I’m a graphic design student (as well as a Paramount PR intern) who’s always looking to network and work on my skill set. So I definitely didn’t want to miss the chance to check out digital collage artist Nick Haas’ (Haastyle.com) demonstration of his process at the Apple Store this past Tuesday. Nick did a nice job at the demo of explaining his process as a visual artist and sharing a few tech tips for users of Adobe Photoshop.

His collage pieces start with his gritty Chicago photography, and utilize a few cool Photoshop functions to combine the photos into abstract compositions that maintain his urban aesthetic. Here are two of Nick’s professional techniques that can help Photoshoppers work with images and practice their own collage work:

• When working with a photo, select Image>Adjust>Curves from the toolbar to access the Curves dialog. Try messing around with the axis on the grid displayed to change the light/dark range of the photo to improve its clarity or integrate it better into your collage.
• · Once you’ve dropped several images into different layers, use blend modes to combine them and take your composition to the next level. Experiment with the five primary blend modes: multiply, screen, overlay, color, and luminosity (found in the layers palette), to get different effects.

Be sure to check out Nick’s work at www.haastyle.com for more inspiration!

Nick Gorski

Paramount Public Relations’ client Texas de Brazil just hosted two events at the National Restaurant Association Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event, the largest food and hospitality industry trade show in the U.S. at Chicago’s McCormick Center.

On Sunday, May 17, Texas de Brazil hosted a pairing event with Argentinean wine BCrux at the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event, serving bacon wrapped chicken with an apple cranberry relish. Guests of the show raved about the food and how well it paired with BCrux’s award winning red.

On Monday, May 18 Texas de Brazil hosted a lamb butchering demo at the NRA’s Culinary Scene, wowing guests by butchering a lamb into the different cuts and sharing valuable knowledge on the butchery and preparation of lamb. Texas de Brazil shined at the show, demonstrating their expertise in the culinary world.

I spent the weekend wandering the show to see what else it had to offer, what other companies were doing, to check the new and noteworthy products and of course, to taste!

Some other companies I recommend checking out; Vinturi and their awesome wine aeroter, Dry Soda, Burn Cream and Desert Juniper Gin (best gin I’ve ever tasted.)

Lauren Bishop

Senior Account Executive

While on a flight home from visiting my mom for mother’s day, I had some time to reflect about how I was born to be a marketer. It’s in my blood, literally!  After filling my childhood with memories of crafts and creativity, my mom went back to work in the marketing department of a bank.   She recently retired after a successful career in meeting/event planning and marketing. It was wonderful to see her so happy and relaxed after all the blood, sweat, tears and entire being that she put into her career.  This is after all, written for all the marketing moms out there—dads, you will get your turn next month.

Here is to all the moms and moms-to-be in my life and yours, many of whom are marketers, whether by career or by nature!   Being a mom, aunt, step-mom, etc. gives a unique perspective to any marketing program, especially since moms are often the major caregivers and decision makers in their households.

Happy mother days to all of the Moms in my life, especially my Mom! Thank you for holding the world on your shoulders all the while with smiles on your faces.

“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.” -Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

Here is a fascinating article in the New Yorker about the history of recessions and company spending.  Something to think about for those companies that are letting fear paralyze smart marketing decisions.

The New Yorker, The Financial Page, Hanging Tough

by James Surowiecki

April 20, 2009

In the late nineteen-twenties, two companies—Kellogg and Post—dominated the market for packaged cereal. It was still a relatively new market: ready-to-eat cereal had been around for decades, but Americans didn’t see it as a real alternative to oatmeal or cream of wheat until the twenties. So, when the Depression hit, no one knew what would happen to consumer demand. Post did the predictable thing: it reined in expenses and cut back on advertising. But Kellogg doubled its ad budget, moved aggressively into radio advertising, and heavily pushed its new cereal, Rice Krispies. (Snap, Crackle, and Pop first appeared in the thirties.) By 1933, even as the economy cratered, Kellogg’s profits had risen almost thirty per cent and it had become what it remains today: the industry’s dominant player.

