, high interest rates….(we’re thrilled with the budget Darling - thanks!!) we couldn’t believe that MP’s get such a large amount of budget to spend of their second homes!

I would like a new washing machine, but I will have to put up with a heavily discounted one from the local supermarket – and £750 for a stereo would be lovely, but I don’t have that kind of spare cash! Haven’t these people heard of Ikea??

Maybe they should swap for a week to see how the majority of middle England is now living because of their monetary ignorance and see that we can’t afford that kind of money for our first homes, never mind a second one!!

Or, we decided, we need to get more involved in politics…tell a few lies, have an affair or two and be rewarded with a second home and excessive expenses….Westminster here we come...

Ruth (and Helen...and Emma...)

Negative Sporting Reporting

I was very disappointed, but not surprised to see the way Indoor Athletics Championships was covered last weekend. Despite a gold and four silver medals being won across the board, including two new British records, the focus was firmly on the return to medal winning form by Dwain Chambers.

It has been no secret that selecting him was an unpopular choice - so why not brush his performance under the carpet in favour of Phillips Idowu who won gold with a new British record or 24 year old Jeanette Kwakye who also broke a British record?

With the rugby, football and cricket disappointments this year maybe it is time we sports fans took a leaf out of Colin Jacksons book - Positive Mental Attitude - and look to the positives happening in the sport rather than this continual doom and gloom!

Ruth

Celeb drug use warning

Today's news is all about glamourising drugs use and celebrities getting off too lightly.

The United Nations drugs watchdog believes that being lenient on celebrity drug users sends out the wrong messages to young people.

I totally agree with this, celebrities have a lot of influence over young people and it doesn't make sense that those such as Amy Winehouse should be pictured high on drugs one day, and then receive an industry award the next. The reason why Pete Doherty recently won Hero of the Year at the NME awards is beyond me, why? why?? What sort of message does this send out?

However, I'm not sure that they're treated leniently just because they're celebrities, I think the current overcrowded state of our prisons stops most judges from sending anyone but the most hardened or dangerous criminals to prison.

I think the important aspect here is not so much the judges' actions, but the press for printing the pictures, running the stories and the entertainment industry for continuing to support celebrity drug users. I think they should be banned from the spotlight until they are rehabilitated, surely this is not only a better message for young people, but also gives the stars a chance to get better.

Helen

Shake, Rattle & Roll!

Well, I think most of the East Midlands awoke with a shock this morning at 1am - I know I certainly did. If you missed the actual quake then you will ono doubt have heard about it on the news this morning!

General reactions here at the Gemini office were fear and confusion - I know I for one, opened the curtains to see if a car had driven into the house...or if a plane had crashed down at the end of the road! Luckily an early morning phone call from one of my good friends reassured me that I hadn't been having very realistic dreams, it had in fact been an earthquake!

The description on the BBC news this morning was that "it was a very British earthquake", none of my neighbours appeared to turn the lights on or leave the house to investigate.
Maybe not so much being British as being 21 Century - pick up the mobile phone, call your mates & turn on the computer to read up about it on the internet...I know I was certainly reassured to read that there were others who felt the same.

Ruth

Sick note culture

Apparently 175 million working days are lost each year to sickness with the average person taking seven days off each. When added up it is estimated that these lost days cost the British economy £13.4bn.

To try and tackle this ‘sick note culture’ the Government has put forward some controversial plans that involve doctors writing to employers saying what a worker can do instead of what they can’t.

However, these statistics are not likely to be a representation of the people who are signed off work by a doctor. They are more likely to be those who wake up in the morning and feel a little under the weather so decide to take a day or two off until they feel better, so in this respect these plans aren’t really going to change these statistics.

Emma

Lessons in Languages

This week, a report from Lord Dearing about plans to change oral language assesments in schools has been in the news.

One of the main reasons is that the exam is 'too stressful'. I agree, it is stressful, but most exams are! They're meant to be challenging!

I learnt a language right through to degree level and I had to take part in many speaking exams, some with my tutors and some with external examiners. They were stressful but they were useful. Once you've been in a pressured exam, it's much easier to use the language in an every day, more relaxed situation.

I do however think that there should be more classroom based speaking assessments throughout the year, if only so that the final one with an external examiner isn't such a shock. I also like the idea that pupils will be asked to make presentations and take part in spontaneous dicusssions - but shouldn't they be doing that anyway??

Better still, pupils should be learning languages from an earlier age and have more classes each week so it becomes the norm for them to be speaking it. In many other countries they learn English from primary age and have at least four hours of lessons each week - is it our arrogant opinion that everyone in the world should speak English that stops us from employing this sort of strict language learning?

