Public Relations Insider

Congratulations to longtime fashion client of NN Public Relations, Atwater, for such a prestigious nomination by SIMA! Best of Luck.

Recent Press in the OCBJ!

SURF INDUSTRY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR 2009 SIMA IMAGE AWARDS

- Surf Industry Recognizes Its Most Influential Companies With 7th Annual Awards Program -

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (March 16, 2009) -The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is proud to announce the list of nominees for the seventh annual SIMA Image Awards, the only awards program that gives the surf industry the opportunity to recognize fellow surf industry companies for their outstanding contributions to the industry.

The goal of the SIMA Image Awards is to identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year. This year, companies will be recognized in 15 categories: Accessory Product of the Year, Environmental Product of the Year, Footwear Product of the Year, Surfboard Model of the Year, Wetsuit of the Year, Men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year, Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year, Men’s Boardshort of the Year, Men’s Retailer of the Year, Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year, Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year, Women’s Swim Brand of the Year, Women’s Retailer of the Year, Breakthrough Retailer of the Year and Breakthrough Brand of the Year.

“SIMA is excited to announce a very deserving line-up of 2009 Image Award nominees,” said Dick Baker, SIMA chairman emeritus. “To be a final nominee is an honor as each category received more entries than ever this year. We hope all nominees are stoked, as they were selected by their peers from a very competitive group of entries. This speaks to the growing reputation and influence of the SIMA Image Awards, and we look forward to honoring this year’s nominees at Surf Summit.”

2009 SIMA IMAGE AWARDS NOMINEES

OVERALL AWARDS

Breakthrough Brand of the Year

Criteria: Recognizing the small- to mid-size men’s or women’s brand that experienced breakthrough growth between January 1 and December 31, 2008. Consider surfboard, apparel, footwear, wetsuit and accessory brands that had a breakthrough year through product development and/or increased brand recognition and appeal. Nominated companies can be new or established brands, but must have annual U.S. sales of at least $1 million and no more than $25 million.

Atwater
Firewire Surfboards
Sanuk Footwear
Skullcandy
Von Zipper

Broadcast PR is something not understood by many PR people. I had the lucky chance to start my career working for three former tv producers for KTLA, Los Angeles. We shot video, wrote scripts, edited and produced packages for our clients. Every day we would receive a report detailing where our stories ran. The days of packaged PR stories for the news are a lot different than they were a few years ago and PR professionals must stay up to date on how newsrooms get their information.

Clients of mine often want broadcast publicity. What do you do for a client who specifically wants broadcast PR in Orange County? Obviously you can reach out to the larger Los Angeles TV newsrooms, but we have a gem in our own backyard that reaches only OC. Daybreak OC  on cable channel KDOC airs every morning covering news and interests around Orange County. Check it out one morning, it is actually a really good news program and being an OC resident, I enjoy the local stories. Below is one of my clients on Daybreak OC just last week.

If you would like NN Public Relations to help you with your broadcast PR strategy, give us a call!

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Did you see it? Saw it and loved it. Did you also notice all the product placement and name brand mentions within the dialogue? The stand-out to me was the website Bag, Borrow or Steal, a site where members can borrow a designer bag or jewelry. I am sure they are hoping to land the same success Sarah Jessica Parker brought to the pricey Manolo Blahniks brand. I am going to guess this was a good move for them.

Client Silver Cross Baby had huge success after it’s appearance on Sex and the City! Sarah Jessica Parker was also seen pushing her Silver Cross around New York. These appearances were priceless to the brand. If you are looking to get strategic with your brand and put it in the hands of Hollywood, give Orange County’s NN Public Relations a call.

What are the benefits of PR vs. advertising and other marketing tools in a down economy? From my experience in the agency world, a receding economy eventually meant that companies were cutting and pulling back on their marketing budgets. Is this is exactly the opposite of what they should be doing. Working in the PR business for over ten years I have seen how PR can be the most cost effective for most businesses compared to other expensive forms of promotion.

Sharon Lechter of “Rich Dad Poor Dad” says “ I personally believe PR is the absolute best way to promote and expand your business.” Lechter is not a PR person, she is a marketer. She also quotes Bill Andres of Andres Associates who says “Companies that keep their names in the public eye during a downturn are more likely to be perceived as successful, enduring and solid.”

What do you think? What has been your experience when it comes to PR during a slowing economy?

