Wonderberry soaks up the Good Times with CHIC
at Bingley Music Live

We’re all still recovering from the thrilling experience of being invited up on stage during the closing performance of CHIC feat. Nile Rodgers at this year’s Bingley Music Live (BML). It was a truly amazing finale after 7 months of hard work providing PR and Marketing for the three day music festival that took place in Yorkshire from the 30th August to 1st September.

From delivering this year’s creative to planning and booking media, arranging competitions to managing the press, the Wonderberry team made sure that this year’s reduced budget was really maximised.

Digi explains; ‘We’re fortunate that so much ground work had been put in place last year. 2013 was always about building on those existing relationships. This year we were able to put in place a series of promotions and media partnerships that helped to increase exposure for BML. There was much more interest from national press and TV with both ITV and the BBC coming down to deliver OBs on site throughout Friday.

There is a tendency to emphasise the importance of social media channels but in terms of raising awareness for an event like BML you can’t beat TV and radio. The festival’s line up is so diverse and has such broad appeal it’s vital that your message reaches as wide an audience as possible. Sales initially got off to a slow start but by capitalising on the momentum of all our efforts last year we were able to secure some fantastic coverage; not just locally but nationally as well. The PR was supported by a media campaign that included Metro and the Yorkshire Post, outdoor 6 sheets, national music press advertising and regional online activity. We achieved a really good mix and in terms of communication, the Bingley message is definitely getting out there. The response from the media was fantastic and we were incredibly busy in the press office once again. It’s always so rewarding being part of the actual event so dancing on stage on Sunday night with all the team will stay with me as a highlight of 2013.”

‘Big Heart, Big Sounds’ is the strapline for this much loved Yorkshire event and this year’s festival again delivered both in spades. Myrtle Park welcomed an estimated 40,000 revellers to enjoy a hugely varied mix of music from 43 bands. Remaining true to its ethos of supporting local talent, this year’s line up featured a strong northern contingent, from headliners The Human League and The Cribs through to local unsigned bands.

Bingley Music Live is organised by Bradford District Council.

Wonderberry helps Camden locals to ‘Give It a Go’ at the annual London festival

The weather may not have been as encouraging as it was last year, but Camden Council’s Give It a Go festival on Parliament Hill Fields was still a huge hit for many. Taking place every year around the first week in September, the event inspires people to try out new sports and fitness activities, completely free of charge. There was plenty of information on hand about local sports clubs and Council-run facilities so anyone interested in a particular sport could find out more about what’s on offer in the borough.

This year, visitors were able to choose from a broad mix of activities including gymnastics, cricket, table tennis (including a UK debut appearance of triples table tennis), Boccia, swimming and cycling. Entertainment was also in abundance with a fancy dress competition for children, face painting and street entertainment.

Wonderberry’s role was unique as it’s very rare for Camden Council to work with external agencies in this way. We were asked to create a special ‘event within an event’, designed to draw the crowds and provide memorable moments. In association with activities provider Let Me Play, we hosted a special record-breaking event which incorporated challenges including space hoppers, hula hoops and footie penalties. The space hoppers in particular were a huge hit with adults and children alike!

Account Director, Karen Smith comments: “When we’re asked to work on events, it’s really important to us that we don’t just deliver on the logistics but that we apply the same rigorous marketing evaluation that we would to any project we work on. What are the objectives? Who is the customer? What are we trying to say to them? We start with the optimum end point and using our decades of experience, we apply strategy and tactics that we know will work.”

Camden images: copyright of Philip Wolmuth.

Building new e-commerce site was child’s play for Wonderberry, as Playforce Shop is launched

Online shopping is nothing new but most clients understand that a fully functioning e-commerce site doesn’t come cheap. So, when we were challenged to deliver a working online shop, capable of selling hundreds of products in a record three-month window, on a strict budget, we had to put our thinking caps on.

Twelve weeks later, in September, Playforce Shop (www.playforce.co.uk) launched enabling customers to buy directly from the specialist playground equipment suppliers instead of having to order via phone or email. The site’s home page has also been redesigned by us to integrate the shop seamlessly into the existing site structure.

Playforce’s original website had been built using WordPress to manage content so we had to work with an e-commerce plug-in which was compatible. There were many features that the client wanted to integrate, including a wishlist, the option to give products a rating and add reviews as well as collecting behind-the-scenes marketing intelligence and data. While creating these from scratch may be more expensive, it also tends to be simpler since there are almost no restrictions on what is achievable (other than cost). Our challenge was to work within the parameters set by the plug-in to achieve the client’s goals. We also had to consider Playforce’s brand guidelines and existing web pages which were not going to change.

