Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Radio Ad 2

Title: New Years Resolution
Client/Sponsor: The Frame Dames
Length: 30 seconds
Air Date: January


SFX: Sounds of people counting
down to the new year.(no fade)

ANNOUNCER:                                             Happy new year! With 2011 behind us it is time to make our new years resolutions. Its time to take out those old family heirlooms and finally get them framed.

MUSIC: Upbeat (established, then under)


ANNOUNCER:                                             You can preserve your family’s memories with a custom frame from The Frame Dames.  Located conveniently on Railroad street in Saint Johnsbury.



ANNOUNCER:                                             Don’t let your memories get covered with dust. Cherish them with a custom frame. The Frame Dames. If it needs a frame, we’re your dames.   


MUSIC:
(Fade out at :29)




###

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Ads Then and Now

 
Gabrielle Benzie
Ads then and now


            Advertising has existed since the beginning of time. Darwin called it “survival of the fittest.” Today advertising single-handedly controls the world’s media and it’s viewers. However, there was a time when advertising wasn’t the main venue for persuading audiences. Before the industrial revolution and even the more recent technological revolution, advertising wasn’t easy to produce. Before computers were invented ads were drawn by hand and text was created with a printing press.
            There have been many companies that have been around long enough to see these technological changes, and they have their ads to prove it. Lysol, Gillette and Coca-cola are three internationally recognized companies. They have been in existence for more than half a century. These companies are so well known that they have kept their original logos. This is something that is only seen when successful advertising was introduced. Most companies update their logos so that they adapt their look to social changes. But, if a company is successful without a change, than they known that they have succeeded in promoting themselves. They know that people are buying into their brand.
            Lysol is a brand that people have learned to “trust.” In this case, Lysol’s long lifetime is their biggest selling point. They have been the #1 household cleaner for generations. People grew up with it, their moms used it and their grandmothers used it. It has become a family owned product.
The old Lysol ad is hand drawn in color. Shown below.



The logo is big and bold. This catches people’s eye, especially if they are familiar with the products branding image. There is a large focus on text and body content. Images are used to illustrate the products many uses. They also use the line “kills germs in dark corners.” This line is almost a little frightening, especially to woman of this time period. The line is used to convince housewives that there are those dark places in the house where you need more than just soap and water. The target audience for this ad is housewives, which during this time period was about 95% of adult woman.

The new Lysol ad is computer generated. Shown below.



This ad came out when the H1N1 virus was scaring people around the country. Unlike the older ad, this ad focuses on images to portray the message. The image is of a young girl about to contaminate herself with harmful germs. This image and the ad is tailored specifically to mothers. Lysol is the brand that mothers trust, and people have a natural tendency to trust their mothers. After all, mothers have their best interest at heart, especially when it comes to protecting their house from harmful germs. This is an advertising strategy that Lysol has consistently used. They know that if they can convince mother’s to buy the product, everyone will buy it. The ad also uses facts to support their message. They use facts in the header and also at the footer, when they state their 99.9% cleaning power. Facts are another thing that people trust. “Trust” seems to be Lysol’s consistent advertising strategy.
        Gillette is another brand that has withstood the test of time. It is a brand of choice for many men. Below this an old Gillette ad.



This ad is very different from the Gillette ads seen today. The ad focuses on the safety and comfort of the razor. The ad highlights imagery rather than text, which is successful. The concept behind the ad is simple. It is so safe that a baby can use it. Razors seem to be one of those things that parents would keep away from their baby. This ad contradicts that and makes it funny. Humor is one of the best modes for advertising, everyone likes to laugh. The target audience for this ad is primarily men, because of the product being advertised, but woman are also attracted to the ad because of the baby. This would persuade woman to buy this razor for her husband.
  There are two new Gillette ads shown below. They take a different approach.







            The first ad is funny, much like the old ad. However, it is very simplistic and clever. The text above the pineapple reads, “Gillette fusion: we love a challenge.” This ad is eye catching because if the imagery used, and the end result is funny and smart. It is easy to understand and that is what makes it successful.
            The second ad is of a very masculine, attractive man. The header in this ad reads, “All men are not equal. Neither are their razors.” This ad takes a bit of a different approach. In this case humor is replaced with sex appeal. This ad is simple and sexy. Most men want to look like the man in this ad and most women want to date the man in this ad. The purpose of the ad is to convince men that they will be a “real man” if they use a Gillette razor. Gillette ads have clearly changed over time. They are now focused on quality and masculinity rather than safety, because real men don’t care about being safe that care about being a “man.”  
            Coca-cola is one of the most recognizable companies in the world. Below is an old Coca-cola ad.