Did you know that when you have a consumer product you want to appear in Holiday Gift Guides you have to start pitching in the middle of summer?  Currently we are pitching holiday gift guides for our board game client.

At NN Public Relations we try to always think ahead so we don’t miss any important deadlines. We also make sure we know every publication’s photo requirements, deadlines, story themes and more for hundreds of gift guides. Don’t get left behind trying to “sell” your story 3 weeks before Christmas, give Orange County’s NN Public Relations a call at 949-548-2227.

 holiday gift guides
board games
consumer products
public relations

We love our new client GAME TRUCK! Currently Game Truck is operating in Arizona and Southern California and is now awarding franchises in 35 states. Video game lovers and mothers in charge of planning their kids special birthday or event love this new concept. Keep checking in to see what Game Truck is up to.

Game Truck Awards Franchising Opportunity

Popular Mobile Video Game Theatre Now Available In Over 35 States

Tempe, AZ. (April 28, 2008) – Game Truck, the original and world’s first Mobile Video Game Theater, announces today the immediate availability of Game Truck franchises in 35 states. Now, anxiously-awaiting, game-loving entrepreneurs will have the chance to run their own mobile video game business.

“Game Truck is a proven system for making money while running a unique and exciting business. Since inception, we have had a huge demand and interest from people around the country who want to have fun while owning their own company. Game Truck is a perfect match for passionate entrepreneurs,” said Scott Novis, inventor and owner of the Game Truck. “Franchising was the logical next step. It is a way for people to share in this passion and jump into the fun aspect of this business without going through the learning stages we have gone through over the past two years,” he continued.

Stemmed from the mind of former video game executive and entrepreneur Scott Novis, Game Truck aims to bring people together to enjoy gaming in a multiplayer gaming environment and to provide gamers with the best gaming experience available.

Game Truck offers several functions, the forefront of which is convenient, interactive, mom friendly birthday parties for children.  Being self powered, “The Game Truck only needs a place to park and people to play to throw a great party,” said Scott Novis.  It provides gamers of all ages with a birthday party for two hours or more.  Complete with four 50-inch high definition plasma TVs and all the latest video game consoles, the Game Truck is operated by a Game Coach who helps manage the party and provides a positive gaming role model for kids.

By only offering multiplayer games, the Game Truck ensures that everyone at the party is having a fun-filled experience together.  Through the Game Truck, Novis aims to bring the youngest generation of gamers together, believing that playing a game of Halo™ can be more interactive than playing a round of golf with friends.  “It’s good to play together,” said Novis.  “And video games, especially multiplayer games, provide some of the most compelling social entertainment on the planet.”

“The most appealing aspects of buying a Game Truck franchise is that your business is mobile. No brick and mortar, no time wasted finding a retail location and negotiating leases.  You can be up and ready to go within two to three months. The ramp up time from decision to purchase to collecting revenue is comparatively shorter than most businesses,” said David Wachtel, Chief Operating Officer of Game Truck.

To learn more about being awarded a Game Truck franchise you may contact Manish Adhiya at manish@gametruckparty.com or call 760.438.0202. 

About Game Truck:

Game Truck is the original and world’s first Mobile Video Game Theater. Game Truck aims to bring people together to enjoy gaming in a multiplayer environment and to provide gamers with the best gaming experience available.  Starting with only one truck in August 2006, there is now a fleet of Game Trucks throughout the Phoenix area. Currently Game Truck is selling franchises in 35 states and the company is expanding operations into the Los Angeles area. To learn more about Game Truck please visit www.gametruckparty.com

So, let’s talk about Miley’s photos for Vanity Fair.  While many teen boys and men will love her recent “backless” photos (personally I think she looks like a vampire) she did for the famous photographer Annie Liebowitz, let’s face it, this isn’t her audience. Miley Cyrus is known for her cute “Disney” image, acting, singing, stage talents and incredible marketing and merchandising of her brands.

The photos that came out last week in Vanity Fair and are too “mature” for her audience has Miley claiming she is “embarrassed” by the story and photos. The media is drooling over this story as the photos make their way across the internet, entertainment programs and morning news shows. Good PR for Vanity Fair, bad PR for Miley. Unless at the age of 15 she is wanting to go for the Britney and Lindsay image, I am sure that her and her family are regretting this photo shoot.

