Listen here to the success stories of March, including BBC Breakfast news exposure of the Employment Law Advisory Service ‘National Sickie Day’, Parcel2Go and their growing reputation, you will hear about some new clients joining us and new member of the Mason Media team.

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I-PAYE, which is an employment management consultancy, recently received top ten rankings in both the Sunday Times’ Fast Track Growing Companies listing, and the Liverpool Daily Post’s Hot 100, and part of Mason Media’s brief is to ensure that the company’s growth is communicated on a regional and national basis.

The company provides employment services such as payroll, national insurance and tax advice to contractors, simplifying the employment service when contractors work across different companies.

Vextrix Management is a Liverpool-based project management and construction cost consultancy, which was established 12 months ago. The company works with high profile organisations including Northern Rail, National Express and Mersey Rail, and was recently appointed as quantity surveyors on the first Cyclepoint hub project which is in Leeds.

Nick Mason, Managing Director at Mason Media commented: “This is a great opportunity for Mason Media to work with two of the region’s fastest growing businesses.

“Our strong understanding of the business to business sector will help us to position and strengthen the profiles of I-PAYE and Vextrix Management within the regional, national and trade press.”

 New client, ABode Chester, the boutique hotel which opens in Chester in April 2010, started the new year by being named as one of the top hotels for 2010 by The Times.

The 85 room hotel, backed by Michelin-starred chef, Michael Caines, started its launch PR programme with high profile exposure and is followed with national and regional interview opportunities.

 ELAS advises on Harry Redknapp’s troubles

 As Harry Redknapp landed in hot water at the start of the year, Mason Media ensured that Employment Law specialists, the Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS), grabbed their share of the media spotlight. 

A rapid response to news that the Tottenham Hotspur manager had attended Bishopsgate Police Station charged with £40,000 tax evasion saw ELAS quoted on the sport pages of the Daily Express advising that should Harry be found guilty, Spurs would have no choice to give him the red card.

North West Cancer Research Fund p p p pick up a penguin

Regional cancer charity, North West Cancer Research Fund (NWCRF) piggy-backed a penguin this month with guerilla activity to highlight the dangers of UV rays and causes of skin cancer.

A photocall kitting out a selection of the Go Penguin installations with protective T-shirts and sunglasses created great talkability throughout NWCRF’s social media networks and also created a colourful picture led story with the Liverpool Echo.

Cherrygood helps send consumers to sleep

This month, Mason Media caught the attention of consumers with the news that Cherrygood, the UK’s only ready to drink cherry juice, can help send them to sleep.  News on how the tart cherry juice contains high amounts of Melatonin, a natural sleep aid, made news across national consumer magazines, Essentials and Women’s Health as well as the health pages of the Express.co.uk.

Immediate results were seen at the till point with an increase in sales resulting directly from the wide editorial coverage.

i-paye appoints Mason Media

 Mason Media has signed up i-paye, one of the region’s fastest growing businesses, as a new client.

 I-paye, which was recently ranked seventh in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 and number one in the Liverpool Daily Post’s Business Hot 100, is an umbrella company providing payroll services to self-employed contractors and recruitment agencies.  Mason Media will work with Directors Gaynor McGrail, Shaun McGrail and Paul Hughes implementing a comprehensive marketing and PR strategy, further raising profile and helping i-paye break into a number of new sectors.

Kirwans Solicitors made widespread national news this month with news of a legal first after working on a case to represent three-year-old Jay Jones who won the right to sue after being attacked with a car jack, by another boy of three.

 Once alerted of the unique case Mason Media swung into action, interviewing the victim’s mother to establish the full facts around the incident before devising a media strategy to maximise publicity for Kirwans.

 Within 24 hours the law firm had been quoted in most national newspapers, including the Daily Telegraph, The Sun, Daily Mail and online sites for The Times, Independent, Guardian and Express.

