1. Bras for Breast Cancer

    September 30, 2011 by Christine

    It’s been a bit of a busy week but I can’t let it finish without writing a quick post on a very special campaign being run by a local shop in Skibbereen. Sean Murray Fashions is looking for the women of Ireland to send him their old bras with a donation to The Irish Cancer Society.

    October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Sean aims to cover the town with bras to raise awareness and round out October with a fashion show in aid of the charity as well as a tug of war with the bras on Main St. The tug of war is a fun event but will symbolise the struggle against breast cancer Irish female sufferers face on a daily basis. Each year more than 2,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and although women are more aware of it there is still much to be done.

    If any ladies reading this have old bras (which I’m sure you do) lying around the house please send them to Sean Murray, 5 Main St., Skibbereen along with a small donation – the pennies make the pounds (or cents make the euros!). Sean Murray’s is also donating 10% of sales of bras sold throughout October to the Irish Cancer Society as well as giving ladies 10% off for themselves – everyone’s a winner!

    Here is a link to TV3’s Midday programme where the ladies speak about the campaign

    Sean also hit the national airwaves yesterday morning when he spoke to Hector live on air about the campaign!

    Below is a sample of some the coverage from the papers yesterday…

    Irish Examiner

    Cork Independent

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  2. You Get What You Give

    March 31, 2011 by Christine


    Just like everything else in the world, the nicer you are the more you seem to get back. Therefore, the nicer you are to a service provider, chances are the better the service you will receive in return. Thinking about this made me think of how all of us tend to go the extra mile for those who appreciate what we do so here are just two quick tips for getting more from your service providers be they in PR, design, plumbing – whatever!

    Be Friendly

    So maybe you’re just having a bad day and you didn’t mean to sound abrupt on that call or come across short on the last email. Perhaps you’re in a hurry or you’re having a particularly crappy day – does that mean you can skimp on the niceties to those that are providing you with a service? Some people think that by being tough and/or ungrateful will make their provider work harder for them or by not giving praise means that you are happy enough with what they are doing – I suppose we can all be guilty of this.

    However, it is proven that being nice doesn’t cost you anything and encourages people to try harder and go that extra step to make you even happier. Give praise, say thank you, write a card or even cheaper, an email – it won’t take long and you’ll see a marked difference in how you are treated in return. It’s karma!

    Give: Friendliness and Gratitude

    Get: The extra mile


    Take ideas on Board – dare to be different

    Don’t shoot down ideas because you’ve never done “that” in the past. This isn’t the past – it’s always a  good time to step up your image and new ideas which may seem a little bit crazy are often the ones that take you to higher ground and help you stand out from your competition. I know that I am extra motivated when working on  creative campaigns for clients who just get it and want to break the mould. So don’t be afraid to test the waters and trust your provider.

    Give: Trust

    Get: Creativity and Motivation

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  3. Some things just don’t need PR…

    March 23, 2011 by Christine

    Yesterday I was lucky enough to catch the most beautiful sunset in Baltimore – some things are naturally perfect and this was certainly one of them. When something is this good it doesn’t require help with design or PR…luckily for DM, there aren’t many places or things in the world like this!!

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  4. 2011 Thoughts

    January 4, 2011 by Christine

    The beginning of each New Year always brings thoughts of self improvement and reflection. If I can just keep this poem in mind, 2011 will be a better year. It’s an old one and I don’t know its origin but it makes perfect sense regardless of what time of the year it is…

    Be careful what you think…
    Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions
    Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your character
    Your character is everything

    Be careful what you think, for your thoughts become your words.
    Be careful what you say, for your words become your actions.
    Be careful what you do, for your actions become your habits.
    Be careful what becomes habitual, for your habits become your destiny.

    Be careful what you think, for your thoughts become your words.
    Be careful what you say, for your words become your actions.
    Be careful what you do, for your actions become your character.
    And character is everything.

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  5. Top PR Trend for 2011

    December 6, 2010 by Christine

    So Random Acts of Kindness (R.A.K) is tipped to be one of the major trends for businesses in 2011. But what exactly is this “trend” about and how can it impact on long standing and prospective customers?

    It seems that now more than ever consumers are craving the human touch to feel a real connectivity with the brands they purchase and R.A.K is the way forward for brands and businesses to communicate their humanity. This trend will see otherwise inflexible businesses take a  more compassionate approach towards their public to give them something  priceless, touching, and fun to ensure that they return, become loyal supporters and spread the good word about their experience with the brand.

    The biggest difficulty for companies in conforming with the R.A.K trend will be keeping abreast of what is happening in the world and with their customers at any one time. More than ever, people are sharing their lives and experiences with the public through social media sites Facebook and Twitter where they openly speak about their crappy or happy days through to difficulties with work and home on an ongoing basis.

    These social media tools will be the key for businesses in implementing their R.A.K strategies and also enable them to build new followers through recipients spreading their experiences with friends and family.

    One example of a brand implementing the R.A.K strategy is Flower delivery service Interflora who recently launched a social media campaign in the UK to brighten up the lives of Twitter users by sending them flowers. As part of the campaign, Interflora monitors Twitter looking for users that it believes might need cheering up. Once found, the users are contacted by tweet, and sent a bouquet of flowers as a surprise.

    There are dozens of ways businesses can implement their R.A.K strategy to make it work for their brand and now is a good time to start thinking about how to do it.

    As I write this, Ryan Tubridy is on 2FM encouraging listeners to wave to other road users in their cars – another step towards  R.A.K – it really is all around us!

    What was your last Random Act of Kindness??

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  6. Annual Campaigns and Boring PR!