This ad is focused on selling a feeling, happiness. A young woman and her boyfriend are at the fair and are just about to enjoy a delicious ‘coke.’ The ad is colorful and eye catching and the woman and people depicted are happy. The target for this ad are adolescent to adult woman and men. People who view this ad will want to drink a coke because they want to be as happy as the girl in the ad. This ad is also interesting because it was made after ‘coke’ has been around for a while. People gave coca-cola it’s nickname, ‘coke.’ This a states at the bottom, “call it coke or coca-cola, it’s the same delicious drink.” 
Below is a new coke ad.


This ad is also selling a feeling, but a very different one. This ad is selling risk, or adventure. The image is of a female solo rock climber at the top of a cliff. The header states, “here’s to those with their own idea of living on the edge.” The target audience for the ad are woman, and athletes. The company has changed their ads to fit the change in society. Today it is not uncommon to see a woman rock climbing. Risk, danger and adventure has become socially accepted, and are viewed as being impressive and exciting. Coke wants their viewers to relate these emotions and feelings to drinking a coke. Coke is the drink for the risk takers. This concept is very different from the old ad. There is no risk, or adventure in the old ad, rather joy and happiness are used. They are both successful, because each is tailored to fit the norms of society at the time. 


Radio Ad


Title: Frame Your Memories
Client/Sponsor: The Frame Dames
Length: 30 seconds
Aid Dates: Undecided


             Do you have a family heirloom in need of framing? You can preserve your family’s memories with a custom frame from The Frame Dames. Constructed from high quality frames imported from Portugal and Italy. The Frame Dames is Saint Johnsbury’s convenient shop for all your framing needs. Choose from dozens of styles and woods to match your décor. Don’t let your memories get covered with dust. Cherish them with a custom frame. The Frame Dames. If it needs a frame, we’re your dames.  

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Frame Dames: Print Ad


The concept of this ad is based off of my strategic media messenger for The Frame Dames. I wanted the concept of the ad to be based off the phrase, "frame your memories." This line adds personality to the ad and allows viewers to relate to the images portrayed.

I wanted to keep the design simple and to the point, less if more. I did this by incorporating one large image and omitting any unnecessary text.  The image is of a happy bride and groom, and a decorative frame is literally "framing their memories." This plays off of when people make a frame out of their fingers and hold them out in front of them to imagine what the moment would be like as a photo. This gives the viewer that idea that framing is effortless and convenient, which is another point that was made in the strategic media messenger.  

I new from the beginning that I didn't want to incorporate too much text. An ad that has a lot of copy can be looked over by many viewers. People don't want have to read a lot, or even think, in order to understand an advertisement. This is why I kept it simple.

This is why I chose not to incorporate many of the items on the list. However, I did keep the visual, headline (which also acts as a slogan or swing line), body copy and mandatories (in this case they were not legal details, but rather location and contact).

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Good Ads

Ad #1:
This ad is for Marvin Windows and Doors. This ad has a good balance between visual aspects and text. They used a luxurious photo to catch the viewer's eye, and use a Venn Diagram to explain the concept behind it. The text is seen at the bottom and provides more information. This gives the viewer the option to read further. A successful ad is one that can be understood without text. This ad can work both ways.

Ad #2:
This ad is another that works well because it is eye catching and clever. The ad is for finding a cure for cancer, by riding in a bike race that raises money. The focus of the ad is a photo of the back of a biker, this is coupled with a header that reads, "Chances are you've been sitting on a cure for cancer." This really grabs the reader's attention and makes them think. Again, this as is simple and affective.

Ad #3:
This ad has characteristics in it that is commonly used in advertisements, convenience and pleasure. The ad is for the Green Mountain Coffee, "brew over ices" K-cup. The header reads, "Summer. (now available at home)" This ad is so simple and so successful. It has a header and a illustration of a used coffee. There is more info at the bottom, but the image and the header do the job. This ad couples too things that the majority of people like, summer and home.

Bad Ads

Ad #1:
This ad is for Bose Wave Music System. This ad is lacking success in one big way. The header is written in a way that sounds negative. "No. It won't make your morning coffee, but it might make your day." To me this is introducing the product to the viewer by saying that it isn't "great" but it's "okay." The ad should stand out, and make the audience want to buy the product because it is "great!" They should come out and say that something like, "You think your coffee wakes you up? Well check this out."

