Archive for the ‘PR Connections’ Category
Jettzone.com
Posted on: November 26, 2008
Is it bad to do 3 blog posts in one day? Anyways, I forgot to talk about this PR example in class this semester, so I figured I would blog about it 🙂
Every year, my high school, J.L. Mann, in Greenville, has a spirit week in competition with its rival-Greenville High. We work all week long with activities such as car washes, class competitions, concerts, carnivals, date auctions, senior slaves, you name it. The most we have ever raised in one week was $123,000 for different charities.
This year was different.
The charity that J.L. Mann decided to give its money to was Habitat for Humanity. The students of J.L. Mann would take all of the money raised and build houses in honor of four Mann grads who lost their lives last year–three of which were involved in the Ocean Isle Fire, the other in a tragic accident in Columbia.
In order to make this public, J.L. Mann conducted a website called Jettzone.com. JETT stands for the four people who lost their lives–Justin, Emily, Travis, and Taylor. Donations were available online through the website. Anyone could donate by the click of a button. President Jimmy Carter even sponsored the event and wrote a letter saying how proud he was of how the school was handling such a loss and putting it to good use.
J.L. Mann ended up raising an outstanding $340,000–in ONE WEEK. The whole community really came together to show their love and support. Students will be able to build about 6 houses in honor of the four students who were so greatly loved and who had such an impact in the community.
Jettzone.com was an excellent example of PR. The website really got the word out about the spirit week events, how to donate, and what the charity was in honor of. Jimmy Carter’s note was also extremely moving. It is amazing how in one week, a school and community can come together and raise such an enormous amount of money.
I spoke with the treasurer of the school who stated, “It was crazy how nothing mattered this week-tests, homework, quizzes. All that mattered was our school, coming together to raise money for four amazing people who we all loved so much, that were lost. We all worked so hard together and accomplished so much more than we ever thought.” –Senior treasurer, Danielle Meyers
MAC Makeup Reaches Out
Posted on: November 12, 2008
I was at the Haywood Mall in Greenville the other day when I heard about MAC’s recycling deal. For every 6 MAC containers brought in, a free tube of lipstick is awarded. This not only shows that MAC makeup cares about the environment and recycling, but also gets customers to come back into the store. I spoke with an employee who said that most of the time the customers bring in the containers only to get the free lipstick but end up buying many more products. MAC is doing great PR with its clients–they are showing their support for recycling, giving away free lipstick, and getting customers to come in and buy more products.
Greenville First Bank, located in Greenville, South Carolina, strives to build relationships with its clients. There are several things Greenville First does to build and maintain long lasting relationships. Greenville First is not just a bank.
- Motto– to provide client first service
Greenville First believes that everything should be about the client. The office lobby has a fire place with magazines and flat screen televisions. The drive thru window also offers clients sodas and water. (not just the average lollipop that most banks offer!)
- no automated phone system
When you call Greenville First, you will always speak with someone. There is no automated phone system because they believe that communicating should be on a personal level and should not consist of listening to a long list and pushing a number.
- believe in relationship banking
Each client is assigned to a “team” which includes a lender and a client officer. Their numbers are given to the clients directly, so when the clients have a question-they directly dial into the banker’s office to speak to them personally.
Greenville First is known in Greenville as the “nice” bank, the one who is nice to all customers (not just rying (trying- 11/5) to get the job done), and the bank that actually makes friends with its clients. Greenville First is not just a bank–it is a bank where people enjoy going to.
Greenville First does excellent PR for its customers. They have a webiste, ads in local magzines such as Talk Magainze, newspaper ads, and billboards. Greenville First is known for its relationship banking.
Ocean Isle Benefit Concert
Posted on: October 8, 2008
There is a benefit concert in Columbia on October 23 to honor the six USC students and one Clemson student who lost their lives last year in the Ocean Isle fire tragedy. To promote this concert, there is a facebook group entitled 1st Annual Rememberance Concert. (If you are not a member on facebook, you can access the information on the USC website under Greek Life) Also, Guy Harvey has volunteered to sponsor the event by making t-shirts in honor of the concert and those that lost their lives. All of the proceeds will go to the Carolina Remembrance Fund, which provides scholarships for students who express exceptional character similar to those in the fire.
I thought that this was an excellent example of public relations. The concert information and how to order the t-shirts are on facebook, which was an excellent idea that reaches out to students all over the country. Many people cannot go to the concert but will still order the t-shirt. My sorority had a sign up sheet passed around in our meeting where almost everyone ordered at least one t-shirt. (I ordered my entire family one because we were extremely affected by the loss of two of our neighbors in the tragedy). The Guy Harvey Company is not only increasing business by doing this but is also reaching out to the public and sending the message that they are sympathetic with the tragedy that has happened.
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