Chatroom is proud to announce that they have recently been awarded bronze for their two entries into the PRISM Awards. The 2011 awards that will be added to their list of growing accolades are Bronze awards in the Media Relations and Public Relations categories for Chatroom's successful "SolarWorld Sun-TV Campaign" and "The Cape Cobra Story" campaign respectively.

For the third consecutive year, since entering the prestigious PRISM Awards, Chatroom has received awards for all projects and clients that have been entered. "We are very happy and excited about the awards. It's a testament of the amount of time, effort and skill that we apply to our work. These awards will further cement our status as a leading agency in the communications industry, highlighting our wide range of competencies," says Gordana McNamara, Chatroom Director.

The "SolarWorld Sun-TV Campaign" for SolarWorld Africa entailed Media Relations for the client. In line with SolarWorld's global corporate social investment efforts and to assist sustainable social development in Africa the campaign took advantage of the 2010 World Cup by supplying underprivileged communities with solar powered Sun-TVs to watch the soccer matches. Chatroom pitched story angles to media, secured and coordinated various national and international TV coverage for the campaign.

"The Cape Cobra Story" project came about to launch Cape Cobra, the leather goods manufacturer's own line of handbags and fashion items. The story told of how Cape Cobra has produced some of the finest leather for designers around the world. Chatroom identified story angels and communicated this to media with the result that Cape Cobra received publicity in the leading lifestyle and inflight publications in Africa. One of the challenges that presented itself with this campaign was that Cape Cobra is a local South African Luxury brand that has to compete with global traditional luxury brands such as Hermès or Louis Vuitton that are supported by significantly larger budgets. Chatroom handled this by focusing on creative PR events and establishing individual relationships with fashion journalists that the client could continue to maintain themselves. Chatroom also established partnership opportunities with local fashion design brands, including Gavin Rajah which immediately uplifted the Cape Cobra brand and increased brand awareness.

The awards ceremony took place at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town on Thursday, 24 March and was attended by some of the leading PR agencies in the country. "We are staunch believers in excellence and supporters of initiatives like the PRISM awards. Their contribution towards nurturing healthy competition in the communications industry is vital to its future." added Angela Naumann, Chatroom Director and past Chairperson of the PRISA Western Cape Committee.

About SolarWorld
The SolarWorld AG Group (ISIN: DE0005108401) is a worldwide leader in offering high quality, crystalline solar-power technology. Its strength is its fully integrated solar production. From silicon as the raw material through wafers, cells and modules all the way to turn-key solar systems, including recycling, the group combines all stages of the solar value chain. The central business activity is selling quality modules into the installation and distribution trades and crystalline wafers to the international solar cell industry.

About Cape Cobra
South African leathercraft company, Cape Cobra, offers an exotic leather range that includes amongst others, high quality, exquisitely designed, luxurious handbags, belts and accessories. Items are handcrafted from the finest Alligator, Nile Crocodile, Ostrich, Lizard, Whip Snake and Python skins for top international design houses and labels such as Michael Kors, Judith Leiber and Tiffanys. These exclusive bags have also been spotted on the arms of local and international celebrities such as Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez and Anne Hathaway.

For media information contact:
Chatroom

Zukiswa Nomnganga, Account Manager

P: +27 11 463 7078

M: +27 82 557 7877

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PR and Advertising: MTU South Africa (Pty) Ltd. appointed Chatroom to handle their PR and Advertising to position the company as global leader in the provision of diesel engines

Action Steps

• Public Relations in 7 different applications: Power Generation, Marine, Mining, Defense, Rail, Naval, CSI aligned with global corporate communications headed up by MTU Friedrichshafen
• Media Plan and Development
• Advertising – coordination and placement
• Structure Web-site content, write copy, liaise with MTU Friedrichshafen for design of Web-site
• Photography
• Consult content, incl. financial structures and proofing, design of Annual Business Report
• Corporate client event for RSD – DCD Dorbyl in Joburg
• Event Management for 100 years celebrations in Joburg and Cape Town

Outcome

• Publicity in national and Africa newspapers and specialist magazines throughout all markets and applications
• 5 page profile of MTU in African Mining
• Media Plan
• Advert placements throughout national specialist magazines
• Annual Business Report
• Corporate client event
• 100 years events in Joburg and Cape Town

visit website of MTU

The art of Public Relations can never be underestimated. It has swung elections, motivated the unmovable and transformed challenges into opportunities.

Chatroom’s proven results in this area have expanded and enriched public profiles, and delivered measurable return on investment for clients.

• Publicity: achieve quality media presence. Know how to work with the media.
• Web PR: online public relations to support your offline campaigns and to increase reach significantly.
• Brand/Product Launches and Activation: make your customer part of your brand.
• Event Management: all aspects of your brand are important to us and must include corporate, customer and staff events.

PR and Brand Design: Chatroom was tasked to develop the brand design for Winchester Mansions. Chatroom is coordinating Public Relations for the hotel, restaurant and special events such as the Sunday Jazz Brunches and the Grape Gourmet evenings.

Action Steps

• Brand Development incl. Brand Identity workshop, brand design and internal communication of the revamp
• Development of marketing material
• Ongoing PR activities for the hotel, restaurant and special events
• Provide architecture of participation for social media

Outcome

• Brand Identity with revamp of the brand throughout all applications
• Marketing material, including brochures for English and German speaking audiences
• Free editorial coverage including radio for the hotel, restaurant and special events
• Active social media presence
• Strong positioning of the brand
• Increased brand awareness throughout the service chain and emotional bond to the brand

Client Profile

Winchester Mansions is a leading seafront hotel in Cape Town.

visit website of Winchester Mansions

Public Relations: The JSE Educational Department appointed Chatroom to run a PR drive to boost registrations for the JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge 2009, 8 weeks before the start of the challenge. Furthermore – and ever since – Chatroom was tasked to boost Brand Awareness for the JSE Liberty Investment Challenge.  

