ZPR GIRLS

Easy Brie'zy...

2012-02-10T05:24:00.000-08:00

With Valentines Day fast approaching it can be tough to come up with something innovative yet thoughtful and to remind that special someone that they are still special. WELL, Waitrose have the perfect solution to your Valentines dilemma - heart shaped Brie! Its simple and completely genious! Who says Valentines Day doesn't have to be cheesy.......

Having sampled this little piece of heaven, the melt in your mouth creamy texture is sure to send yours and your loved ones taste buds into over drive! What are you waiting for; this heart shaped novelty Brie is available from your local Waitrose cheese counter for just £3.99.

2012-02-08T07:36:00.000-08:00

Last night we were extremely excited to host a photo call with the beautiful Abbey Clancy at our Superdrug Strand store in celebration of the new Lynx Attract for women. She looked every bit the part in her body-con electric blue dress and perfectly coiffed hair as paparazzi and on-looking fans stalked the door to get a glimpse of the model. Things later got a bit hot under the collar as a spontaneous ‘flash snog’ commenced starting with Abbey spraying ‘his and her’s’ versions of the fragrance into a parted crowd of male and female models leading them to join together and commence in a raunchy snogathon! This truly lives up to the fragrance strap line ‘unleash the chaos’! The night was a great success and we took a couple of cheeky behind-the-scenes pics so you can get in on a piece of the action too!

Also at Superdrug we are excited about the Lorraine: Naked competition that we arranged with the Lorraine Show. Lorraine is searching for the UK’s most naturally beautiful people and the winners will front a nationwide Superdrug campaign. Judged by Lorraine and Superdrug’s very own senior skincare buyer, Joanna Hutton, as well as a model scout and casting director, the campaign has already received over 2,000 entrants. Not only will the two lucky winners get to take part in an amazing photo shoot for Dare magazine but they will also walk away with £250 gift card and a fab Superdrug goody bag. The competition is all about natural beauty so we want your face – NAKED. Info on how to apply can be found on www.itv.com/lorraine. Are YOU Britain’s natural beauty?.....

Superdrug are not the only ones hosting all of the excitement on the Lorraine Show this month. Over at Waitrose we held a ' Britains Best Soup ' contest on ITV1’s Lorraine show, where the lucky mother of two Karen Tanner, scooped the winning prize with her Chicken, Chorizo and Paprika soup. Sound amazing? We think so too! Go get yours at your local Waitrose store available for just £2.49!

Superdrug on ice...

2011-11-23T01:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday saw the Superdrug team really get into the Christmas spirit as they hit the ice to celebrate the start of the festive season. The team were joined by an army of journalists at the Tower of London ice rink and twisted and twirled their way around the ice to showcase all the hottest products available this Christmas.

The ZPR girls took to the ice in the exclusive skating session before hanging up their skates to highlight the best of Christmas. Hot chocolate, mulled wine and twinkling lights accompanied the festive spirit, although gazing at all the beautiful products nearly tripled the length of our Christmas lists!

Minus a few less than graceful stumbles, the team were gliding around the rink like pros by the end – Torvill and Dean watch out!

There's no business like show business....

2011-09-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

From London to Liverpool the fashion team has been working in true style the past couple of weeks, from star studded VIP fashion events around the country to LFW.

To start off the glamour the Peacocks team headed to four stores around the country to launch the Boutique collections at Peacocks. To celebrate the launch the stores held a preview VIP afternoon in the Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast and Newcastle stores hosted by a celebrity face, two gorgeous models modeling the new collections, amazing offers in store and best of all champagne and nibbles.

As customers queued outside to meet Zoe Salmon in Belfast, Pearl Lowe in Liverpool, Gemma Atksinon in Manchester and Anna Foster in Newcastle the stores were buzzing. The staff were full of life, the music was booming, the champagne was flowing and the Autumn collections screamed BUY me. Customers left the stores smiles on their faces and a shopping bag in tow. The day was a success.

Next stop…London Fashion Week. All week we waited in anticipation in the office awaiting the arrival of our LFW tickets. What shows are we going to? Do they cross over? What do we wear? Are we seated or standing?

It got to Sunday morning and we trotted into town, in our heels of course to head to Richard Nicoll and Nicole Fahri. London was alive, everyone was dressed in their best, from punk style to city chic; fame hungry fashionistas, bloggers, editors, make-up artists and photographers were ready for day three of LFW. Towering models strutted down the catwalks in structured shapes, beautiful cut work detail, delicate lace and ice cream pastels. It certainly got our taste buds going for SS12.

To end the day on a high the doyenne of fashion, Anna Wintour was sitting in the FROW, just a row in front of us at Nicole Fahri with her trademark neat bob and oversized sunglasses. The only thing missing was Kate Moss sitting beside her to make the stunning collection absolutely complete.

ZPR Girls

2011-08-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

Last week saw the crème de crème of the beauty world gather at the oh so chic Sanderson Hotel to help Superdrug launch the new Optimum Super Antioxidant Grape skin care collection.

The Superdrug team hosted a delicious breakfast (grape themed of course) to celebrate the launch and attendees were given an expert presentation on the science behind the range.

The ground breaking range is the hottest new product in the world of anti ageing and guests were also treated to a relaxing facial incorporating the new products, which left skin looking glowing and radiant. The results have sent the beauty obsessed office into a bit of a frenzy, so we are pleased to announce the range is now in store (form an orderly queue as its predicted to be a sell out)!

Sky high with Superdrug

2011-07-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

On Friday 15th July, Superdrug took events to another level, quite literally. To celebrate the launch of Superdrug’s new own brand false lashes we took false lash lovers up 443ft high as we held an event on the London Eye.

A very first for the London Eye, we created our very own Lash bar in our very own pod overlooking the sights of London. We held the event for the best beauty bloggers around and managed to apply 47 sets of lashes in two and half hours. The social media world became a lash frenzy as bloggers tweeted they were sky high having their new false lashes applied. One of the bloggers loves the new range so much she had arrived wearing her #30 lashes.

The event was captured by our resident videographer Ted Beagles, our token man in flight and all we were missing were the G&T’s and a boogie box to really get the Friday night underway.

All of the girls left the pod fully lashed up and ready to hit the town. All in all a great success! Look out for Superdrug's lashes in store now and on special offer until 2nd August.

ZPR 10th Anniversary Celebrations!

2011-06-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

This week has been all about the ZPR 10th anniversary celebrations. The ZPR team were joined by clients, friends, and journalists to ensure last nights party went off with a bang! The party took place in the super stylish gallery below our office, where the fabulous Lisa Moorish DJ’d with some funky 80’s classics – making it irresistible for some of the team to bust just a few moves on the quiet…Lucy G and Georgia!

Rocket provided the canapés and drinks for the evening, which seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by all - if we can judge it on the rate they disappeared for the platters! Everyone ooh’d and ahh’d over our the rare tuna spring rolls, ricotta parcels and miniature slices of beef Wellington to name a few – but more importantly the delicious treat desserts, and mini ZPR cupcakes were what all the party guests were desperate to get their hands on! Eating all of this delicious food of course makes thirsty work, and the canapés were washed down with lots of celebratory champagne and special ZPR style Zellini cocktails!

The atmosphere was fantastic as we were joined by some of ZPR’s most loyal and respected friends and supporters, who all came along to wish us a happy ten year anniversary. To mark the occasion we asked our guests to sign our special ZPR commemorative cheque book to tell us which charity they would like to us donate some money to, as a birthday gift from ZPR.

Judging by the amount of thank-you tweets we received this morning we can definitely say our party was a hit and enjoyed by all! Here’s to another fabulous ten years of ZPR!

2011-05-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

Well what a celeb packed week so far!

Monday morning we kicked off with the fabulous Gwyneth Paltrow on the entirely edible and very tall B&Q Garden at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Making an appearance on the garden which aims to show people how they can grow fruit and veg just about anywhere, Gwyneth posed along with her new cookery book in front of the 30ft vertical tower as the entire press at Chelsea descended on the garden to get their shot and a glimpse at the actress.

Followed by this, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly arrived on the garden in a beautiful floral inspired outfit along with B&Q celebrity ambassadors Kirstie Allsopp and George Clarke. All were given a VIP tour of the garden by the designers as the sun shone over the tallest ever garden at Chelsea.

This was followed by a champagne and canapé reception on the garden for press as top journalists and bloggers got the inside scoop on how the garden was created. Filming from the garden was also popular as BBC News, BBC Breakfast, Daybreak, BBC South and even the South Korean public TV station, climbed the tower’s stairs to film up high and live from the garden.

Another high on Monday was the arrival of Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to the world famous show. Her Majesty even stopped by the B&Q Garden to chat to the garden designers and the B&Q team.

Tuesday was D-Day as the results from the RHS judges were announced, in a some what surprising way. Designer Laurie Chetwood, broom in hand, was tidying up the garden ahead of the arrival of the thousands of visitors as presenter Nicky Chapman ran up unannounced, crew in tow to tell him that The B&Q Garden had received top honours with a Gold medal. The B&Q team were ecstatic as the months of hard work had paid off.

