Campaigns

The annual campaign to promote festive holidays and tours to the Christmas markets with West Country holiday company Bakers Dolphin has been launched online and across the media.

Empica created an animated promotion that is being shared across Facebook and other social media channels as well as prompting festive stories in the media read by Bakers Dolphin customers.

Empica has been promoting festive breaks for the Weston-super-Mare firm for 20 years and the challenge is always to find fresh and exciting ways to promote the tours, holidays and markets. Empica videographer George Watts animated a Bakers Dolphin coach pulled by reindeer and turned still pictures into moving images for this year’s online campaign, orchestrated by online manager Jo Laws and her team.

Actor Joe Sims found himself treading boards of a different kind when he made a return visit to one of his favourite childhood haunts, Weston-super-Mare's iconic Grand Pier, thanks to Empica.

The Bristol-born star took a trip down memory lane as he strolled along the boardwalk, recalling his childhood fear of falling through the planks, and how he feared the same thing would happen on the "rickety" old ghost-train, and enjoyed some of the Pier's many rides and attractions.

When Joe, a friend of Empica best-known for his role in ITV drama Broadchurch, told us of his childhood visits to the Pier, one of our clients, we thought there could be a good PR opportunity to get the two together, as the Pier prepared for the start of another summer season.

For his troubles, the Pier presented Joe with a cheque for £500 for the St Peter's Hospice Room To Care Appeal, a local cause close to Joe's heart.

During his fun-filled afternoon at the Pier, Joe also helped to launch its on-line poll, ahead of National Cream Tea Week, to find the definitive answer to the culinary conundrum of 'cream first, or jam first'.

Empica announced the launch of a new restaurant on behalf of world renowned  chefs Pierre Koffmann and Marco Pierre White.

Set to open in Bath in September 2018, the new venue will be called Koffmann & Mr White’s. Having amassed six Michelin stars between them the joint venture is a brasserie style eaterie that will serve a mix of English and French classics that made the two charismatic chefs the most famous and talked about on the London restaurant scene back in the 80s, 90s and 00s.

Operating under licence from the celebrity chef's Black & White Hospitality business, plans are to roll out Koffmann & Mr White’s to further locations during the next two years, following a year’s exclusivity for The Abbey Hotel in Bath.

Jaquar, one of the fastest growing bathroom brands in the world has chosen Empica to support its marketing programme in the UK.

Jaquar Group, conceived in 1960, now has a presence in over 40 countries, delivering over 2 million bathrooms a year and producing 24 million bathroom fittings annually.

Empica was appointed following successful work on the introduction of Jaquar’s luxury brand Artize to the UK at a two-day event in Covent Garden, London earlier this year.

Empica Managing Director Martin Powell said: “Jaquar is a global superbrand and we are looking forward to bringing it to the attention of the trade in the UK and to the British public, who we feel will love the designs they create.

“Jaquar has five state-of-the-art manufacturing units in India and one in South Korea spread over 270,000 square metres. Some of the most innovative bathroom designers in the world are engaged to create the products so there is a great story to tell.”

Martin Voisey, UK Head of Jaquar, said: “We are pleased to have found an agency that can support Jaquar as it moves to the next level in the UK. The Artize launch proved a great success and we have appointed Empica to spread the word in the UK and raise awareness of the brand, which is now the fifth largest in the world and ready to make an impact in the UK as it has across many other parts of the world.

“Jaquar Group caters to premium and luxury bathroom segments with its Jaquar and Artize brands respectively for both residential and commercial sectors, and the quality of its products was underlined recently when the Artize Tailwater collection tap was honoured with a prestigious international Red Dot Award: Product Design.”

The marketing remit includes promoting Jaquar and the premium brand Artize across all channels in the UK, establishing an online presence and initially engaging with the bathroom trade who will stock the products.

Empica was commissioned once again by Fairfield PNEU School in Backwell, North Somerset, to produce a video showcasing the way the school helps individual children develop a love of learning. Staff and pupils talked about their experiences in the school.

Empica has provided public relations, video and photographic support for the launch of a major bathroom brand into the UK, securing attendance by key customers and influential media represnetatives.

Artize, a luxury bathroom brand to cater for customers who want high quality and exquisite bathing spaces has been launched to the UK trade in Covent Garden, London by Jaquar Group – a leading global complete bathroom solutions manufacturer.