 That same day Kirwans made headline news on the BBC Lunchtime and Six O’clock News as well as ITN Lunchtime and Six O’clock news bulletins. Channel Four Lunchtime News, Sky News and Channel Five also included comments from both senior partner, David Kirwan and Head of PI, Simon Gibson.

 Simon also appeared on BBC Five Live Breakfast, Five Live Victoria Derbyshire Show, BBC Radio Four Today Programme, BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show plus Granada Lunchtime and Evening News reports.

 David went on to appear live on BBC North West Tonight, BBC World Service, the BBC News Channel and numerous local radio stations.

 Setanta Insurance Keeps Drama Off The Roads

This month Mason Media team was in the driving seat to deliver publicity for Setanta Insurance through launching a national anti drug driving campaign in Ireland entitled, Keep Drama Off The Roads.

 Targeting 15-25 year olds, the campaign encourages young people to create a short film demonstrating the devastating impact of drug driving.  Launch of the initiative and support from celebrity actor and presenter, Baz Ashmawy has so far secured coverage in The Sun, News of the World, TV Now, Cork Independent, Galway Independent, Limerick Leader, Killarney Advertiser, Leitrim Observer and 13 radio stations.

Mason Media makes good news of Boughey results

Boughey Distribution hit the headlines with a raft of good news this month.  The company’s announcement of a record £39.2 million turnover was reported in the key trade titles, including Food Manufacture, and target regional publications.  Managing Director, Keith Forster, was also interviewed by North West Tonight about ‘The Box’, a year long project following a container and its contents around the world.

In a further boost to its profile, and a fitting end to a successful year, Boughey fought off strong competition to win the title of Large Business of the Year at the glittering Cheshire Business Awards.

PR delivers sales uplift 

Benefits of PR on the bottom line were evident this week for clients Cherrygood and GFS with increased sales following press coverage.

For a two week period following coverage for Cherrygood in national newspapers, Daily Mail and The Express, a sales uplift of 13-25% was experienced across all supermarket retailers. 

A piece of coverage in the Argus Online’s business section for GFS delivered an increase in web traffic of 30% and resulting in sales enquiries.

New team members

A recent addition to the Mason Media team comes in the guise of Rachel Mealing, Head of Professional Services.  Bringing a wealth of experience in handling PR for business to business clients, working both agency and client side, Rachel has worked for Bell Pottinger North, Golley Slater, Addleshaw Goddard and Baker Tilly.  Rachel joins Mason Media’s corporate team looking after clients including Kirwans, Boughey and GFS.

News of national postal strikes dominated the nation’s headlines this month largely detailing disruption to the public and business.  Mason Media hijacked the news agenda as an opportunity for client, Parcel2go.com delivering a surge of new business.

 In one week, Fil Adams-Mercer, CEO of the online parcel delivery service, was interviewed on five national media outlets positioning Parcel2Go as an alternative to beat the strike. BBC News 24 featured a live interview with Fil on the effects of the strikes, ITN filmed at the Bolton-based firm’s depot and featured a piece on Channel 4 News. Fil also appeared on Sky News talking about the boost in traffic to his business following the strike as well as conducting a five minute discussion on BBC Radio Five Live’s Drive.

 The following week Fil was guest of the day on BBC 2’s business programme, Working Lunch, again discussing the impact of the strikes on SMEs.  Print and internet media also ran with stories on the firm with features in the Daily Mail, Guardian Online and Internet Retailer.

 As a result Parcel2Go has seen an increase of 10,000 parcels delivered with, at one point 400 users processing deliveries online at the same time.

Strike delivers profits and profile for GFS

Another of Mason Media’s newest clients took advantage of the postal strike to make its breakthrough with national media this month.  Global Freight Solutions (GFS), the UK’s largest parcel and carrier management company, reported that the threat of strike action had helped contribute to a 30 per cent growth in half-year turnover.

