Agency round-up: Wax Lyrical win for Wolfstar; Brand8 secures Paragon; Stickyeyes to support digital transformation at Kroger

Leeds based PR and social media agency Wolfstar has announced the UK’s largest home fragrance company, Wax Lyrical, as their newest client win.

The team at Wolfstar have been tasked with setting up an influencer marketing programme for the brand over the next 12 months. Their first project involved supporting the launch of GiftScents® a new take on the gift card concept, which includes an expertly blended reed diffuser.

Coverage is being secured across blogs and YouTube channels to help raise the profile of the brand and its British heritage to new customers.

Marie Lees, managing director at Wolfstar, said: “We’ve got strong, long-standing relationships with key influencers in the homewares and lifestyle sector. This coupled with our proprietary influencer marketing tool, Stashmetrics, means we can manage our activity efficiently, leaving more time for relationship building. It helps us spot any up and coming influencers before other agencies, using lists and data that are updated in real time and is already a recipe for success for our existing clients. We’re excited to see the results of combining these traditional PR tactics, with modern technology for Wax Lyrical this year.”

Joanne Barber, managing director at Wax Lyrical, added:, “We were keen to find an agency that could help us generate conversation around our brand and products, online. Wolfstar came recommended to us and fit the bill. PR activity is no longer about just securing coverage, with Wolfstar’s help we’ll be tracking any mentions of our products online and offline, the increase in new visitors to our website and, of course, the sales generated because of this activity, all supported by our overall marketing strategy.”

Wax Lyrical was originally founded in 1980, and in 2016 became part of the Portmeirion Group. The company manufacture all their products in the  Lake District.

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Leeds-based Brand8 PR has secured building and project consultancy Paragon as a new client after a competitive four-way pitch.

London-headquartered Paragon was founded in 2009 and opened an office in Manchester in 2015, and another in Edinburgh earlier this year. The consultancy employs more than 100 people and has a turnover of £12.2m.

Paragon advises commercial property owners, funders, occupiers and advisers on the whole lifecycle of property assets and carries out instructions in all parts of the UK and Europe.

Brand8 PR will deliver a range of integrated services including brand strategy, media relations, content marketing, social media and search engine optimisation (SEO).

Paragon’s joint managing director, Robert Perry, said: “We were impressed by Brand8 PR’s strategic, brand-led approach and strong tactical campaign ideas.

“The agency has a great deal of property sector and international PR experience. However, what really set Brand8 PR apart from the other agencies was its energy, fresh thinking and dynamic approach. These elements align perfectly with our culture, challenger brand positioning and ambitious growth plans.”

Established in 2010, Brand8 PR provides its integrated services to a diverse portfolio of businesses located regionally, nationally and internationally.

Brand8 PR managing director, Rob Smith, said: “Paragon‘s senior management team have a clear growth strategy underpinned by a distinctive collaborative approach to delivering the consultancy’s integrated services.

“This provides Paragon’s existing and potential clients with a much wanted viable alternative in the markets in which it operates. It’s exciting to be working with a challenger brand in the property consultancy sector, and we’re looking forward to playing our part in Paragon’s ongoing expansion and continued success.”

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Stickyeyes has been selected by The Kroger Co. Money Services Department to support the transformation of its digital strategy.

The partnership will see the Leeds agency supporting key areas of search engine optimisation, digital strategy, content marketing and web design.

A key part will be the launch and optimisation of a new digital platform for Kroger Money Services, whose services include money transfers, money orders and debit card cashing. Kroger employs 443,000 employees and turned over almost $2bn in 2016.

Sara Shelton, head of money services for the Kroger Co, said: “We have been impressed by Stickyeyes’ skills, talent and ability to partner with us on some of our most critical digital marketing, design and SEO efforts. We see a tremendous opportunity ahead as we partner to transform our digital presence and customer offerings.”

Stickyeyes  chief commercial officer, Glen Conybeare, said: “The Money Services team of Kroger is an exciting brand to be working with. Both parties feel that there are huge opportunities for the brand to grow, and that digital will play a significant role in that growth.”