2011-03-29T05:12:00.000-07:00

Last week saw the exciting opening of the new Superdrug concept store in Wimbledon. After being closed for three weeks, the beauty lovers of Wimbledon were more than a little excited to celebrate the opening of the new look store.

The new store looks sleek and sophisticated (you couldn’t say the same for us as we clambered to see latest beauty products). The lovely store team welcomed the face of Superdrug Joanna Page into the store to mark the opening.

Our favourite part was most definitely the play table, a lovely area with mirrors and make up tissues where you can try out ALL the hottest new products – so basically every girl’s dream come true!

Almost 100 movers and shakers in the beauty industry made the trip to Wimbledon to have a sneak preview of the store before it opened to customers the next day and to celebrate this next step of Superdrug's Take Another Look strategy.

2011-03-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

What does Nick Clegg, Prince Charles, George Clarke, Ken & Deirdre Barlow, B&Q store manager Maureen Milligan and 96 year old colleague Sid Prior all have in common? Well they have all played a part in what has been an action packed couple of weeks over at B&Q.

It all started calmly enough in B&Q stores on a nondescript Saturday morning, pretty typical of any other weekend. Then at exactly 11.30am out of nowhere comes music, and quick as a flash there’s hundreds and thousands of people dancing their socks off to the tune of the Black Eyes Peas, ‘I Gotta Feeling’. The scene was recreated up and down the country across 330 stores in what was the biggest flashmob the country has ever seen. Even B&Q’s grandaddy of them all, 96 year old Sid Prior got into the swing of things at B&Q New Malden. The event was great fun and helped show people how easy it can be to learn a new skill, whether it’s dancing or drilling, you just need to be up for having a go!

Also having a go at a spot of drilling was Nick Clegg when he popped into B&Q Sutton to launch Eco Apprenticeships as part of the Green Deal, and George Clarke who been busy designing and fitting a replica of Ken and Deirdre’s house at the Ideal Home show. Sponsored by B&Q, the house is an impressive eco-refit. Get yourselves down there to have a look, it’s open til 27th March. Prince Charles has already taken a peek when he stopped by the Show on Thursday.

And if that wasn’t enough, B&Q store manager Maureen Milligan scooped one of the top gongs at the Retail Week Awards having been crowned the Store Manager of the Year. Huge congratulations to Maureen who was at the ceremony to collect her award and celebrate an impressive achievement.

2011-02-25T04:13:00.001-08:00

We may be in the midst of The Brits and The Oscars, but this week it was the CEW UK Beauty Awards sponsored by Superdrug that had us on the edge of our seats.

The nation’s beauty experts headed over to The Royal Horticultural Halls for the product demonstration evening and to celebrate the nominations for this year’s awards. Brand experts were on hand to talk about the products and to give out samples for the voters to try.

The night was extra exciting for us – as well proudly sponsoring the awards, Superdrug had both its Optimum Swiss Apple Serum and Own Brand Skin Restoring Oil entered for awards!

After selecting product to test and vote for, guests were also treated to a lovely glass of champagne (or two… or three…) and the chance to have a mini manicure at Superdrug’s Andrea Fulerton Nail Bar - by none other than Miss Fulerton herself .

The evening was a great success, the products are voted for by women in the beauty industry and the media and the winners will be announced in May – wish us luck.

2011-02-14T09:39:00.000-08:00

After a busy start to the year, the ZPR team was excited this week as our focus fell to the oh so glamorous business of beauty.

The Superdrug team hosted a luxurious breakfast and spa morning to celebrate the up coming launch of the new Optimum Swiss Apple Day Cream. In between tucking into a delicious brunch (all apple themed of course!) guests were treated to a bespoke facial using the new products and a gorgeous manicure using GOSH's newest spring shades.

The relaxing facial was based around the newest addition to the exclusive anti ageing day cream and left our skin feeling gorgeous, refreshed and looking amazing (if we do say so ourselves)! Being pampered at the same time as catching up with our favourite beauty journalists - now that’s what we call multi tasking!

ZPR Girls

2011-01-11T07:48:00.000-08:00

It may still be freezing outside but from butterfly trends to bird cages we are already looking ahead to spring (and warmer weather we hope)!

We’ve been on the hunt to get our New Year make over tools at bargain prices and with a to die for work wardrobe under £100 from Peacocks and beauty fixes galore as Superdrug hold the VAT on their own brand products there’s no better reason to hit the shops! And it’s not just ourselves we’ve been making over, the whole office has been stocking up on gorgeous home goodies from B&Q and Lakeland.

When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, it’s less about what we’re giving up and more about what we will be doing more of! Instead of saying no to delicious food, those of us with less than impressive culinary skills have decided to learn how to make it ourselves by signing up to classes at the Waitrose Cookery School – we’ll keep you posted!

2011-01-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

So we've been absent from our blog for a couple of months in the madness that is the final quarter of the year in retail. So much shopping to do! Working and playing hard and too busy tweeting to blog. So the first week of Jan and we return to the blog.

What do we love most about the first week of January - the Feb issue of Vogue and the New Spring Lakeland catalogue - what more can a girl ask for!?

And what about the rest of the year? Well we've just updated our things to look out for in 2011 and this is what we reckon you'll be doing this year:

Watching a Royal wedding or two. Given this we predict a trend for street food and trestle tables

Grandma Food - all things comforting including baking bread and butterfly cakes

White - no not all year round snow but wearing white as well as tipping it to be the second white Christmas in a row

Butterflies - not just butterfly cakes but all things with butterflies on from the latest fashion accessory to the latest garden accessory

Attracting bees, butterflies and birds to your garden or your rurban retreat

Building on this floaty folklore image you will be wearing high waisted seventies style wide legged jeans

Embracing your inner nerd from all things iPad to QR codes, hauling and skittering

And what better than the over-sized envelope bag to keep your high tech gadgets in along with your tangerine lipstick!?

Holidaying in Beirut

And yogatoxing in Yeovil

Happy New Year from the ZPR Girls

2010-10-05T03:36:00.000-07:00

Last week saw the ZPR girls celebrate with the lovely Joanna Page at the launch of her starring role in Superdrug’s new TV campaign, ‘Take another Look’.

The stunning Institute of Contemporary Arts hosted our soirée and with the champagne flowing the evening kicked off in style with the screening of the new ad introduced by Joanna herself. Recreating that familiar ‘not looking your best’ morning feeling, Joanna proves that a quick once over with some delicious Superdrug products is all you need to go from sleepy to sexy in record time… the ZPR office has taken note and is now well stocked with morning pick me ups!

Meanwhile the TV campaign has now gone live so make sure you keep an eye on the ad breaks to catch a glimpse of Joanna flying the flag for natural beauties everywhere!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV3D47aUG4M

ZPR Girls go from sex to style...

2010-09-28T04:33:00.000-07:00

Last week the ZPR girls went from sex to style. The week started with the exclusive launch of JLS condoms at Superdrug, with hunky Aston taking a whopping 50 per cent lead on sales. This week's bets are on for Marvin to race to the top of the condom charts – we’ll keep you posted .

Turning to the world of style, we're celebrating another sell out collection for Pearl Lowe, this time her coveted vintage inspired black dress with cream lace collar (as seen on the front rows of New York and London ready to wear) which sold out within an hour of going live on Peacocks' website. Daisy wore Pearl's purple dress last night to the premier of Rhyss Ifan's latest flick 'Mr Nice' and already seen a surge in sales this morning. The Lowe's are definitely on an all time high!

Last week our DIY experts swapped their overalls and boots for their LBD’S and Louboutins as they headed down to fashion week for B&Q 's debut with their forest friendly sheds and exotic plants posing on the catwalks of the Antipodium show. Who needs Dolce and Gabbana when you’ve got B&Q?

Meanwhile we’ve been stocking up on our favourite yummy food at Waitrose who is now price matching over 1,000 branded products. We all know where we'll be getting our baked beans from....

Green Pigs, Peacocks and Newsnight!

2010-09-10T03:15:00.000-07:00

This week the ZPR girls from Cardiff to Glasgow have been out there landing national TV coverage. B&Q's Green Pig and its eco installations at HRH's a Garden Party to Make a Difference has landed on national TV every day. Some of you may even have been lucky enough to have spotted the Green Pig out on tour in London yesterday or have received a limited edition green pig biscuit. B&Q's expert older workers were also absolute stars this week on a BBC Newsnight special on the death of the retirement age - the older colleagues were an inspiration to us all!

Peacocks' latest fashion must-haves are centre stage on ITV's This Morning today. And Waitrose's waste not want want survey and new innovative meat packaging sets new boundaries in helping us all to improve our waste credentials.

Meanwhile Superdrug's miracle apple skin care serum fans continue to grow at a rate of one being sold every 10 seconds unlike our wrinkles which are being kept well at bay by an apple a day!

Z-PR Girls @ Vintage Festival

2010-08-31T06:35:00.000-07:00

The Z-PR girls donned their best Vintage inspired outfits earlier this month and headed to the sticks for a spot of fashion and eco friendly wood…

Amongst the Roller Disco and 80s inspired Warehouse stood the B&Q and Greenpeace Skateramp which is made from 100% sustainable wood from B&Q. There to launch B&Q’s new Forest Friendly campaign which encourages people to choose responsibly sourced wood, the ramp was an instant hit with skating enthusiasts and beginners testing out their skills.

