Truth is, when we create a story, we like to think we sit where the journalist sits, seeing its newsworthy potential through their eyes. Whether it’s consumer brand PR, corporate, B2B or International EMEA/PR.

We love editorial.

When a good story deserves telling, we’ll use every PR technique to do it. At Starfish PR, we provide full service, long-term support for consumer brands. But we’re happy with an exciting project too! We thrive on a good story. And so do our clients.

Starfish has been exceptional as Dremel’s PR agency; having generated a record coverage of 607 quality editorial articles in 2014 with a reach of 428m. It is no coincidence that Dremel has achieved record sales over the last 3 years with increased brand awareness.  Starfish has been an extension and integral part of the Dremel UK Marketing Team. The team’s experience means they can move quickly and creatively to action proactive and reactive opportunities alike, and are as passionate and committed to the brand as we are.

Bejul Shah, Regional Brand Manager, Robert Bosch Ltd

For nearly 30 years, we’ve told our clients’ brand stories by crafting a bit of magic onto hard-working, results-driven programmes.

Our plans are borne of insightful thinking. The mix we create for you has greater credibility and resonance with your target audience than other more costly aspects of the marketing mix. And that’s because it all has to stand up to scrutiny from the press. Getting the media’s backing. Making your message more powerful. That’s us.

As the Market Leader in Navigation, and with an aggressive roadmap of new products in different categories, TomTom tasked Starfish with not only maintaining awareness of existing products, but also building awareness of our innovations.  Their enthusiasm and hard work, paired with an unparalleled ability to secure excellent relevant coverage, has made our 6 year partnership very successful.  And long may it continue…

Tom Brown, Vice President – UK, ROI & Nordics, Consumer at TomTom

Over 200 big brands, blue-chip companies and consumer services have entrusted us with their PR since we began.

…In a period covering nearly seven years, we have been extremely impressed with their approach to the fast-moving world of digital photography. To survive, let alone make progress in such a competitive environment is difficult enough, but Starfish has been resilient and innovative throughout, greatly assisting Samsung to make spectacular gains in the marketplace. The Starfish brief has been to maximise and enhance Samsung’s presence with key target groups of customers. Their activities have enabled our marketing funds to be put to the best possible use and I feel they have given extremely good value for our money. Certainly it would be ideal if all our marketing money could be spent so efficiently! Samsung Camera has become a major influence in the world of digital photography and Starfish has played a significant part in our success.

Gary J Banks, Sales and Marketing Director, Samsung Opto-Electronics (UK) Ltd

So, if you want thought-provoking, attention-grabbing exposure, that tells your brand story across a vast array of media, talk to us.

With our media understanding, we have the ability to translate your objectives into what the media needs. Good strong newsworthy storytelling. Our ideas are valuable. We won’t pitch but give us a project and we’ll prove ourselves. We’re really good at generating the most important thing to push your business forward: editorial endorsement.

As the leading pharmacy chain in the UK, Lloydspharmacy chose to work with Starfish because of their retail experience, enthusiasm for our brand and proven track record. The results being achieved are above expectations. Starfish has managed to secure a quality of coverage that is rarely achieved for any commercial organisation. Of particular note is the recent TV news coverage which could not have been bettered if we’d filmed it ourselves!  We are now at the point in our collaboration where Starfish is no longer seen as an agency – but as an integral part of the Lloydspharmacy Commercial Team.

Mark Green, Commercial Director, Lloydspharmacy 

Our clients have been in pet food, toiletries and DIY to food & drink, healthcare and travel. From retail, consumer tech and personal finance to entertainment, media, fashion and home & garden. To name but a few…

Support from the media is hard to earn but worth its weight in gold! We use e-press releases, media interviews, video & photoshoots, press trips, media-backed events and sponsorships, seeding & buzz and influencer activation.

The Financial Times feature generated by Starfish was one of the most important things that’s happened to Alpha Telecom – both in terms of business development and in raising the company’s profile amongst potential business partners.  It has opened the door for us to two major players in the industry, with whom we have commenced discussions on very significant business deals.

Colin Loubser, Marketing Director, Alpha Telecom Communications Ltd

Our programmes are centred around the lifestyles, desires, ambitions and needs of your target audience. Whether they are consumers or a business stakeholder group, we care about what they want. Then we make your message relevant to them.

We have worked with Starfish for six years and are delighted with their ability to put our brand in front of the key journalists in our sector, create platforms for our launch products via consumer promotions on editorial space and even run small consumer ads online and in print, as well as advertorials in the trade press. All this has helped us to create great brand awareness for One For All and turn us into experts in the busy TV accessories market.  

Hemco Arentsen, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, One For All

We’ve worked in every market you can think of…

Kraft set stretching objectives for Starfish for the Kenco Ice Cappio launch but the agency exceeded our expectations. Their business understanding, creativity and tenacity have all helped to deliver some first class results.