Ad #2:
This ad is for an engagement ring that is made for sporty, outdoor enthusiasts. They ring is supposed to withstand getting beaten around. The biggest problem with this ad is that it lacks adventure. It shows a woman paddling her kayak on a lake. This doesn't seem to give this ring justice. A better approach would be to have a woman rock climbing and zoom in on her ring against the rough rock. This would immediately show the viewer what this ad is about, rather than having them read through a bunch of text. Simple is always more effective when it comes to advertising.

Ad #3:
This ad was for an artist that specializes in pointillism. Which is when you draw or paint something using only small dots. This ad is too wordy and it doesn't showcase the art enough. The art should be that focal point, with some basic information at the bottom. Looking at this ad makes me want to turn the page. There is too much text and not enough visual aspects.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Podcast

[url=http://www.divshare.com/download/15979623-85b]DivShare File - Frame Dames Podcast.mp3[/url]


Marta Pauer-Tursi: Borealis PR


Marta Pauer-Tursi: Borealis PR

Marta Pauer-Tursi has a BA in Political Science and an MA in Applied
Linguistics/International Studies. After she graduated from college she worked at The New Yorker magazine. She stayed there for ten years and she considered it to be her dream job. She moved to Vermont and had to change her momentum, as there wasn't much in the state for publishing. She stated in an e-mail that, “PR was a seamless transition.”

Marta has been in the PR field for twenty years. She spent ten of those years in corporate communications and focused on crisis media. She also worked for a Fortune 100 company. She found this interesting because they had plenty of crises, so there was never a dull moment.

She runs her own consultancy called Borealis Pr in the Burlington area. It has been in business for five years. She has a team that works with her. Her employees have many sub specialties, which keeps them on top of a lot of different situations. Borealis Pr focuses more on strategic communications and issue advocacy.

Her typical day goes something like this. She wakes up at 5:30. Checks her social media, and catches up on the news. She reads tweets that have value to her clients. Once in a while, she spends the morning writing a speech or a ghostwritten piece. Sometimes, she may work on internal communications for a client. She likes to catch up with other team members on timelines and deliverables. She likes to go out for a walk at least once a day. She says, “stepping out of my environment actually helps to clarify ideas I may be working on.”

I asked Marta what she likes best about being in PR and she responded, “I enjoy what I do because it gives me the opportunity to meet people from very diverse environments. I also enjoy problem solving and creating effective communications for clients.”

Marta says that her tip to a student thinking about going into PR is to “learn what you can about PR, but also develop a specialty in an area of your interest. Many agencies have moved from genelists to specialists. An agency that specializes in health care will more likely hire someone with some knowledge of the physical sciences. If you go to the PRweek website you will see that breakdown. So my advice is do a minor in an area that you might consider working in at an agency or company.”

I asked Marta what she remembers as her most interesting PR assignment, she said, “flying in to a crisis zone by helicopter, getting a quick brief from the folks on the ground and then doing a live interview. This was a chemical explosion at a plant.”

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Final Feature News Release


To:                         Chosen Newspaper


Subject:             The Frame Dames Shed Light on Local Artists



Feature News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

Windows Shed Light Onto Local Artists
“I hope this new space will have a positive impact on the art community,” says Ford. Ann hare and Sarah Ford owners of The Frame Dames in St. Johnsbury are showcasing local artisians work from the surrounding community in their new remodeled space on Railroad Street.
The new location has given the owners the space they need to showcase products and local art in their large storefront windows. Hare and Ford spend a lot of time on their display windows, and feature many Northeast Kingdom artists, such as Matthew Payeur, Kelly Mawson, Phyllis M. Gable, Danelle Noyes, Crystal Lynn and even owner Sarah Ford displays her handcrafted jewelry. 
The larger space and more ideal location has allowed Hare and Ford to expand their product base to offer art supplies and has provided a space for local artists to showcase their work. The Frame Dames store has showcased a variety of art disciplines, from pottery to hand braided rugs and from photography to glassware.
Hare and Ford, previous Uniquity employees, decided to open a business of their own. They spruced up a vacant building in St. Johnsbury, turning their business dreams into a reality. The building was once home to Aqua Realm and before Ann and Sarah moved into the space it sat vacant for one year. “ We opened on June 18th. It took us one week to move in, remodel and open,” says Ford. “We moved around walls, remodeled the bathroom, refinished every surface except the ceiling and installed new lights.”
Hare and Ford previously worked in the frame shop in the back of Uniquity on Railroad Street in St. Johnsbury. “Being in the back of Uniquity made it difficult for window advertising, if you didn’t know we were there you never would,” says Ford. They haven’t moved far, just a few stores down, and have witnessed a great difference the new location has had for business. "Business has just about doubled since we moved, we attribute that to our display windows right on the street," says Hare.
The Frame Dames new location is at 418 Railroad Street in downtown St. Johnsbury. You can visit their remodeled store, Monday-Friday from 9:30-5:30 and Saturday from 9:30-1:30.
###