On hand to officially open the ramp for the festival goers was none other than legendary DJ and graffiti artist Goldie who stole the show by rendering a skateboard live. With his spray paints spraying and the music blaring, he created a masterpiece that is now on eBay for fans to get their hands on, with all the proceeds going to Greenpeace.

Sunday at Goodwood saw mother and daughter designer duo, Pearl and Daisy Lowe launch Pearl’s Autumn 2010 collection for Peacocks. The designers took a nostalgic journey through the past two decades, presenting their favourite designs to an exclusive soundtrack of the music that has most inspired them including David Bowie, Elliott Smith and Kate Bush. Daisy lead models down the catwalk showcasing Pearl’s vintage inspired autumn collection and the finale was a true family affair when Pearl stepped out in the black silk wedding dress she wore when she married Danny Goffey, and Daisy and Pearl’s four year old daughter Betty showcased their black lace bridesmaid dresses. The show was watched by Pearl’s family, and Daisy’s boyfriend Matt Smith.”

Log on here to see Goldie in action - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY_353oWYuU

Pearl and Daisy Lowe @ Goodwood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv57nmalLvw

From gorgeous new ranges to golden oldies….

2010-08-03T02:03:00.000-07:00

Our whirlwind month of Christmas press shows has now come to an end, and we went out with a bang with B&Q’s event at Sketch last week. Perhaps the most ambitious press show yet; we had a fully assembled kitchen, a column of light from over 100 new lamps and pendants strung up to the ceiling, a fully stocked Eco Shop, the hottest new tool range from JCB, and a futuristic home automation set from Siemens as well as a dedicated Christmas grotto of trees, decorations and a faux snow carpet. If that wasn’t enough we were also joined by interior designers Sophie Conran and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen who mingled with the media and gave interviews about their new ranges and trends for the new season.

Not one to sit back on our laurels, we then went straight into a day of pitching B&Q’s older workforce to the local and national press on Thursday, as we jumped on the Government’s news that the compulsory retirement age will be scrapped, with live broadcasts from Sky News at one store, and lots of local radio interviews across the country. All in a week’s work for us ZPR Girls…

Christmas has begun at ZPR

2010-07-12T06:57:00.000-07:00

And on one of the hottest days of the year we presented Lakeland’s autumn winter and Christmas collections to over 200 journalists.

From an electric cupcake maker that can whip up a batch of treats in under ten minutes, to a toaster that lights up red when the bread is cooked, the Violin Factory was transformed into an Aladdin’s cave with everything that you’ve ever dreamed of for the kitchen and home. Guests arrived in droves from the moment the doors opened, and with celebrities Kirsty Allsop, Aggie MacKenzie and Mary Berry all paying a visit too, this really was the hottest ticket in town for domestic goddesses (and gods).

It's Christmas!

2010-07-02T00:43:00.000-07:00

England are out of the World Cup and Glasto is over so what's to look forward to now? Christmas! July marks the start of Xmas press show mania at ZPR starting next week with kitchenware supremos Lakeland - what will be this year's banana guard or strawberry huller? Well all will be revealed on Thursday as we celebrate Lakeland's passion for product at a stunning venue called the Violin Factory near Waterloo.

Elsewhere on the high street girls are getting giddy for Cheryl Cole's limited edition pink Elnett hairspray can at a Superdrug near you and in the back gardens of Britain families are making the most of the heatwave with paddling pools and trampolines jumping out of B&Q's doors.

At the World's best department store lego jewellery is the latest craze and what else will we be playing with this Autumn Winter? Well you'll just have to wait until all is revealed at the Selfridges PLAY themed press show on 22 July.

And talking of play - will we be celebrating Murray Mania today?

COME ON ENGLAND!

2010-06-22T04:41:00.000-07:00

In between securing world class coverage, ZPR girls are slapping on fake tan and clipping on hair extensions (well Lucy is anyway), ahead of the ZPR world cup party tomorrow at St Barnabas House. With any luck/miracle, we'll be toasting England's (albeit first) victory over cocktails and scrumptious canapés.

Top of tomorrow's world cup party guest list will be B&Q's famous £12 England gnome, adored by celebrities including Elton John and Jonathan Ross and currently challenging media space with Becks and Rooney.

Forget traditional orange segments, half time fodder for Londoners watching tomorrow's match has to be Waitrose's world cup England sandwich. Blighty's most patriotic sarnie costs £3.95, is hand made in Waitrose's Clerkenwell store, and boasts eleven English delicacies including beef, ham, chicken, chutney, rocket and spinach.

Outside of the world of football, Superdrug is ensuring it's a safe summer for Brits, launching the UK's first flat pricing policy on all sun care. This massive new investment is across all factors, formulations and all brands and will cut prices on some products by up to almost £6. Customers can finally reap the benefits of not being penalised for choosing higher, safer, skin protection. Here's to a sun smart summer!

The Great Escape...

2010-05-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Last week ZPR girls escaped the big smoke to the stunning Limewood Hotel (where Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum tied the knot) in the fabulous English countryside. Why? To celebrate the launch of Pearl Lowe for Peacocks Spring 2010. Fashion folk and celebrities donned their Hunter wellies for a pony trek in the New Forest and banished city stress in the Limewood’s spa, before donning their glad rags for a sumptuous dinner attended by Pearl, Daisy and Jamie Winstone to name drop a few. There was no official entertainment (outside of the lovely Lisa Moorish spinning her favourite tracks), although Lucy’s inadvertent ‘setting herself alight’ with a tea light did turn a few heads and we’re thinking of entering her for Britain’s Got Talent as our in-house flambé fashionista.

Staying with the world of celebrity, Lizzie Jagger sported her sarong and sun visa in support of Superdrug’s sun care campaign, raising awareness for skin safety in the sun. Whilst being interviewed for The Times, we discovered Lizzie suffered severe sun burn on a family holiday as a child so is passionate about spreading the importance of sun safety. Lizzie looked sensational, and if I look half as fabulous as her mother Jerry at (almost) half her age I’ll be thrilled.

B&Q’s celebrity supporter arrived in the form of Paul McCartney who declared he loves shopping in his local B&Q store for nails (as in the type you drill into a wall, as apposed those of the manicured variety). Perhaps he’s finally got round to putting up his seeming billions of platinum albums my mother’s spent most of her life humming. Jackie sent him his own orange apron to ensure he was correctly kitted out whilst DIY-ing, which he’s since said he likes to relax at home in. Lounge furniture yes, but who’d have thought B&Q would inadvertently go into lounge attire?

Sizzling into May

2010-05-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

First week of May and ZPR is sizzling. Solait’s Factor 50 was in full flow as Sophy paraded a host of scantily clad models onto Millennium Bridge to celebrate the launch of Superdrug’s sun awareness campaign.

For those who would prefer to hide from the sun altogether, yet still sport a sun kissed glow, Flawless Tan is just what the style doctor ordered. We put Rhianne to the test. Departing the office Tuesday night armed with FT’s four easy steps and returning Wednesday morning looking like she’d returned from a weekend in Dubai with not a streak mark in sight – I kid you not.

To the inherent annoyance to the rest of the team, it’s usually only Lucy who whistles whilst she works. This week however we’ve had the pleasure of listening to world champion whistler, David Morris putting us (or at least Lucy) to shame as he joins forces with B&Q’s Trade Point to find the best builder’s whistle (wolf whistles not accepted). Auditions carry on this week, but entries so far are definitely shaping up to show Britain’s definitely got Builders Talent in all areas.

Waitrose, the big cheese in the world of supermarkets got Jacobs crackers at the ready to celebrate coming top in Which Best British Cheese survey. Despite our cheese counters being armed with hoards of cheese from all corners of the globe, it’s our old favourites cheddar and stilton that still come out top.

This week Zaria, Lucy and Sophy will be galloping off to the New Forest with Pearl, Daisy and friends to launch Pearl Lowe for Peacocks’ spring collection at The Limewood Hotel. Until then, tally ho…

The Sun is Shining

2010-04-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

The Sun is shining and so is our coverage! The Front cover of YOU Magazine this weekend with our exclusive shots of Daisy Lowe and Pearl Lowe launching Pearl's latest range for Peacocks - watch out for this fab new range of dresses hitting a Peacocks store near you next month.

And whilst the sun is shining we're all spending time outside and in the garden but did you know that home-owners aged 25 to 34 are unable to name even the most basic plants such as geraniums, lavender or poppies.

But older age groups faired better in the poll – with more people aged 55 to 64 able to identify unusual flowers like lupins, fuchsias and ceanothus (Californian lilac).

The B&Q poll of 2,000 people shows only 29 per cent of younger people know what a lupin looks like, compared to 69 per cent of those over 55. So do you know your geraniums from your onions?

Next update we'll be sharing how you can make the quickest ice lollies ever, what day is safe for you to reveal all and get your legs out of those opaques plus how you can capture all that sun and save money by installing solar panels!

We've got a Spring in our Step

2010-04-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

With the sun finally making an appearance this weekend - the first BBQ's were fired up and bedding plants planted - all made easier by amazing discounts on BBQ's and bedding plants at B&Q.

