Brits’ dream destinations

Want to get in on the Great British themes of this year but don’t know where to start?  Here’s the latest list of Unmissable solutions for creating the perfect British prize promotion.  These are intended as idea generators and will fit a range of budgets, so call us if you’d like to get in on the action this summer:

• Make the most of British summertime by offering a Great British BBQ party hosted in the winner’s home, complete with a private chef and plenty of British cuisine and summer drinks to boot.
• Celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee in style with a vintage tea party in the winner’s home, complete with beautiful British crockery to show off to their friends.
• Get the garden ready!  For a summer full of great British BBQs, offer a complete garden makeover.
• Ok so it may have been done before, but boy it’s good and eye catching.  Give away a Great British Road Trip in a retro camper van.  Take it to a festival with VIP access and we’ll also throw in a British hamper with packed with Jubilee themed goodies. Camper branding also possible.
• Throw a traditional British seaside break on pack, but this time with a difference; stay in a gypsy caravan complete with a hot tub.
• Offer a choice of BBQ adventures; winner’s get to pick their perfect location from a list of hot spots around the world.
• Why not offer a host of prizes instead. We can suggest some quintessentially British choice experience vouchers, where the winner can choose from a whole host of uniquely British experiences.
• Offer the chance to learn the sport of kings with a one to one polo lesson from a champion player & stay in a hotel deep in the Surrey countryside, complete with Aston Martin (and to be safe, an umbrella).
• For smaller budgets, how about a ‘win a weekend in Brighton with high tea at the Royal Pavilion’. Combine this with a trip on the Orient Express and it’s a real winner.
• How about the chance to ‘Live like a royal’.  Offers the chance to be treated like royalty in London on a weekend break staying at Reubens at the Palace, a luxury boutique hotel within a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace.  Winners will get to see a top London show with a designated host for the evening and a champagne reception and enjoy skip the line entry to Buckingham Palace for their chance to spot royalty.
• Be King of the Castle - this fascinating 13th century fortress is set within acres of wooded parkland on the picturesque banks of the river Esk. From the moment winners arrive to this, one of the finest luxury hotels in Scotland, a warm welcome awaits. With the chance to relax in the spa, enjoy a drink from the ‘secret bar’ next to the open fire, dining in the ancient barrel vaulted dungeon or relaxing in a unique castle bedroom, they’ll feel every inch a royal for the weekend.
• It’s not all about London.  So how about a luxury stay at the Royal Crescent in stunning Bath. The world’s finest crescent is one of the great set-piece masterpieces of European architecture, the most breathtaking feature in one of the world’s most elegant and enchanting cities. It’s hard to imagine a more splendid setting for this supremely elegant hotel that harks back to a time of extravagant luxury and exemplary refinement…and the stunning gardens are Bath’s best kept secret! A stay to remember and can be tailored to suit any budget.
• Best of British dinner party in your own home.  Offer consumers the chance to invite their friends round to be treated like royalty with a gourmet dinner party in their own home. For those brands aligning with a love of gourmet food & great cooking, there is no tastier prize treat than offering a delicious meal cooked by a high profile chef at home.  Our chef was inspired by her lifetime passion for food and creating culinary masterpieces, as well as appearing on BBC2’s Master Chef and works for numerous high profile clients & celebrities. Depending on your budget, this could even be stepped up to  Michelin starred (British) chef.
• How about this?  The chance to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee in style with a Ritz-style garden party.  Winners will have their lawns transformed into a gloriously traditional garden party, offering all those that attend the chance to pretend that they’re just like the Queen (or Oscar Wilde for that matter). Includes private chef to travel to the winners home to cook a magnificent Ritz-style afternoon tea and organise the garden party event ,uniformed waitresses on hand all afternoon to serve food and drink, bespoke initiations designed and  sent out to each of the guests,capri tent in the winners garden, Jubilee decorations including bunting, flags, fairy lights, cushions, children’s play area,  giant Jenga, drinks, Ritz-style afternoon tea with homemade scones, selection of indulgent cakes, sandwiches and pastries all served from vintage tea sets and tiered serving platters all from the freshest seasonal ingredients and a live band. Phew. What a banquet.

