Agency roundup: Cat Among The Pigeons; MacComms; Rise at Seven; and more

Freesat, a subscription free satellite TV service, has appointed marketing agency Cat Among The Pigeons to help prospects re-evaluate the brand through commercial partnerships and help drive sales of Freesat boxes.

The recently launched range of Freesat Smart 4K boxes offer improved features and functionality for a better ‘at home’ TV experience without the extra cost of a monthly subscription.

Leeds-based Cat Among The Pigeons will be responsible for creating promotional campaigns and brand partnerships that add even more value to the Freesat range and help them stand out in a fiercely competitive category.

Commenting on the appointment, Joe Norman, head of sales and retail marketing at Freesat, said: “These are exciting times for us as we expand our business model, launch new products and target promising new retail channels.

“In a tough retail landscape Cat Among The Pigeons really impressed with their shopper insight and promotional strategy, demonstrating a great track record of growing challenger brands through compelling promotional propositions.

“All of which will help us stand out from the crowd. We’re delighted to be working with them.”

Paul McGann, founder of Cat Among The Pigeons, added: “TV remains an important part of family life, especially when we have been spending even more time at home.

“We’re looking forward to promoting Freesat’s Smart 4K TV boxes range to the nation, helping shoppers get smarter with their telly choices and save money on the things they love along the way.”

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A Yorkshire-based PR agency is celebrating six years of trading with the launch of a PR training offer, as well as a new client win.

Leeds-based MacComms has added Yorkshire-based Love Exploring to its client roster.

Love Exploring is an app which helps people explore parks across the UK and includes augmented reality to entertain families by seeking out dinosaurs, fairies and learning about the history of the sites they visit.

The agency has also launched a PR training support package to teach entrepreneurs how to promote their own businesses in a bid to support smaller businesses who may have struggled over the past year.

Founder and managing director of MacComms, Ellie MacDonald, noticed a gap to support businesses who may have more time and inclination to do their own PR.

She said: “I feel incredibly proud to be celebrating six years of MacComms. I set out with just a few hundred pounds savings and have turned that into a business which represents some of the most exciting companies across the north of England, most of which we have retained even during the most difficult year for businesses.

“I noticed how some businesses were struggling from the pandemic and I knew there was more I could do to help.

“Whilst our core offering continues to thrive and we’re delighted to welcome exciting adventure app, Love Exploring, I knew there was a demand to support entrepreneurs who have more time than budget to employ us to manage their PR.

“I have, therefore, created a bank of resources and I will teach people how to effectively promote their own companies and ensure their businesses thrive, regardless of what is happening in the world.

“I’ve learnt so much in the past six years which I’m excited to share with likeminded entrepreneurs and senior managers.”

The first group PR training programme starts in June.

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Sheffield and London-based search agency, Rise at Seven, is expanding further into The Boohoo Group after being appointed by Nasty Gal.

The agency, founded by Carrie Rose and Stephen Kenwright, has seen rapid growth in the last two years, broadening its offices to Chicago and expanding services to Spain, Germany and the Netherlands.

In the last three months, the agency has signed and won 12 new contracts from big named brands, including Sole Supplier, Interflora, and Just my Look.

Following on from its Boohoo Group success, with current client PrettyLittleThing, Rise at Seven has expanded its client base after being appointed by Nasty Gal.

It will deliver Digital PR and social media strategies for the brand to drive organic growth online both in the UK and US.

Revenue is up 170% for the agency which has resulted in a huge recruitment drive taking on new talent across all locations.

After moving into its new office in September in the city centre of Sheffield, the team has already outgrown the 2,800 sq ft space.

The business is currently extending the building out to create a 6-7,000 sq ft office with a sky bar, hammocks, cinema and studio inside with a plan to attract young graduates and create more than 50 jobs in Sheffield in the next 12 months.

The extension will be happening across June and July with a grand launch in the summer.

Rose, chief executive, said: “Myself and all of our Risers are extremely excited to be working with our new clients, such as Interflora, Sole Supplier, and Just my Look.

“Working with global brands, or brands that have the vision to go global, is what we do best, and our new clients’ ambitious growth plans attract us.

“In the last 12 months, the marketing industry has seen a huge change with budgets shifting from traditional to online and digital and as a result. It’s an exciting time for us here at Rise at Seven as we come up to our year two end.”

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Following a competitive pitch, the ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider world – the International Brewing and Cider Awards – has appointed Leeds-based integrated agency Umpf to help raise awareness of the competition.

The contest, which dates back to 1886, has a long history of championing the world’s best brewers and cider-makers.

Due to the pandemic, the event has been rescheduled from March to November 2021.

Umpf will be supporting the awards with international media relations, social media content development and community management, as well as paid social, traditional media buying and email marketing support.

Ruth Evans, director of the awards, said: “We know that this year has been particularly challenging for brewers and cider-makers across the globe but platforms like the International Brewing and Cider Awards are more important than ever to showcase the creativity and innovation of the industries to the trade and end consumer.

“The International Brewing Awards is the most historic international competition of its kind and we believe Umpf can help us to tell the story of the rich history and tradition of the awards to even more brewers and cider makers across the globe.”

Pip Morrall, senior account director at Umpf, said: “It’s an honour to work on the ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider making world.

“The International Brewing and Cider Awards is such an historic and significant event in the brewing and cider-making calendar.

“We’re taking an integrated approach to this brief, combining media relations as well as paid social and traditional media buying on an international scale.

“We’re really looking forward to introducing the awards to even more brewers and cider-makers and driving entries from across the globe.”

The awards will take place in Burton-upon-Trent in November 2021.