You’d think that everyone would want to emulate Kellogg’s success, but, when hard times hit, most companies end up behaving more like Post. They hunker down, cut spending, and wait for good times to return. They make fewer acquisitions, even though prices are cheaper. They cut advertising budgets. And often they invest less in research and development. They do all this to preserve what they have. But there’s a trade-off: numerous studies have shown that companies that keep spending on acquisition, advertising, and R. & D. during recessions do significantly better than those which make big cuts. In 1927, the economist Roland Vaile found that firms that kept ad spending stable or increased it during the recession of 1921-22 saw their sales hold up significantly better than those which didn’t. A study of advertising during the 1981-82 recession found that sales at firms that increased advertising or held steady grew precipitously in the next three years, compared with only slight increases at firms that had slashed their budgets. And a McKinsey study of the 1990-91 recession found that companies that remained market leaders or became serious challengers during the downturn had increased their acquisition, R. & D., and ad budgets, while companies at the bottom of the pile had reduced them.

To continue reading, please follow this link.

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2009/04/20/090420ta_talk_surowiecki

PPR Company News

Paramount Public Relations is proud to share its recent success in local, national and international media relations, product and brand launches, national media tours, events and marketing and social media campaigns.

PPR Client News

Gizmine.com Launches at Consumer Electronic Show

Paramount conducted a successful media tour at the 2009 Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, NV with Japanese gadget retailers Dynamism.com and Gizmine.com. The Consumer Electronic Show is the world’s largest consumer electronic trade show attracting companies and media from around the globe. Paramount securing meetings and coverage with CNN, CNET, MSNBC, FOX, Urbandaddy.com, LAPTOP, BoingBoing, Tekzilla, T3, G4 among others.

MONTAUK SOFA’s Annual New York Media Tour

Paramount coordinates a yearly New York City media tour with carbon neutral furniture company Montauk Sofa.  Most recently, Paramount hosted a media tour with national editors to introduce them to Montauk Sofa’s new collection, Salvage collection and “Closing the Cycle” recycling program. National coverage included Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Country Living, Domino and Ty Pennington at Home, among others.

The Tie Bar’s Media Tour Preview

Paramount recently signed on with new client The Tie Bar, an online retailer offering department-store quality silk ties for just $15 each, and just completed New York City media tour with Lead Designer and CEO Greg Shugar. Paramount secured desk-side interviews with Maxim, Spin, Urbandaddy.com, Best Life, Brides, Cookie, The Knot, Modern Bride and Playboy magazines, among others.

One of Many Celebrity Events at Enclave

Paramount produces significant media coverage for Enclave Nightclub in Chicago’s celebrity events which include Carmen Electra’s Lingerie Fashion Show and Tennis Star Anna Kournikova’s Union League Boys & Girls Club Holiday Charity event. National and local coverage included Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Social, Michigan Avenue Magazine, Chicago Magazine, TimeOut Chicago, Redeye Chicago, Chicago Social, WKSC-FM (KISSFM), Chicagoist.com, Metromix, among others.

Marketing Texas de Brazil

As well as handling public relations for this national restaurant chain, Paramount also is involved in the planning and execution of Texas de Brazil’s marketing programs. Paramount executed a VIP program in several cities, outreaching to top executives and offering them a VIP dinner at the restaurant. Paramount also plans and coordinates ongoing concierge and meeting planner events, inviting local industry insiders to experience the restaurant. Other marketing programs include business lunches for local companies, discount offers and more.

Social Media Success with Lincoln Park Young Professionals

Paramount is executing a social media campaign on behalf of Lincoln Park Young Professionals to bring new attendees to LPYP’s ongoing events and expand their reach in Chicagoland. By creating, updating and managing their Facebook page, LPYP is now getting more than 25% of event attendees from the Facebook community, a new audience.

For more information, please contact Jessica Prah at 312-643-2460 or jprah@paramountpr.com.

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