Do you Run Like A Mother? #RLAM

Below is the latest press release from writer and friend, Sarah Bowen Shea, about her new collaborative book, Run Like A Mother. This book of over 100 short essays from running mothers is available at Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, Borders and Indie Bound. Enjoy!

-Campbell Consulting (@ccgpr)

Pepsi's new social public relations campaign

Last month, Pepsi launched a truly social PR campaign. It's on every social network, it's all over the Google -- and it requires participation from the masses. The premise of the project is this: Pepsi earmarked $20 million to give away to innovative projects, submitted by anyone through its web site, www.refresheverything.com. Then everybody votes on the best ideas in open online voting.

We're looking for people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact. Look around your community and think about how you want to change it. -Pepsi Refresh Project

Imagine all the innovations that could get their start from this funding. Ten years down the road, a successful program to say, build a school for girls in a bad neighborhood, blossoms and names a building after Pepsi. It's a great PR campaign that will keep on giving -- in many ways. Is anyone else noticing a correlation between the mounting relevance of the social world and the tendency for major PR campaigns to be philanthropic?

-Adrianne (@msfener)

Some Puccini with that pilsner?

On a recent trip to the Bay Area with Jason Randles and Larry Sidor of Deschutes Brewery, I thought it might be nice to chauffeur my companions about in my twin sister’s Audi Q5. This meant that she had to retrieve her beloved car after an arduous work day at the San Francisco Opera, and thus join me for some scintillating conversation about ale. Who knew that lending her car would provide such insights into the endless possibilities of beer and opera?

-Marie (@mariefayandre)

Marketing Firm Buzztag Launches With Buzzworthy Ideas, Global Client List

It's official... Buzztag is in business!

Agency focuses on branded merch fused with new media; clients includes HP, Pepsi Bend, Oregon – Buzztag, a new international sales and marketing company, has launched to provide firms with creative methods of acquiring and connecting with new customers. "Many businesses haven't cracked the social media code," says Brenda Speirs, co-founder of Buzztag. "They either haven't taken full advantage of it or they don't understand what it could do for them. We show them that it's not so confusing -- it's just all about engaging customers and strengthening the relationship, critical to any business today. We help clients break into the social media space with a bang.” Buzztag combines cross-promotions, branded merchandise and social media to help its clients connect with new customers and build excitement around a client’s brand. The company’s official launch took place this past weekend with an online video contest, text message contests and a host of interactive activities with Bend’s WinterFest as a backdrop. Buzztag’s clients include global companies Cisco Systems, HP, Oracle, Pepsi as well as smaller businesses. Buzztag blends a unique set of services including branded merchandise development, social media and collaborative Web 2.0 tools to create innovative outreach solutions for clients. Queen Bee Brenda Speirs developed branded merchandise for global Fortune 500 companies for 10 years before she co-founded Buzztag with the goal of providing branded items that are both unique and useful as part of a comprehensive marketing program. Chief Buzzbomb Lyle Speirs co-founded the company with his wife, Brenda, after years in senior management at Wang Laboratories, Apple Computer, KPMG/ExIS, Black Diamond Consulting and Cisco Systems. About Buzztag Based in Bend, Oregon, Buzztag is an innovative sales and marketing company that provides creative, integrated outreach solutions for a variety of client companies. Buzztag utilizes social media, branded merchandise and interactive, collaborative technology, drawing on its team’s years in related fields. To find out more about the buzz Buzztag is creating, go to www.buzz-tag.com, @buzztag or find and become a fan of the company on Facebook.

-Campbell Consulting (@ccgpr)

