PR and styling workshop to help Brighton brands get noticed

PR and styling workshop to help Brighton brands get noticed

PR and product styling workshop aimed at independent brands and small businesses in Brighton

Wednesday 17th April 2019 6:30-9pm at The Projects, Brighton

In April, an interactive PR and product styling workshop is taking place in Brighton. It aims to help Brighton’s independent lifestyle brands do their PR in-house, gaining valuable press coverage with no agency fees.

The 2.5-hour workshop will be hosted by PR expert and This Is Publicity founder Jasmin Robertson, and award-winning interior stylist, journalist and blogger, Maxine Brady.

Attendees will receive expert advice on how to get their brand coverage, covering topics including press releases, pitching etiquette and product styling and photography.

Jasmin and Maxine have more than 30 years joint industry experience, working for both brands and media titles. They decided to launch this workshop when they noticed so many small brands struggling for exposure.

“Brighton is best known for its independent shops, start-ups and solo-preneurs, but most aren’t getting the recognition they deserve. We want to give them confidence and practical skills to pitch to media in ways that work.’ says Jasmin.

“Coverage can help drive sales and awareness, but when times are tough PR is often the first thing to get cut. We know so many small businesses who need support but simply cannot afford agency fees. Our workshop will help brands get to grips with running their own marketing at a fraction of the cost.”

Maxine added, “I’ve styled shoots and written for all the leading UK titles. Every day, I see so many small brands with great products making basic mistakes when talking to the press. We understand that small businesses owners are short on time and money and need simple marketing solutions. With our tips, I’m confident Brighton’s small brands can compete with the high street for exposure in the national press.”

To support the practical workshop content, a number of journalists and bloggers were asked to share their thoughts on how they like to be contacted by brands.

According to Jasmin, “Their comments highlight just how much the media land scape is changing and how brands need to adapt. It’s clear there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but there are still key criteria. We’re offering plenty of advice on how to nail the basics and develop those all-important relationships.”

The Style + Pitch workshop will take place from 6.30-9pm on Wednesday 17th April 2019 at The Projects, 8-9 Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AD.

Tickets cost £99.99 and are available to buy via Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/style-pitch-get-your-lifestyle-brand-noticed-by-editors-tickets-54560160910).

Habitat returning to Brighton with new city centre store

Iconic interiors brand announces plans to open new store as part of Hanningtons redevelopment

 15 June 2018: Habitat has announced it is to launch a new Brighton city-centre store in October 2018. At 6,500sqft it becomes Habitat’s third largest store in the UK and forms part of Redevco’s redevelopment of the old Hanningtons department store on North Street. This marks the first new major stand-alone city-centre store that the brand has opened in 10 years.

 Designed by the Habitat Design Studio, the new store design will be housed across two floors on ground and basement levels of 23-25 North Street, and will offer around 3,000 Habitat products across furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories. The new store will feature striking wrap around store-front windows leading onto The Lanes and will include an installation and events space which will house regular workshops, talks and installations from local collaborators.

 “Habitat opened one of its first stores here back in 1969 so we’re thrilled to be returning to a city that has a lot of historical love for our brand,” comments Clare Askem, Managing Director of Habitat. “Returning to Brighton’s high street has always been a passion project for me so we’re delighted it’s the first new high street store that we’re opening and in such an important new development. This city has always had its own unique atmosphere which we wanted to make central to our return so we’re thrilled to be working on a collaborative project with local artists from the area to launch a celebratory collection of products especially for Brighton for when we open in October.”

 Redevco started redeveloping the 1.3 acre site, which includes the former Hanningtons department store or ‘Harrods of Brighton’, in February 2017. The masterplan for Hanningtons Estate includes the creation of a new Lane, a new entrance to the Lanes from North Street, premium residential and office accommodation and the reconfiguration of existing shops to provide exciting new spaces for retailers, restaurants and cafes. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Andrew Foulds, Portfolio Director at Redevco comments, “Our vision for the North Street element of Hanningtons Estate was to extend the premium retail offer already found in East Street and attract completely new brands to Brighton. There are few brands that are as well-known or quintessentially British as Habitat. Launched by Sir Terence Conran in 1964, the retailer has always led the way with affordable, contemporary and stylish homeware.”

“It complements existing retailers such as Cath Kidston, Kurt Geiger, Flying Tiger, Sandro, Maje, Bobbi Brown and White Company perfectly. We also have deals with other exciting brands in solicitors’ hands, not just for North Street, but for the smaller units within the new Hanningtons Lane. Here the mix will be smaller, quirky but premium retailers, mixed with local names that Brightonians will be familiar with.”