And if you were getting your legs out for the first time this year - you weren't the only ones as sales of fake tan are on the rise at Selfridges - up 80% YOY.

Meanwhile we unzipped the secrets of the manity case with the news from Superdrug that top ten grooming items for men include an eye roll on and hair dye - how it's moved on from the traditional lynx effect!?

The last couple of weeks has been a tough call between the amount of chocolate arriving at our office and the tasty new pineberry on sale at Waitrose. Perhpas next year as well as chocolate hot cross buns we'll have chocolate coated pineberries.

The WAGs were out in force this weekend at Aintree and a few of us scored a succesful bet or two in the Grand National. Maxi dresses a plenty at Aintree this weekend and if you want to get the perfect WAG look just check out Peacocks new website which launches this week.

2010-03-29T01:58:00.000-07:00

Us ZPR girls love a bargain and top of the fashion hot list this week is the Peacocks £10 designer inspired satchel.

Selling out in the first week it is hot stuff and an absolute bargain compared to the Chloe version which retails for £9,000. The satchel hit headlines all across the country in nationals such as Daily Mail – twice, The Sun – twice, The Mirror, The Guardian, Fabulous magazine many weekly magazines and in online fashion blogs…phew - a real must have this spring. More stock has now arrived so get yourself to Peacocks now before they disappear again…

In the office we would prefer chocolate over veg any day but it would appear the rest of the country are embracing the vegetable and growing their essential 5 a day. The recent sunshine coupled with the continuing march of the Grow Your Own revolution has seen sales of vegetable seeds rise so far this year at B&Q. Last year sales of vegetable seeds rose 30 per cent – and sales so far this spring show this trend is set to continue! The bestselling seeds are the more traditional British vegetables, onion, carrot, peas, beans, tomatoes and lettuce. So follow the trend and lets get gardening…

We all hate bad breath and a survey by Superdrug confirms by how much. It was rated the worst smell coming above smoke breath. Invest in Superdrug toothpaste and mouthwash to combat the problem. Tic tacs at the ready everyone.

The Waitrose team went gaga for Ostrich eggs this week! Apparently, the eggs, which are only available at Waitrose can feed a whole rugby team. We didn’t try one in the office—you need a whole toolbox to crack it open—but we’re sure if we tried to make an omelette out of it we wouldn’t go hungry for days!

2010-03-08T08:28:00.000-08:00

Whilst many would believe that barns and instant tattoos would not sound like the classiest of luxuries, Chanel has proven them wrong. As models elegantly sauntered their way down the hay-laiden catwalk of Chanel’s spring/summer 2010 show, they sported what has become one of the most-sought after beauty trends of the season, the transfer tattoo. We at ZPR have been chomping at the bit to get our hands on these covetable artworks, as Selfridges exclusively launched the tattoos in its own barn setting on Oxford Street. With experts on-hand to apply the tattoos to the eagerly awaiting customers, we dare you to show your allegiance to Chanel with some decorative body bling!

Meanwhile in a little town further south, Katie and the newest members of Superdrug’s St Austell team welcomed hoards of customers through its doors for the first time. Visitors to the White River Place shopping centre were in for a treat, as Superdrug celebrated its opening with fun-filled activities for the whole family. No doubt the men of St Austell will have been flocking to see the cutting of the ribbon…maybe not for the Mayor himself who was on hand alongside Alan Johnson, the Retail Director of Superdrug, but more likely to catch a glimpse of local beauty queen Miss Cornwall who assisted with those giant scissors. The day was a success all round, leaving a very tired Katie to a long train journey back to the big smoke!

Jackie was also out and about last week in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Wondering if she should have sported her twin set and pearls, she visited the education centre of the Women’s Institute to help its members prove that with the guiding hands of B&Q, they need not fear the power tool! This was the first of B&Q’s DIY classes for the WI to encourage women to get out of the kitchen, and tackle the rest of the home. Teaching skills such as mending a leaking tap, applying wallpaper and putting up your curtain rail, the ladies who attended the workshop enjoyed ‘’a fantastic day’’, eager to continue their education. This may leave the men of Abbingdon at a loss…

The Waitrose team announced to top foodie journalists its collaboration with two of Britain’s best-loved chefs, Delia Smith, and Heston Blumenthal. With Delia’s traditional values and Heston’s outstanding creations, this partnership is predicted to set the food world alight. As the pair are set to share their knowledge with budding chefs in advertising campaigns, Waitrose fans should prepare their taste buds now!

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

2010-02-15T09:21:00.000-08:00

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.

ZPR Spring into Action

2010-02-08T08:43:00.001-08:00

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!

A SPADE IS A SPADE

2010-01-26T05:09:00.000-08:00

After launching the world’s most expensive ham last Monday (how much I hear you say? let’s just say it was a ham and a leg), Selfridges went back to the seventies the following day, re-creating iconic sit com Are You Being Served in a one off charity sale in honor of the late Wendy Richard. Wendy’s ex colleagues put down their scripts and travelled to her favourite store to help sell her memorabilia in aid of Lady Taveners charity. The event was a magnificent success, featured on BBC’s lunch time news, Radio 4, Radio 2, live links throughout the day on Five live and a host of print coverage the following day, showing scenes of Mr Rombold sending the tills a ringing, June Brown donning a purple wig and James Alexandrou serenading Natalie Cassidy during her break from Strictly on Ice.

Thursday we painted our fingers a fashionable shade of Jade green, to celebrate Alan Titchmarsh joining forces with B&Q, launching a campaign to Get Britain Gardening. Despite my confusing a rake for a shovel (it could have happened to anyone), the photo call with Alan and B&Q’s CEO Euan Sutherland at the retailer’s flagship New Malden store was a blooming success. After the photographers left to wire their images of Alan encased in a tropical greenhouse, we whizzed our way to the Haymarket Hotel for B&Q’s spring/summer press show. 130 journalists were bowled over as the Haymarket’s pool area was transformed into a tropical haven, spilling with exotic plants, designer inspired garden furniture, state of the art sheds, the coolest barbeques and everything your summer heart would desire. I was tempted to take a dip in the pool but decided against, as it would have ruined Jenny’s floating petal display. The event and subsequent coverage were world class, with Alan’s collaboration landing in titles ranging from the FT to The Sun to USA Today.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-11T10:02:00.001-08:00

Well here it is, 2010! As we ZPR girls return from our festive holidays, we enter into a New Year with high hopes for fantastic coverage, and slightly lower hopes for our waning New Year’s resolutions. Whilst most of the girls have stuck to the cardinal rule of no rules, Jackie is living for the moment, and Rhianne is planning for an exciting 2010, with a possible audition for the X-factor!

Whilst the country has been caught in the big freeze, B&Q has been aiding the nation as they brave the cold. From rock salt to shovels and wellies the big freeze is certainly having an impact on weather related products. In the last three weeks compared to last year sales of rock salt are up 150 per cent, shovels up 200 per cent and wellies up 120 per cent.

However it seems that no amount of snow could drive those keen shoppers away from their favourite time of the year, the January sales. With fantastic deals to spruce up your home for the New Year with B&Q, treating yourself to those beauty essentials at Superdrug, and fabulous fashion deals at Peacocks, our clients proved that you can’t beat a good bargain.

It has been a strong Christmas period for each of our clients as we successfully reported fantastic sales not only with those hotly anticipated sales, but right up until the crucial last days before Christmas which saw many of you rush to find those last-minute gifts as panic buying ensued!

As we look back to the Noughties, we celebrate the nation’s ultimate celebrity beauties as Superdrug named the beauty icon of not only the year, but the decade. With previous winners including the nation’s beloved Cheryl Cole, the annual poll left us fighting our corners for our favourite celebs. It turns out the poll which questioned 3,000 people, asked once again if we were Team Aniston or Team Jolie. With her famous pout and enviable locks, Angelina Jolie trumped Jennifer Aniston to the top spot. As the list of top 20 icons compiled women from young stunners to ageless beauties, Superdrug proved that women of all ages can get the look of their favourite icon.

We have the X Factor

2009-12-08T07:38:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…but the team at ZPR was still hard at work getting amazing coverage for their clients in festive features aplenty!

Phew, what a week it’s been. Christmas is truly open for business with the papers bursting with silly season stories and Christmas gift guides. Here at ZPR we’re really getting in the swing of things, our tasteful tree is up and we’re gearing up for our Christmas office party on Friday…

But before we head out to Cow Shed for our pampering session we must update everyone on what has been another amazing week. As the Jewel in the crown, B&Q’s presence in Kingfisher’s quarter three results last week were outstanding with so many of our key products and messages included on top of the financial performance. Leopard print wallpaper, lime green kitchens, real Christmas trees, Showroom Academy and the scary Mother-In-Law effect all caught the imaginations of the business editors.

Jackie had a great time at London Television Centre on Saturday where she and the team from B&Q decorated the GMTV studios with eight full size trees and baubles to match. The Deck the Halls range certainly lives up to its name!