Unmissable’s hot off the shelf unique new prize experience will really knock the socks off your next promotion. These are Hollywood stunt driving experiences like no other.

Prize option 1 - FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, PRECISION STUNTS FROM BOURNE IDENTITY, RONIN & THE ITALIAN JOB

Based at Silverstone, this unique adrenaline experience offers you the chance to learn and faithfully replicate some of the most famous precision stunts from major box office hit action movies. Over an intensive three hour course you will be instructed and mentored by professional racing driver and stunt man Sam Maher Loughnan. Sam was mentored by the legendary Bobby Ore in California and has worked on movies such as Gone In Sixty Seconds, Dukes of Hazzard and more recently Drive starring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. He has also appeared on Fifth Gear and The Gadget Show.

Minimum of 10, maximum of 15 people for a 3 hour intensive course includes:

• Two instructors/stunt men

• Sam Maher Loughnan (senior stunt choreographer)

• Bradley Ellis (assistant stunt co-ordinator)

• 2 Cars (2 mini coopers)

• 2 sets of spare tires

• Track hire for the day @ Silverstone

• Light breakfast (bacon rolls, Danish pastries, tea, coffee and mineral water) and/or light lunch*

*Depending on whether group opts for a morning or afternoon session

Additional extras

Merchandise to include long sleeve “professional stunt man” tees and bumper stickers

Supercars/high performance vehicles

Pro Cameraman film with Z1 and 2 in car cameras (Go Pro)

Professional edit and delivery of DVD

*Additional cost charged as a supplement (must be pre-booked/pre-ordered)

Prize option 2 (REAR WHEEL DRIVE) STUNTS FROM BULLITT, DUKES OF HAZZARD & THE FAST & THE FURIOUS

Based at Silverstone, this unique adrenaline experience offers you the chance to learn and faithfully replicate some of the most famous precision stunts from major box office hit action movies. Over an intensive three hour course you will be instructed and mentored by professional racing driver and stunt man Sam Maher Loughnan. Sam was mentored by the legendary Bobby Ore in California and has worked on movies such as Gone In Sixty Seconds, Dukes of Hazzard and more recently Drive. He has also appeared on Fifth Gear and The Gadget Show.

Minimum of 10, maximum of 15 people for a 3 hour intensive course includes:

Two instructors/stunt men

Sam Maher Loughnan (senior stunt choreographer)

Bradley Ellis (assistant stunt co-ordinator)

2 Cars (Nissan 370z)

2 sets of spare tires

Track hire for the day @ Silverstone

Light breakfast (bacon rolls, danishes, tea and coffee and mineral water) and/or light lunch*

Depending on whether group opts for a morning or afternoon session

Additional extras

Merchandise to include long sleeve “professional stunt man” tees and bumper stickers

Supercars/high performance vehicles

Pro Cameraman film with Z1 and 2 in car cameras (Go Pro)

Professional edit and delivery of DVD

*Additional cost charged as a supplement (must be pre-booked/pre-ordered)

RUNNING ORDER/ITINERARY

On arrival the customer will get a full briefing on how the sessions will run and will then be introduced to Sam & Brad at which point we will give a demo of the stunts they will learn.

1) Jay turn spinning the car 180% from reverse to forward without stopping and they will be taught the only way that is approved in or on a film set. No one else in the UK teaches these methods as Sam was taught by the most famous stunt man in Hollywood.

2) Proper use of the handbrake and industry secrets of how to manipulate this tool to make the car do a multitude of tricks and again my own techniques derived from the states and years of experience to find the best way.

3) Push and pull technique with the steering wheel this shows how to use the wheel in an efficient way to keep the stunt smooth for the camera shot and also lets the actor’s hands be filmed on the wheel without too much editing.

4) Box park. Sliding the car into a space just big enough for the car this is a tricky little stunt that if done right makes the customer feel like a hero!

5) High speed reverse slalom this is a very skilful technique that is used in most films and it involves driving in reverse at high speed only using the mirrors steering wheel control is crucial in this one.

