31.10.11
Design icon Fitbit brings in Kaizo for UK Launch

Fitbit, the iconic US brand behind the American ‘must have’ fitness and wellbeing range, has chosen Kaizo to spearhead its launch in the UK.

The brand has already taken the US by storm with it range of fitness trackers which sync to personal web pages that monitor, manage and motivate those looking to get fitter and healthier. The brand was recently listed as one of the top 30 iconic design leaders in the US by Fast Company magazine, adding to a list that includes Apple, Nike and Starbucks.

Gareth Jones, VP and European General Manager for Fitbit, said:

“Fitbit’s range is designed for today’s social generation, from twentysomethings to mums to empty nesters, we provide 24/7 support, motivation and in depth information that really works. Kaizo’s role will be to establish us as the brand of choice across these segments.”

“Our strategy will focus a great deal on word of mouth and recommendations that drive sales, an area we feel Kaizo really excels in. We were also impressed by their combined track record in the consumer electronics and the fitness and wellbeing markets.”

Fitbit’s personal online pages include a range of social feature to help motivate on the go and with friends including a mobile app, social messaging, and achievement badges fully synced with all social media platforms.

Rhodri Harries, MD of Kaizo, said;

“This is a new way for people to help monitor and maintain fitness and wellbeing, one which is very much in tune with today’s consumer. This is a brand that has the capacity to change attitudes to fitness– how we exercise, eat, and also rest.  Expect to see it, experience it and share it soon!”

Fitbit will be available in January from major etailers and retailers. The appointment follows a comprehensive UK pitch process.

The account will be led by Harries and Account Director Kate Howe, ex Head of Communications at the Fitness Industry Association. Kaizo’s experience includes Flip Video, Panasonic, Grid -10 and House of Marley on the consumer technology space and Flora/ Becel and Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee, in the health and wellbeing sector.

06.10.11
Kaizo Sponsors Tom Olsen Lecture

Kaizo is delighted to sponsor the Tom Olsen Lecture, for the fourth year in a row.

The lecture is held annually in memory of Tom Olsen, a former Sunday Telegraph journalist, with the aim of focusing on the themes of freedom and responsibility.

This year it features Bob Satchwell, Director of The Society of Editors.  The title of the lecture will be "Hacked off with the Media - an unholy alliance of Press, Police and Politicians?"

The event takes place tonight at 6.30 at St Bride's Church off Fleet Street.

05.09.11
Kaizo captures COTTON USA account in the UK

Kaizo has been reappointed by Cotton Council International (CCI), following a competitive pitch, to conduct the strategic development, management and execution of public relations activities, trade and consumer promotional activities and trade media buying for the UK.

CCI utilises PR, advertising and promotional activities to communicate the positive attributes of U.S. cotton and cotton products to consumers, retailers and the textile trade, while also promoting the COTTON USA Mark as a sign of quality. For further information http://www.cottonusa.co.uk/.

Stephanie Thiers-Ratcliffe, CCI Marketing Manager, said:
“COTTON USA is an internationally licensed trademark for premium U.S. cotton-rich products. It inspires trust and embodies quality in all items made using U.S. grown cotton. Kaizo will be tasked with both promoting the Mark and helping us attract more UK retailers such as existing licensees Marks and Spencer and Christy Towels.”

Rhodri Harries, Managing Director of Kaizo said:
“Our strategy focuses on creatively highlighting moments where only the best and highest quality will do when it comes to home and fashion. Multi-layered, multi-media and integrating media, digital and experiential, our aim is to bring the cotton story to life for potential licensees as well as the target consumer demographics, including women 25 to 45.”

27.07.11
Successful MBO Marks New Opportunities

Delighted to announce that as of yesterday we are now wholly owned by our existing management team following a successful MBO.

Whilst we remain the same business in the same premises with the same teams, our new independence highlights key attributes we feel bring a fresh perspective to communications’ challenges targeting consumers and businesses.

We’re impartial, whether advising on media choice or brand direction; self-sufficient, so no sub teams and silos to add complexity and cost; free thinkers, so great ideas flow and are encouraged; and now importantly self-governing so we’re able to offer a flexible approach to your PR and earned media budgets.