Helen

Northern Rock – PR battle commences

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (ahem!) the past few months, it has been impossible to ignore the constant changes in Northern Rock. Over the weekend Alistair Darling announced that the bank will be nationalised until market conditions improve…

But this yet more bad PR for the chancellor – his decision has not been taken lightly and it has been reported on the BBC website that the Northern Rock Shareholders are holding a meeting to discuss whether to take legal action or not.

Richard Branson has also joined the anti-Darling bandwagon, stating the commercial solution would have been much more effective.

So where does that leave customers who have been pushed and pulled in all sorts of directions? As a customer myself, I haven’t received any correspondence with regards to the changes so I am replying on the statements issued by these three major powers.

Who has the biggest voice remains to be seen….

Ruth

Back to university!

For the next 9 months I will be studying for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Advanced Certificate qualification.

Over a series of eight lectures at Birkbeck College in London I will be taught the theory and principles of PR and will put them into practice with three assignments designed to develop and enhance my professional knowledge and skills.

Undertaking this course means I will also become an affiliate member of the CIPR.

Emma

Pants PR

The Marks and Spencer press office is facing a slightly unusual challenge as Newsnight presenter, Jeremy Paxman, laid into the quality of the company's underwear.

The BBC reports...

"Their pants no longer provide adequate support," he was quoted as saying after an e-mail to the company was leaked. Socks were "wearing out much more quickly" than before, the star added.

His complaints have lead to a meeting being arranged between Paxman and Sir Stuart Rose to discuss the issue. Although, I'm sure that the same complaint from a member of the public would not have received quite so much attention.

But hats off (or should that be socks?) to M&S who have swiftly arranged the meeting, while tactfully stating; "The quality of our underwear is probably the highest it's ever been....It's important to remember that we sell underwear to one in four men in the UK. They're very, very popular and most of our customers are very happy with the quality of our product."

I'm not sure what's worse, the (alleged) decline in the quality of M&S underwear, or the thought of Jeremy Paxman in his holey pants and socks.....

Helen

New Year Networking

I attended a Chartered Institute of Marketing presentation yesterday evening – the first one that I have been to in years I have to admit and I have to say I really enjoyed it and found it useful too. It was on the subject of email marketing and although, as a PR agency, we know a fair amount on the subject, it’s always useful to hear from a specialist. I certainly picked up some useful bits of information and tips.

But it wasn’t just about what could be learnt though. I bumped into a number of people I haven’t seen for years and it dawned on me just how long it is since I was actively involved in the CIM. We were reminiscing about the time when we were all on the committee – it’s quite amazing to think that its 18 years since I was chairman of the Nottingham branch. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then – I’ve got married, set up Gemini (which has been established for more than 17 years) and I’ve had two children who are now 14 and 11. Just where has all the time gone – but maybe that’s showing my age!

Anyway I met some new people as well and bumped into a client – all in all a good evening. I must make it my New Year Resolution to attend more CIM events!

Dianne

Olympic Woe for Loughborough

Yet again it seems the East Midlands will not be benefiting from the 2012 London Olympics...this morning we heard the news that Loughborough will not be used as a training camp for the GB team at the 2008 Olympics, they lost out to barracks in Aldershot.

I appreciate that this site is within proximity to the London site, however if they are just training rather than being based there throughout the games surely they could be based anywhere in the country.

We keep hearing news from the Olympic committee that these games will benefit the whole country, but the closer we get to the games it seems the south is getting the monopoly on the whole thing. I blogged about the National Water Sports Centre last year as the funding will end in March 2009. In my opinion, it would have been a better investment to upgrade these facilities rather than building new ones…especially with the budget for the games going up and up and because if we were any other country, the games organisers wouldn’t think anything of having an event 1 or 2hours away from the Olympic city…

So, I will listen with a keen ear throughout the year to see if I can find out exactly how we will benefit from the 2012 games…

Ruth

Presidential Race Hots Up

The race for the American Presidency has begun with the first round of voting taking place in Iowa and New Hampshire this week.

With the possibility of the first black or first female president of the US, the world media is largely focused on the two main Democratic contenders.

After Barack Obama's victory in Iowa, the press were so sure that he'd also succeed in New Hampshire, that some newspapers even went as far as to say so in their morning editions. But the door to the Whitehouse hasn't shut on Hilary Clinton yet and she claimed a 'suprise' win.

But surely it's too early to tell? There are still 48 to go and the most telling results won't come until 5th Feb - 'Super Tuesday' - when 20 states vote on the same day.

A few candidates haven't even begun to campaign properly and will only step up their game for Super Tuesday, will we see John Edwards - the third and so far media-neglected Democratic candidate - make his own comeback?

On the Republican side, both Mike Huckabee and John McCain have tasted success but the competition for them is wide open.

At the moment, we can only wait and see, is change on the horizon in America??

Helen

P.s Happy new year!!!