Central Oregon Builders' Association Honors Brooks Resources Corporation

Here's some news from our Bend, Ore. client, Brooks Resources Corporation... -- Central Oregon Builders’ Association Names Brooks Resources Corporation Green Developer of the Year
 Bend, Oregon real estate company is honored for sustainable practices Bend, Oregon – The Central Oregon Builders’ Association (COBA) honored Brooks Resources Corporation “Green Developer of the Year” at its annual Awards of Excellence gala earlier this month. The award was based on several criteria, including community service, sustainable practices, industry recognition and involvement with COBA activities. “Sustainable practices in developing the land we’ve called home for many decades is one of the core objectives of our company,” said Romy Mortensen, vice president of sales and marketing for Brooks Resources Corporation. “From master-planning our communities based on natural features and mature trees, all the way to restoration of native landscape, we keep our delicate high desert environment in mind. We are honored to be recognized by COBA for this commitment.” Along with the development of premier neighborhoods that meet the needs of a diverse population, Brooks Resources Corporation takes special care to conserve natural surroundings around home sites and encourage positive, sustainable community growth. To continue nurturing an active relationship with Central Oregon, the corporation formed the Bend Foundation, which supports education, arts and cultural institutions, parks and other endeavors that improve the quality of life in this very special area. The annual COBA awards ceremony honors the best of the best, recognizing those members who have stood out over the previous year in COBA, in their business and in the community. About Brooks Resources Corporation
 Brooks Resources Corporation, based in Bend, Oregon, is a real estate development company that delivers quality real estate products and services in Central Oregon. With roots in the original 1916 Brooks-Scanlon lumber company that sparked a boom in Bend’s growth for the next half century, Brooks Resources is one of the oldest and most respected developers in the area. Offering a diverse choice of premier neighborhoods in Central Oregon, Brooks Resources Corporation is committed to the preservation of natural environment around home sites, positive growth of communities and an active relationship with the communities of Central Oregon. Its current developments include North Rim on Awbrey Butte, RiverWild at Mount Bachelor Village Resort, Awbrey Park, Century Washington Center, IronHorse, NorthWest Crossing (a joint venture with Tennant Family Limited Partnership) and Yarrow in Madras through a joint partnership with JELD-WEN Communities and Taylor Northwest. In addition it operates Mount Bachelor Village Resort, Botanical Developments and Brooks Resources Realty. For more information, visit www.brooksresources.com.

-Campbell Consulting (@ccgpr)

Photo from North Rim.

The Whuffie Bank

Recognized by TechCrunch as one of the 50 most innovative startups of 2009, The Whuffie Bank is about measuring social capital. As the internet becomes increasingly saturated with personalities and web sites, Whuffie Bank turns that capital into a currency. "In a world where reputation is wealth, only those who do good and well unto others are the richest." Use your social reputation to build credit, then donate or pay that credit to others to boost their reputations and make it easier for everyone to find insightful/helpful/trustworthy people on the web. Video here.

-Adrianne (@msfener)

21st Amendment Tells Pittsburgh: CAN IT!

Our Client, 21st Amendment Brewery located in San Francisco, CA, launches distribution to Pittsburgh, PA....

SAN FRANCISCO’S 21ST AMENDMENT BREWERY TELLS PITTSBURGH: CAN IT! Pittsburgh, Penn. – Shaun O’Sullivan and Nico Freccia have family roots in Pittsburgh. Now they’re coming home and they’re bringing beer. The co-founders of San Francisco’s 21st Amendment Brewery tell Pittsburgh craft beer fans, "We Drink What We Can, We Can What We Drink." Beginning February 1, 21st Amendment beers will be available for the first time throughout Pittsburgh in cans and on draft at better bars and stores. Chief Watermelon Officer Freccia says, "My mom grew up in Pittsburgh, going to Pirates games with my grandfather. He knew beer and used to collect cans from all the great local Pittsburgh breweries." Adds Chief Hop Head O’Sullivan, "My grandfather owned a bar in Mt. Oliver called O’Sullivan’s Café and Chatter Dine. He loved being a part of the local beer scene. Pittsburgh is one of the great craft beer cities in America and we are really excited to be a part of that." Craft beer in a can? Why not? Cans keep beer fresher, they’re better for the environment, and they’re easier to take with you. 21st Amendment’s canned brews include: Brew Free! Or Die IPA, which is brewed with some serious west coast attitude. This aromatic golden IPA starts with a sucker punch of six different hops to the nose, quickly balanced by a solid malt backbone. It was just named one of the 25 top new beers of 2009 by Maxim magazine. Hell or High Watermelon Wheat, a classic American wheat beer that undergoes a traditional secondary fermentation using fresh watermelon and yielding a straw-colored, refreshing beer with a kiss of watermelon aroma and flavor. It was recently rated "#1 Beer to Drink from a Can" by Draft magazine. Monk’s Blood, 21st Amendment’s newest beer and the first beer in the brewery’s Insurrection Series, a once-in-a-while, limited release offering. It’s designed to rise up in revolt against common notions of what craft beer in a can can be. A Belgian-style Strong Dark Ale at 8.3% alcohol, the beer is brewed with cinnamon and vanilla bean and aged on dried black mission figs and oak. About 21st Amendment Brewery 
Hey, we’re Nico & Shaun and we live for great beer. To us, the 21st Amendment means much more than just an end to Prohibition. It means the right to brew beer, the freedom to be innovative, and the obligation to have fun. When we opened the 21st Amendment Brewpub in San Francisco ten years ago in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, we vowed to do things differently or not do them at all. For up to date availability, events and promotions, visit 21A’s website at www.21st-Amendment.com.

