Monday 15 February 2010

Another 'Bog-Standard Week' For The ZPR Girls...

Early Wednesday morning Zaria, Jenny and Sam turned up at a house in Shepherds Bush to watch Sir Richard Branson and Euan Sutherland, CEO of B&Q being snapped by the paps whilst hanging out of a homeowners loft. Crazy? Well it is all in aid of supporting the Princes Trust Project Start campaign which is aiming to show people how easy it can be to ‘green’ up their homes, whether it be insulating their loft or installing solar lights. Both B&Q and Virgin are companies supporting the charity. Our lovely homeowner Ronnie along with daughter Mallory welcomed B&Q, ZPR, Virgin, the Princes Trust and 14 photographers into their home. You could say it was rather cramped but within less than an hour of the photocall starting everyone had dispersed and travelled back to the office to start the rest of the day! Although we did manage to make a pit stop on the way back for a much needed cuppa!

Meanwhile the Superdrug team got to spend the morning with two scantily clad male models at the Marble Arch store for the launch of Superdrug deodorant on Wednesday. It came off the back of results that men spend more time pampering and grooming themselves. The two boys got their tops off and crowds of women flocked to see what the commotion was, queuing up to do the smell test—one spray of Lynx and one spray of the Superdrug product to see if they could tell the difference. It was a great success despite the snowy weather and the models proved that men might like a bit of pampering but they won’t shy a way from a challenge in the cold—especially if it involves getting their kit off for the ladies.

Over on Oxford Street, Peter Andre launched his new fragrance ‘Unconditional’ to a hoard of screaming fans at Selfridges on Saturday. Dressed for the occasion in a red shirt, Peter met with over 150 lucky fans to sign bottles of his new scent whilst planting pre-Valentine’s Day kisses on their cheeks.

The Waitrose team had a week with an overflowing toilet bowl as the nation went crazy for toilet roll! Having just launched Cashmere infused toilet roll we wrapped it in ribbon and sent it out to test the waters and although some were more enthusiastic than others, everyone’s interest was piqued. People love the idea of bog-standard luxury!

The ZPR girls have started the week off with our fingers firmly on the pulse: last week Selfridges had to get more stock in of the new Chanel Mushroom shade of nail varnish—being dubbed the new Jade—as it was flying off the shelves. By our Monday meeting Kirsty, Sam, Niravta and Nora had already snagged themselves a pot and were flaunting the new ‘It’ shade with understated flair.

Monday 8 February 2010

ZPR Spring into Action

A storming success for the beauty team, with 130 journalists tottering their way down to the Haymarket Hotel for Superdrug’s spring/summer 2010 press launch. The Shooting Gallery was filled with Superdrug’s latest beauty, fashion and healthcare products and journalists sat back, relaxed and enjoyed pamper sessions from manicurists, hair experts and make-up artists including Ruby and Millie.

Last week B&Q celebrated Apprentice week. The scheme (in association with the National Apprenticeship Service), provides 130 employees with many new talents and skills. People of all ages are welcomed into the scheme, from 18 year old Adam Wilson from Chesterfield to Terry Robinson, who at the ripe age of 70 years old isn’t ready to hang up his orange apron just yet!

The Waitrose Menu From event at the John Lewis Bistro cooked up a storm. The chefs, Pierre Koffmann, Bryn Williams and Antony Demetre, served a mouthwatering banquet to food journalists including Goat’s Cheese and Beetroot Tart, Scallops with Black Pudding, Shepherd’s Pie (my favourite), Beef Bourgignon, and Braised Oxtail. The event proved Menu From is changing the face of ready made meals—the food was delicious, no one would ever know it wasn’t home made.

Over at Selfridges, ladies are saying “if you’ve got it flaunt it”, as the underwear as outerwear trend reaches new heights. Sheer bodies from top designers including Stella McCartney and Damaris have been flying off the shelves, leading to a soar in sales of nipple covers for women who want to sport the trend but hide the essentials.

Further north at Selfridges’ Trafford Centre, women flocked to catch a glimpse of the man of the moment, Peter Andre. He made a special appearance at the store to sign bottles of his new fragrance, Unconditional. Peter told of his excitement about launching his perfume for the sexy and sophisticated woman, a definite must-have. With over 200 customers attending the event, Peter Andre proved a favourite of the nation, and Selfridges!