Willoughby PR rebrands

MIDLANDS based PR agency Willoughby PR has rebranded itself as WPR.  Based in Birmingham, the Top 150 agency has unveiled a new logo and a brand new website to accompany its name change.

Set up by Julia Willoughby in 1992, the agency has enjoyed several successes over the past 12 months including being named Outstanding Midlands Consultancy by both industry body the CIPR and marketing bible, The Drum.  

Jane Ainsworth, managing director said: “Since launching WPR Digital in 2010, we have found that clients are increasingly asking for more than just column inches.  In response, we have developed our already successful brand to reflect more of what our clients now depend on us for, whether it’s a tightly run social media campaign, a new brochure design or a hard hitting trade and consumer press campaign.  

“Our new brand identity extends beyond our website to the likes of Tumblr and Pinterest – and of course, our Twitter feed and Facebook pages have been updated too.”

Ms Willoughby, chief executive and founder, added: “We are very proud of what we have achieved over the years and wanted to ensure that we remain on top of our game for the next 20 years – and beyond.”

Vital feasts at Chip Shop Awards

WARWICKSHIRE’s Vital Marketing has collected a series of awards for its work on a series of contracts including Barclays, Audi and a specialist photography business.

The Chip Shop awards saw the firm secure trophies for ‘Best Brand You Have But Haven’t a Hope of Running’ award for its work with Barclays, ‘Best Reject’ award for its work with Audi and the team were highly commended in the ‘Best Work for a Relative or Friend’ category for its work with Raquel Rouge Boudoir Photography.

The awards, held at London’s Ministry of Sound, recognise creativity unconstrained by boundaries of taste, corporate guidelines and client control.

The agency’s work for a student insurance advertising campaign for Barclays used a poster of Bob Marley smoking a joint on a wall of burning wallpaper to highlight the incidence of fires occurring in student accommodation.

Tasked with creating a Christmas-themed exterior for Audi’s flagship west London showroom, Vital took the company’s iconic four-circle logo and gave it a festive twist. Each of the rings became a Christmas wreath complete with twinkling lights which won the accolade of ‘Best Reject’.

In its campaign for Raquel Rouge Boudoir Photography, Vital emphasised the ubiquitous ‘mirror reflection shot’ that young women use on social media profiles, chat forums and dating websites.  By arranging several of the creatively-stunted images, it positioned Raquel Rouge’s service as the perfect antidote and the creative flair was celebrated as highly commended.

Jeremy Eaton, Vital managing director, said: “The Chip Shop Awards attract entries from the best talent in marketing communications around the world.  In presenting this award to Vital, the highly regarded judges panel endorse our uncompromising but uncomplicated approach to strategic graphic design.”

Care home appoints new PR

SUTTON Coldfield care home Beech Hill Grange has appointed Lichfield-based Ian Strachan Communications Ltd to handle its press relations.

The contract involves raising the home’s profile ahead of its opening of a major new extension.

Beech Hill Grange is registered as a care home with nursing for the over-65s. The extension will make it one of the largest in the area.

This is the second care home organisation in the Ian Strachan Communications portfolio. The consultancy also handles PR for Homecroft Ltd, which runs Wyndley Grange nursing home on the edge of Sutton Park.

Ian Strachan Communications Ltd was set up 12 years ago by Ian Strachan, formerly corporate affairs director at Birmingham commercial vehicle manufacturer LDV and corporate communications director at Rover Group.

He said: “Beech Hill Grange is a forward-looking care home with big plans for the future and I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to help the home raise its profile.”