We thank all our clients, including Truvia®, Flora/ Becel, Cisco, CA Technologies, Unilever,mxData, Johnson and Johnson, Serco, and Elsevier, for their continued support and look forward to a successful future together.

02.06.11
Kaizo Wins Best Consumer Relations Award

Kaizo picked up the coveted Best Consumer Relations award at last nights CIPR awards for its work with Flip Video.

The Sharing Hearts Minds and Moments campaign won over the judges with its integrated approach and undoubted focus on business success in terms of sales.

Certificates were also picked up for shortlisted campaigns in the Best Social Media, Best Broadcast and Best Media Relations categories.

For more details on these campaigns email rhodri.harries@kaizo.net.

05.05.11
mxData hires Kaizo

mxData, pioneer in the delivery of live information to mobile devices, has appointed Kaizo to support and build market share amongst consumers for its range of services.

mxData delivers live information to a wide range of mobile, web and sat-nav devices through any operator onto any platform. Its highly successful range of apps include Tube Map, helping London’s travellers plan and navigate their journey underground and the award winning Traffic TV, providing drivers with live traffic data information from across the UK.

Rhodri Harries, managing director, Kaizo, said: “mxData has some amazing technology and fantastic apps which meet the demand for real-time information delivery to any device, whatever the location. We’ve come up with a really exciting series of consumer engagement strategies that will get people talking about the brand, both on and offline.”

David James, CEO, mxData, said: “Kaizo came to us with a fresh approach and showed outstanding social media counsel as well as true enthusiasm for our brand. We’re at a point where PR has the potential to impact the business significantly so we’re really looking forward to getting started.”

Activity kicks off this month with a campaign focusing on London commuters, which will integrate everyday conversations, issues hijacking, humour and sex... through guerilla, social media and traditional media relations.

14.03.11
Supermarkets, cereals and computer manufacturers ahead in latest Kaizo Advocacy Index

Waitrose remains on top while T-Mobile and Orange’s merger reflected in online reputation

New research released today reveals major disparities in the online reputation of UK household brands. The Kaizo Advocacy Index, a bi-annual audit of online reputation, has analysed digital news and social media outlets to rank UK household names including supermarkets, mobile operators, airlines, breakfast cereals and computer manufacturers[i].

Waitrose (48%) remains the highest scoring brand, followed by Weetabix (37%), Lenovo (32%) and Virgin Atlantic (31%). Airlines and mobiles performed the worst, with Ryanair (-51%) last followed by BA (-20%), BMI (-16%), Orange (-11%) and T-Mobile (-11%).

Rhodri Harries, managing director, Kaizo, commented: “Waitrose continued to perform well thanks to news of growth and new jobs, by dealing with issues swiftly, and by introducing ways for customers to engage online, for instance its Christmas Facebook app featuring Heston Blumenthal”.

“Virgin’s bounce back is proof that a strong creative can cut through in social media as well as above the line. While the cereal brands scores showed that amid doom and gloom a little creative thinking can go a long way in spreading the word, with Sainsbury’s Valentine’s Day heart shaped cucumber and Kellogg’s branding individual Corn Flakes good examples of this.”

Jon Harding, General Manager, International and Distribution at Virgin Atlantic remarked, “Virgin Atlantic is delighted once again to be the number one airline brand according to the Kaizo Advocacy Index. Kaizo's index is an important barometer of brand and reputational strength and these results are a credit to the airline, its staff and its customers”.



Waitrose continues to lead the supermarkets whilst Tesco falters as fears are raised over market monopoly

Waitrose won the hotly fought battle for Christmas sales according to lots of reports which, together with news that 3,000 jobs will be created through new store openings in 2011 and its first ever Facebook app featuring celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, helped the brand retain first place. In February, Waitrose managed to avoid a potential PR disaster after shocking video footage came to light showing one of its duck suppliers treating animals cruelly. Taking all the right steps, Waitrose was quick to suspend all ties with the supplier, thus neutralising the majority of stories.



