Couture Designer and Business Woman Julia Suzuki featured in Viva Magazine

Fashion Designer Julia Suzuki talks about the launch of her couture collection and clears up tabloid speculations about Nick Knowles in VIVA Magazine

Businesswoman, author and now fashion designer Julia Suzuki talked
all things fashion, the launch of her couture label and clears up rumours about her romantic involvement with Nick Knowles and what her immediate future holds in Viva Magazine.

Read more about here.

 

Viva Magazine - Julia Suzuki - Couture Designer, Business Woman, Author

Julia Suzuki – Couture Designer, Business Woman, Author

Fashion Feature of Julia Suzuki Couture Gown in Viva Magazine

Julia Suzuki Couture Gown

6 reasons why you should enter business awards

Over the years we have worked and build brands through working on awards or nominating clients who went on to win awards. Their initial skepticism of being firstly a) worthy and b) if it was even worth the effort was always puzzling. However, each of them went on strength to strength to gain business and acclaim internationally. Having recently worked the Essex TV Awards and with the Fashions Finest Britain’s Top Designer Award coming up we thought we would cover the importance of entering awards.

London, England. 19 February 2017. Fashions Finest celebrates the fifth anniversary of the competition, “Britain’s Top Designer”. John Herrera, an innovative designer of Filipino heritage took the title. Featured in photo © Peter Hogan

Where ever you are on your business journey, just starting off or further along and no matter the size there are business/industry awards out there you can enter. The variety of awards can range from local to national industry-based or within a specific criterion. To find awards opportunities check with your local chamber of commerce, local and business press or simply search the internet.

 

Some awards may come with monetary prizes or other benefits like coaching, advice, workshops or further opportunity attached. Regardless it’s not all about winning!

Stretched resources often mean awards nominations are not always the top of the agenda. Here are six reasons why entering an award could be good for your business.

1.Free pr and marketing

Awards are frequently overlooked in your marketing arsenal. Being shortlisted can improve brand awareness and promote your business to new customers. Maximise PR exposure and update your marketing materials with the award logo including business cards, website, literature, email, and sales material. Share and celebrate the award resulting from your hard work and success and utilise great PR opportunities. Being recognised is great so it’s important to make sure that people know your achievement. Winning an award can open doors to getting contracts, finding new supply channels and breaking into new markets.

2.Benchmarking against peers

The application process for entering a business award often makes you look at your business from a different perspective and compare yourself to your competitors. Ensure that you stand out from the competition either through strategic thinking, innovation, diversity, growth, customer service or investment in people.This will identify processes and areas for improvement and is one way of benefiting your business regardless of winning the prize.

3.More credibility

An award win, shortlisting or nomination provides a 3rd party endorsement for your business and can signify a seal of approval and quality for potential customers. Your relationships with suppliers may also benefit. An award helps to differentiate your company from competitors in a positive way.

4.Improved Employee Motivation

Awards nomination and wins also reflect the hard work and achievements of your employees so win so, in turn, can boost staff morale and motivation.

It can focus staff attention on what’s great about the company they work for and instill pride in their work and the company. Leverage this opportunity by making giving your employees the recognition they deserve with a celebratory meeting, dinner or other activity to share the victory. Employees could be invited to the awards ceremony or dinner which can bond the team closer, yield networking opportunities and also be a great night out.

5.Attract talent

Business awards validate you as a great company to work for. This can attract the talent you need to propel your business forward. Don’t forget your motivated existing workforce will also enforce this notion.

6.An opportunity to treat clients and partners and attract new business

Awards are the best way to showcase the calibre of your work. Awards are the perfect backdrop for bonding with partners or customers. Winning or being a finalist improves client retention, and your clients will be chatting with their friends about how great you are. Word of mouth and personal recommendations are still the most influential factor in the buying process.

Glenn Tamplin

Glenn Tamplin Essex TV Awards

 

Essex TV Awards

Essex TV Awards – Winner: Pivaz Restaurant

 

 

Top 5 PR and Marketing stunts of 2017

The new year always calls for a review of the standout moments in most fields. The field of  PR & Marketing is no different. We picked the top five stand-out pr and marketing stunts of 2017 that encouraged change, had us thinking or simply cracking up with its downright cheeky humour.

Of course, they can also encourage and inspire to think outside the box and to keep looking at current trends with a fresh perspective or see opportunities that we wouldn’t have had otherwise.

 

5.

David Lloyds initiative to battle rising obesity with its ‘Run for your Bun campaign’ deserved a space amongst these top five. No cash or credit cards were required to pick and pay for your healthy lunch at its cafe, instead, punters literally rowed, jumped or ran for their meals.

 

 

4.

The worlds of tech and sport collided when sportswear giant created the ultimate pop-up for runners. It was the first LED running track where you could race against yourself. From birdseye view, the track was shaped like a running shoe. Check out Nike’s LED running track: 

 

3.

Taking one of the most boring products and making it exciting, Proctor and Noble’s Mr. Clean managed to amass a grand total of 11,700 mentions across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in just one minute.

 
2.
In their “World’s Apart” campaign, Heineken put people from opposed political and social worldviews in a room together. They then had them work through their differences toward a common goal.

