Sound and Vision

 

Now that we are truly into 2013 (and the snow is reminding us that we really are in the middle of winter) MCC International is busy meeting with clients and looking at what the PR campaigns will be doing for the next 12 months. It’s an exciting time for many of us in the PR industry, a fresh slate if you will, that allows for strategic planning and new ideas to drive forward the key messages. At MCC International 2013 is the year of video – we have recently opened up a specific YouTube channel dedicated to hosting the existing and future video material that will be an integral part of our work this year. In 1968 Andy Warhol famously said everyone would be famous for 15 minutes in the future – perhaps he had the foresight to see that once the technology had evolved, we would all be looking to make an impact on the world. It would seem he’s right and we’re glad to be helping our clients achieve more than just 15 minutes of fame!

One of the big headlines this week (especially for anyone who grew up buying their music in a shop rather than online – how quaint!) is the likely demise of HMV. There has been a lot of speculation as to why HMV has found itself in such dire straights (no pun intended) and anyone who bought their treasured music collections there in the 1980s and 1990s will probably tell you its as much to do with the company losing its appeal as a pure purveyor of music as it is to the Internet revolution and download sales. Interestingly, another brand that we grew up with, Argos, has reported it has grown sales using its click and collect service, as reported on the BBC News website this week. The idea of reserving an item online and then buying it instore is becoming popular with a number of ‘real-world’ retailers, offering consumers lower prices without the wait for the delivery to turn up. Of course Argos and HMV are very different beasts in the way they operate their stores, but its interesting to see new technology and traditional stores coming together to offer consumers a third option.

Another brand that seems to be feeling the pinch from the changing way we live is processor and chip manufacturer Intel, as reported on Sky News this week. Intel was interesting in that it managed to create a strong brand for processors (even accompanied by a jingle!) - not the kind of thing that consumers would traditionally have thought about when purchasing electronics. It would seem that Intel has lost some ground from the wider switch by consumers to smartphones and tablets from desktop and laptop machines. Like Microsoft, Intel had cornered a market that was hugely buoyant at the time but has since changed, almost beyond recognition, as users turn to new ways to process their information. If nothing else, Intel’s news like that of HMV shows that the world of business doesn’t stand still and whilst you’re the top of the pile you may well have to fight, tooth and claw, to maintain that advantage in the future. Like spinning plates, your customers need constant attention and stimulation to keep purchasing from you – something that is at the core of any good PR and Marketing campaign.