Jaquar Group, conceived in 1960, is one of the fastest growing bathroom brands in the world with presence in over 40 countries, delivering over 2 million bathrooms a year and producing 24 million bathroom fittings annually.

Following the successful launch of Jaquar in the UK two years ago, the company is now introducing its award-winning luxury brand Artize, which has never before been seen in the UK or Europe.

Bookbarn International is launching The Darwin Room. This project aims to create an emporium of the oldest and rarest books specially selected from the Bookbarn archives.

Empica has created a video for use online and is prompting media coverage of the event, working with Charles Darwin's Great Great Grandson William Pryor, who is Chairman of Bookbarn at Hallatrow Business Park, High Littleton, Somerset.

The New Room from Empica_PR on Vimeo.

It’s all going on over at the New Room, John Wesley’s Chapel on The Horsefair, Bristol where a new visitor centre, museum and café are opening.

Empica is now actively promoting the café, which includes Fairtrade goods plus a selection of homemade cakes. The museum will be a stunning addition to the tourism offering of Bristol, as the video shows.

We have also been busy making preparations for publicising the rededication service at the New Room, which was built in 1739 and is the cradle of modern Methodism.

Nursery group client Mama Bear’s asked Empica to help with a campaign to educate people about the new 30-hours childcare funding which will come into force in September 2017.

The campaign will involve letting parents know what they are eligible for, explaining Mama Bear’s funding structure and promoting a recruitment drive for new staff. It’s an exciting time for Mama Bear’s as they get ready to open their 23rd setting in the South West.

Our latest video is for Bristol’s top Chinese Restaurant, Dynasty. The short video is to be used in the ground floor entrance of the restaurant to entice diners to sample the atmosphere and superb food upstairs.

Empica’s latest video project saw the creation of a promotional video for Jeremy Banning,  military historian and researcher specialising in the First World War. It included filming Jeremy on a battlefield tour in Belgium and France.

Bristol FinTech 2016 from Empica_PR on Vimeo.

Empica has been appointed to promote the Bristol Fintech event this November. A collaboration between Barclays, Clarke Willmott, Deepbridge Capital, Hargreaves Lansdown and PwC it will bring together start-ups and companies with a global profile, matching entrepreneurs and business owners with legal and financial experts.

Those attending will hear why the financial institutions of the UK are making Fintech a priority. A video produced by Empica explains the thinking behind the event.

theclub at Cadbury House celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2016 and to commemorate the occasion Empica produced a series of videos showcasing the history of the award-winning health club.

Including pictures and interviews from staff and club members, the films were screened at a specially arranged founders dinner.

The footage went down a storm and we look forward to working closely with the Cadbury House team over the next 10 years!

Award-winning medical spa group EF MEDISPA launched its first clinic outside of London, on Whiteladies Road, Bristol and Empica facilitated the opening with a series of activities.

Starting with a PR campaign to announce the opening, which received coverage on the front page of the Bristol Post, on BBC Radio Bristol and on The Sun’s website, Empica went on to produce two launch videos – a full length promotional video for the EF MEDISPA website and a shorter newsclip video for social media and news outlets.

Empica also organised a successful launch party at the clinic which was attended by press, local celebrities and customers. 

We are now looking forward to continuing to promote the exciting services available at EF MEDISPA Bristol.

Uncovering Bristol's White City from Empica_PR on Vimeo.

Ask most Bristolians where or what was the 'White City' and you'll get a blank look. For Clive Burlton, author of 'Bristol's Lost City', a picture of his Grandfather outside the 1914 Bristol International Exhibition led to uncovering a forgotten episode of Bristol's past.

In this short film, Clive Burlton explores Bristol's transition from peacetime to wartime through the eyes of the White City site.

Empica produced this film for Bristol Books with filming and editing by our videographer Lisa Marley.

Empica scripted and filmed this promotional video for the 4th Colliers Bristol TRYathlon, which brings together professionals to compete either as individuals or in a team of three relay in a 400m swim, a 16km bike ride and a 5km run.