    November 11, 2010 by Christine


    It’s that time of year again when businesses and charities vie for public awareness in the papers, on the radio and on TV. It can be a trying time to come up with something new and exciting to grab the attention of the media. With clever use of online social media such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, creative options are never ending. The same can be said for photo opportunities – with a bit of thought, something really exciting and unique can be produced. Now, more than ever you need to be or do something different to stand out from the crowd.

    Therefore, it baffles me that some companies continue to do the same thing year in, year out to promote their product, service or event to the point of leaving me asking myself (I do like to talk to myself sometimes) if they are using the same pictures from the year before!

    It is not enough to do what has worked before, it gets boring and it will not be as effective the second time around. So come on people, get creative – give us something different because I for one am tired of seeing the same old pictures with the same props taken in the same location. And I’m guessing if I am then others must be too!?

    If you’re looking for a company that will help you to “Break from the Pack” give DMpr a call! :)

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  7. DMpr – Small is the New Big!

    October 27, 2010 by Christine

    I am reading Seth Godin’s book “Tribes” at the moment (thank you to Aodan Enright of Smarter Egg http://smarteregg.com/ for the introduction!) It is one of the most thought provoking business books I think I have read so far. Godin announces that any one of us can become a leader. It is an empowering read that has generated a personal self awareness which I know is going to benefit my business in the long term. It has inspired me to take action and believe that the size of a business does not matter, it is the size and scale of the owner’s thoughts, actions and beliefs that will, in time, breed success.

    I have always believed in the notion that a small business structure is the way to go, especially today when people buy from people and like to make a connection rather than paying out for little or no personal connectivity. Small businesses give the customer more personal attention, they take the time to learn about what it is the customer expects and needs and work harder to achieve results, thereby creating better value for the client.

    Below in an excerpt from Godin’s book “Small is the New Big” which I am looking forward to reading and taking action from next. You don’t have to think about what he is getting at too much – it’s obvious – clients can gain more from a small company that thinks big and takes their work personally;

    “Today, little companies often make more money than big companies. Little churches grow faster than worldwide ones. Little jets are way faster (door to door) than big ones.

    Small means the founder makes a far greater percentage of the customer interactions. Small means the founder is close to the decisions that matter and can make them, quickly.

    Small is the new big because small gives you the flexibility to change the business model when your competition changes theirs.

    Small means you can tell the truth on your blog.

    Small means that you can answer email from your customers.

    Small means that you will outsource the boring, low-impact stuff like manufacturing and shipping and billing and packing to others, while you keep the power because you invent the remarkable and tell stories to people who want to hear them.

    A small law firm or accounting firm or ad agency is succeeding because they’re good, not because they’re big. So smart small companies are happy to hire them.

    A small restaurant has an owner who greets you by name.

    A small venture fund doesn’t have to fund big bad ideas in order to get capital doing work. They can make small investments in tiny companies with good (big) ideas.

    A small church has a minister with the time to visit you in the hospital when you’re sick.

    Small is the new big only when the person running the small thinks big.

    Don’t wait. Get small. Think big.

    Final thought – DMpr is small and is proudly so. DMpr also thinks big for clients. DMpr takes your business personally.

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  8. Managing Expectations – PR

    October 20, 2010 by Christine

    We have been lucky to work with some really great clients and having such clients makes the hard work all the more worthwhile and rewarding. On first meeting a prospective client it would be easy to promise the sun, moon and stars – to say that “Of course you’ll get the front page” and “Next stop, Late Late Show”!

    However, to do this in most cases is misleading and will in the long term only serve to disappoint the client.

    Managing expectations is something which DMpr takes very seriously. Working with a broad spectrum of clients over the past number of years has taught me to be realistic with clients from the outset. There is no point in charging for something when you know that both the media and the public will not be interested in the story. So here’s the challenge – do you look for a new angle or do you hold off until the story is stronger – or, (and this is something which DMpr just DOES NOT DO) do you do the work half heartedly, knowing that this will never land!?

    DMpr will never over promise and under deliver. It damages reputation and most of all, disappoints the client. I have turned down work because I knew that the story just was not strong enough to warrant my input and I value people’s time and money. When you deal with DMpr you are guaranteeing that your budget will be maximised, that you will not be led astray to fork out for a service which you may not need at that point and most of all that you are working with someone that is as excited about your business as you are.

    DMpr takes your business personally.

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  9. Swing By The Clarion Hotel for this year’s Cork International Jazz Festival!

    August 31, 2010 by Christine

    The Clarion Hotel Cork are in early preparations for this year’s Cork International Jazz Festival with an amazing line up for the ever popular weekend 22nd – 25th October. The main acts this year are The Jive Aces and The Slammers Maximum Jive Band on the Saturday night in the hotel’s Pegasus Suite. The Jive Aces are described as the UK’s Number 1 Jive Band and have performed on numerous occasions on TV in the UK and across Europe. They also performed in the world renowned Royal Albert Hall earlier this year. The Slammers Maximum Jive Band are a high energy group that will keep revelers rocking until the small hours of the morning. So get your dancing shoes on and grab your ticket from the Clarion for just €20. A night not to be missed!

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  10. Another Stylish Event at The West Cork Hotel

    July 1, 2010 by Christine

    The West Cork Hotel are holding another special beauty event in aid of COPE Foundation on Thursday July 8th at 8pm. Tickets are €20 and attendees will be tutored on personal style and offered guidance on key fashion trends for the month ahead. Joan Cashman is the image consultant and one of the most widely recognized image advisors in the country.

    Joan will focus on colour analysis, key trends and how to dress for your shape, tips on hair and make-up and overall image for women and men.

    It’s set to be a great night out and all for a great cause.

    Tickets are available from The West Cork Hotel, Designs on Main Street or from the website on www.westcorkhotel.com

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