Hazel Middleton, Consumer Care & Nutritional Services Manager, Kraft Foods Ltd

Beauty:
Ahava Dermud

Starfish re-positioned the premium Ahava Dermud skincare range to a middle youth female consumer.  Celebrity and word of mouth work among style leaders, plus, offers and competitions, sampling at fashion shows and exhibitions all helped to back a new listing at Boots.

Oral/Body Care:
Colgate Palmolive

Starfish was Colgate-Palmolive’s sole agency across all PR and BTL communication for Colgate-Palmolive for five years leading EU programmes.  Activity covered all issues and crisis management, unique programmes to launch all key NPD, and Oral Health Month. A core Press Office function promoted all key product ranges throughout the year.  Total OTS in one year equalled 250 million equating to a reach of 70% of all adults in the UK, an average of 6.8 times each – or 472 GRPs.  Year-on-year tracking showed all evaluation metrics on a continual upward curve – demonstrating the value of a long-term relationship.

Vitamins:
Centrum 50+

Starfish launched new Centrum 50+ to the generation that invented the Social Revolution in the 1960’s with the aim of convincing them that vitamin supplementation is not just for the elderly.  A CD of The Who’s greatest hits accompanied press material along with research on ageing gracefully – inside and out.

Health:
Lloydspharmacy

Starfish’s brief was to position Lloydspharmacy, the leading community pharmacy chain, as experts in healthcare advice. The campaign comprised consumer news creation, themed press events, broadcast and spokesperson profiling. In the first 9 months, the campaign resulted in 330 cuttings delivering 105m opportunities to see at a cost per thousand OTS of £2.67.

Grooming:
Wilkinson Sword

Starfish generated huge exposure for Wilkinson Sword’s latest product innovations. The campaign for Quattro, the world’s first four-bladed razor, achieved 259 articles reaching 74% of men aged 16-35 four times each. 129 pieces of coverage were generated  for Intuition, the women’s razor that lathers and shaves in one, reaching 63% of 25-44 women 3 x’s over.

Retail:
Whittard

Starfish’s brief was to re-energise the brand and increase footfall in-store.  Utilising the more contemporary impulse-purchase side of Whittard’s range, funky and amusing ‘hero’ products were highlighted to the media for inclusion in seasonal gifting features – giving Whittard a younger, wittier personality.

Wine:
Monsoon Valley Thai Wines

Starfish supported Monsoon Valley Thai wines, specifically created to complement the complex spicy flavours of Thai food.  Editorial promotions: “Thai wine for Thai food – meant to be together”, a press trip to Monsoon Valley vineyards in Thailand, and a business story on New Latitude Wines accompanied sampling activity and consumer media relations.  Trade press interviews over Thai press lunches provided information for trade features.

Style:
Grand Marnier

Starfish helped to re-position Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge by promoting it as the perfect enhancer of premium cocktails in up-market style bars, restaurants and hotels. Our cocktail bar at Elysium’s first birthday party spawned tie-ups with Blakes hotel, Gorgeous Dating, Jeremy Hoye celebrity jeweller and Inside Soap Awards.  Sales were up by 10% in just nine months.

Chocolate:
Lindt

Lindt asked Starfish to run its hard working press office across its entire product range, including special focus on Valentine’s and Mother’s Day, as well as Christmas.  We also supported an Easter roadshow with activities for families and a ‘chocolate oasis’ experience for the Excellence brand.  A year round campaign for the Lindor brand included sampling at fashion, retail and beauty events nationwide.

Beer:
Kronenbourg 1664

Starfish’s brief was to launch Kronenbourg 1664’s new bottle emphasising its style credentials and the French-ness of the brand. French-themed viral marketing, men’s online promotions; offers; product placement at MTV Music Awards, Select Model Party, PlayStation 2 and Loaded Calendar’s launch parties put the new bottle into opinion-forming hands.

Kids:
Early Learning Centre

Early Learning Centre, the premier pre-school retailer, used Starfish to raise its profile with New Mums and parents of 0-6’s. Activity included a series of research initiatives into the value of play designed to generate extensive coverage across broadcast, national and women’s media. Starfish achieved the highest levels of coverage (476 pieces), highest impact score (up 19% year-on-year) and the highest reach of its target audience (73.1%) since Early Learning Centre’s records began 4 years prior.

Entertainment:
Lovefilm.com

Starfish’s launch of Lovefilm’s DVD rental service by post reached a total of 3.5 million industry influencers, while our consumer activity was seen by 3.7 million film enthusiasts via online promotions and quality sponsored activity with The Sunday Times The Month, handbag.com and Metro, as well as, sign-up activity at Bluewater and sponsorship of the Best British Feature at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Film:
Warner Bros Consumer Products

Starfish promoted WBCP’s merchandising expertise to current and potential licensees, the consumer, staff and the entertainment industry itself across the EMEA. PR programmes supported: Harry Potter, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo and other much-loved Warner Bros properties.

Gaming:
EA Games / Sports / Sports Big

Starfish launched new computer games for EA: F1 2002, WW11 epic Medal of Honor, extreme motorcross game Freekstyle, superheroes Freedom Force and Lego Football Mania. Intensive media relations, promotions and feature placement, plus viral work were used. Over 350 pieces of editorial coverage were achieved in six months.