5) Front wheel drive power slide. This is to manipulate a front wheel drive car into a big angle to give it a greater sense of speed to the camera and audience watching.

6) Drifting on a film set is very different to in a big open space. There is no room for error so my techniques will give you the skills to drive like a proper special agent.

7) Doughnut. This looks easy but it is the first trick you need to master before you move on to more skilled tricks.

8 ) Figure eight this is making the car slide in a very technical figure eight shape which makes the car look like it is dancing and also looks good on camera.

iPad 3

Launch date is as early as late Feb 2012 latest rumours state that the 24th is the most likely date. Pricing looks to be similar to the current iPad 2 prices with the iPad 2 being reduced so as to maintain competitiveness in the market. Most reports say that the new device is quite similar to the iPad 2 and could even be launched as the iPad 2 Plus. As with all things Apple the company are playing their cards pretty close. The iPhone 5 was due to launch last October but actually it was the 4S that became their flagship phone for Q4 2011 so nothing is certain. There are also strong rumours that Apple is planning a Kindle sized ‘mini’ iPad in order to take on the Amazon Kindle

Dell Tablet

Due for Q4 2012 no price levels confimed as yet. Dell have been playing a waiting game in terms of consumer tablet PCs and learning from the errors of other manufacturers who have sought to go head on with the iPad.

Microsoft Own Brand Tablet

Due to launch in competition with the IPad 3 in Spring and utilising the latest Windows 8 operating system.

HTC Quattro Tablet

Early 2012 release for HTC’s first entry into the Tablet market. Runs on Android 4.0 and rumoured to be equipped with Beats speakers and headphones.

Amazon Kindle Fire

Still no confirmed release date for the best selling US tablet but expected early 2012 if content issues can be resolved. Pricing likely to be very aggressive – perhaps should be reasonable.

Acer Iconia Tab A700

Major desktop manufacturer with huge processing capacity and high resolution screen. Highly regarded in reviews but no pricing news. As with all the tablet competitors going up against the iPad it is pricing that will determine how successful this will be, it appears that many manufacturers are waiting to see what the apple pricing model will be once iPad 3 is launched.

Smart Phones

iPhone 5

Some reports point to a June 2012 launch but it looks like this will be Apples Q4 flagship product and not launch until October 2012 (as with previous iPhone launches).

Said to be a complete redesign with a new casing and larger screen plus faster processors. No news on pricing but Apple has the marketing on these devices sown up so expect shortages and premium prices for early adoption.

Samsung Galaxy S3

Apparently the most exciting device on the horizon for techies (even if Irene says her current model Galaxy is rubbish!). Android 4.0 updated operating system, dual core chip, 3D screen but a price at the iPhone end of the scale. Due around April 2012.

Nokia Lumia

Before the iPhone Nokia were all conquering (once you’d mastered the quirky predictive text) then they lost their way completely. The Lumia is their return to the competitive market powered by windows 7 and the result of their tie up with Microsoft. No UK release as yet but, as with many of the new phones, the establishment of a functioning 4G network will lead to a flood of new launches.

Digital Cameras

Lytro

Revolutionary style and operating system. Point and shoot with no need to focus.

Fujifilm X-Pro 1

Digital compact camera with interchangeable lenses. The ultimate compact camera but with a hefty price tag of around £700.00. Due in Spring. Probably the most talked about camera due for launch this year.

Casio Tryx

Ultra thin camera with flip out screen. High speed digital zoom. Available April.

Television

LG Smart TV with Google TV

Fully internet enabled integrated smart TV with QWERTY remote control. No news on pricing but launching in the UK summer 2012. Internet TV is set to replace 3D as the must have feature for TVs this year.

OLED TV

OLED televisions are brighter, more efficient, thinner and feature better refresh rates and contrast than either LCD or Plasma. Ultra thin and with virtually invisible bezels. No UK release until October. Initial pricing looks to be in the £3K range, as ever this will drop as popularity and supply increases.