What I don’t understand is why on this photo shoot only her parents, grandmother and teacher were present? Where was her PR representative? Surely someone with the experience of protecting their clients image would have brought up the fact that these type of sexy photos could be damaging to her 15 year old image of innocence. Also, why didn’t her family and public relations rep have the final say on the images? No look at a proof before they go to print? Seems curious. If she really didn’t want to portray the sex-pot image…there is no reason these should have been released.

I am just saying….Keep your family close but your PR people closer.

Natasha Nelson, founder of NN Public Relations will be guest speaking at Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday, April 29, 2008.  She will be addressing a junior level class for the Communications Department: Introduction to Public Relations.  The professor is Mike Bower.

 Ms. Nelson will be discussing how public relations strategies can be used by a company to develop and market a brand.  Natasha Nelson is a frequent University and College speaker on the subject of Public Relations and Marketing. She speaks regularly at Cal State Fullerton, Biola University and Vanguard University.  Nelson can be reached at 949-548-2227 or at natasha@nnpublicrelations.com

TDVision Systems, Inc., the leader in stereoscopic 3D acquisition, encoding, broadcast, and display technologies unveils TDVCodec, the worlds first 2D and MPEG compatible stereoscopic format that maintains 2D and MPEG compatibility with legacy systems at the 2008 National Association of Broadcasters show (NAB) in Las Vegas, NV.

Video streams encoded in TDVCodec format are viewable in all existing 2D set top boxes, DVD/Blu-ray™ players and presented on 2D televisions with no loss in color, resolution or frame rate. The same digital video stream can also be reproduced using TDVReady devices and PCs with TDVision’s Dejaview software and visualized in true 3D stereoscopic displays such as 3D Ready DLP televisions (Samsung™ & Mitsubishi™) or by using the portable and immersive TDVisor from TDVision.

TDVision will also be showing a set of Blu-ray™ discs with content encoded using the TDVCodec format running in 2D on the PlayStation3™ and 3D running on the PC connected to the stereoscopic displays. Demonstrated Blu-ray™ content includes a dimensionalized 3D Star Wars™  clip from In-Three, 3D reels from 21^st Century 3D, and content from ParadiseFX and Intuitive Surgical.

“By encoding 3D content with our TDVCodec, one single file dramatically reduces the production, replication, and distribution costs, saving hundreds of millions of dollars to producers and broadcasters while maintaining full compatibility with existing 2D platforms. Every person in the world will be able see the content, and if you happen to have TDVReady equipment and a Samsung™ TV or a portable HD TDVisor then you’re ready to experience HD 3D anywhere,” said Manuel Gutierrez Novelo, President and CEO of TDVision Systems.

TDVision will also be showing a live 3D camera demo by the use of 21^st Century 3D’s 3DP2 camera connected directly to TDVision’s TDVisor. This will demonstrate the complete implementation from acquisition, encoding, and decoding to visualization for the complete 3D echo system.

“TDVision’s TDVisor is indisputably the best in its class,” said Jason Goodman, CEO of 21^st Century 3D. “We are using it for the viewfinder of our new advanced 3DP2 stereoscopic camera,” he continued. This demonstration proves the feasibility of encoding 3D content powered by TDVision’s technology and keeping compatibility with the existing 2D platform, ready to support new stereoscopic display technologies, reducing the production costs, and increasing sales by offering the customer a completely new experience and watch 3D movies at home. TDVision Systems will be presenting April 14-17 at the NAB show located at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Central Hall exhibit number 9042. To book an appointment or showing please call 949-548-2227 or email Orange County Public Relations firm NN Public Relations at natasha@nnpublicrelations.com  www.nnpublicrelations.com . To learn more about TDVision please visit www.tdvision.com TDVision Systems, Inc. is the owner of several 3D-related patents for proprietary system architectures, which will propel breakthroughs in providing true 3D through new digital technologies. These technologies enable the acquisition, emulation and processing of a 3D image from a video stream or computer-generated image. This architecture also allows the use of current existing infrastructures, and with the addition of TDVision’s hardware, enables true 3D in High Definition.

NN Public Relations, a leading Orange County Public Relations agency will be attending and representing clients at the NAB show in Las Vegas April 14-17, 2008.

NAB is the World¹s Largest Electronic Media Event ­ 1,600+ companies ­ will showcase digital content, technology and innovation across consumer and business segments. 200 new exhibitors; 40 countries; 19 industries ­ cable, content owners/programmers, film and entertainment, enterprise, social media, telecom, wireless and more.

If you would like to speak to NN Public Relations about growing your brand through PR please contact us at natasha@nnpublicrelations.com