Storm gets gaming

Storm gets gaming

We’re delighted to announce that we have been appointed by Spain-based software developer Fluendo to manage the UK launch of its new eSports application, following a competitive pitch.

The exciting project will see us introduce the new solution to key influencers in the UK including gaming journalists, eSports associations and bloggers. We’ll be raising awareness of its key features and helping ensure Fluendo achieves excellent sign-up following the launch.

eSports are no longer a niche hobby. Professional teams have emerged that have the same structure as traditional sports with coaches and analysts. Not only that they have stringent training regimes and can earn huge amounts in prizes and sponsorships. Fluendo’s new tool will help professional and recreational players take their gameplay to the next level.

For more information please contact Adam Craig at Storm.

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We’ve been shortlisted for the PRmoment Awards!

A fantastic start to the week here at Storm with the news that we’ve been shortlisted for Best B2B Campaign of the Year at the PRmoment Awards 2017.

Our ‘Tackling London’s Food Waste’ campaign has helped put Bio Collectors at the forefront of the UK’s food waste debate. Over the course of the year, we have helped raise awareness of the company through a carefully targeted media relations programme that resulted in coverage in all key trade publications and a double page feature in the Evening Standard.

We also wrote a research report, detailing the capital’s food waste problem, that achieved widespread media coverage and helped the company secure its first council food waste collection. The campaign also ended the year on a high with Bio Collectors the only food waste recycler invited to take part in the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee’s food waste in England inquiry.

Not bad for a London-based company to be leading the way on a nation-wide issue.

The awards take place on 29 March and we can’t wait to join the PR industry’s finest at the Park Plaza. Until then, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed!

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New year, new trends: home and lifestyle

Home & Lifestyle predictions

Last year’s design trends were pale, chic and simple, with copper and ‘hygge’ taking over our homes, but 2017 is already looking very different. This year the trends on show at home and gift trade event Spring Fair, from 5-9 February at the NEC, will be decidedly more energetic. We want fun and intensity married with practicality and usefulness for the perfect blend of passion and realism.

Bright colours are on their way in, so the muted greys, beige, and pastel colours of 2016 can move aside. Although it’s pretty dark and cold outside at the moment, this new trend will see rooms bursting with colour. Paint a wall a popping pink, get a statement blue sofa, or make small but colourful changes. Adding some vibrant throw cushions can rejuvenate your living room, upgrade your appliances to brighten up your kitchen, and make a splash in your bathroom with a rainbow of different coloured towels.

 

If that’s not enough colour for you, statement wallpapers are making a comeback. Think walls covered in delicate, harlequin butterflies, or thick with bright forest foliage and bold florals. Interior design is making a long desired shift from hotel-esque impersonal pastel colours to more vivid colours and motifs, so we can look forward to our homes being infused with personality and attitude.

We’re also predicting ‘smart’ homes for 2017. The rise of Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, is heralding a new era of voice-activated technology which can simplify automated homes. We’re talking smart lighting, smart heating, smart locks, smart cameras and home security systems. Everything and anything these days can be connected to the internet, so you can turn off your lights without getting out of bed (I am already living this dream!) or lock your front door remotely, even if you went to Spain for two weeks and forgot.

 

Escapism will also figure hugely in home design this year. With all the technology available now, it can be nice to retreat somewhere tranquil and calming, especially somewhere without a brightly lit screen. Think wide windowsills piled with soft furnishings to curl up in and read a book; cute, cosy cubbyholes with floor cushions or beanbags; or a low loveseat in your bedroom for you to lie down and relax.

Greenery is Pantone’s colour of the year, with Leatrice Eiseman (executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute), saying that “We love that feeling of newness, of realigning yourself and revitalising yourself. A really important aspect is that the colour has vibrancy and a little bit of brightness.”

It offers a gorgeous, vibrant hue, but we’re also taking this trend for ‘greenery’ literally. One of our food trend predictions was for DIY foods, including having herb gardens and hydroponic units in our homes. Alternatively, an easier way to embrace this trend is to grow succulents and cacti instead. They are simple, cute, and practically impossible to accidentally kill.

 

Jungle and tropical patterns and styles are also very on trend now. We’re talking cocktails, woven baskets and beadwork, bird print fabrics, exotically scented candles and lush plants. This trend, out in force at Spring Fair 2017, encompasses practically all the other things I’ve talked about – bright colours, greenery, and escapism from our wet, cold weather without a holiday. However, it’s bolder and very in-your-face; pair a few statement pieces with more neutral colours and simpler furniture to get the right mix of loud and quiet. Check out Justina Blakeney’s The Jungalow blog to get your fix.