“The result is fantastic. The Playforce Shop delivers a great shopping experience without undermining the existing site pages,” comments Creative Director, Patrick Falaniko who was responsible for developing the site’s new look-and-feel. “Using pre-built software is great in some ways but also requires far more skill in others. We’re proud of the work we’ve done here, given the very challenging schedule and budget.”

ChildHope inaugural London Summer 10k gets off to a flying start

What an auspicious start to ChildHope’s annual 10k fundraiser. As 11 August dawned, the sun shone, Regent’s Park was glorious and by mid-morning the runners had all arrived, excited and full of anticipation.

Wonderberry supports ChildHope, the international charity supporting street and working children, through pro-bono marketing work. So we were thrilled that their first 10k, organised and promoted by us, was a sell-out raising much-needed funds for the charity and sowing the seeds of a tradition which we hope will live for many years. Events in Regent’s Park (one of only eight royal parks) are strictly limited so being able to host the 10k in such a historic and stunning venue made all the difference.

As well as the 10k, there was also a 5k run for those who wanted something a little less strenuous, and a fun run for children which was hugely popular (especially the cheering parents on the sidelines). Plans are already underway to make next year’s 10k even bigger; we’ll keep you posted as developments unfold. Meanwhile, for more information about ChildHope, visit their website www.childhope.org.uk.

Wonderberry creates brand new look for iconic British brand

To celebrate Arthur Price of England’s 110th anniversary, Wonderberry was asked to create a new brand identity for the UK’s leading cutlery and silverware manufacturer.

The brief was to reflect the illustrious heritage and inherent Britishness of this family-owned company. Creative Director, Patrick, immediately came up with concept of creating a logo based on a heraldic family crest. Patrick explains: “The traditional values that define Arthur Price of England’s company ethos lend themselves perfectly to this creative treatment. The Latin motto ‘fidelis muneris’ translates as ‘faithful service’, highlighting an ongoing commitment to customer care. The lions represent courage and valour; the hammer and spoons are emblematic of the silversmith’s trade; the oak leaves convey continuous growth. The symbolism also extends to colour so gold denotes generosity; red for strength; green for hope; and silver for sincerity. The three white roses are symbolic of hope and love, but they also represent CEO Simon’s three children. Five Price generations have worked for the business so the notion of family was an important message for us to communicate.”

The new Arthur Price of England packaging incorporates a silver foil blocked version of the logo on a rich dark purple background.

Wyndham Hotel Group puts a spotlight on the jewel in their crown

Last year we worked with Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour, the city's only five-star luxury all-suite hotel, on a joint promotion with Harrods. Since then we’ve been tasked with raising the profile of this flagship hotel in the local area.

As well as attracting affluent foreign visitors, the Wyndham was keen to encourage well-heeled residents and workers to discover this hidden gem and take advantage of the hotel’s beautifully appointed facilities.

The 4-sheet poster sites are to be updated regularly with seasonal messages that focus on enticing wealthy locals to make the most of London’s best kept secret, while highlighting the benefits of the hotel’s restaurant, bar and spa’s close proximity.

Digi comments: “The fact that we have sites booked throughout the year allows us to be very responsive when delivering new creative. So, when the sun came out to play this summer we were able to communicate the Wyndham’s unique harbour side setting as London’s premier al fresco dining venue. As a result, restaurant bookings and gym memberships have already increased.”

Quarterly resident newsletter continues to create
a Buzz

Five years ago our social housing client, Shepherds Bush Housing Association (SBHA), briefed us to originate concepts for a quarterly newsletter to communicate with their 5,000 residents. Little did we know that 22 issues later our design would still be going strong.

Patrick explains: “Sometimes there can be a desire to change and update marketing materials purely for the sake of it. Buzz shows that good design is enduring. If you’re communicating effectively in a way that’s engaging and relevant, then there’s no real need to alter that. SBHA has made the wise move to listen to the feedback they’ve received from residents. If the design still looks fresh after all this time that also represents brilliant value for money which in itself is an important objective for third sector clients.”

Finger Candy competition a sweet success

Award-winning jeweller, Nicholas James, recently launched its first ever Sterling silver collection of ladies occasion rings. The Finger Candy range consists of elegant single stone rings available in a multitude of wildly differing coloured gems with a variety of metal finishes and textures.

The sub-£100 entry point meant that the range had a much broader appeal than NJ’s core collection of contemporary platinum and diamond jewellery. To promote the launch and introduce the NJ brand to a new audience, Wonderberry secured an editorial competition with Stylist, the glossy, freely distributed, weekly publication.

Digi discusses the promotion: “NJ has made a smart move by diversifying its offering. Introducing new, young customers to the NJ brand and the concept of bespoke jewellery through Finger Candy is a great strategy. The competition with Stylist has proved to be an incredibly effective PR tool. The online promotion had an amazing uptake with just under 6,000 entries – now that’s a finger lickin’ good response rate that has opened NJ’s door to a whole new demographic!”