-Orange County’s “City Surf” Clothing Line Seeing Growth During Retail Slowdown-

NEWPORT BEACH, CA; (July 23, 2009) — Atwater, the Newport Beach based surfwear line, today announced their expanding retail list will now include Tilly’s, Zumiez and East Coast retailer, Coastal Edge.

Founded in 2006, Atwater has gained notoriety as the “buzz brand” coming out of Southern California and was recently nominated by SIMA (Surf Industry Manufacturing Association) for the prestigious “Break Through Brand of the Year” award.

“Despite the economic downturn we are still seeing growth,” said Dean Bradley, Co-founder and Creative Director for Atwater. “Tilly’s, Zumiez and Coastal Edge are new retailers for us and we are really proud to be hanging on their shelves,” he continued.

About Atwater

Created by design veterans Dean Bradley and Scott Madison, Atwater has quickly become a constant in Southern California menswear fashion. A casual, yet contemporary line combining classic surf styles with a street edge, Atwater consistently draws from the classic heritage of beach life, simultaneously incorporating an elegant, fashion-forward and more sophisticated side to casual surfwear that we call “City Surf”. The Atwater line consists of T-shirts, boardshorts, walkshorts, pants, jackets and accessories including hats by New Era. Atwater can currently be found at most major surf retailers including Jack’s, Surfside Sports, The Closet, Becker, Val Surf, Active Rideshop and fine retailers including Fred Segal and Nordstrom among many others.

About Dean Bradley

A graphic and fine artist, founder and Creative Director, Dean Bradley is internationally recognized and considered a culturally significant designer in the new school art movement and surfwear industry. Bradley’s love for the beach culture has helped shape his graphic thinking and spirit of independent design. Prior to starting Atwater, Bradley served as Art Director for surf industry giant Hurley International where he began designing T-shirt graphics and transforming his artistic abilities into commercial success. During a six-year career with Hurley, Bradley became known for his versatility in original T-shirt graphics for the men’s and girl’s T-shirt lines. Bradley consistently created best-selling designs that continued to increase sales while always setting new T-shirt design trends in the industry.

About Scott “Spides” Madison

The recognized “boardshort specialist”, Design Director Scott Madison combines his love of surfing and fashion into the Atwater brand. With more than 15 years of experience as a designer, Madison established himself as a dominant industry player as the head of design at Hurley International, Madison played a crucial role in the success of Hurley at the transition from Billabong to Hurley in 1999. Madison is highly recognized for his design innovations and credited with creating some of the industry’s top selling pieces by bringing menswear fashion influences into boardshort design.

For more information on Atwater visit www.atwatercollection.com, www.nnpublicrelations.com

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!

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?

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

To see how NN Public Relations can help bring credibility to your company please send Natasha Nelson and email at natasha@nnpublicrelations.com or call 949-548-2227

To schedule an appointment with TDVision or Natasha Nelson of NN Public Relations please e-mail natasha@nnpublicrelations.com.

About TDVision:

TDVision Systems, Inc. is the owner of several 3D-related patents for proprietary system architectures, which will propel a media breakthrough by providing true 3D through means of this new digital technology. This technology allows the acquiring, emulation and processing of a 3D image from a video stream or computer-generated image. The architecture also allows the use of current existing infrastructures, and with the addition of TDVision’s hardware, enables true 3D in High Definition.

To see some of our success with baby product public relations see our results page for Silver Cross Baby.

How Positive Public Relations Can Help Retailers Increase Sales

By Mary C. Gannon

A retailer without a face is a retailer without a future. That is why it is so important for businesses, both large and small, to stay visible in the ever-changing and highly competitive marketplace. Staying visible requires utilizing many avenues, including sales, circulars, advertising, and public relations. Too often, business owners either intentionally or unintentionally fail to realize the importance of public relations. At some point in time, every business owner will face the challenge of promoting their products and services. Public relations can help solve this problem.

Give yourself a face

Creating a positive image for your retail business can be crucial in beating out the competition. Public relations, sometimes referred to as media relations, is perhaps one of the most cost-effective and important sales tools you could use to garner new clientele.

Public relations provides your existing and potential customers with important information regarding your business. Public relations, which most often results in newspaper or magazine articles and television news spots, offers the public a more detailed and interesting look at your company. Instead of an ad with a few words and pictures of products you carry, a newspaper article can give readers so much more information, including a more inclusive list of the types of products you carry, their prices, your company philosophy and background, and so on. Public relations gives a face and personality to your business, which makes it memorable to the public.

Finding the story

You may find when it comes time to embark on your public relations campaign that you are fishing for newsworthy ideas. As a baby store retailer, the ideas can be limitless. Women are giving birth everywhere, everyday, so information on new products and special promotions for them are always newsworthy.

More often than not, when you read an article in the newspaper, it has come from a public relations professional whose job it is to come up with story ideas for his or her clients. A public relations professional can work with you as a retailer to find a variety of avenues to keep you constantly in the news. Everything your retail business does can be turned into news if pitched correctly, from a grand opening or five-year anniversary, to a new product launch or special events you may be holding.

You may not be doubling the size of your business, nor may you be changing the face of the baby-retailing world with your business, but that doesn’t mean that your shop does not have many newsworthy things to publicize. Sometimes the smallest item can make the news, including new hires and promotions within your business and even awards received.

An effective way to grab the media attention is to create news. Plan an event that will trigger interest, such as a seminar for new mothers. Invite a local celebrity to talk about her own experience with motherhood. Hold a special fundraising event for a local charity, particularly one that relates to infants. Perhaps you are changing the hours of your store to better accommodate working mothers. This, if pitched to the media correctly, could lead to a greater trend piece about women juggling motherhood and careers with you as a key source. It is important to keep in mind, however, that nothing is guaranteed in public relations. Just because you sent out a news release does not mean the media is necessarily going to cover it. Remember, however, that you want to get your name on the Rolodex of as many media members as possible. That way, when they need a source for a story about the baby retail business, they can turn to you.

PR as a sales tool

Use public relations to increase your sales. Being able to show your customers that the media recognizes your baby retail store as a viable, strong business is key to them wanting to shop at your store on a regular basis. By frequently keeping your name in the news, you are showing that the media recognizes you as a business worth writing about. The benefits of this type of publicity can really enhance your other marketing efforts.

When you have received the publicity you were looking for, don’t be shy about it. Boast about it and let your customers know that your business was featured in magazines, newspapers, and on television and radio shows they may not even know about. Use the articles as tools to sell yourself to your customers by displaying them at the checkout counter or show the video of a television interview during a special promotion. It will get your customers talking about you.

Public relations is also a great way to tell your customers about special events or promotions at your store, and it can be done without paying a single penny to the news outlet of your choice. You may have to hire a public relations professional to assist you with your public relations campaign, but newspapers, TV and radio stations do not charge for news stories. Not only does this save your retail business money in advertising costs, but it lends credibility to your business as media representatives recognize you as an expert.

The purpose of publicity and/or hiring a public relations professional is to attract attention to your business so that you may gain new clients and, ultimately, increase your sales. You cannot ignore the importance of this aspect of marketing your business. So start racking your brain for newsworthy topic, and don’t be shy about telling the world about yourself and your business. It’s a great way to survive.