Consumers concerned about Tesco’s market monopolisation are airing their views on blogs and forums as the brand continues to move into new industries, including spa treatments and car dealerships. Tescopoly.org, which has been set up to educate and raise public awareness on the ‘market-distorting power of the major supermarkets’, is one of the first results shown up in a Google search for Tesco.



For Sainsbury’s a Valentine’s Day cucumber in the shape of a heart provided a light hearted story.

Scores: Waitrose (48%), Sainsbury’s (28%), Morrisons (23%) and Asda (11%), Tesco (-8%).





Launches and exclusivity raise the bar for mobiles while T-Mobile and Orange are plagued with customer service issues

Innovative product launches and exclusive deals were the main source of positive comments in a sector littered with technical information. For sector winner Vodafone, its launch of Webbox, an affordable device that brings the internet to consumers’ existing television sets, coupled with an exclusive launch deal with the Samsung Galaxy Tablet, helped steer conversations away from widely reported accusations of tax dodging.

Meanwhile T Mobile’s score fell from the last report and the brand is now languishing at the bottom of the sector alongside Orange, with whom it recently merged. With customer complaints about poor service, and a number of these blaming the merger, both brands need to address this issue.

Scores: Vodafone (7%), O2 (5%), 3 Mobile (5%), Orange (-11%) and T Mobile (-11%).

Virgin Atlantic flies ahead with a glamorous new image whilst British Airways’ online reputation nose-dives

Virgin Atlantic took the lead once again in a sector mired by delays, strike threats and customer service issues. Having seen its score decline recently, the airline has returned to form thanks to its advertising campaign, ‘You're airline's either got it or it hasn't’. With a dedicated social media team providing videos that are easy to share and promotional spin offs, the airline has generated lots of positive buzz across blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

News that British Airways is still embroiled in disputes with unions and that further strikes may be set for the Easter break have been greeted with dismay. The ease and speed in which frustrated customers can vent online and spread gloomy news means the airline needs to be careful that its image is not damaged for good.

Elsewhere, anger over ‘hidden costs’ continues to rumble for Ryanair. The forced removal of 100 protesting Belgian students from a flight did nothing to help the airline, which seems entrenched at the bottom of the sector.

Scores: Virgin Atlantic (31%), easyJet (4%), BMI (-16%), British Airways (-20%), Ryanair (-51%).







Talking pets and knitting grandmas energise healthy cereal brands

Cereal brands scored highly, with entertaining advertising campaigns helping to create buzz online. Positive chatter about a comical ad featuring talking pets for Chocolate Weetabix helped the brand lead the sector. Elsewhere, an integrated campaign for Shreddies’ Knitting Nanas, which involved recruiting a real life grandma, helped to lift the lowest scoring brand in the sector.

Kellogg’s hi-tech method of branding individual Corn Flakes with the company logo was a popular story, showing the power of bringing to life an innovative, creative idea.

A breakfast cereal that is nutritional and provides the morning’s energy is an important factor for consumers, according to their comments online. Weetabix in particular was championed on social networks for providing the energy for the day ahead. Meanwhile, Shredded Wheat’s fundraising activities with organisations such as the British Heart Foundation helped promote its healthy image.

Scores: Weetabix (31%), Kellogg’s Corn Flakes (29%), Shredded Wheat (26%), Special K (16%) and Shreddies (13%).

PC brands ride the wave of tablet enthusiasm

In a high scoring and closely fought sector, tablet launches generated positive news, reviews and chatter on media sites, blogs and forums. Lenovo’s latest Thinkpad was described as ‘evolutionary’, whilst Dell and Acer both benefited from the launch of Android’s Honeycomb 3.0 operating system.

In the new sector of tablet PCs, people are listening to the advice and experience of others when choosing which tablet to invest in. Whilst good product news and reviews go a long way to help purchasing decisions, it is those brands that are talked about positively by other consumers that will see their bottom line grow.

Scores: Lenovo (32%), HP (27%), Acer (26%), Dell (23%) and Asus (20%).

