Reasons to be cheerful!

The economy may have been piling on the pressure for many businesses this year, but it hasn’t dampened their goodwill towards great local causes, if our experiences in the last few weeks are anything to go by.

Last weekend the Target PR team ran a pop-up shop for the day in Cheltenham's Regent Arcade, with a mission to raise as much as we could for Sue Ryder. Our magnificent One Day Wonderland raised more than £800 on the day, but none of that would have been possible without the help of lots of local businesses.

Bev, Target’s office manager and chief blagger of freebies, led the sterling work inviting suppliers, local retailers, and friends of our business to get involved - and we were all overwhelmed by the positive reaction, even from companies with whom we had no previous relationship. 

These are all businesses led by people who care about the community in which they're based. Happy to do their little bit. And when you add it all together, that's a lot of positive energy. 

If you happened to be on the first floor of Regent Arcade on Saturday you may have seen some of that positive energy in action - the public responded with enthusiasm, and our team excelled at turning a disused retail unit into a hive of goodwill. (You'll find lots of photos on our Facebook page!)

If you missed it, however, don't worry - there's plenty of time to get involved between now and 18 January when our fundraising finale takes place - the Grand Balloon Race. Just £5 a ticket with a chance to win a fabulous overnight stay with dinner at the luxurious Cotswold 88 Hotel in Painswick.

Just email bigwigs@targetgroup.co.uk or donate online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TargetPR

In the meantime, what better way to finish this post than with a roll-call of all the fantastic companies that have supported us so far!!

I make that 36 reasons to be cheerful - have a great Christmas!

Regent Arcade

Brasserie Blanc, Cheltenham

Marks & Spencer, Cheltenham

Hobbs, Cheltenham

Grafx, Cheltenham

N3 Display, Bristol

Alpha Response, Gloucester

Typecraft, Cheltenham

Stu-art Design

Cheltenham Racecourse

SnowDome, Tamworth

Ellenborough Park Hotel, Cheltenham

Sutdio Fit, Cheltenham

The Entertainer, Cheltenham

Boots, Cheltenham

Sugar Loaf, Cheltenham

BHS, Cheltenham

Lakeland, Cheltenham

Cotswold88 Hotel, Painswick

Specsavers, Cheltenham

Travellers Finds, Cheltenham

Thorntons, Cheltenham

Waterstones, Cheltenham

5 Star Valeting Solutions

Brickhampton Golf Course

Cheltenham Town Hall

Venture Photography, Cheltenham

Toni & Guy, Cheltenham

Lakeside Chippy, Cheltenham

Bodyshop, Cheltenham

Calendar Club, Cheltenham

Little Bag Company, Cheltenham

Folk Dean Balloons

Underwoods Steel

QuoLux
SLG

Sarah Bryars

Chief Executive, Target PR

A way with words

It’s been a busy few weeks here at Target PR, from organising our upcoming ‘One Day Wonderland’ pop-up shop and balloon race in aid of Sue Ryder, to our everyday work, great things happen at 105-107 Bath Road and we'd like to share it with the world. Well, the world wide web to be precise!

In recent weeks you may have noticed that we’ve done more than just dip our toes into the social media swimming pool, we’ve been going all out giving you daily insights into what goes on here at Target HQ. But we didn’t just dive straight in, oh no, we put together a list of hints and tips to make sure everyone in the team was on the right track.

So if you’re stuck for words, or need help deciding whether that tweet about what you had for breakfast is really necessary (it’s not), why not take a look at our favourite top tips and let us know what you think:

1.    First and foremost be yourself, but be cautious. It sounds obvious but don't reveal information that you feel could be potentially sensitive or confidential – you don’t want to let the cat out of the bag!

2.    Internal issues can arise and disagreements do happen, but public arenas, including Twitter, Facebook and blogs, are not the place for these to be aired. Enough said.

3.    The best posts are the ones that signpost information available elsewhere and encourage conversations. Content is king and stuff that works includes: a behind the scenes look at a day in your shoes, insight on and responses to the latest and greatest industry news, or even a guest post from a client that’s benefitted from your help.