 The story attracted the attention of The Guardian and Financial Times as well as securing covering with key trade magazines and regional print and broadcast media around the company’s headquarters in Billingshurst, West Sussex.

Cherrygood news for Cherrygood

Mason Media delivered some Cherrygood news for its new fruit juice client this month.  Within two weeks of working with the drinks brand, Mason Media secured two national health stories on the benefits of cherryjuice to position it as the new natural sports drink.

Coverage in the Daily Express and Daily Mail appeared in consecutive weeks with additional pieces secured in OK!, Essentials and Prima.

 Fashionistas take a shine to Accessories Online

Accessories Online has proved a hit with fashionistas following Mason Media’s PR activity to raise the profile of the brand with high-end fashion media.  Within three months the team has secured a host of coverage for the online site’s collection of jewellery with influential titles; Grazia, You magazine, Coutts, More, Cosmopolitan, New!, OK!, ShinyStyle as well as establishing a following with bloggers including Coco’s blog and FashionBite.

Mason Media Turns Up The Heatons with new client win

This month Mason Media also secured a new client win in Heatons – the complete office solutions experts.

The Wirral-based firm supplies office stationery, print needs, including everything from business cards to Christmas cards, and office furniture for companies across the region and beyond.

 With Mason Media’s expert help Heatons expects to raise its profile in key local media including the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, Wirral Globe and relevant trade press profiling the company and its clients and its social responsibility work which has raised over £60,000 for various charities since it began trading more than 20 years ago.

Chris is heading up a dedicated Consumer division at Mason and has already landed new clients in food and drink, retail and leisure.

Chris returned to her home city in April this year, bringing with her 12 years’ experience including campaigns for clients such as the Meat and Livestock Commission, Aunt Bessie’s, Clarks, Gossard and UNIQLO.

In addition to spearheading the Consumer offer, Chris will also play a wide-ranging role across the business.

Managing Director Nick Mason said: “Chris and her team will put Mason Media and Liverpool on the map in terms of our ability to win big Consumer accounts which traditionally would have gone to Manchester or London agencies.

“In just a handful of months, we have found ourselves being given the opportunity to pitch for national consumer accounts which is hugely exciting. 

“While the Consumer part of our business continues to develop, our Professional Services unit also continues to win significant amounts of new business.”

Mason Media, whose offices are in North John Street, Liverpool, was founded in 2003 by former Daily Mail journalists Nick and Lucy Mason.

Clients include leading North West law firms, Pannone LLP, Kirwans Solicitors and O’Connors LLP and Europe’s largest parcel delivery service Parcel2Go.

When the news broke that Chelsea has been banned from entering the transfer market until January 2011, after being found guilty of illegally inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta, Mason Media proved they were on the ball.   Within minutes a statement was distributed on behalf of client Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) and quickly taken-up by the national media.  Talk Sport booked ELAS’s Peter Mooney to appear on that evening’s discussion programme, hosted by Danny Kelly and Neil Ashton.

 In a lively debate Peter insisted Chelsea had no chance of wining an appeal against the decision. And there was even a little mention of Mason Media live on air, thanks to a rather confused Danny Kelly!  The next morning ELAS was also quoted in the sports pages of the Daily Express, on the same issue.

 ELAS also made national and international headlines following a story distributed by Mason Media on the increase of social media in the workplace.  Research by ELAS revealed that many employers are considering introducing ‘Facebook breaks’ for workers in a bid to clampdown on the use of sits such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo in the office.  The Daily Telegraph, Scottish Daily Record, Manchester Evening News and Liverpool Daily Post are just a number of the print publications who used the story.

 News was also picked up by numerous business-related websites including Personnel Today and Fresh Business Thinking. And the article traveled around the globe, being used extensively in India and America.

 North West Cancer Research Keeps the Fundraising Ball Rolling

Mason Media helped North West Cancer Research Fund raise a staggering £12,000 to provide fundamental research into the causes of the disease through securing sponsorship and awareness for the annual Butterfly Ball.