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Hare or Sarah Ford
Co-Owners of The Frame Dames
(802) 751-8721
Ann.Hare@hotmail.com
Sarah.ford@gmail.com

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Sample MP3

The Frame Dames: Feature News Release

 
To:                         Chosen Newspaper


Subject:             The Frame Dames Restore Vacant Building



Feature News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         


The Frame Dames Restore Old, Vacant Building
The Frame Dames are showcasing local artisians work from the surrounding community in their new remodeled space on Railroad Street. The new location has given the owners the space they need to increase the showcase of products and local art in their large storefront windows. Owners Ann Hare and Sarah Ford spend a lot of time on their display windows, and feature many local and well known artists, such as: Matthew Payeur, Kelly Mawson, Phyllis M. Gable, Danelle Noyes, Crystal Lynn and even owner Sarah Ford displays her handcrafted jewelry.  
“This new space has had a positive impact on the art community,” says Ford. The larger space and more ideal location has allowed Ann and Sarah to expand their product base to offer art supplies and has provided a space for local artists to showcase their work. The Frame Dames store has showcased a variety of art disciplines, from pottery to hand braided rugs and from photography to glassware.
Ann and Sarah, previous Uniquity employees, decided to open a business of their own. They spruced up a vacant building in St. Johnsbury, turning their business dreams into a reality. The building was once home to Aqua Realm and before Ann and Sarah moved into the space it sat vacant for one year. “ We opened on June 18th. It took us one week to move in, remodel and open,” says owner Ann Sarah Ford. “We moved around walls, remodeled the bathroom, refinished every surface except the ceiling and installed new lights.”
The Frame Dames was previously located behind Uniquity on Railroad Street in St. Johnsbury. “Being in the back of Uniquity made it difficult for window advertising, if you didn’t know we were there you never would,” says Sarah. They haven’t moved far, just a few stores down, and have witnessed a great difference the new location has had for business. "Business has just about doubled since we moved, we attribute that to our display windows right on the street," says Ann.
Since remodeling the building and opening The Frame Dames, Ann Hare and Sarah Ford have added another visually appealing building to St. Johnsbury. The store is a gem of the town, and with it’s new facelift it has a positive future ahead of it. 
            The Frame Dames new location is at 418 Railroad Street in downtown St. Johnsbury. You can visit their remodeled store, Monday-Friday from 9:30-5:30 and Saturday from 9:30-1:30.
###
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Hare or Sarah Ford
Co-Owners of The Frame Dames
(802) 751-8721

Gasp Jeans: PR Disaster!


 Gasp Jeans, a retail store located in Melbourne stoked a PR disaster last week. The store failed in their PR relations in two ways: one, through the inappropriate behavior from a staff member and the other from their response to the incident.
Keara O’Neil sent an e-mail complaint to Gasp after a crude encounter with one of the store’s sales assistants. Keara stated in her letter that the sales person was pushing her to purchase a dress that did not fit her, and that she didn’t like. He stated things like: “With your figure I really think you should buy it.” He ended up telling her to leave if she didn’t want to buy anything, and stated as she left, “Have fun finding something at Supre.” This comment was used to insult her fashion sense.
If Gasp was thinking about the customer’s well-being in their response to Keara they would have avoided any public disasters. Unfortunately, that did not happen. The response letter was Gasp’s obituary. The response letter was embellished with viral comments, such as;
“[The person] whom served you is a qualified stylist whom has a sixth sense for fashion, and [his] only problem is that he is too good at what he does, and as I am sure you are aware, people whom are talented, generally do not tolerate having their time wasted, which is the reason you were provoked to leave the store.”
This doesn’t sound like an apology letter. The store owner should have apologized for the unforgivable behavior of his staff member, and should have reassured Keara that her business is always welcome at Gasp. In reality, the staff member should have been fired. However, the owner continued to praise the staff member’s fashion talent and went on to say:
‘‘[He] is a retail superstar, who possess unparalleled ability, and I am sorry you feel upset by him, but he knew you were not going to buy anything before you even left your house.”
‘‘Our range is worn by A-list celebrities to the likes of Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez and Katy Perry to name only a few.”
The letter is basically outlining Keara’s lack of fashion sense, and that “her kind” is not welcome at such a high end retailer. I am not sure if it was just the snooty personality of the store owner that aided in writing such a disastrous response letter, or if he was drunk under the table when he wrote it.






Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Final News Release


To:                  Chosen Newspaper


Subject:         The Frame Dames Expand to Offer Art Supplies



The Frames Dames News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


The Frame Dames Expand to Offer Art Supplies

Sarah Ford and Ann Hare, owners of The Frame Dames, fill the art supply void in St. Johnsbury and surrounding areas.

“We are trying to supply St. Johnsbury with some basic art supplies,” Ford said.  “Our art supply section is constantly expanding due to the helpful suggestions of our customers.”

Sarah Ford and Ann Hare opened The Frame Dames on June 18th. “In just three months of business we have attracted new many customers. 25% of our customer base is new, and we hope to attract more new customers to our store,” said owner Sarah Ford. “We now hope to cater to local artists by stocking our shelves with top name art supplies.” 

“We are, first and foremost, a custom picture frame shop,” Ford said. “However, we hope that local artists will come to us and purchase their supplies here, instead of driving to Montpelier, Littleton, or Burlington.”

The Frame Dames also special orders supplies for individual customers in need of a specific product and have been compiling art packages for students. “If an art teacher needs supplies for an upcoming class we can provide the needed materials, bag them and sell them as a unit directly to the students to make things as easy as possible,” Ford said.

The Frame Dames location is at 418 Railroad Street in downtown St. Johnsbury. Their store hours are Monday-Friday from 9:30-5:30 and Saturday from 9:30-1:30.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Hare or Sarah Ford
Co-Owners of The Frame Dames
(802) 751-8721

Final Fact Sheet

THE FRAME DAMES
418 RAILROAD ST.
SUIT 2, ST. JOHNSBURY, VT. 05819
(802) 751-8721


Fact Sheet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Hare or Sarah Ford
Co-Owners of The Frame Dames
(802) 751-8721


The Frame Dames Expand to Offer Art Supplies

What:              Sarah Ford and Ann Hare, the owners of The Frame Dames in St. Johnsbury, are expanding their store products to now offer art supplies.
                         
                          “We hope to fill the art supply void in this area, by providing top brand art supplies at our store location,” owner Sarah Ford said.

Who:                Sarah Ford and Ann Hare opened The Frame Dames on June 18th.

“In just three months of business we have attracted many new customers. 25% of our customer base is new from, and we hope to attract more new customers to our store,” said owner Sarah Ford. “We now hope to cater to local artists by stocking our shelves with top name art supplies.” 

Where:           418 Railroad Street, St. Johnsbury.

When:             Monday-Friday, 9:30-5:30
                          Saturday, 9:30-1:30

 Why:               “We are trying to supply St. Johnsbury with some basic art supplies. Our art supply section is constantly expanding due to the helpful suggestions of our customers.”
                                   
                                                                                                — Sarah Ford, Owner
                                                                                                     The Frame Dames

Persuasive Speech: Eat Organically


GABRIELLE BENZIE
Media communications: Speech
Organic Food in America
[INTRODUCTION]
I.              What is organic? [PAUSE] According to the USDA all products that are stamped with the “100% organic seal” are those in which “every ingredient in the product was raised and harvested in an organic environment.”
II.            Today our food is full of harmful pollutants and farm chemicals that are denaturalizing the basic nutrients that a human must consume.
III.         Through much research I have found this to be true, and have come to the agreement that the consumption of organic products is a necessity to human health.
IV.          Today I will inform you of why Americans should eat organically in order to improve their health and their environment.
V.            I will introduce the risks of eating commercially, the steps Americans must take in order to achieve an organically healthy life, and the benefits that naturally healthy food can offer.
I will first introduce the risks of eating commercially.