Apple TV

Possibly the biggest news this year regarding television hardware is Apples proposed entry into the market. Allegedly the last project Steve Jobs was working on and due for release around October. Prices are expected to be at least double that of current ‘standard’ TV sets but the Apple product will interface with all existing Apple products and include the Siri voice control found currently on the iPhone S. Initial versions will be 32 and 37 inch sizes. As with all things Apple this product will only really be revealed when Apple decide but given the success of the iPod, iPhone and iPad it would be expected to make a big impact on the marketplace prior to Christmas 2012.

Also:

LG Blast Chiller Fridge

Cools the beers (and other beverages) down in five minutes.

Smart Watches

Like having a phone attached to your wrist. Seriously geeky!

2012 is set to be a patriotic year for us Brits, what with the Olympic Games, the Diamond Jubilee and Euro 2012 all eyes will undoubtedly be on the action as it unfolds.  No doubt your focus is already on promotional activity for the year ahead so what do you need to be thinking about to ensure your brand isn’t left behind, and more importantly, to ensure your promotion is impactful and successful? 

Think about what you want to achieve
Don’t be tempted to jump on the back of another idea you’ve seen simply because it appeals to you or it has a Great British theme.  What is your key goal?  Consider the timings involved, the audience you’d like to target, and the way in which you will communicate to that audience.  Careful planning early on will pay dividends later as a badly executed promotion which performs poorly is talked about a lot more than a successful one, for all the wrong reasons.

Give people what they want
It’s a year of celebration, we’re even being granted an extra day’s holiday to party, so why not help the nation celebrate by incorporating a prize in your promotional activity.  Garden parties, hampers of fine British foods, a dinner party with a personal chef, a Royal makeover, or a brand new state of the art large screen TV with surround sound, would all help make 2012 a year for anyone to remember.  There’s nothing like your brand leaving your customers with a lovely warm feeling!

Consider  the legalities
Don’t fall into the trap of plastering the Olympics logo all over your POS just to grab consumers’ attention!  Think carefully about what you’d like to communicate and seek advice from an expert who’s already done the ground work for you.  There are very strict guidelines in the promotional world as far as the Olympics and Euro 2012 are concerned so tread carefully.

What about the nitty gritty?
Have you got your terms and conditions covered off?  Who’s going to draw the winners? It is vital that you have coherent and legal terms for your prize promotion as these protect all parties concerned.  Also it is a requirement that an independent judge draws any winners.  Don’t be tempted to save costs by cutting corners where this side of things is concerned, if you don’t have the experience or capability in house then speak to someone who can arrange this service for you.  The cost of not doing this could be considerably greater!

Great British Prize Ideas

• Celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee in style with a vintage tea party in your home with everything supplied from beautiful crockery to cucumber sandwiches
• Learn the sport of kings with a private polo lesson & hotel stay in the Surrey countryside
• Live like an athlete for a year including a sports massage one month, session with a nutritionist next month, etc
• Take a Great British road trip in a retro camper van
• Win a full footy kit for your Saturday team

Hope this helps and inspires.  Wishing you the best of British!

We’re proud to announce our latest discovery, the world’s first below the surface nightclub, which has just opened in the Maldives.  Eight metres below the Indian Ocean, we can arrange a prize with a difference, one where winners can dance all night deep beneath the waves as celebrity DJs take to the decks whilst the fish swim inquisitively past.  Aside from the unique nightspot, this 5* resort offers a complete luxury getaway with contemporary rooms & we can include some delectable dining options including a floating restaurant. If they overdo it in the club one evening, then take we can arrange for them to take it easy the next day at the 24 hour spa.

Call us to work you up a package or see here for more examples of our work.

London Fashion Week 2012 is this coming this February 2012 and we’ve got packages to suit most tastes.  Just a word of warning however, you will need to get permission to use the name in a consumer facing promotion.

London Fashion Week is the first stop on the European leg of the international fashion circuit following New York just prior to Milan and Paris. Located in the heart of London at Somerset House, London Fashion Week is organised by the British Fashion Council and plays host to more than 70 catwalk shows for Britain’s established iconic designers such as Holly Fulton, Amanda Wakeley and Issa London.

