Not the usual beast!

Mobile network Three has chosen Brando as its retained agency to lead its social media presence and engagement strategy within the UK.   The agency, which will report into Three’s newly formed internal Social Media team, will be responsible for ongoing consultancy and campaign work.   They’ll work in conjunction with the Social Media team to manage Three’s social media presences, create new and engaging content, and build upon Three’s existing blogger relations programme.   Brando won the account following a five-way pitch and will start work immediately, replacing Three’s incumbent Word of Mouth agency, 1000heads.   Margaret Burke, Director of Brand & Integrated Comms said: “Social media has become much more of a focus for Three this year, something that’s been reflected in the creation of a four-strong internal team. The timing was right for us to re-focus our priorities for social media, and we took the opportunity to evaluate the external support that was available in the marketplace.   “Brando’s strategic thinking impressed us right from the creds meeting and we’re confident that they’ll give us the right level of direction to take us forward in leaps and bounds in the social media space.   “1000heads’ commitment and dedication to our account over the years has been hugely commendable, and we wish them all the best.”   Shelley Morrell, Brando Managing Partner who will be heading the account, said: “Three is a visionary brand with a real appetite to make a mark in social media.  We are thrilled to be appointed as their partner to help turn all these exciting plans into reality.”   Three is currently recruiting to fill two of its remaining internal social media vacancies. The team, which sits within Three’s Sales & Marketing department, is responsible for the management of, and strategy behind, Three’s social media presences to deliver a meaningful customer experience.   Brando will join Three’s existing rosta of marketing agencies, including 3 Monkeys Communications and Glue Isobar.

High street optical retailer Vision Express has appointed Brando to launch its eco-friendly eyewear range. The Modo Eco range claims to be the nation’s first range of affordable luxury eyewear with a green conscience available on the high street. Brando will work alongside sister agency MCBD, which looks after the above-the-line account. As part of the brief, Brando will run an integrated PR campaign including media relations, a launch event and partnership marketing with celebrity Eco stylist Jocelyn Whipple, who counts Alexa Chung and Laura Bailey as regular clients. For every pair of Modo Eco glasses sold, a tree is planted in developing communities and recycled frames are donated to Vision Aid Overseas to help people with poor vision in these countries. Brian Linnington, product and marketing director at Vision Express, said: ‘We know how environmentally aware our customers have become in recent years, so the new range launch is something we feel passionately about.’ Brando managing partner Mandy Sharp will head up the account.

Last night Brando won the EVENT award category at the prestigious CIPR (Chartered Institute of PR) Excellence Awards "Belting out a hit at Christmas has become as festive as scoffing mince pies". The Sun, Dec 2009 The CIPR Excellence Awards are the most revered in the PR industry and getting to the final is a massive coup. Last night Brando's GATWICK FACTOR won the EVENT category award against a number of extremely tough competitors. Following the sale of Gatwick by BAA to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), Brando were briefed to build the airport's profile, develop passenger loyalty and secure as much positive coverage and buzz as possible in the lead up to Christmas. Brando's solution was to launch the "Gatwick Factor" – a high-tech karaoke competition held in a giant, inflatable snow globe. X Factor runner's up, Stacey Solomon and Olly Murs opened the event, generating high profile PR coverage as they performed for passengers and engaged with crowds. Passenger's karaoke performances were filmed, uploaded onto a website and voted for by the public. Social media sites went wild with comments and 22,000 people voted across 112 countries. The judges felt it was a fun, creative, high impact event that also included an online experience. Results were outstanding, with an ROI of 1:22 and 86% of passengers saying it made their experience more enjoyable, as well as creating long term value for the airport. Not a bad day's work really...

Brando World is an award winning network, with several of our international affiliates experiencing awards success this year. Spain, Russia, Romania and the UK were all shortlisted in the prestigious EMEA SABRE Awards 2010 and it was great to meet up for a glass of champagne with our Spanish affiliate Canela PR at the awards dinner in May 2010. On a global level, the network continues to grow in strength with its members enjoying successful new business wins with big brands from Diageo in Singapore to Adidas in Italy. It is also encouraging to see the digital revolution spreading worldwide, with affiliates such as Impact Asia and Canela PR launching exciting digital offerings and many affiliates bringing new digital and social media business into their agencies. For any international PR enquiries please contact sian@brando-world.com

Virgin Trains, the award winning rail operator, has appointed Brando to run a four month PR and social media campaign to help promote their new Don’t go Zombie, go Virgin Trains brand campaign. The new advertising, created by fellow Cossette agencies Elvis and MCBD, demonstrates the superior service available on Virgin Trains and demonizes other forms of transport, in particular car and plane. The creative is a new look and feel for Virgin Trains and wonderfully captures the potential hellishness of travelling by car and plane that turns regular people into frustrated zombies, in Virgin’s typical tongue-in-cheek style. The new campaign aims to further support Virgin Train’s overall brand idea, Where do you want to be?, which illustrates that travelling by Virgin Train offers customers an enriched journey and time effectiveness. Brando will be working closely with sister agencies Elvis and MCBD to provide social media strategic consultancy plus a mix of traditional and social media outreach to build awareness for the new creative route. The campaign will specifically focus on developing advocacy and dwell time with the brand and its digital activations. Danny Gonzalez from Virgin Trains said; “The new brand activity is brave, exciting and will encourage consumers to think carefully about their travel choices particularly where long distance car and domestic air journeys are concerned. To ensure we truly engage with our audience we believe social media and PR are essential components of the marketing programme. We will be working with Brando to guarantee word of mouth and brand advocacy crosses both the virtual and physical worlds.” Mandy Sharp, Brando’s Managing Partner, who is heading up the account said, “We love the quirkiness of the new campaign. It’s impactful yet humorous and the zombie theme provides great social media currency for us to work with.” Brando is part of COSSETTE - an international communications firm with operations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. COSSETTE offers leading-edge communication services to more than 800 clients, including some of the most prestigious brands in the world.