[BODY]
I. Americans must be aware of their eating habits and its effects.
A.          Fast food meals are food of choice for most Americans.
1.     According to Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All American Meal “Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars.”
2.     In an article published by the Organic Consumers Association it was stated, “more than 60 per cent of American adults and 13 per cent of children and adolescents are classified as overweight or obese.”
B.        Health risks, are not just the over advertised fast food corporations, but also the abundance of pesticides and chemicals added to our daily food.
1.     Janet Hull stated in an article that, “there are over 14,000 man-made chemicals added to our American food supply today.”
2.             The United States Environmental Protection Agency stated that, “laboratory studies show that pesticides can cause health problems, such as birth defects, nerve damage, cancer, and other effects that might occur over a long period of time.”
Secondly I will inform you of the steps that Americans must take in order to achieve an organically healthy life.
II.            As individuals you can choose many ways to be organic.
[READ AS LIST]
A.   Avoid all fast food restaurants, they may seem convenient at the time but the cost of health is more important.
B.    Read the labels on food products before purchasing them, you may be surprised by what is hiding.
C.    Plant your own food if possible even if it is a simple tomato plant, fresh always beats commercial.
D.   Lastly, educate yourself and others of the importance of buying organic food, especially produce, in order to make the need for organic food nationally recognized.
Thirdly I will illustrate the benefits that naturally healthy food can offer.
III.         The reasons for eating organically are unbeatable.
            [READ AS LIST]
A.   Organic foods limit your exposure to toxic and synthetic pesticides.
B.          They limit the use of harmful herbicides in our environment.
C.    By eating organic food you will demote unhealthy fast food corporations that seem to put a label on our country and our citizens.
D.          And, to establish an overall healthier, non-toxic, way of living.
With all of this being said, take action in your life; be healthy by eating organically.
 [CONCLUSION]
             In conclusion.
I.              Eating organically will improve the health of our society and our environment.
II.            Now that you are knowledgeable of the risks of commercial products, the steps to eating organically and the benefits of eating organic food, take action.
III.         Choosing what to eat is a decision made by billions of people around the world, so why not choose what you should eat?


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

News Realease Activity

LYNDON, VT- The Vermont Symphony Orchestra will perform at Lyndon State College at 7:30pm on Thursday, Sep. 29.

The Orchestra will perform composed works by Mozart, Honegger, Haydn and a special world premiere of Dark Mountains, composed by Robert Paterson.

Tickets are available at Lyndon State College, Green Mountain books in Lyndonville, Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury and flynntix.org, (802)-86-FLYNN.

The performance is sponsered by Lyndon State College, Passumpsic Savings Bank, and VPR.

The Frame Dames: Fact Sheet


THE FRAME DAMES
418 RAILROAD ST.
SUIT 2, ST. JOHNSBURY, VT. 05819
(802) 751-8721


Fact Sheet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Hare or Sarah Ford
Co-Owners of The Frame Dames
(802) 751-8721


The Frame Dames Expand to Offer Art Supplies

What:              Sarah Ford and Ann Hare, the owners of The Frame Dames in St. Johnsbury. are expanding their store products to now offer art supplies.
                         
                          The store hopes to fill the art supply void in this area, by providing top brand art supplies at their downtown store location.

Who:                Sarah Ford and Ann Hare opened The Frame Dames on June 18, 2011 in downtown St. Johnsbury. In just three months of business, they have become the to-go frame shop in this area. They now hope to cater to local artists by stocking their shelves with top name art supplies. 

Where:           418 Railroad Street, St. Johnsbury.

When:             Monday-Friday, 9:30-5:30
                          Saturday, 9:30-1:30

 Why:               “We are trying to supply St. Johnsbury with some basic art supplies. Our art supply section is constantly expanding due to the helpful suggestions of our customers.”
                                   
                       Sarah Ford, Owner
                       The Frame Dames

The Frame Dames: News Release

 
To:                  janeQReporter@newspaper.com


Subject:         The Frame Dames Expand to Offer Art Supplies



The Frames Dames News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


The Frame Dames Expand to Offer Art Supplies

Sarah Ford and Ann Hare, owners of The Frame Dames, fill the art supply void in St. Johnsbury and surrounding areas.

“We are trying to supply St. Johnsbury with some basic art supplies,” Ford said.  “Our art supply section is constantly expanding due to the helpful suggestions of our customers.”

