Work heats up with season shift!

As spring and summer approaches, the people of Perth are losing layers and day by day smiling brighter about the good riddance that is winter! There is a supposed excitement about the town that comes from knowing the seasons are to change and we are soon to be in the midst of care-free summer frivolity. For anyone that has ever worked on a new season fashion launch will know that this easy optimistic serenity I speak of does not exist, but excitement does!

The past few weeks have been the best (and steepest) learning cures I have ever experienced! With staff shortages and shuffles for a variety of reasons I really got to sink my teeth into some fantastic PR and Marketing projects leading into the Spring/Summer Fashion season for Westfield Carousel!

To get our centre, retailers, customers and staff #SSReady (spring Summer Ready), the summer fashion program consists of several events, new promotional installations, fresh collateral, new competitions and (one of the most important aspects this season ;) social media engagement. To utilize the marketing efforts of our social media sites best  the tagline for the campaign is ‘#SSReady’ next time you’re googling away have a search; you might just find some tips!

One of the big learning’s I have attained of the past few weeks (as I am sure many of my colleagues would be finding also),is the importance of presenting with clarity a consistent  message to across all promotional channels. With so many competitions on, new store openings, events needed attending prioritizing web space, mall promotional activations and direct marketing is a challenge constantly grappled with! We don’t want to bombard customers, but we want to create the most awareness as possible for these campaigns and deliver the best possible results for our retailers!

On particular event that was successful for our retailers and customers was our very first Westfield Carousel VIP day! The day treated 300 of our lucky customers to special offers and deals, lolly buffet, mocktails, goody bags, free style advice, make-up touch ups, express hand massages, hair curling, eye brow waxing, entertainment and more! The day was so much fun and really fostered my love for event planning and activation.

To see the full report for the day click here.

Alternately, I have attached a photo of my colleagues and I below:

A Fast Paced PR Lifestyle. .

I have loved everyday of my placement and I don't want it to end but the one thing I've realised during this placement is that there is always so much to do and too little time to do it when you have four jobs and uni! Luckily I work best when I'm under pressure and have a lot to do. I think thats why I have realised that this is the career I want to be in and one that I can be successful in.

Ive always known that the PR Industry is a fast paced industry that doesn't operate in the confinements of a 9-5 work day, but I think thats what has appealed to me as well.  

Since my last post my mentor has moved back to Paris and I have been communicating and working for her through emails and phone meetings. Although the last thing I expected to be doing was working for someone on the other side of the world, it has been an opportunity for me to establish communication and organisational skills and the ability to trust my instincts. This has allowed me to work more independently under the direction of the Company Director which has been a scary but amazing opportunity! Following Globcom I have now had two semesters practice constructing proposals through online means- but practice makes perfect right?! 

This placement has opened up the opportunity for me to let my creativity flow and make suggestions in all areas of the company, stretching from client proposals, to the company's image and uniformity throughout all official documents. At the beginning of my placement, I personally approached the Director and asked to redesign the media release template, along with numerous other small tasks to contribute to developing the company's image. Through doing so I have been asked to implement some of these ideas including designing media release layouts for all regular clients of 32dsg. Following this I am now asked to proof and edit all media releases before they are sent out to clients and the media. This has developed a uniform layout for all media releases distributed by the consultancy and has given me the chance to develop my media release writing skills, while also providing me with confidence in my ability to develop suitable media releases for numerous clients.

This placement has also given me the opportunity to think outside the square and have in put to company decisions. I have been asked to attend numerous meetings, have been given the opportunity to have input in all areas of PR in the business and have even made it to the website! My mentor even calls me the 'PR Guru'- thats got to mean I'm doing something right!