4.    If the post is related to a news story, link to it and respond to it, don’t spend time repeating it. After all, people are coming to you for your opinion and insight. As Baz Luhrmann once said, “Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off and recycling it for more than it’s worth”.

5.    Enjoy it!

Zainab Rahman

Account Executive

Shopping in a One Day Wonderland!

Feel-good shopping will be hitting Cheltenham’s Regent Arcade for a 'One Day Wonderland' in aid of Sue Ryder on Saturday 15 December, thanks to the fundraising efforts by the team at Target Public Relations.

We will be swapping our desk-jobs for the shop floor when we run a ‘pop-up shop’ – appearing just for one day – selling a wide range of gifts and stocking fillers with every penny going to the Sue Ryder charity to support its hospice services helping those affected by life changing illnesses.

It's all part of this year’s Sue Ryder Big Wigs Challenge, which invites businesses to raise as much as they can with a float of £50 to get them started.

The lovely people at Regent Arcade have gifted the use of an empty shop next to TK Maxx on the first floor for the day, and the Target team is sourcing donated gifts from businesses all over Gloucestershire, as well as privately donated ‘pre-loved’ books, DVDs, toys and accessories, and some hand-crafted items. We'll also be holding ‘Santa’s sealed bid silent auction’ on the day, with some great tickets and vouchers available to the highest bidder.

Shoppers can buy tickets to Target’s Grand Balloon Race, which will mark the end of the Big Wigs challenge on Friday 18 January 2013. Tickets cost £5 each and the balloons will be released from the roof of Target’s office on Bath Road. The person whose balloon travels the furthest will win a sumptuous overnight stay with dinner, generously donated by the luxury boutique hotel Cotswolds 88 in Painswick.

Christmas is just around the corner so we're asking everyone we can think of to help us raise some money while spreading a little festive cheer. Would you like to get involved? We're looking for more fabulous gifts, products, or tickets to sell in the shop or add to Santa's silent auction. Alternatively, you can make a donation online. And of course we'd love you to spread the word and come down to shop with us on 15 December!

The Big Wigs challenge is run by Sue Ryder every year and sees companies throughout the South West ‘competing’ to raise as much money as possible. The challenge runs from 18 October 2012 to 18 January 2013.

Sue Ryder provides free care to those affected by life changing illnesses through its care centres, homecare services and healthcare clinics.

One Day Wonderland will be open Saturday 15 December from 9am until 6pm on the first floor of Regent Arcade next to TK Maxx.

Donations to Target’s fundraising activity can also be made online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TargetPR or by emailing bigwigs@targetgroup.co.uk

Thank you and Happy Christmas!

Sarah Bryars, chief executive, Target PR

Shining the light on solar

This autumn Target PR is proud to be launching an innovation set to revolutionise the solar thermal market in the UK.



A unique patented adaptation of the standard solar thermal system could deliver savings of up to 45 per cent on fuel bills by heating the home as well as hot water.

Invented by experienced and time-served heating engineer Matt Lee, Solar 3C provides a simple yet revolutionary extension to a standard solar thermal system traditionally based on a twin coil cylinder. Advancing the technology by developing a unique and patented triple coil hot water storage cylinder, the Solar 3C system is able to deliver green and highly efficient space heating in addition to domestic hot water.

The additional capacity provided by the third coil in the cylinder also dramatically extends the potential annual solar gain from typically 10 weeks per annum to 10 months plus. Evidence provided by existing Solar 3C customers reveals possible savings of up to 45 per cent on heating and hot water bills.

Using its strong relationships with editors in the heating, plumbing and building sector press, Target is taking Solar 3C’s exciting messages to its key audiences for the first time, marking a key milestone in the development of this innovative, entrepreneurial business.

The bicycle fit for Bond

Land Rover has launched the world’s first Titanium Nitride coated mountain bike – NITRIDE.

Coated in the same material as the London 2012 Olympic torches, this bespoke premium bike, designed by Midlands-based 2x2 Worldwide, offers superior ride, ultimate durability and utmost sophistication, so it wouldn’t look out of place in Q’s laboratory.