Finally, imperfection. Sometimes, not having a fixed style looks the best, and having a jumble of different furnishings showcases your personality. Having mismatching décor can look amazing, so try some period pieces contrasting against and complementing new, modern furniture. Try your hand at upcycling your own bedside table or dresser, and love its blemishes and therefore its originality. Go against the predicted trends, or blend this year’s bright jungle themes with the recent rose gold craze, and make sure your home is perfect for you.

Spring Fair, the UK’s largest gift and home trade event, is set to feature the UK’s largest number of Gift suppliers under one roof, with thousands of exhibitors to appear at Birmingham’s NEC from 5-9 February 2017.

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2017 Food Trends

New Covent Garden Market - 2017 Food trends

Food trends are obvious in hindsight. Last year, there was avocado everywhere, spiralizers spiralled out of control, and everything we ate was given a rainbow make-over. But predictions for the year ahead are always tricky, and after a turbulent 2016, who knows what will happen in the year ahead? However, we’re giving it our best shot with our predicted 2017 food trends.

Food waste is on the out, which is fantastic. Latest estimates claim that around 56% of food and drink waste is avoidable, while more than 8 million people in the UK are struggling to put food on the table – so there’s appetite to do even better! Many brands are also looking for ways to use their surplus food stocks. General Mills, the company behind much-loved brands – including Nature Valley, Yoplait and Old El Paso amongst others – ensures their unavoidable surplus is redirected to FareShare, a UK-wide charity that tackles hunger and food waste. FareShare then redistributes it to charities and communities across the country – totalling 100,000 meals to date. There is also ‘Too Good To Go’, an app which enables you to buy leftover food from restaurants and cafes for as little as £2. It’s already in London, Leeds and Brighton, and is set to take over the rest of the UK in 2017.

Less alcohol. Mocktails and fancy juices are becoming more popular to drink, with many people choosing non-alcoholic options when they’re out, and restaurants are responding to this new market with a wide variety of virgin drinks. Try the gorgeously designed and tasty Seedlip – the world’s first non-alcoholic botanical spirit. It’s not confined to restaurants or bars either; try making your own lemonade or limeade, a homemade cordial or growing yourself a ginger beer plant.

That brings me nicely onto our next prediction, for DIY foods. More people have their own pots of fresh herbs on their window sills, or a small patch of earth in the back garden for radishes and other easy vegetables. While ‘Dig for Victory’ is a little outdated, you can bring this trend firmly into 2017 with your own hydroponic unit. It also doesn’t have to stop with your own fresh foods; you can pickle vegetables, or make your own kimchi, sauerkraut, and jams.

Free-from foods will become even more popular in 2017. Previously, these have been only enjoyed by people with intolerances or allergies, but recently many people have started choosing to eat foods which are free from gluten, dairy or nuts. They’ve also never been more accessible, with supermarkets and even corner shops adding more and more variety to their free-from range.

Vegetables. We’re set to see an increase in vegetables on our plates, changing the British staple of meat and two veg to just… veg? Veganism is still on the rise, with half a million people in the UK now a vegan. This means we’ll be seeing more vegan and vegetarian dishes, as restaurants open themselves up to the diversity of vegetables. Need some fresh inspiration? Check out New Covent Garden Market’s seasonal Market Report.

Finally, bowls. No, I’m not kidding. There’s already an entire restaurant in Berlin which is dedicated to serving brunch in bowls. Some things already make a lot of sense in bowls; soup, for example. But bowls and comfort foods are a match made in heaven, plus bowls are far more Instagram-friendly than a boring, wide plate. It’s not just comfort food either. Healthy, well balanced meals seem more appetising in a bowl, and it’s an easy dieting tip as well; you can trick your brain into thinking there’s more food in a bowl than the same meal on a plate.

For even more gazing into the foodie crystal ball, read these expert articles on predicted 2017 food trends:

– New Food Trends to Look for in 2017 – CN Traveler
– The hottest food trends for 2017 | An expert guide – Olive Magazine
– Top food trends for 2017 – Deliveroo
– Clean is the new dirty word: What will we be eating and where this year? – Independent

Amber Parkin is an avid foodie and Digital Account Director at Storm.

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Brewing up a media frenzy with tea brand T-tox

T-Tox matcha tea brand

New matcha tea brand T-tox, the first in the UK to be aimed specifically at the health and fitness market, has recruited Storm Communications to handle its PR campaign.

Founded by personal trainer and fitness expert Johnny Harris, T-tox offers a range of high-end matcha tea blends that harness the benefits of loose leaf tea, for those who wish to complement an active lifestyle. Blends include Matcha Health, Matcha Energise and Matcha Recovery.