Sarah Ford and Ann Hare opened The Frame Dames on June 18, 2011 in downtown St. Johnsbury. In just three months of business, they have become the to-go frame shop in this area. They now hope to cater to local artists by stocking their shelves with top name art supplies.

“We are, first and foremost, a custom picture frame shop,” Ford said. “However, we hope that local artists will come to us and purchase their supplies here, instead of driving to Montpelier, Littleton, or Burlington.”

The Frame Dames also special order supplies for individual customers in need of a specific product and have been compiling art packages for local students. “If an art teacher needs supplies for an upcoming class we can provide the needed materials, bag them and sell them as a unit directly to the students to make things as easy as possible,” Ford said.

The Frame Dames is located at 418 Railroad Street in downtown St. Johnsbury. Their store hours are Monday-Friday from 9:30-5:30 and Saturday from 9:30-1:30.


FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Hare or Sarah Ford
Co-Owners of The Frame Dames
(802) 751-8721

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

PR Newswire: Good News Release

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/multi-platinum-singer-songwriter-and-entertainer-toby-keith-signs-bottles-of-wild-shot-mezcal-at-york-area-wine--spirits-store-129823358.html

I thought that this news release we the most reader friendly of all that I have posted. It wins the award fr best into sentence.

"Superstar Toby Keith will bring his Wild Shot Mezcal to York today and sign pre-purchased bottles at the PA Wine & Spirits Store, Crossroads Shopping Center, 351 Loucks Rd., York from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m."

This is informative and it immediately pulls in the reader. This first sentence is followed by multiple quotes explaining the event. This was a great way to add personality to the article, which allows readers and fans of this singer to relate to the event. The goal of this news release was to shine some positive light on the singer Toby Keith and to get fans to attend the event. The article was successful in this case, as I was reading I even became interested, and I am not much of a country singer fan.   

Globe Newswire: Bad News Release

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=232401

This news release was almost asking to be skipped over by most readers. The first sentence was composed of more than 60 words! That is about 40 words over the acceptable number. The sentence was so long that I had to read it a few times over in order to understand the content. Rather than the company's name sticking in my mind it was wondering when the sentence was going to end. This should be something to avoid when trying to pull in readers and keep them reading. 

Globe Newswire: Good News Release

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=232399

This news release is also a school supply related topic, but it is much more successful. The article jumps right in and explains the topic. "Newport News Shipbuilding Donates More Than 22,000 School Supplies to Hampton Roads Students." This is some good PR for Newport News Shipbuilding. Everyone likes to here about businesses helping the community. They also made sure that the company name was the first sentence in the article, this was a smart move on their part. With PR it is important that the business is the focal point, that way people remember that it was Newport News Shipbuilding who donated time and money for the community.

PR Newswire: Bad News Release

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/store-brands-pack-sharp-savings-for-back-to-school-new-market-basket-study-shows-129821708.html

I found this news release lacked personality and interest. To put it bluntly, there was no story. This is the opening sentence for the article.

"With kids back in the classroom and summer fading, a new survey looked at supermarket prices of 40 common back-to-school items and found that shoppers could pocket savings of more than one-third if they purchased store brands products instead of national brands."

This seems to be incredibly unimportant information. Keep in mind that about 90% of readers decide to continue reading an article based on whether or not the first sentence pulls them in. To be honest  I think that it is commonly known that buying generic brands over well known brands can save you money. So why did this get printed? Probably because of our country's poor economic situation, and it is the "in thing" to talk about how much one person can save on normal household items if they shop in the right place. But who really cares about saving money on pencils. Most of us compare the prices in the store and purchase the cheapest products. When buying school supplies for your kids, purchasing high quality brands don't seem to be a concern.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Herald Gazette

There was an article in the Herald Gazette which highlighted Maine State Governor LePage. The article focuses on the fact that the Gov. will no longer be attending a trade mission to Chile and Brazil which he was to be the leader of. He states in the article that he is no longer going because, "it is incumbent that I attend to these [supplemental budget] matters here in Maine." A colleague states that she, "appreciates the governor's focus on our state's fiscal matters...[and] while the governor will not be able to attend, his administration will still benefit from the mission..."

This article seemed to have a heavy vote toward promoting Lepage as a responsible and dedicated governor. The article seemed to be littered with people praising LePage's decision to stay in Maine. Which does seem important, but the article seemed to be more focused on LePage's dedication to the state rather than a simple public statement that he would not be attending the trade mission. I felt as though his PR agents used this opportunity to gain some popularity votes from Mainers.