-Campbell Consulting (@ccgpr)

#yellowfail -- An Australian wine has an American PR crisis

Can you imagine donating $100,000 to charity and having it turn into BAD publicity? But that's exactly what happened Yellow Tail USA and their public relations team after the company donated $100K to the Humane Society in order to fund the adoption of kitties and puppies. Big mistake. The Humane Society has enemies -- American farmers and ranchers -- and they're up in arms about the Australian company's attempt to push its "tails for tails" feel-good PR campaign. People in the agriculture community are railing against the company on Twitter, tagging comments with #yellowfail and saying things like

@shaunhaney: Off to buy some wine for our super bowl party. Guess which brand I won't be buying. #yellowtail and @FarmerHaley: I used to like it, but alas, no more yellow tail 4 me RT @iam_me: #sidebar: remind me 2 NEVER buy yellow tail wine ever ...

And posting videos like this one and creating Facebook pages like this: http://www.facebook.com/yellowfail. What a nightmare. Here's my advice, though -- play some conservative defense. A survey of the internets shows that this scary public relations crisis is still contained. It's a small community that has any problem with the Humane Society. The message, "Yellow Tail donates lots of money to the Humane Society to rescue cute kitties" is much easier than the convoluted story about lobbyists and agricultural policy that the opponents are pushing. My advice would be, ignore the haters. The YouTube video has only 500 or so views. Deal with it if and only after it becomes viral -- don't help push it to the mainstream by responding. The real lesson, though, is do your research on charities in foreign markets before you decide to donate to them. Always do your research.

-Adrianne (@msfener)

@msfener

Buzztag "Buzz Blaster" at Bend Winterfest, in the Old Mill District

Have you been eying the Mino from FLIP? If you're planning on watching the Rail Jam at Bend Winterfest 2010 - have your phone unlocked and be ready to text answers to our client, Buzztag...

Bend, Oregon – Buzztag, a new, international sales and marketing company, announced today that it will celebrate its launch with fun and games, interactive media style, at Bend WinterFest from February 12-14, 2010.

Videos submitted from across Central Oregon with the theme of “Your Favorite Winter Sports” will compete and unfold before your eyes. Logo shirts will be launched from the “Buzz Blaster.” A free milk extravaganza with one of our favorite local markets will be announced for WinterFest weekend (cookies not included). A Twitter contest is already underway with prizes to “flip” you out. It’s all in a day’s work for Buzztag.

“We wanted to show Bend how excited we are to be launching Buzztag right now in this community,” said Brenda Speirs, Queen Bee and co-founder of Buzztag. “Having lived in Bend for ten years, we are confident that this is a great time and place to start our new company with a concept we believe in, in a community we love.”

Buzztag’s launch at WinterFest will spotlight local companies Newport Market and Atlas Smart Homes and demonstrate how Buzztag combines cross-promotion and social media to connect with new customers and build excitement around a client’s brand. Buzztag blends a unique set of services including branded merchandise development, social media and collaborative Web 2.0 tools to create innovative outreach solutions for clients throughout the Northwest and beyond.

Brenda Speirs has been in Bend for 10 years providing branded merchandise to global Fortune 500 companies. Brenda co-founded Buzztag with the goal of providing branded items as part of a comprehensive marketing program, that are both unique and useful. Lyle Speirs, Chief Buzzbomb, co-founded the company with his wife Brenda after years in senior management at Apple Computer, KPMG/ExIS, Black Diamond Consulting and most recently Cisco Systems, Inc. Buzztag’s clients include global companies Cisco Systems, HP, Oracle, Pepsi.

About Buzztag

Based in Bend, Oregon, Buzztag is an innovative sales and marketing company that provides creative, integrated outreach solutions for a variety of client companies. Buzztag utilizes social media, branded merchandise and interactive, collaborative technology, drawing on its team’s years in related fields. To find out more about the buzz Buzztag is creating, go to www.buzz-tag.com, and become a fan of the company on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

-Campbell Consulting (@ccgpr)

TOMS | one for one

If you love shoes like us ladies here at Campbell Consulting, then you should procure in the most recent shoe movement: TOMS Shoes. Unlike any other set of kicks you'll own. ;) For every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need. You can even choose where your pair of donated shoes go (with information on your receipt), and track the progress online. Learn more and get involved.

-Jacq (@jacqsmith)