	For our ongoing PR, Chatroom has been awarded the PRISM Award in the Business to Business category by the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA).   read more >>

Action Steps

• Media evaluation and strategy
• Media events
• Media liaison

Outcome

• Media coverage to the value of over 100,000 Rand in only 8 weeks
• Registrations increased by 43% in 2009
• Extensive coverage in financial and education newspapers, student magazines, on regional and community radio stations as well as student radios
• High level media attendance at award ceremony

Client Profile

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), a proudly South African organisation, is the oldest established stock exchange in Africa. It provides a marketplace where shares of listed companies can be traded by means of innovative, world class systems and services. The JSE Education Department is dedicated to increasing financial literacy in South Africa, developing and implementing numerous grass roots projects throughout the country.

visit website of JSE/Liberty Investment Challenge

Corporate PR and Communication, Brand Launch, Advertising: Maersk Line needs an annual print media campaign focusing on the company’s different areas of expertise, enhanced by regular editorial coverage and interviews with key management. Chatroom also handled the launch of the new Maersk Line brand in South Africa in 2006.

Action Steps

• Photographs of Maersk ships, containers, operations and related features
• Development of print campaign with three motives (Reefer, Relationship, E-commerce)
• Analysis of industry media and relevant features, development of media plan
• Booking of advertisements
• Media liaising: Securing editorial coverage, interview briefs, editing
• Brand Launch event management throughout South Africa
• National Brand Launch implementation, electronic brand launch tools, e.g. AV, multimedia show
• Print advertising and marketing collateral for Maersk Namibia and Maersk Mozambique

Outcome

• Brand Launch Campaign
• Print Campaign
• Annual media plan for South Africa and Namibia to maximise coverage in relevant publications and features
• Free editorial nationally, interviews with MD and key personnel
• Profiling of management
• Key messages for PR purposes
• local Maersk image library for advertisements, advertorials and other purposes

visit website of Maersk Line

Corporate PR, Brand PR, Corporate Communication, Advertising: Chatroom has been appointed to handle Public Relations and Brand Management. Chatroom has been supporting Manpower SA with strategic Media Relations, as well as an internal and external Brand Awareness Campaign, comprising of Events, PR and Advertising.  

	For our ongoing PR, Chatroom has been awarded the PRISM Award in the Business to Business category by the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA).   read more >>

Objectives of the campaign

• Position Manpower in the South African employment services market as staffing experts with local expertise and global best practice knowledge
• Create brand awareness through creative, cost-effective initiatives and consistent use of the brand externally and internally
• Change prevailing perception (association with the previous South African labour department)

Action Steps

• Position Manpower as experts in the world of work through White Papers
• Disseminate Manpower Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS) to specialist journalists
• Develop and implement a Brand Awareness Campaign for a broad target audience
• Streamline communication tools, i.e. website, printed material and advertisements
• Implement the Manpower global brand guidelines, including key terminology
• Living the Manpower brand through internal branding activities

Outcome

• Ongoing media coverage in business, finance and trade publications
• Manpower Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS) regarded and requested by publications as credible source and indicator for industry information and trends
• Interviews on current affairs across all media
• Consistent Brand Identity across all media and company culture
• Brand Awareness Campaign covering radio, outdoor, online and print

Client Profile

Manpower SA is a division of global employment services giant Manpower Incorporated.

website of Manpower South Africa

Brand and Product PR: Chatroom has managed the PR launch of Dyson in South Africa, securing coverage across major consumer magazines as well as newspapers.

Action Steps

• Visit Dyson in Malmesbury, UK
• Development of Press Releases with various angles, from personal interest to benefits of the products
• Media trips with selected journalists to Malmesbury for Sir James Dyson
• Interview, co-ordination of media product tests and photo shoots

Outcome

• Free editorial coverage across major lifestyle, design and consumer publications and newspapers.
• Media co-operations and competitions with selected titles
• Co-operation with selected publication at lifestyle events

Client Profile

Dyson is a world leader in innovative vacuum cleaner technology.

visit website of Dyson

Brand Strategy and PR: Cape Cobra appointed Chatroom to develop an identity to handle Public Relations in South Africa.

Action Steps

• Brand Strategy and Brand Identity Workshop
• Media Launch event
• Public Relations: Exclusive Media Events, Fashion Shows, Media Relations
• Print Campaign Development for overseas audiences and strategic placement options thereof

Outcome

• Brand Strategy
• Media event with editorial coverage on TV, Print, Online
• Publicity activities with editorial coverage in South Africa’s leading lifestyle and fashion magazines
• Brand exposure at Carducci Fashion Show, Arise Fashion Week, Nelson Mandela Day/ Gavin Rajah
• Advertisements in international and local publications

Client Profile

Cape Cobra has established itself as a manufacturer of high and quality, handcrafted exotic leather accessories encompassing handbags, briefcases, belts, luggage and smaller leather items. With a production line including exotic skins such as Alligator, Nile Crocodile, Ostrich, Lizard Python and Buffalo, the company  produces for top international design houses and labels such as Michael Kors, Judith Lieber, CeCe Cord, Calvin Klein and others.

visit website of Cape Cobra