Blog : UK

UBISOFT UK APPOINTS STRIPE FOR CONSUMER AND CORPORATE PR BRIEF
Stripe Communications

UBISOFT UK APPOINTS STRIPE FOR CONSUMER AND CORPORATE PR BRIEF

We are delighted to announce that we’ve been appointed by Ubisoft UK as the retained agency for its consumer and corporate PR, working alongside the in-house PR team. Our brief is to deliver creative PR communications plans supporting all of Ubisoft’s major video game launches in the UK including Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Watch_Dogs 2 and South Park: The Fractured But Whole. In addition to this, we’ll support the French video games giant with corporate positioning and issues management in the UK.

Ubisoft logoThe account will be managed by our London office and will report in to the Ubisoft UK marketing and PR team with work having commenced from June 2016.

Mark Slaughter, Ubisoft UK Marketing Director, said, “Stripe have demonstrated a quality of creative thinking that will deliver real impact to our national campaigns this year. The team showed strength in that they could not only deliver great product campaigns but also help us realise our ambition to be recognised as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands.”

Stripe’s London office is headed up by Managing Director, Chris Stevenson, who joined in January 2016 and has overseen the rapid growth of the agencies client roster which includes Magners, Paddy Power and now Ubisoft.

 

Is whisky suffering an identity crisis?
Morna McLelland

Is whisky suffering an identity crisis?

I attended an event this week at the £3million freshly refurbished Scotch Whisky Experience that got me thinking; with other tipples like gin, craft beers and even wine (apparently ‘wine punks’ is an actual thing) experiencing shake-ups, challengers and consumption renaissance, why is Scotch finding it so hard to join the party?

Undoubtedly whisky is one of the UK’s greatest exports (38 bottles were shipped overseas every second in 2015, generating £3.95billion for the UK balance of trade), building this success on quality, craftsmanship and provenance. But as it continues to wrestle with itself on how to attract younger UK consumers, so essential for sustained growth, whisky may be being shackled by the very image it’s strived to create.

On the one hand an appreciation of the finest spirit, lovingly and slowly created, to be taken seriously, savoured and appreciated, and on the other, the declaration that there are no rules, no drinking rituals (to add water or not), cocktails are fair game and hey, just have it your way. It will be argued each has their place, but are they complementary or contradictory?

Now I totally understand the importance of history, of brand essence rooted in truth and of premium product quality, and I’m certainly not advocating throwing the baby out with the bathwater (there are some whisky brands doing really beautiful, unique things), but there are lessons to be learned from other heritage brands – Mulberry, Burberry or Pringle – that have successfully managed to marry time-honoured craftsmanship with contemporary appeal and aspiration. The way these brands are choosing to make and market themselves in a way relevant to consumers today is critical – both to current growth and to future longevity.

Having worked in-house at The Glenmorangie Company after its sale to LVMH, a whole ‘new world’ of whisky marketing was embraced. It was different. It was exciting. It was refreshing. Today there are some whiskies; Haig, Ardbeg, Bruichladdich that I believe are doing it differently; creatively attracting, engaging and targeting (younger) audiences, but they are in the minority.

So while there are buffs who may consider this post in itself blasphemy, without adapting to the digital expectations and marketing savvy sophistication of modern, younger consumers, whisky could be in danger of alienating the very drinkers it will come to rely on.

Stripe secures Midori UK digital & PR brief
Stripe Communications

Stripe secures Midori UK digital & PR brief

We’re raising a glass here at Stripe after being appointed by Maxxium UK to handle digital and PR services for its melon liqueur brand Midori.

Fact: the distinctive green liqueur was first launched in 1978 at the legendary Studio 54 – arguably the world’s most famous nightclub in its day.

We’ll be shaking up a cocktail of digital and social strategy development, community management, CRM and influencer outreach as well as traditional consumer and trade PR and communications.

It’s all aimed at building awareness among the core consumer targets to strengthen the brand’s emotional connection with fans.

Maxxium’s Nick Barker, who is Brand Manager – liqueurs, had this to say about us: “Stripe’s pitch demonstrated a thorough understanding of the Midori brand and target audience. They have created a compelling digital and comms strategy to help us deliver, and it’s great to have them on board”.

It’s an exciting brief – cheers!

Stripe Communications named best UK agency
Stripe Communications

Stripe Communications named best UK agency

Scotland-based Stripe Communications was named Outstanding PR Consultancy at the national CIPR Excellence Awards in London yesterday (Tuesday 17 June, 2014), becoming the first Scottish agency in the awards history to scoop the top prize.

Held annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), the awards recognise the best in the communications industry, bringing together over 150 leading public relations consultancies, freelancers and in-house teams competing for the 30 individual awards.

The Outstanding Consultancy award recognises the achievements, performance and excellent work of a public relations consultancy over the past three years.

Stripe’s win comes after a successful start to 2014, which has seen continued business expansion and significant new client wins. With offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Stripe Communications continues to grow in numbers and reputation.

Juliet Simpson, Managing Director of Stripe Communications, said

“Becoming the first ever Scottish agency to win this award fills us with pride and tops a fantastic year to date for Stripe. I’m incredibly proud to see the team’s hard work recognised by the industry on a national scale. With the eyes of the world on Scotland this summer, there’s never been a more exciting time to be a ‘Stripe’ as we look to build on our reputation as the UK’s best PR agency.” Judges for the awards, commented: “We were hugely impressed by Stripe Communications’ focus on staff, including excellent internal communications; a mentoring scheme and Stripe’s delivery on its objective to be the industry leader for working parents. “Their tenacity with smaller budgets, straight talking no nonsense approach and immersion into clients’ businesses set them apart with the results seen in terms of staff retention, strong track record of business growth, premium client wins and a winning company culture.”