Featuring head of Bristol office Tim Davies demonstrating in that you don’t have to be super-human to take part in the TRYathlon, the video also showcases the graphic design service offered by Empica to enhance clients’ videos. This year the Colliers Tryathlon will be supporting Wooden Spoon Bath and Bristol with all entry fees donated directly to the charity, so they can continue their good work in the region. Why not enter a team?

ESP CHiP50 Biomass CHP System from Empica_PR on Vimeo.

Our cameraman Neil Phillips travelled to Scotland to capture this exciting biomass combined heat and power system in action. A graphic was commissioned to explain how this much-awaited system works using woodchip as a fuel.

The footage was edited back in Bristol with customer endorsements used to highlight some of the strong selling points of this technology.

Skyburst The Firework Company have been producing memorable displays since 1982. Using footage from their displays and behind-the-scenes by 1605 Productions and our own documentary filming by cameraman Neil Phillips at headquarters we put together a promotional video showcasing their superb pyrotechnic abilities.

Most exciting moment was an evening filming the opening and closing sequences with presenter Matthew Tosh speaking to camera with live fireworks in the background. Getting the lighting and sound right was an exciting challenge. The video will be used by Skyburst along with a printed information pack we have created to inform potential customers of the full range of services they offer.

Empica helped with the press launch of a brand-new never before seen cave at Wookey Hole.

It took one month and three tonnes of explosives to reveal Chamber 20 for the first time, in what was one of the most exciting developments in recent years at the tourist attraction.

Empica helped to secure TV, radio and print coverage for the event including BBC Breakfast, ITV Westcountry, Heart FM and the Daily Mail online.  

Empica is promoting the latest book from our client Bristol Books. Louise Brown: My Life As The World's First Test Tube Baby has received coverage in national newspapers; the BBC, ITV and in the media in Portugal, the USA and Israel in the first week of the campaign. A promotional video for the book has been produced and a major launch event held at Bourn Hall, Cambridge. Louise has been coached through her many media interviews.

A couple from Bristol who found love on a Bakers Dolphin coach trip are settling in to married life and looking forward to their 80th birthdays.

Brenda and Jim Taylor who had each been widowed previously first met in August 2012 on the ‘Delightful Derbyshire’ tour after each decided to travel alone. The rest is history and the couple are now happily married and planning more trips with the coach operators which first brought them together.

Report from Made in Bristol TV http://www.madeinbristol.tv/

Empica is promoting the annual St Peter’s Hospice Midnight Walk for the fifth year running. This is one of our favourite fundraisers to promote as it’s such a fun, vibrant event and it always produces inspirational case studies for us to work with.

The event usually attracts around 1000 women who walk through the midnight hour to raise funds for the hospice, and this year will be no different. With print, TV and radio coverage all set up it’s bound to be a success!

Empica has launched the website www.myinternswap.com which aims to help students find short term work internships. It works by parents offering swaps in return for their own child being offered a work placement. The site has been launched with pieces in the Guardian, which prompted debate about whether such a system is “elitist” as not all parents can offer an internship, including BBC Radio 4 Today’s Programme.

We pitched the school’s Barber Boys as contenders for BBC Radio 3’s Meet My Choir feature on its Sunday afternoon programme ‘The Choir.’  They’ve created a fantastic barbershop choir for teenage boys – all formerly choristers of Ely Cathedral – to allow them to carry on singing during that tricky period when their voices are changing. Here’s some of the coverage we achieved for their young vocalists.

Take a look at our brand new video for the luxury Bakers Dolphin Gold Coach. With the Gold Coach service you can enjoy extra leg room, on-board entertainment, complimentary refreshments and a hostess service. Now not only can you choose the Gold Coach for your UK and Continental short breaks and holidays you can also enjoy a relaxing day trip on board!

Our latest campaign for Wookey Hole Caves involved publicising the caves as a wedding venue. With a background in circus the Wookey venue was able to accommodate a couple that wanted to get married on a high wire. With such a great story to work with we gained coverage in national and regional newspapers and on both BBC and ITV television.

Empica teamed up with Neil Phillips Photography to produce a video of an exciting day-out at Bletchley Park. Simon Harding was Producer/Director (or maybe he just carried a tripod) and Neil captured the views of satisfied customers of our client Bakers Dolphin. Bletchley Park Media Relations Manager called it a “fantastic promotional video”. Have a look for yourself.