The Selfridges team is tuning up this afternoon as they count down the hours before they join X Factor semi finalist Danyl Johnson tonight as he performs live at the Selfridges Christmas sing-along in aid of Mothers4Children

Danyl will be singing a selection of well known Christmas carols to help raise donations for Mothers4Children, Selfridges’ dedicated Christmas charity for 2009. Mothers4Children’s ambassadors including Yasmin Le Bon, Louise Redknapp and Lisa B will also be present.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping on your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by Danyl Johnson and folks dressed up in their best designer gear! Bring on Christmas on Oxford Street!

From Soho to Shanghai

2009-12-01T10:23:00.000-08:00

The calendar turns its page to December 1st and bang, Christmas is upon us. The papers are laden with fabulous festive gifts featuring all our clients, Lucy’s humming Wham’s Last Christmas, and we’ve just about got enough money left over from last week’s death by credit at the hands of Selfridges’ Christmas Comes Early.

Selfridges’ grotto opened last week to record bookings (over 40,000) for kids (and the young at heart) to board Santa’s Express, ride through a magical winter wonderland filled with incredibly cute penguins and polar bears, before arriving at Santa’s station and being granted the opportunity to ask for an updated version of last year’s Super Mario Cart (or in my case, a Givenchy bag).

Over in the adult-only world - we added a touch of spice to the media, spreading the word that corset sales were 70 per cent up at Selfridges and Bordelle’s £900 feather corset completely selling out. News spread like wild fire (helped along by images of a six foot blonde parading the £900 corset) and materialized in blanket coverage in print, broadcast and online

Jenny and Zaria landed home safely from their press trip to Shanghai, which celebrated the opening of Superdrug’s parent company, A S Watson's 500th store opening in China. Journalists were treated to an insight into the differences between beauty retailing in the East and West, in between an entertainment schedule including twelve course Chinese banquets, visits to the fabulous sightseeing spots, boat trips, street markets and lots lots more. Zaria ran up a £500 bill in the hotel’s Vue Bar on the 33rd floor on a cocktail of internet roaming fees, (as she tried to keep abreast of ZPR news from an eight hour time difference).

Now over to this week and the launch of the UK’s first Christmas tree drive through at Selfridges. That’ll be a Christmas tree and a side of fries please – oh go on then, I’ll have a dollop of ketchup since you’re asking.

WE CELEBRATE A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY

2009-11-13T02:50:00.000-08:00

The Superdrug team gave beauty journalists what every girl wants last week - a two hour shopping spree in the Westfield store where they had the chance to pick up their favourite beauty and fragrance buys, as well as preview new product launches and stop for a manicure at their leisure - we know how to treat them!

Well we can safely say that the Pearl Lowe for Peacocks range has been a massive success with the dresses selling like hotcakes, and the luscious red dress worn by both Daisy Lowe and Natalie Imbruglia sold out within 30 minutes of going online....get in there quick ladies!

The B&Q team have had a celebratory week as they sung Happy Birthday to the legendary oldest worker of B&Q, Sid celebrating his 95th Birthday. It was a great day for Sid as he got chauffered to work in a Rolls Royce, where the CEO met him and presented him with theatre vouchers, a giant cake and best of all THE ONE AND ONLY golden apron especially designed to mark his 95th birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SID!

Finally us ladies were kept busy this week as four strapping England Rugby players were down at Selfridges on Wednesday evening launching their 2010 Rugby’s Finest calendar – the semi-clad lads got the girls (and some of the boys!) swooning…with sales of the calendar going through the roof!

A week of Celebrities!

2009-10-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Its been a busy few weeks as usual at ZPR, not only have we been gearing up to Christmas and all the gift guides but we have been rubbing shoulders with celebs and politicians including Elizabeth Hurley, Pearl Lowe, and George Osborne!

Peacocks had its Pearl Lowe press launch this week at Sketch which was THE event to be seen at, with paparazzi outside and guests attending the Durex anniversary party claiming to be on our list, it was very much a coveted party. The models looked fabulous in the Pearl Lowe for Peacocks dresses, and Daisy Lowe, Rhys Ifans and Danny Goffey were there supporting Pearl, ensuring there was never a dull moment...

Next on the celebrity list was Liz Hurley making a personal appearance in Selfridges for the Estee Laudee breast cancer appeal. She looked stunning and was really open and friendly to the huge crowds who had gathered to see her. She talked about how important the appeal was to her and then posed for the ever increasingly rowdy photographers!

Katie made us all laugh when she sent round images from the photo-call she had organized at Superdrug. Going with the strap line 'men on the lash' a rather good looking male model arrived wearing eyelashes and goth make-up strutted his stuff on High Street Kensington, proving men in make-up is something us ladies must come to terms with!

Last Friday George Osbourne, Shadow Chancellor, visited our B&Q Bradford store, much to the curiosity of the local customers! He was there not only to meet staff but to chat about B&Q's fantastic training and education programmes plus hear about its plans to help customers green up their homes and the campaign to get VAT cut on green goods.

Stepping away from the bright lights of celebrity life and into the wholesome land of DIY, B&Q is also busy educating kids of Britain with their 'Job Done' scheme. They are taking DIY back to schools to help educate kids who have very little DIY skills with their especially designed curriculum.

And finally........ we would like to say a huge good luck and farewell to Hayley who is about to go into labour any minute!! And welcome Amanda who is stepping into Hayleys lovely footsteps!

2009-10-05T04:21:00.001-07:00

What with the return of Avocado bathroom suites and mens' tights you might feel that as we get into the final quarter of the year we've lost the plot but no these are serious new trends to embrace!

Along with 'Watch with Granny' - the news that skills from wiring a plug to changing a tyre and fixing a leaking tap have skipped a generation according to B&Q's survey on how we're turning to our Grandparents to learn skills - very poignant given today is Grandparents Day.

We're feeling all Christmasy now that we're in to October and the Telegraph news desk have agreed with a heavy heart that we can finally start talking Christmas highlighting half Xmas trees as a new trend and Selfridges Christmas Grotto has started taking bookings - but hurry there are hardly any slots left.

Meanwhile - sales of Champagne at Selfridges and jam jars at Lakeland are on the increase - are the two linked - champagne and strawberrry jam or are we just all getting pickled!?

What's at the bottom of your garden?

2009-08-25T01:47:00.000-07:00

Is it a pig arc or a washing line? We've been driving the sustainability agenda this month with the news that more and more people are searching for the Good Life and thinking about taking the GYO agenda a step further by keeping pigs in their back gardens. There's also news that the single biggest one thing that you could do to green up your life is to use your washing line and ditch your tumble drier.

Elsewhere the 21st century pressure cooker means that thanks to Lakeland we can now all follow in the footsteps of our mothers without being terrified of exploding pressure cookers.

And we'll also be following in our mother's footsteps as we step up the eighties glamour stakes as the new FAME film is set to hit our screens next month and we're all going a bit DYNASTY with big hair and shoulder pads.

What's a girl to do to keep up - Crystal Carrington style hair and shoulder pads whilst mucking out the chicken and pigs - now that's 21st Century pressure!

All things bright and beautyful

2009-08-05T08:59:00.001-07:00

The beauty team did not disappoint last week with two Christmas press shows that smashed previous targets and an A list appearance at Selfridges.

Firstly Superdrug heralded a beautiful festive season with a beauty and gift focused Christmas press show at Soho Hotel. Over 160 journalists came along to see the ranges, have their nails painted by the nail art team, their make-up done by one of the experts on hand, speak to a nurse about winter health, or have their fortune told… or them all! We also launched Superdrug’s new Bag 4 Life which is in store in October so watch out for beauty media around town toting their preview pink and black bags.

Next at L’Occitane we launched Christmas in true Provencal style with macaroons and Mediterranean scents. With the air filled with delicious almond fragrance over 120 journalists entered the Christmas haven and cooed at the gourmand beauty offer as mouth watering scents of Cherry, Almond, Rose and Vanilla took centre stage. Our fragrance questionnaire to find your perfume personality was a big hit with beauty editors who were keen to choose ‘Audrey Tautou’ to play them in a film about their life.

Oxford Street came to a stand still as Scarlett Johansson made an appearance at Selfridges for Dolce Gabbana The Make Up. ‘’Im slightly overwhelmed, I have never seen so many personal cameras” she said as Selfridges’s Beauty Director David Walker Smith welcomed her to the stage. With her famous pout brushed to perfection by beauty legend Pat McGrath, Scarlett waved to fans who had flown in from as far as Israel just to catch a glimpse of the beauty.

All in a weeks work for the ZPR beauty team

Christmas in July

2009-07-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

It's been Crackers at ZPR this month - we kicked the month off 'At Home With Lakeland' at their first press event for 15 years and the home of creative kitchenware proved that no home is complete without the Lakeland touch - with jam making, pickling and preserving on the menu this year - we'll be bringing in the Harvest this Autumn Winter.

On to one of the World's most iconic department stores and we launched a 'Cracking Christmas' at Selfridges with its panto themed product and great gift pulling off a full page Christmas exclusive in the Evening Standard.

Last week we tipped the media that it's going to be a DIY Designer Christmas at B&Q with the launch of its biggest ever Christmas range and designer decorative ranges from Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and Kelly Hoppen.