London Fashion Week puts London and British fashion firmly on the global stage attracting the world’s key opinion formers of over 6000 carefully targeted industry professionals of UK and International buyers, international press, photographers and broadcast.

London Fashion Week generates press in the region of £70 million in the UK alone, with over £100 million worth of coverage worldwide.

The VIP Hospitality at London Fashion Week gives you an exclusive opportunity to invite your guests to be one of a select few to witness the phenomenon of this internationally reported and talked about event.

With the camera flashes, the ushering of the VIP fashion crowd, the whispers, the gossip, the outrageous attire, not to mentioned the flowing champagne, your guests cannot fail to be impressed!

Hospitality Venue:           Somerset House

Catwalk Venue:                The British Fashion Council Show Space at Somerset House or the Topshop Venue at Old Billingsgate, EC3. Executive transport will be provided for those attending a show at the Topshop Venue.

Our VIP packages include the following:

•         Seats at an official London Fashion Week catwalk show.

•         Either a champagne breakfast, a two-course lunch or dinner or afternoon tea at Michelin-Starred Chef Tom Aiken’s restaurant at Somerset House.

•         Solid fashion advice and a chance to hear about this season’s trends from all of the shows from our fashion expert.

•         The chance to preview the autumn/winter 2012 collections from over 100 designers, where buyers from Barney’s to Browns come to select pieces for their shop floors.

•         London Fashion Week hosts in attendance.

Contact us if you’d like to discuss further. Or see Fashion related campaigns we’ve worked on.

With 2012 just around the corner here’s a 2012 heads up for marketers following the consultations, regulatory changes and voluntary agreements likley to materialise in the new year.

Advertising Regulation
What: The industry, led by the Advertising Association, will be under pressure to implement recommendations made in the government-backed Bailey report into the commercialisation of childhood.
Why it matters: Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed many of the marketing-related recommendations. Several major advertisers, including Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble, have already agreed to end use of peer to peer marketing or child brand ambassadors but the industry will be expected to deliver on promises or face the possibility of punitive action.
The Advertising Standards Authority has also signalled its intention to crack down on outdoor ads featuring sexually provocative imagery, called for by Bailey, after several high profile cases.
When: The advertising industry will update the prime minister in January on progress. Expect further voluntary agreements throughout the year.

Food and drink
What: Food and drink brands are under pressure to do more to help reduce calorie intake after health secretary Andrew Lansleysaid in October that efforts needed “to extend and intensify”. Demands have been made for the industry to explore the reformulation of products to make them less energy dense and increase marketing efforts to promote balanced diets.
Why it matters: The government has repeatedly said it prefers voluntary agreements over statutory regulation but will want to see a big effort from brands after criticism from health bodies over its partnership approach.
When: Voluntary pledges could be announced in March when the government’s responsibility deal with industry reaches its first anniversary.

Direct marketing
What: Ofcom has proposed that Royal Mail be free to increase the prices it charges for delivering bulk advertising mail.
Why it matters: The DM industry fears that increased prices will reduce the appeal of direct mail to marketers and hasten the drift towards electronic communications.
When: The deadline for submissions to Ofcom’s consultation is 5 January with a decision expected in March.

Data
What: UK businesses that run websites will have to gain consent to store information via cookies on users’ computers for use in behavioural advertising, for example. Online adverts across Europe will need to display a recognisable clickable icon so users can access more information about how companies will use their data.
Why it matters: The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) says it will take the “necessary steps” to ensure those that are not introducing measures to ensure compliance fall into line. It is also likely that the Advertising Standards Authority will assume regulatory oversight and investigate complaints made about behavioural advertising.
When: Compliance is expected by 26 May.

Retail
What: Cigarettes and other tobacco products must be kept out sight of customers.
Why it matters: Tobacco brands will be denied one of the few remaining marketing platforms available to them.
When: The display ban comes into force on 6 April for supermarkets and other “larger” stores.
What: Retail marketing expert Mary Portas’ conclusions on the future of the UK’s high streets have been passed to the government. Recommendations include: better management of town centres, a review of the business rate system and disincentives for landlords leaving properties vacant.
Why it matters: David Cameron has shown with the Bailey review that he takes the findings of commissioned reviews seriously. Expect to see working groups to look at implementing some of the measures set up later in 2012.
When: The government says it will respond to the recommendations in the spring.