Storm will be in charge of raising brand awareness across health and wellbeing consumer media to build up sales and spread the word of matcha tea nutrition.

For further information, please contact Anneka Wahlhaus on 020 7240 2444 or email anneka.wahlhaus@stormcom.co.uk

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Christmas cheer with Savour Beer

Savour Beer

We’re raising a glass to new client Savour Beer, which has appointed Storm Communications to PR its wonderfully indulgent ‘sparkling beer brut’ and trio giftpack of farmhouse beers, for Christmas.

Brewed exclusively by British farmhouse brewery Savour, the ‘sparkling beer’ is the only one of its kind currently available in the UK; tasting notes: rich, floral and highly effervescent. The trio pack features Saison, Blonde and Dubbel beers, each with its own refreshing yet individual taste.

Storm will be in charge of raising brand awareness in mainstream consumer media to encourage sales and make sure there’s a lot of Savour Beer bottles being cracked open this Christmas.

For further information, please contact Anneka Wahlhaus on 020 7240 2444 or email anneka.wahlhaus@stormcom.co.uk

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A Crisp New Site for Nim’s

Nims Fruit Crisps Website

Storm was delighted to be given the opportunity to provide Nim’s Fruit Crisps with a brand new website. Our clean, contemporary design helped to bring the air-dried fruit and vegetable crisps to life, creating an enticing online shopfront for the brand. With a responsive design that allows orders to be placed from phones and tablets as well as computers, Nim’s has widened its appeal and the bright beautiful blog keeps customers updated on the latest news. The website is now live and can be found at nimsfruitcrisps.com

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Surging ahead with PR and digital

Surge EMS Training London

We’re preparing to flex our muscles here at Storm Communications, with our latest client, Surge, about to launch their first EMS (Electric Muscle Stimulation) studio in central London. EMS is a total body workout using body current. Our muscles contract through electric impulses (bioelectronics) in a normal state, and EMS training makes use of this effect to work muscles harder in specific areas, activating over 90% of muscle fibres during a 20-minute work-out. This efficiency makes it an ideal supplementary workout for both gym-goers and professional athletes alike. The expert Surge team will be bringing a professional, confident approach to training micro-classes of up to four people in their state-of-the-art London studio.

Storm Communications will be running a consumer PR campaign with experiential activity to drive trial of this exciting new fitness concept, alongside content creation and social media management.

For more information contact Elinor Tyler, Head of Consumer Public Relations on 0207 240 2444 or Elinor.Tyler@stormcom.co.uk.

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Helitech International flies into Amsterdam

Helitech International

This October the Helitech International team at Storm Communications will be mingling with the elite of the rotorcraft industry as they finalise the year’s campaign efforts by heading up the show press office in Amsterdam.

With a new event seminar programme in place and plenty of high profile speakers from the likes of Airbus, Leonardo and even an Aerobatic Pilot from The Flying Bulls, it’s been a great show to get stuck into. This is the first year Storm Communications has been heading up the account and the team has been working to raise awareness and position it as a must attend event for the international rotorcraft by generating coverage across international and trade business publications, while ramping up engagement across all social media channels.

From content curation through to running exhibitor webinars and building new media relations, this has been an all-encompassing campaign and we’re excited to see the final results in Amsterdam, October 11-13.

For further information, please contact Nicola Marston on 020 7240 2444 or email helitechpr@stormcom.co.uk

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Securing this year’s SCTX

UK Event PR for SCTE

Following a hugely successful campaign for last year’s event, Storm Communications has been reappointed by the Security & Counter Terror Expo to run their UK event PR. Starting in October, we will once again be running a proactive media relations programme to raise awareness of the event’s speakers and exhibitors in key vertical sectors, including the military, security, counter terrorism, critical infrastructure, cyber security and emergency services. Additionally, the 2017 event will see us managing digital activity around the show, connecting with key audiences via Twitter and LinkedIn channels, and creating targeted advertising.

Last year, we achieved a record amount of media coverage for the event, including high profile speaker pieces in a number of broadsheet national papers, as well as being broadcast on BBC News, Sky News and NBC News. All key media titles wrote extensively about the event in the lead up to the London show, which resulted in visitor numbers exceeding all expectations.

SCTX is one of many UK event PR accounts run by Storm. This year alone we have already managed press office activity for the portfolio of in-cosmetics Group events, including the newly launched North America show, Helitech International, World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo, Foodex, Food & Drink Expo and Trauma Innovation.

For further information about Storm Communication’s B2B and corporate PR credentials please call senior account director Adam Craig on 020 7240 2444.

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