1.
Hate him or loathe him but Pornhub managed to not only leverage the inauguration of Trump but made sure to stay relevant in the world of politics when its visitors to its site came across his speech. It went viral and gaining an influx of visitors.
Melanie Jones in Good Housekeeping Magazine January 2018

I had the pleasure to be featured in January 2018’s issue of Hearst’s Good Housekeeping Magazine, as one of five women chosen for a real-life feature titled 2018 Our Year To Shine!

Melanie Jones Good Housekeeping Magazine Jan 2018

Melanie Jones in Good Housekeeping Magazine January 2018

All of our journeys were different. We all had faced challenging times and are now looking forward to a new year and chose it as our time for a fresh start. Our stories ranged from death and becoming a carer to a parent (Sarah-Jane), surviving breast cancer (Juliet), achieving the desired weight loss (Kathryn), a career change later in life (Jenni) to letting go and moving forward after a painful divorce (me).

Melanie Jones PR, Good Housekeeping Magazine,

Melanie Jones founder of Melanie Jones PR featured in Good Housekeeping Magazine, Hearst Magazine

All these experiences are not the easiest to talk about and share let alone publically. Yet collectively we agreed the process was cathartic. It allowed us to process, let go and share the burden. Sharing our stories allowed us to demonstrate that life and business don’t require perfection but resilience, the willingness to take on challenges, grow with and learn from them and share the process in the hope that we may learn from one another.

We are all vulnerable and survivors in many ways. Showing our humanity makes us relatable and able to connect. It’s the relief of recognising, “Oh my, she struggled too! She made it out the other end! She achieved and is achieving her goals despite or maybe even because of what life is throwing at her! I C-A-N do it too!” The stories of my fellow interviewees moved, encouraged, inspired, and motivated me.

The feature included a bit of each of our journeys but we were also treated to some major pampering, and breakfast and a delicious lunch. And most of all a makeover prior to the photoshoot. I was invited to Charlotte Mensah’s award-winning salon The Hair Lounge in Portobello on a Friday and in true VIP style, a car was sent to deliver me. There I was treated by the amazing hair stylist herself who to a contouring colour technique and highlights to sections of my hair. Of course, I couldn’t leave without her coveted award-winning Manketti Oil. The actual shoot took place the following week.

Arriving first thing I entered the Hearst headquarters and was directed upstairs to a large studio space.

I was greeted by buzzing activity but a very warm and friendly team; one of the most personable beauty editors I have come across Gillian Davies, the Bare Minerals make-up team Liz and Georgina, nail technician Tracy Dudziak at Opi and the hair team headed by the wonderful celebrity hair guru Laurence Close, one of the nicest people to meet.

Stylist Emma Bigger managed to surprise me with items I would have never considered but absolutely adored as she pulled my look together. Liam Duke managed to get all of us ladies comfortable and relaxed in front of his camera and captured some beautiful images.

Check out Good Housekeeping Magazine here: http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/news/mary-berry-christmas-tips-january-cover-star

Melanie Jones, Good Housekeeping, Melanie Jones PR, Mary Berry

Front Cover of Good Housekeeping Magazine with TV chef Mary Berry inside real-life feature on Melanie Jones founder of Melanie Jones PR

Richard Riakporhe features in the Friday 13th campaign by Casinopedia.org
Does Friday 13th make you shudder?

Friday 13th is here once again and for the 49 million Brits who fear it most, chances are they will be sat indoors with their fingers firmly crossed waiting for it to be over. The superstition itself is said to stem from early Christianity, as Jesus Christ was crucified on a Friday and Judas Iscariot was the 13th guest at the Last Supper. Add them both together and what do you get? The most feared date in the calendar…

Another historical belief is that the fear of Friday 13th generated from King Philip IV of France, as he commanded for hundreds of Templar Knights to be arrested on Friday 13th, 1307. After their arrest, they were tortured and burned alive. Freak events in recent history, such as a 13-year-old boy being struck by lightning on Friday 13th and the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 that crashed on Friday 13th in 1972, make it hard to believe that it is all a spooky coincidence. Especially as the 16 survivors of the crash had to resort to cannibalism to survive.

Friday 13th is a date that is still feared in everyday life. Richard Riakporhe, Professional Boxer, worries about superstition and Friday 13th when it comes down to his fights. He said: “I would feel slightly cautious because of so much stigma being attached to that date. I tend to say a prayer not asking for victory in my duel but to protect myself and my opponent in case of potentially life-threatening injuries.

“Also growing up watching a vast amount of superstitious horror movies since youth has left that percentage of doubt in me that something could possibly go wrong on fight night.”


A new research study that explores the most feared date of the year has found that most people still believe it is a dangerous day. A definitive guide to the unluckiest day of the year that will make even the most sceptical of people shudder has been created. The piece explores the history and origins of the spooky date, as well as the recent terrifying events that have taken place on the day and celebrity related Friday 13th facts. Check out the research here, if you dare…

Richard Riakporhe, casinopedia.org, Friday 13th, professional boxer, cruise weight,

Friday 13th, campaign, Casinopedia.org, news portal and guide to online casinos

This campaign along with Richards comment was featured in national media like The Mirror, The Sun, The Daily Brit.

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