London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
What: Rules are in place to prevent non-sponsors engaging in advertising activity in an “event zone”, a two mile radius around any Olympic venue. No advertising by sponsors or non-sponsors is allowed in stadiums.
Why it matters: Those that contravene the rules, usually individuals or teams of “ambush” marketers, face criminal action if found guilty. Marketing directors could also be found culpable if it is proven that they had direct knowledge of and or responsibility for the act.
When: 27 July-12 Aug and 27 July-12 Aug respectively.

Alcohol
What: Alcohol industry body The Portman Group is consulting on changes to its marketing code. Proposed changes include building a social responsibility pledge into sponsorship agreements and extending the code to include currently communications activity not covered by the ASA or Ofcom such as retailer-led promotions.
Why it matters: The government will be watching the outcome of the consultation closely after the industry promised to bolster its code under the terms of its responsibility deal with the Department of Health.
When: A consultation on the proposals is open until 31 January. Changes are likely before the first anniversary of the responsibility deal in March.

Financial Services
What: The Financial Service Authority’s Retail Distribution Review (RDR) bans financial advisers from receiving commission on the investment products such as personal pensions they sell. Advisers will have to tell customers how much they charge for their services. Many advisers will have to gain additional qualifications to reach the minimum FSA requirement.
Why it matters: Firms will not be able to accept commission in return for recommending specific products. The FSA hopes that the changes will to “boost confidence and trust” in the retail investment market by removing “commission bias” that might lead to mis-selling. Critics argue that additional qualification requirement and reduced commission will lead to fewer advisers and less choice. 
When: Changes will come into effect on 31 December.

From Marketing Week online 21/12/11.

 It’s that time of year - your computer screen is blurry, you wince every time the phone rings and you have a faint taste of sambucca in your mouth. Yes, it’s the day after the office Christmas party. Being the kind-hearted company that we are, here are our collective top tips on how to survive an office hangover:

 1) The Sensible Option - 2 paracetamol, a bottle of coconut water and fresh fruit.

2) The Greasy Option - bacon and egg butty from the caff, builders tea with an extra sugar and pizza delivery at lunch.

3) The Hide-Out Option - self-explanatory; hide in the loo, under your desk, behind the water cooler… anywhere and have a nap.

4) The Drink More Option - hair of the dog prevents you from actually sobering up, so get to the pub at midday and force a pint down.

5) The Distraction Option - find someone who feels worse than you and laugh at them, email camera phone pics of other people’s intra-office flirtations, search ‘office xmas party drunk bum rub’ on You Tube.

6) The Denial Option - decide on your story and stick to it… ‘I feel fine, I wasn’t that drunk reallly, I only had a few glasses of wine’ or ‘Sorry I’m late, wasn’t the Northern Line awful this morning?’.

 Why not re-tweet this along with your own top hangover survival tip, or post your hangover survival tip onto our Facebook wall and the best suggestion will win a cure all (hopefully) hangover surival kit on us.

Merry Christmas to one and all.

The Unmissables x

A recent survey in the December issue of InStyle confirmed that the dream Christmas present for the majority of women is a round-the-world holiday. Fancy watches, sports cars, antique art and home improvements all paled in comparison to the prospect of jetting off around the world for 3 weeks of relaxation, excitement and discovery. This got us day dreaming about the perfect girlie itinerary, a modern-day Thelma and Lousie style adventure:

• Shopping on Rodeo Drive with a celebrity stylist and party at all the A-list hot spots
• Soak up the sun in Hawaii, helicopter over volcanic craters and discover life underwater on a submarine adventure
• Swim with the dolphins in the Bay of islands in New Zealand
• Stay in a penthouse overlooking Syndey Harbour Bridge and learn to surf on Bondi Beach
• Perfect our tan in Dubai, go sandboarding in the desert and pick up some fab new jewellery at the gold souk

Drop a subtle hint by copying and pasting this blog post into an email to your loved one now…