Blog Posts November 2009
Cadbury lost the battle, but has won the war
Every chapter in the Cadbury Palm Oil saga has dominated the headlines – Cadbury adding palm oil; Cadbury taking out full page ads to justify its decision; consumers announcing a boycott; Cadbury backing down; and now, the relaunch of their palm oil-free chocolate.
At every stage, marketing and PR types have discussed the impact for Cadbury’s reputation (Ideas Shop included).
And now I’m adding my two cents’ worth… and I say “well done, Cadbury”.
Posted by Amanda Woodbridge on Sunday 29th Nov 2009
Absolute Power, we are not
Spin doctors, PR trouts, agents of the dark side, brainwashers, spinmeisters; as communications consultants we’ve heard all the derogatory terms the media likes to throw at us.
Admittedly, like the mechanic whose own car has shonky brakes or the plumber whose house leaks, as comms people we are sometimes guilty of neglecting to practice our own expertise in our own backyard.
We probably don’t spend enough time dedicated to our own PR – to let people know that actual spin...
Posted on Monday 23rd Nov 2009
Using Social Media in Campaigns
On Tuesday 17 November I spoke at IABC’s Be Heard lunchtime
Posted by Emma McCleary on Wednesday 18th Nov 2009
A picture paints a thousands words
By Patricia Thompson and Emma McCleary
There is a wonderful passage in Spike Milligan’s satirical novel Puckoon in which, having partitioned a town overnight, a motley crew of boundary commissioners pose for a commemorative photograph.
The photo session descends...
Posted on Tuesday 17th Nov 2009
There’s room for both on the road
I cycle regularly between my home and Ideas Shop. Rather than joining the thousands of other commuters behind the wheel every morning, I find it’s a quicker and less frustrating mode of transport.
It’s hard to disagree with a 12 minute journey on two wheels from the front door to Ideas Shop in Marion Street.
Cycling to work also ties in nicely with the Ideas Shop philosophy of encouraging staff to walk or take the bus to meetings wherever practical.
Sustainable...
Posted by Sam Halstead on Sunday 15th Nov 2009
Online communities
In 2003 I worked as a Concept Developer for Te Papa putting together exhibitions. One of my assignments was an exhibition on Maori Showbands of the 1950s and 1960s. Given that it was largely a photographic and text show I lobbied for it to become Te Papa’s first online exhibition – a radical idea at the time.
The online exhibition was developed – and was incredibly successful, particularly among the Maori Showbands community. Many of the community were elderly, frail, or simply unable...
Posted by Emma McCleary on Friday 6th Nov 2009