Tweens:
Cartoon Network

Starfish’s role was to drive excitement around the Powerpuff Girls TV series, as screened on Cartoon Network and C5, with journalists, mums and tweens. Media product placement, small-scale sponsorships and broadcast promotions resulted. Coverage reached a massive 7.4 million consumers at a mere cost of £3 per 1,000.

Comms:
Telewest

Starfish was asked to promote new products and services to teens and gate-keeping adults in the home, such as its fixed-rate internet surfing product, free local calls, Front Row, Active Digital and so on.  We created a news creation strategy spearheaded by a national launch looking at adult and teen understanding of web language.

Money:
Mastercard

Mastercard worked with Starfish for six years amplifying its sponsorship of the BRIT and MOBO Awards.  Communicating the ‘Priceless’ ad line through partnership promotions and news creation delivered national coverage each year reaching over 30 million consumers and a 3.5 times ROI.  The MOBO awards campaign was designed to bring the award to life and build credibility for MasterCard within music.

TV:
One For All

Starfish was hired to build awareness of the One For All TV accessories brand: simple, meaningful, universal aerials, remote controls, signal splitters and other home entertainment kit. Now in its seventh year, Starfish’s remit comprises new product launches, consumer and trade media relations, trade press advertorials, print advertising and subscription offers. With 190 pieces of coverage, over 130 million consumers have been reached in the last 12 months at a cost of 30p per 1000.

Wearables and in-car tech:
TomTom

We have worked with TomTom for the past six years to support their consumer tech portfolio of sports watches and navigation systems. Their running watches have been extensively featured in lifestyle and fitness media, including every single UK national newspaper, whilst their sat navs have been reviewed no fewer than 200 times in the past 12 months. Our most recent project, the authoritative Traffic Index, reached over 500 million people and profiles of their management team have also run in the broadsheets.

Photos:
Samsung Cameras

For six years, Starfish promoted Samsung’s range of innovative digital cameras. Our press office fought off the competition to allow entry into the national, men’s lifestyle and gadget press reaching ‘high life seekers’.  We also targeted family, business and fashion groups directly. In our final year, we achieved 175 GRPs, 78 million OTS reaching 59% of all 24 – 44 ABC1 UK adults with children at home three x’s each with an AVE 22 x’s greater than the budget!

Travel:
Discovery Home & Leisure TV Channel

Starfish drove ratings for Discovery Home & Leisure bringing to life the quirky programme content.  National press supplements, crucial TV listings pages and ‘pick of the day’ slots responded.  Features on restoring boats, an E-type jag, an old apple store, growing vegetables and the attempt at a No.1 record for Norman Wisdom in Albania followed… and ratings rose!

Home:
Jacuzzi/BC Sanitan/Astracast

For three years, Starfish ran a busy press office to support launches from the technologically innovative Jacuzzi® bathroom and shower collection, fun-filled Jacuzzi® Hot Tubs range, luxury B C Sanitan bathrooms and stylish Astracast kitchens, sinks and taps.  In its final year, Starfish reached 50 million consumers through quality editorial coverage in all the key homes magazines, national newspapers, colour supplements and women’s magazines, as well as, online and trade PR.  

Sport:
Buxton Mineral Water/Wimbledon

Across four years, Starfish handled all consumer and trade communications for Buxton, the UK’s fastest growing mineral water brand. Activity included promoting Buxton’s status as the official mineral water to the Wimbledon Championships and other grass roots tennis initiatives: from British Women’s Tennis to the Cliff Richard Tennis School. PR also amplified the brand’s support for Cancer Research UK’s fundraising Race for Life campaign.

DIY:
Dremel/Bosch

Bosch Green, Dremel and RotoZip brands hired Starfish to explain their brand proposition, reveal their new products, run their press offices and explain the technology behind their USPs. For seven years, Starfish has undertaken brand awareness programmes in the UK – and for Dremel, as the lead agency across the whole of the EMEA for four years. In each year, PR evaluation showed marked increases in reach, value and return on investment.

We keep it real. We take advantage of technology, so we’re virtual. We work any place, any time, anywhere. We’re flexible and intuitive. We’re instantly responsive. We’re here for you.

To discuss your PR requirements, please contact Sally or Julien.

Sally Fearfield:
sally@starfishpr.london,
07770 655467

Julien Speed:
julien@starfishpr.london,
07721 790112

Landline:
020 7323 2121

LinkedIn:
Sally Fearfield or Julien Speed

CIPR Excellence Awards Judge 2015, 2011 and 2010

Finalist in the CIPR Excellence Awards 2013 – Automotive

PR Week Awards Judges 2012

Highly Commended in the PR Week Awards 2011 – Technology

Finalist in the CIPR Excellence Awards 2011 – Consumer Relations

Finalist in the CIPR Excellence Awards 2011 – Automotive

Finalist in the CIPR Excellence Awards 2010 – Consumer Relations

Highly Commended in the PR Week Awards 2010 – Healthcare (Ethical and OTC consumer)