 Teaming the charity up with successful North West businesses, Smart Storage and Armstrong’s solicitors, Mason Media helped the charity secure funds to sponsor the event and generated coverage to support the event in LDP Business as well as pre-publicity to drive ticket sales in Cheshire Life, Manchester Evening News.  Further coverage in regional consumer magazines is also in the pipeline.

  Parcel2Go delivers news amid the postal strike

Parcel2Go, the Bolton-based delivery service captured the headlines amid news of the Royal Mail strike this month.  Leading a story on how alternative delivery services are winning new customers as businesses seek to circumnavigate the disruption to ‘snail mail’ saw the company namechecked in the Financial Times.

 The company also saw hits this month with the announcement of a service in Ireland on Business World Online, RTE Business.   The company was also listed in Business XL’s Top 50 Rising Stars.

 Kirwans comments on Jack Straw pardon   

Fast growing Merseyside law firm Kirwans Solicitors made the headlines in the Sunday Times and Financial Times in the space of a week.

Senior Partner David Kirwan, who is also standing as an Independent Candidate at the General Election, was interviewed about the legal and political ramifications of Justice Secretary Jack Straw’s decision to grant the Liverpool fan a pardon.

David made it clear that he felt Straw’s decision was “politically expedient” and an attempt to help preserve the seats of Labour MPs in marginal constituencies.

 On Your Marks… 

September saw the arrival of former national newspaper journalist, Gary Quinn joining the Mason Media team.  Gary, who has held former positions including Features Editor on The Mirror and various features roles at IPC magazines joined the team to work on business to business clients.

 Anna Asamoah got her running shoes on this month completing the Great North Run to raise funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.  Anna completed the course in just under 2 hours 30 minutes raising £403.00.

 Welcome to Gary and well done to Anna!

A story about swine flu skivers distributed by Mason Media for client Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) spread quickly around the globe this month.

 The tale of how business owners were becoming frustrated with staff using an NHS advice line about the virus in order to get extra days of work ended up in print and on-air from Scotland to Sri Lanka.

 The Daily Telegraph was one of a clutch of British national newspapers to use it, deciding to make it their main front page article. It also appeared in The Sun and on BBC News, Sky News, Radio 5 Live, LBC and Talk Sport.

 In all, there were 78 pieces of coverage from regional newspapers including the Aberdeen Press & Journal to Eastern Daily Press. Trade titles including HR Review also covered the news.  The story even made it as far as the Kuwait Government’s official news website and South Asia News resulting in coverage worth a total of £132k.

 O’Connors details big business threat to break brokers

Specialist law firm O’Connors was making the headlines by revealing how major businesses were trying to save cash in the recession by cutting ties with insurance brokers.

 Leading trade title Insurance Times penned an exclusive article crediting O’Connors’ partner Nigel Wallis. His comments sparked so much debate in the industry that the publication also wrote a follow-up piece giving feedback from mainland Europe ahead of a major insurance conference.

 O’Connors hadn’t had PR support before turning to Mason Media in Spring 2007. Since then, the firm, which works with major blue chip companies and entrepreneurs on bespoke insurance and corporate finance projects, has regularly featured in the likes of the FT, The Lawyer and Post magazines, and picked up an award from North West Business Insider.

 O’Connors, which was formed by brothers Paul and Mark O’Connor and Nigel Wallis in 2004, has much more details of its musically and nautically-minded staff at its website www.oconnorsllp.co.uk.

 Stars rally to support Anthony Walker Foundation

 The cinema premiere of a film directed by comedian, Lenny Henry starring Liverpool actors Neil Fitzmaurice, Cathy Tyson, Louis Emerick and Lynn Francis provided an occasion to engage with media and discuss the reality of racial hatred on behalf of the Anthony Walker Foundation.

 ‘Colour Blind’ opened to queues of viewers for a screening at Liverpool’s FACT on 5^th August driven by media coverage in the Liverpool Echo and an interview on City Talk. 