This week we're feeling beautiful as Superdrug and L'Occitane launch their AW beauty and Xmas ranges and Dolce & Gabanna's Cosmetic diva, Scarlett Johansson makes an appearance at Selfridges.

Phew after all this ...we'll all be in need of some serious beauty make overs!

Its raining men...

2009-06-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

ZPR's theme over the past seven days has been 'semi-clad men', which has posed somewhat less of a challenge for the ladies amongst us, as I suspect it might have done for our male colleague Daniel.

Fashion legend, Tom Ford kicked off the proceedings with the launch of his latest Private Blend fragrance, Bois Marocain at Selfridges on Wednesday evening. The following morning, Katie, Hayley and myself travelled (ok, we ran) down Oxford Street to feast our eyes on our idol and sudo God, David Beckham, who unveiled a building sized image of his magnificent body (and Emporio Armani undies) to a sea of screaming fans and the world's media. Monday morning arrived, along with an almost naked Piers Morgan who was launching the UK's first flame grilled bur - sorry I mean to say scent - aptly titled 'Flame', to a 'pond' of screaming fans (and Hayley) in Selfridges' atrium.

We're pleased to welcome our new recruit to the B&Q team, Carrie, who first walked through ZPR's doors just over a week ago and has wasted no time in diving into the multi-seasonal world of barbeques, outdoor furniture and Christmas in July...

So long, farewell...

2009-06-08T00:22:00.001-07:00

Well what an eventful week so far...

Last night (Weds) we went to Gilgamesh to welcome (relatively) new arrival, Dan and (very) new arrival, Leanne and say Au Revoir to myself! In true ZPR style (after 5.30pm) we managed to get through a jug of Pimms and a couple of bottles of champagne which just about lined the stomach for the feast of Thai cuisine which similarly to the alcohol went down very well.

So ZPR bloggers this will be the second and final time that I write to you as a fellow ZPR-ian. As the phrase suggests " Time flies when your having fun" I cannot believe how quickly this placement year has gone! I have had an invaluable experience for my first year in the working world and I know all the opportunities I have been given and situations I have been thrown into (sometimes at the deep end) will stand me in great stead on the beginning of my career ladder!

Finally, all that's left to say is -There's no I in team and I will miss you all!

Tales from the veg patch…

2009-05-14T02:03:00.001-07:00

After working on B&Q for only a few months, and with a good bout of sunshine recently, it was only a matter of time before one of the team ventured outside and got busy with a spade. Not that we encourage taking your work home with you at ZPR, but I’ve been busy ‘giving it a grow’ down the garden and started a little veg patch of my very own. If I’ve followed the advice from our team, I’m hoping to be able to bring home-made potato salad into the Monday meeting in the not too distant future – watch this space!

We had a very big birthday for Selfridges, which is celebrating its 100th year this month, so we kicked off in style with a celebrity party attended by the likes of Lilly Allen, Henry Holland, and Joan Collins! If you’re staying in to save the pennies, Peacocks has just the thing to add a touch of spice to everyday life with the launch of its new ‘Bed-It Crunch’ lingerie collection and Santa’s little helpers at Lakeland have been busy already packing products up for the Christmas shoot and getting ready for their first festive press event in July.

2009-04-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

ZPR girls and BOY!

Yes I am male and I’ve been catapulted into the female-dominated world of ZPR. But fear not readers, the life-size David Beckham poster is still in place (soon to be joined by a life-size Jennifer Anniston poster?) and topics of conversation still include all things beauty, fashion and eligible men.

I may have been thrown in at the deep end, but the good news is I’m learning fast. Sunin was a hair dye from the 1980s and it’s back at Superdrug, nudes are in (it’s a clothing colour!) and House of Holland is not in Amsterdam, it’s a design house which has just lent its touch to a new range of tights from Pretty Polly.

On the client front, it’s also been in at the deep end. Easter for new client B&Q is like Christmas was for my old employer (very busy!!) and in the three weeks I’ve been here we’ve issued, on behalf of B&Q, three national news stories, there’s been two store openings, a product release every day and I’ve become an expert on peat, apprentices and green energy.

And we’re not expecting any let-up in pace. Two busy DIY bank holiday weekends are on the way and the onset of summer means Britain gets busy in its garden – not surprisingly a key time for the UK’s biggest garden retailer.

So business as usual at Z PR, there’s just a man about the place.

Every young girls dream...

2009-04-15T03:17:00.000-07:00

Us ZPR girls do like to work in style and recently we were involved in what you could call "every young girls dream". Our client Superdrug was involved in the TV show, Coleen's Real Women - as the Liverpool lass trawled the streets to find a new face for Superdrug, finally picking the gorgeous looking Liz. Zaria, Jenny and Lucy made their claim to fame with helping Coleen to pick the new face! Once again this week we were mixing it up with the celebs- as the Superdrug team met with the lovely Girls Aloud in the Westfield store as they brought out a range of luscious lashes and did a signing in store which was very successful and mobbed full of Girls Aloud worshippers!

Also on the beauty front Selfridges had lifestyle editor of The Metro Bel Jacobs experience working behind the counters of Illamasqua, Creed, Trish McEvoy and Kiehls and said she was inspired by the girls who worked there!

On Monday, we launched the 'Investment Easter Egg' at Selfridges - a luxurious chocolate egg complete with a one ounce gold bullion coin. The delicious handmade chocolate egg by chocolate makers Melt, priced £1000, actually makes for a wise investment with the value of gold set to rise during 2009, despite the current economic climate. The egg really is worth its weight in gold!

A celebration of celebrations...

2009-03-17T03:16:00.000-07:00

Last week ended on a high (with the exception of price) as Peacocks' £8 chain bag moved into half a page in Friday's edition of the Daily Mail after being heralded this season's IT accessory, with over 10,000 sold since the start of the year.

We wished a joyeaux anniversaire to Selfridges who turned 100 on Sunday, with not a wrinkle or grey hair in sight. Congratulations arrived in the form of fabulous coverage generated in key media including ITV, Evening Standard, Independent, Daily Express and Londonpaper. Celebrations kick off in May with Selfridges' Oxford Street hosting a 'yellow festival' and a series of exclusive product collaborations with the world's leading designers.

This week our hearts turn to the great outdoors. As the sun came out to play, Brits decided to treat their back gardens to a makeover as sales of greenhouses and Grow Your Own seeds rocketed by 150 per cent and 27 per cent respectively at B&Q . ZPR's all set for a home spun summer, either that or a great excuse for a diet as Lucy lays her fifth tomato plant of the season to rest.

Yoga fanatics Zaria and Niravta floated their way through Friday following their pre-work yoga work out. Never been one to do things by halves, Zaria then spent most of Saturday locked in a head stand in pursuit of the yoga higher ground (either that or Warrior 5)

Namaste.

Spanking Success

2009-03-12T02:39:00.001-07:00

Men's six packs were at the forefront of the consumer news agenda last week following the launch of male control wear at Selfridges - promising to do for men's torsos what Spanx have done for flabby female thighs. We generated fantastic coverage in most of the dailies, broadcast and even Chris Evans couldn't resist the urge to trial the six pack enhancing body suit on his radio show.

The beauty team had a great success last week following Superdrug's in-store shopping day for beauty journalists at their Westfield store. Thirty nine key journalists were dazzled over Superdrug's latest summer beauty essentials - every girl's dream.

Staying on the subject of every girl's dream, this week we shifted from beauty to chocolate, celebrating delicious coverage for Selfridges' Easter story. Sales of Easter chocolate have increased by a massive 80 per cent compared to last year, and to celebrate this, Artisian du Chocolat launched a lifesize Easter bunny girl in Selfridges' Oxford Street store complete with edible chocolate bathing suit, collar and cuffs! Hugh Heffner definitely missed out on this one...

Spanking Success

2009-03-12T02:39:00.000-07:00

18th February

2009-02-18T09:18:00.000-08:00

We didn’t let a little (or rather a lot) of snow scupper Peacocks’ spring/summer 2009 launch at The Haymarket Hotel. The fashion set were wined, dined and treated to a star studded fashion show headed by London’s latest darling Amber Le Bon who wowed the audience with this season's must-have's including Peacocks’ £16 jump suit, rose print fluted shift £14 and itsy bitsy leopard print bikini for a skimpy £8 – placing ‘value’ as this season’s most sought after trend, regardless of whether you’re a recessionista or simply looking for the latest fashion at great value.

From IT girl to IT colour – which ZPR is declaring to be green this season following the launch of B&Q’s greenest ever store in New Malden last week. The store was unveiled to key business journalists on Wednesday, the release of a survey on Thursday revealing that six out of ten women would prefer to date a handyman over a banker and the week ended on a romantic high with a pre-Valentine's eco-singles night on Friday.

This week is ending on le note de rouge as the ZPR girls paint the town red in celebration of another successful week at the forefront of retail PR.

2009-01-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

Well what a hectic start to the year ... Xmas trading statements galore and fantastic news for ZPR clients with Superdrug, Peacocks and Selfridges all posting great Christmas performances and a solid start to the year with their January sales.

We're feeling in the mood to celebrate ... why wouldn't we? Selfridges is celebrating its Centenary year this year ...Open to the World since 1909! So expect some really cool products, events and activity - watch this space because this year the future's not orange it's yellow.

