Welcome to
my PR Professional Placement Reflective Blog!
To
be different does not mean to consistently stand out from the crowd, but to
ensure that your actions reflect that of originality and innovation.
It is
through this notion that I chose to complete my placement at the Jones Lang
LaSalle division of one40william.
My name is
Alexandra Wheeler as a student as Curtin University, completing my final units
of a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Public Relations I am
excited to share my experiences whilst interning at one40wiliam.
Jones La LaSalle (JLL) is a firm that focuses on the professional real estate service
industry and provides such services to clients in 70 countries. With more than
200 corporate offices and 1, 000 locations worldwide, JLL has a high standard
of real estate service experience. JLL is the managing agent for 140 Perth (the retail sector)
of one40william building and development in the CBD.
“The Difference is 140”
Throughout
my placement I will be working in the one40william office along side my mentor
Kristi Dempster (Marketing and Tenant Service Manager). My work will be
centered on public relations and marketing strategies assisting in developing
the 140 retail segment.
GRAB THAT OPPORTUNITY
I was able
to gain my placement through an opportunity of volunteering with Perth Fashion
Festival in September 2011. As the 140 brand was involved with the festival, an
email was forwarded by Perth Fashion Festival event manager Jacqui Brown on behalf
of one40william to the volunteers. I jumped at the opportunity to complete an
internship with one40william.
I was
attracted to the vibrant and modern concept of the brand and the building
itself. After emailing Kristi I was asked to come in for an interview. I
researched the construction of the one40william building and the 140 brand to
ensure I was prepared for questions on the organisation. Nervous but excited, I
completed my interview and was ecstatic to receive a personal phone call from
Kristi two days later informing me that I had gained one of the two exclusive
internship placements at one40william.
It had
really sunk in that the interview and communication skills that I had learnt
from tutors and lecturers had been put into practice and paid off. It was the
end of 2011, I had already cemented my placement for second semester 2012…and
then it hit me, it was the experience and volunteering I had completed the past
two years that assisted me in landing this placement.
IT ALL BEGINS…
I commenced
my placement on the 9th of August and my first two weeks (I had one
week off) have already flown by. The corporate environment at one40william is
warm and welcoming, with all employees presenting such experience and
knowledge.
I began my
experience by reading and reviewing past Marketing Plans and Public Relations
Plans. This essential information provided me with a cement understanding and
knowledge of the direction of the 140 brand. To ensure that I gained a further
insight into 140’s brand values I studied past newsletters, the website (http://www.140.com.au/) and
social media channels (http://www.facebook.com/140Perth).
A regular
role that I conduct each morning when I arrive is to collect media clippings
that are about or mention one40william, competitors (enex100, Carillion City,
Claremont Quarter or Forrest Chase) and details on the retail industry. The
clippings are collected from newspapers and then strategically displayed and
filed in an organised manner.
Liaising
with the retailers within 140 has become a consistent role that I conduct. This
is to ensure that the retailers receive important and relevant information
regarding the re-development stage that 140 is about to enter.
I attended a
social media meeting with Kristi regarding the development of 140’s Instagram
photo feed. The meeting reviewed the goals that are to be achieved and the
specific requirements of the photo’s that are to be posted. I was then given
the opportunity to venture out and take photo’s of the retailers products and
the 140 building.
THE
DIFFERENCE IS 140
After my
first two weeks I have been exposed to amazing experiences and practices that I
could only learn through an internship. I have gained a larger insight into the
140 brand, realizing it is not only a retailing driven sector of one40william
but a brand that promotes itself and its values. The promotional avenue taken
by 140 is creative and innovative, thus highlighting the 140 brand tagline, “The
140 Difference”.
Experience is the key to knowledge and understanding, and this
experience is worthwhile!
More 140 adventures next time!
Alexandra Wheeler