 News of the annual Anthony Walker Foundation festival at the Greenbank Sports Academy drove thousands of visitors to the event with Granada TV filming from the festival for a headline piece in the evening news bulletin.

 New at Mason Media

August saw the arrival of a new look, new staff and new clients at Mason Media.

 The Mason Media website was relaunched in glorious technicolour to give further detail on the agency’s capabilities and expertise.

 Jemma Volp-Fletcher arrived as Senior Account Manager to boost the consumer team offering.  Jemma brings with her strong experience from retail, leisure and charity and will be working on the agency’s consumer brands.

 A selection of new clients also signed to Mason Media in August. The UK’s premier parcel carrier management firm, Global Freight Solutions, boutique jewellery business Accessories Online and Boughey Distribution have sought our expertise in targeting consumer and business audiences.

 www.justshoutgfs.com

Mason Media has been appointed to handle consumer PR for accessories portal, Accessories Online (www.accessoriesonline.co.uk).

The Liverpool based company stocks a range of exclusive jewellery from leading designers including Fiona Paxton, Dyrberg/ Kern and Cath Kidston and ships across the globe to customers in the UK, US, Japan and beyond. The brief includes raising awareness for the brand, educating consumers on Accessories Online’s extensive range of designer jewellery, bags, hair accessories and bridal and driving traffic to the site.

Mason Media will help position Accessories Online as the authority on fashion trends by building a relationship with key fashion media and creating a profile for founder, Vicky Hesketh.  Through offering a proactive press office sampling service Mason Media aims to drive product placement for the brand which has already been featured in Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Cosmopolitan.

“Working with Accessories Online is a great opportunity for Mason Media to build on its consumer portfolio, we are delighted to be working with a fast growing business to position Vicky as a successful entrepreneur and establish the site as an authority on all things accessories,” says Head of Consumer, Christine Morgan

“Our vast experience in the fashion and retail sector and understanding of the fashion media will help us position Accessories Online as a leading supplier of designer jewellery.”

Following the launch of a new website this summer Accessories Online has seen an increase in turnover of 109% between July 2008 and July 2009. In the last year alone visits to the site have risen by 40%.

Vicky Hesketh, Managing Director of Accessories Online, said: “The growth we have seen in the last year is amazing and customer feedback on our range and service is extremely positive. Through working with Mason Media we aim to drive more traffic to our site to further our success.”

Mason Media has been appointed to handle corporate and business to business PR for one of Ireland’s fastest growing insurance firms, Setanta Insurance.

The Dublin and Malta-based motor insurance company sells exclusively through brokers and is set to double policyholders to 100,000 by the end of 2009 through a range of innovative commercial and private vehicle products. In the first 20 months of trading Setanta Insurance secured more than 45,000 policyholders and written premiums in excess of 25 million Euros.

The brief includes raising awareness for the brand, its policies and demonstrating its brand positioning “insurance changed for good” to the broker and business audience.

Mason Media will help drive awareness for the firm, build dialogue with brokers and launch its easy to understand, cost-competitive products to the market.

“This is a great opportunity for Mason Media to work with one of Ireland’s fastest growing businesses and firmly establish it as a serious player in the motor insurance market,” said Nick Mason, Managing Director at Mason Media.

“Our strong understanding of the sector and how to build challenger-brands will help us position Setanta Insurance as strong player in the motor insurance market.”

Mike Matthews, Chairman and CEO of Setanta Insurance, said: “The success we have achieved in such a short period of time proves that our customers like the products we offer. Through working with Mason Media we aim to build further momentum to double our policy holders by the end of the year.”

Mason Media secured the business working with strategic partner, Driven, the Wilmslow-based creative agency. Driven is responsible for developing the look and feel of the brand including an overhaul of Setanta Insurance’s website whilst Mason Media will conduct a comprehensive media campaign to promote the business.