Well actually it's orange and yellow (also two of ZPR's logo colours) as this week we're celebrating winning a project to work with B & Q on the launch of its newest and greenest store in New Malden, Surrey. So it’s about to become even easier to make your home more beautiful and ease your conscience when the store opens early in February this year with 50 per cent less carbon emissions than the average store.

So you see from yellow to orange to green - we're all set for a truly colourful year.

January 9th 2009

2009-01-09T03:39:00.000-08:00

2008 proved to be an amazing year for the Peacocks girls who ended the year by smashing the £40 million AVE target by over 1 million to a grand total of £41,105,502!!

To bring us down a few pegs we had to say a very sad goodbye to Helen Croft who has jetted off to sun, sea and camels in Dubai. Of course, us girls at ZPR find any excuse to socialize over some alcoholic refreshments and fine cuisine…in reality, we forewent alcohol for copious amounts of Coca Cola, Green Tea and Indian tapas on Wardour street (it is the month of the detox after all).

We’re now into the first week of January, with Lucy Gillis being appointed as Peacocks’ new account director. An incredible first week with TWO broadcast hits on This Morning and GMTV.

The Superdrug team has also managed to smash its target of £50 million AVE for 2008. This was helped by the immense success of the Superdrug January sale which hit just about every paper, radio station and website in the country.

For those of you who drank far too much over the festive season and are looking to cut down on the booze in the New Year, Selfridges has exclusively introduced a new way to help save on the units without sacrificing the taste of a pint with its new range of beer crisps – a cheaper alternative also at just 99p! We can safely say that no packets have been opened in our office as of yet, but never say never.

16th DECEMBER, 2008

2008-12-18T05:25:00.001-08:00

This week, we were getting into the festive spirit with a Christmas sing-along at Selfridges to help raise funds for the Make a Wish Foundation. X Factor star Ruth Lorenzo led the carols, inviting some thrilled children onto the stage to sing Jingle Bells - although she did admit to not knowing many English carols - being Spanish! She did a great job and her versions of Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas and Prince's Purple Rain were fantastic - what a voice!

2008-12-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

This week we've told the nation that recessionistas will not be cutting back on their beauty basics this Christmas with Superdrug's survey showing that British women will spend £3 billion this party season on making themselves sparkle!

Viewers to GMTV have been jamming the switchboard with calls on their fantastic Christmas decorations and where they can get them - they are of course courtesy of Selfridges. And Selfridges had a rock n roll visit this week from Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas who was supporting the Mac counter - one of the most successful Mac counters in the World!

This week we went to Cardiff to see our friends at Peacocks who are enjoying the party season as their fab party dresses are flying off the hangars along with leopard print dressing gowns!? Oh well we can't be responsible for all the trends!?

With the news that we're all be getting back to baking next year as we embrace the more simple things in life our colleagues at Lakeland are seeing their Bakingenious range receive fantastic feedback and on that note have you made your X Factor Cup Cakes for this weekend's final?

2008-12-08T01:47:00.000-08:00

The first week of December saw us all very firmly in good Christmas Spirits! We undertook a very fashionable shoot in the Christmas windows of Selfridges with the fashion editor of the Daily Mail which created quite a stir on Oxford Street! Over at the GMTV studios the Selfridges VM team decorated the studio for them and how fab it looks on screen today.

Snow up North didn't stop us from trekking up to the Lakes to visit our friends at Lakeland to talk about plans for 2009 which was very well timed so that we could visit their flagship store too and pick up a stand for all the Christmas cards that are flooding in to our office, a Christmas Pudding basin for our boss to make a Christmas Pudding with and also their famous Australian Liquorice for the team!

Finally, Friday saw us all get together for a teambuilding session where we discovered what our Belbin self perception and team observation roles are ... from Shapers, to Plants to Implementors and Resource Investigators ... we've got the lot and more at ZPR!

We finished the week off with blow drys and manicures at Bloww before heading out for our Christmas night out - cocktails followed by dinner at Cipriani and the hard core even made it to the dance floor at Annabels.

2008-11-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

Last week ended on a festive note with GMTV, filming in Selfridges Grotto. Our little elf - Lucy Gillis was up at 4 am ensuring that the Santa Express was running on time and that presenter Matt Arnold had his best festive jumper on for the live links from the GMTV studio to the Selfridges grotto.

As the credit crunch continues to bite, the ZPR girls continue to help the nation’s recessionistas survive the season with the latest hot deals

2008-11-26T07:02:00.000-08:00

With everyone retreating indoors, Lakeland’s sales of comfort factor products have shot through the roof – everyone’s making stews and wrapping up in front of the fire. On the occasional night out they’re partying like it’s £19.99 in Peacocks’ most fabulous party dresses and accessories, taking advantage of Superdrug’s great budget beauty and fragrance savings, or if they can’t afford to splash out on that latest designer dress from Selfridges – they’re sucking it all in as sales of Spanx soar by over 100%, updating their look with a new lipstick, a new handbag and getting their Louboutins re-heeled!

Sales of Spanx and contour underwear are on the up as the nation seeks comfort in chocolate over credit. Sales of chocolate are up by over a third at Selfridges, including the latest cult ‘Credit Crunch’ bar to the bizarre-yet-surprisingly-tasty bacon flavoured chocolate by Vosges …we’re calling it the credit munch!

We’re sparing a thought for our friends at Woollies right now who are enduring the toughest of times ever and we’re all got our fingers crossed that a rescue plan will be put in place before it’s too late.

Over in Kensington, our friends at Crabtree & Evelyn held a cool reception last week at the Metropolitan Hotel last week hosted by India Hicks to celebrate the imminent launch of her new fragrance ‘India Hicks Island Nights’ which launches in the New Year.

And as we ran up Park Lane from the Metropolitan Hotel to the Drapers Awards at Grosvenor House on the same night, we were just in time to see our friends at Selfridges collect the award for the Best Department Store … we couldn’t agree more … particularly this week as we’re spending our way through our Friends & Family discount vouchers for an extra 20% discount on some already great discounted products.

We’ll keep you posted in the coming weeks with more news of partying and shopping in a recession! And leave you with our final tip as you start to buy and write your Christmas Cards (100% charity ones of course from Selfridges) … don’t forget to get your stamps from Superdrug at 5% off!

Sorry for the delay in updating our ZPR girls blog – October has been a busy month!

2008-11-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

During October we have had oodles of coverage for Selfridges’ Pinkridges partnership with Breast Cancer Care from limited edition Miller Harris candles to Alexander McQueen scarfs those pink products have been raising thousands for Breast Cancer Care.

Sticking with pink, Superdrug opened its newest pink flag ship store on Oxford Street at Marble Arch and received a visit from the Princess of Pink herself – Katie Price who was launching her new beauty electricals range.

October has been the month for skin care too as Selfridges sold out of Planet Skincare (with added fake snake venom!) following coverage we achieved on TV and sales of Superdrug’s Vitamin E moisturizer and Optimum Serum also went through the roof following multiple write ups and appearances on TV.

Meanwhile, we invited fashion journalists to join us at a West End salon for treatments and a sneak preview of Peacocks fantastic Christmas party frocks and fabulous accessories which was a really fun, girly day out.

Last week, Selfridges windows launched and they look amazing! With Santa in every window – they’re sure to put a smile on everyone’s face this Christmas as we all seek the comfort factor in the current economic climate. Our home comforts are made all the easier as Lakeland this week publishes its countdown to Christmas …every domestic goddesses guide to getting ready for receiving all those visitors at home over Christmas. And when it all gets a bit much Crabtree & Evelyn this month launched its amazing Aromatherapy Distillations range which has everything you need to give yourself the ultimate stay at home spa treatment and that together with a copy of October’s must-have DVD – Sex in the City, courtesy of Woolworths is exactly what our MD did after she completed the London Half Marathon raising £1500 for Great Ormond Street!

It’s a male cover up with Touche Éclat, Selfridges beauty gets stung with Snake Venom cream coverage and Superdrug stays savvy in Vogue!

2008-09-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

The ZPR girls have been keeping themselves busy this week.

Our crazy story on Planet Skincare’s anti-wrinkle snake venom cream caused a stir last week with blanket coverage across the globe – highlights being a dps in Daily Mail, interview on the BBC Radio’s Chris Evans show with Selfridges’ beauty buyer, GMTV’s Lust List, as well as features in The Evening Standard and the London Paper. News travelled globally - reaching as far as Malaysia, Japan, India and Romania. Just as our snake venom story hit the headlines, within hours the Selfridges buyers were reporting that our coverage had created an in-store frenzy with product flying out of the shop floor. All stock sold out within days and emergency repeat orders were shipped in to cope with the demand.

Don’t worry boys, we didn’t forget about you. YSL launched their iconic Touche Éclat for Men exclusively at Selfridges and ZPR kicked off the campaign with an international bang. We reeled in make up wearing Stuart from Big Brother for the launch and landed coverage in every key national newspaper including features in The Times, Metro and the Independent as well as Sky News who plastered our pics of Stu on their screens across key sites in London seen by 3 million people.