Using military aerospace technology, the NITRIDE is finished in a Physical Vapour Deposited (PVD) titanium ceramic coating – which is applied in a controlled oxygen free environment. This finish is only three microns thick, that’s just one fifth of the thickness of a droplet of mist! The result is that the bike will not corrode, is virtually scratchproof, with a finish that is lighter than paint and gives unique rider quality.

With prices starting at £10k, the NITRIDE bike is exclusively hand built in the UK for its rider within 18 weeks, using personal sizing requirements supplied by its owner.

Excited? The team at Target PR nearly fell off their five-wheeled plastic framed upholstered office chairs when 2x2 Worldwide asked if they could help with PR for this and their full range of brilliant Land Rover bikes.

To find out more visit the Land Rover bikes website

Social networking with a side order of beer

Part of the Sapa Group which employs 14,600 people worldwide, Sapa Building System offers architects and specifiers a range of innovative aluminium systems for curtain walling, doors, windows and specialist applications. Recent contracts include providing windows for the Welsh Assembly in North Wales (pictured).

Target PR’s role as Sapa Building System’s UK press office is to deliver its core messages to local authorities, the architectural press, building titles and specialist magazines, helping to build its profile and engagement with prospective customers.

So, it was perfectly fitting that Target organised Sapa’s recent sponsorship of an event with the Architect’s Journal celebrating winners of the prestigious RIBA Awards. A panel discussion involving architectural critics, professionals and commentators at RIBA headquarters created the draw for an invited audience of more than 100 architects.

With plenty of great content to share through social media with those who couldn’t attend the event, as well as powerful coverage in this leading journal, this was a great example of client/media partnership.

The occasion saw Sapa Building System’s sales team networking with some of the UK’s most accomplished architects, rounded off by an informal chance to chat further over drinks and tapas at a neighbouring bar. Now that’s what we call social networking!

The Force is strong with this one

Target celebrates 35 years in business this month.

Formed in 1977 – when the Queen celebrated her Silver Jubilee and Star Wars was the cinema blockbuster – the company has experienced a multitude of changes, most recently in 2011 when the firm consolidated its focus on public relations as its core specialism, appointed Sarah Bryars as chief executive, and moved to its current premises at 105-107 Bath Road, Cheltenham.

“Target is living proof that quality beats the test of time, whatever the economy throws its way,” says Sarah Bryars.

“Our industry, like many others, has had its ups and downs. But by concentrating on quality and high standards, we’re very proud to be celebrating 35 years in a very competitive business where only the best will do.

“We’re a very different business to the one that opened its doors as an advertising and design agency in 1977. The creative industries, and the businesses we serve, have changed immeasurably – even in just the last five years.

“Quality is Target’s enduring characteristic, and today our team of 11 directs all its energy and creativity towards PR-led solutions that enhance the reputations of our clients so that they can grow their businesses, meet potential customers or sell more product.”

Target PR’s diverse portfolio encompasses B2B and consumer clients, in sectors from heating and plumbing (ADEY Professional Heating Solutions) to beauty (SLG), aluminium curtain walling specialists (Sapa Building System) to equestrian athletes (British Equestrian Federation), and one of the best known names on the high street (Specsavers) – to name but a few. Targeting national, local, specialist, online and social media, it’s this diversity that Sarah credits as part of Target’s success.

“Sharing ideas and experience among a team working on such different clients is a great way of maintaining a fresh perspective,” says Sarah. “But it’s also really exciting to see the depth of knowledge and contacts that each client team generates, and how they use those sector insights and relationships to benefit the client.

“Everything comes back to quality performance; it doesn’t just keep our clients happy it gives each of us a buzz, which breeds confidence, enjoyment, and our performance just gets better, which benefits the client, and so the positive cycle continues.

“That’s not to say it’s always a smooth ride! We’re in a very tough trading environment. But we’re determined, fiercely loyal to our clients, to each other and to Target, and we’re full of ambition for the future.”