Continuing on the beauty front Superdrug took over the Vogue beauty pages in the latest issue with their ‘new savvy approach’ as quoted by the beauty editor. Positive words continue in the Daily Mail with a glowing 10/10 report for the Vitamin E cream, and so they should as Superdrug have been doing some positive things of their own with their fantastic Teenage Cancer Trust campaign which over the summer has raised a staggering £325k to date.

The Pinkridges coverage continues to flow with a dps in the Evening Standard on Sadie Frost’s auction, followed through with coverage in the Guardian and The London Lite as Sadie offers up a pair of Kate Moss’ shoes; signed, sealed and available to buy as part of the Pinkridges campaign!

Watch out for next weeks update as we glam it up with the fashionistas at Peacocks’ xmas show, offering our lovely media ladies a pamper session amongst this seasons glam party outfits. And then over to Woolworths for their marathon xmas event where you might just walk away with one of UK’s first copies of Sex and the City - you heard it hear first!

In pure Z PR style we close the week with some deep breaths in and out and 6 sun salutations later we are ready for the weekend….until next time dear friends of Z PR have a great week ahead.

Elephants and Royalty meet at ZPR...

2008-08-26T01:02:00.000-07:00

It’s been a week of yet more festivities at ZPR. Last Thursday morning, Selfridges’ Christmas Shop was unveiled amidst the flash of nearly 50 photographers by none other than The Duchess of York (Sarah Ferguson) accompanied by a herd of life size topiary elephants! The elephants came courtesy of the elephant family, a charity dedicated to helping protect endangered Asian elephants and working with local communities that live near wild herds. As Patron of the elephant family charity, The Duchess was also there to launch Selfridges’ most sought-after ethical Christmas gift for 2008; the elephant family‘s Date an Elephant’ pack.

Another highlight of the week was the opening of Selfridges brand new Toy Shop complete with a 125 carat £43,000 Steiff bear and Paddington Bear – did you know that inspiration for the original Paddington novel came when its creator Michael Bond visited Selfridges on Christmas Eve 1958 and taking pity on a lonely looking bear took him home for his wife? Well you do now!

The nation’s beauty bags were also buzzing last week with the launch of Lancome’s oscillating mascara – a new vibrating mascara which launched exclusively at Selfridges and will change the way us girls apply our mascara forever!

The Superdrug team was busy too with Zaria (our MD) airing Superdrug’s sun tax campaign on Radio 4’s You & Yours programme and the hugely successful Taxi Man launch is still proving to be a hit with the media! Who would think make up for men would be so popular!

Crabtree & Evelyn also launched its A – Z of aromatherapy ‘distillations’ range and the team is now busy planning the next India Hicks event at a suitably stylish venue in London town.

And it’s now less than a month until the fantastic Pinkridges campaign launches at Selfridges with its selection of fabulous pink exclusive product available to buy and designed by some of the world’s leading fashion, beauty and home designers such as Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy and Elie Tahari. Donations from all items purchased will go directly to Breast Cancer Care. Head down to Selfridges in September to snap up some amazing products!

See you next week!

Press Show Mania at ZPR...

2008-07-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

It’s been a week of events this week at the ZPR HQ! Starting off with the Woolworths Christmas Press Show which was a fantastic success, over 200 journalists arrived at the Hellenic Centre in Marylebone to see all the new latest Autumn/Winter 08 homeware, the ‘top 10’ toys for Christmas, children’s clothes, Ladybird fashion show and festive Christmas decorations and trees – our favourite being the bright pink version! After all the preparation that went into the show it was great to finally see it in action. Biscuit the dog, the Wii fit and Pleo the dinosaur were all huge hits, and the free Pic n Mix went down a treat with the journalists! It’s fair to say, the event was a big highlight that everyone in the office also got to enjoy! Roll on Christmas.

Another highlight of the week was the Peacocks A/W 08 Collection preview and dinner at the ultra trendy Sanderson hotel. 20 Journalists packed in to see the stylish chic fashion show in getting an insight to what Peacocks has to offer next season. After enough champagne drinking and schmoozing everyone headed to the glamourous terrace for a yummy 3 course meal and lots more champagne drinking! The feedback was fantastic, everyone loved the new collection and the night was a huge success. After a late night and an early start in ZPR offices, full English breakfasts were the order of the day the next morning!

Saturday night was yet another fabulous event, Superdrug held an outstanding charity ball at the swish Grosvenor House Hotel. A champagne reception was followed by a 3 course meal and various fund raising activities. Circus style performers amazed the crowd with dancing and impressive flexibility- inspiring us to get to yoga on a Friday morning! The ZPR table had an amazing time and danced the night away to a live PA by Booty Love! The event raised a staggering £325,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, Princes Trust and Kids Co. charities.

From an X Factor winner, to a Welsh Warbler, to a designer trunk show and a jumbo sausage… just an average week in PR for us!

2008-06-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

We welcomed the new Mrs Mountstevens back from her honeymoon this week, although she did turn up a day earlier than we expected – no reflection on her holiday, just a miscalculation on the dates! As well as gorgeous wedding pictures and a sparkly ring she also brought us back her amazing wedding cupcakes yum yum!!

We officially started working for Woolworths last week and threw ourselves into it ZPR-style contacting all of our journalist contacts to let them know about the up and coming press show, placing product and we worked our way through three huge bags of pick n mix!

We announced the next phase of Superdrug’s summer Shun Burn campaign; a charity headscarf designed by Leona Lewis which will be available to buy online soon with all money going to the Teenage Cancer Trust. Also if you’re passing a Superdrug this weekend, you should check out their summer beach parties when staff will be donning their bikinis or trunks in store to boost the fundraising total.

Our Cardiff Peacocks store had a special visit on Friday from The Charlotte Church Show. Helen went over to make sure everything ran smoothly as five girls picked themselves clothes for a night out. The final outfits, all under £30, looked great and you’ll be able to see their shopping spree on air when the series returns to our screens this summer.

Top style editors, fashion royalty and socialites viewed next season’s designer must-haves at an exclusive Halston trunk show held at Selfridges. The event, hosted by Tamara Mellon and Ann Pitcher, allowed the crème of London’s fashion circuit to stay one step ahead and pre-order their favourite pieces before they hit the shop floor with our Kate was on hand to guide them to the ‘It’ bags of the future.

Finally, with Father’s Day this weekend, specialist sausage eatery ‘Banger Brothers’ have gone the extra mile to launch their new store in Selfridges. The ‘Big Daddy’; a special 15 inch sausage, is available until 15th June so get there quick to pick up the limited edition must-have for food loving Dads.

Birthdays, Weddings... and lots of PR of course!

2008-05-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

ZPR saw two birthdays last week and it felt like there was cake in the office everyday – so this week we are diet PR!
Kate turned… 21 (again) while Lucy turned 25. The team went out to celebrate on Friday, one drink turned into many…

On the work front:
Superdrug saw many coverage highlights last week including one of its own label brands – Vitamin E recommended on Gok Wan’s How to Look Good Naked. This resulted in a 3000 per cent uplift showing the extraordinary power of PR.
Peacocks were also on TV with some key summer pieces appearing on This Morning – Let’s hope we see the same sales uplift there.

Kate has been working on a glamorous Wonder room story for Selfridges – all of the jewellry from Cannes available from just one place and there were many coos when some lovely jewellry samples came into the office.

Peacocks are looking forward to opening its new store in Liverpool and Lucy landed a great double page spread in The Liverpool Echo to publicize it.

This week Superdrug is launching its summer skin care campaign with the Teenage Cancer Trust fronted by X Factor winner Leona Lewis. We’ve had a double page spread in now Magazine as well as The Daily Express, The Sun, The Star and Metro and the Superdrug Team will be working hard this week to ensure it lands everywhere else.

We’re really excited to be welcoming new member Rachel to the ZPR team today she’ll be working on Woolworths which we start on officially next week and we hope she settles in well. Lastly Hayley is off to get married this weekend, returning in a few weeks as Mrs Mountstevens we’ll be taking her out for a glass of bubbly to wish her well and welcome Rachel to the team….

That’s all for this week!

Footwear is the story of the hour

2008-05-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy week in the world of ZPR with several of our clients getting some great coverage. The biggest story was landed by Kate this week for Selfridges. After spotting Gwyneth in several pairs of very high heels she looked into the sales stats at Selfridges and the results showed that high heels were selling fast. The story landed in not 1 but 7 publications, the highlights being the Independent, the Telegraph and ES magazine. After such positive coverage Kate is looking for a more in depth story.

Helen had a fun end to her week when she picked up the Drapers footwear award for Peacocks in the category best Value Retailer, beating George at Asda and Matalan. So that was a cause for celebration. However there was no time to celebrate too long as she had to get to Cardiff first thing Friday to start looking at the top buys for Autumn/ Winter.

As the weather hotted up the team gathered sales statistics for all clients and got on the phones to sell them in. Do you know that sales of foot care products at Superdrug are up 25%!? Must be all those summer sandals causing blisters.

On a personal front Miranda celebrated her 25th birthday and got engaged all in one week. So the team are out to celebrate tonight! Looking forward to another fun-filled week next week, lets hope the weather is just as nice.