Ends

[i] For further information on methodology and full results visit http://www.kaizo.net/newsroom/kaizo/kaizo-advocacy-index-winter-2011/

12.11.10
Kaizo co-sponsoring Newspepper relaunch

Kaizo alongside client Flip Video is delighted to be sponsoring the Newspepper relaunch event, taking place on 22 November 2010 on the HMS President in London.

Newspepper makes video for the internet, from event coverage, corporate videos and virals to live streaming, video PR and promotional videos plus lots more. Its unique model of training student and graduate film makers ensures its team gets paid on-the-job experience and clients receive high quality, low cost media services.

Newspepper was set up by entrepreneur Hermione Way whilst studying for a journalism degree at London Metropolitan.  Hermione also presents the hugely popular Techfluff.TV, a Newspepper production, which is a weekly web-tech show that covers the hottest entrepreneurs, start-ups, events and news on the European tech scene.

14.10.10
Waitrose flying high as Virgin Atlantic’s online reputation continues to slide

Airlines and mobile operators suffer amid customer service issues in Kaizo Advocacy Index

New research released today shows that some of the UK’s leading brands are experiencing serious online reputation management issues. The Kaizo Advocacy Index, a bi-annual audit of online reputation, has analysed digital news and social media outlets to rank UK household names including supermarkets, airlines, breakfast cereals and mobile operators.

In the latest report, Waitrose comes out on top as price offers and enticing promotions were shared by consumers across the internet. Elsewhere however, the airlines all suffered, as Virgin Atlantic saw its score fall for the third report in a row as customer service issues led to consumers venting their frustrations online.

Rhodri Harries, Managing Director of Kaizo, said:
“Waitrose’s recent price match campaign is already paying dividends, with consumers talking about it online”.

There have been some great recent initiatives from the supermarkets, showing competitive spirit and demonstrating real value for money. Over the August Bank Holiday weekend for example – Asda cut the cost of their petrol, which started a price war, whilst Sainsbury’s offered free delivery on all non-food orders.”

Children’s cereals also performed well, with Cheerios topping the category thanks to its reputation as a healthy option. Nostalgia provided a welcome boost to the cereals’ scores as teenagers and young adults shared stories of their favourite childhood breakfast choices over blogs and social networks.

For the mobile operators, poor customer service, delayed updates to handsets and corporate changes meant they failed to enhance their reputation despite new handset launches and customer engagement innovation such as O2’s eco mobile rating scheme awarding handsets a ‘green’ rating.

Airlines suffered yet another drop in online reputation with customers venting anything but virtual anger over delays, cancellations, strikes and poor customer service. Virgin Atlantic once again managed to outperform competitors, though its score slipped for the third Index in a row as tales of customer service issues were reported over social networks. RyanAir has plummeted to its lowest online reputation score yet with hate campaigns and negative press about hidden costs and extra charges, including news that a 12 year old girl was made to pay £190 to take her violin on board.

Harries continued: “There was a surprising decrease once again for Virgin, showing that even the best loved brands need to stay on top of the game. Delays, poor service and lack of communication are incredibly annoying for consumers and these frustrations are inevitably played out online as customers communicate anywhere, be it an airport lounge over the other side of the world, or a mobile phone store in Hackney.”

The Kaizo Advocacy Index researched four sectors; supermarkets, children’s cereals, airlines and mobiles. Waitrose, Morrisons and Cheerios performed the best across all sectors researched. Brands with the worst scores include Ryanair, BMI and Orange.

For a copy of the full report please click here

To view additional materials please click here

Ends

Notes to Editors
About Kaizo
Kaizo is an award winning independent PR and digital agency helping business and consumer brands thrive in today’s economy. Our clients include Cisco, Flip Video, Unilever, Serco, Elsevier and Johnson & Johnson.

For further information
Sarah Mayer
020 3043 4163

01.09.10
Kaizo Wins CA Technologies Social Media Account

CA Technologies has retained Kaizo to develop a strong social media presence in Europe following a competitive pitch. Kaizo will carry out a strategic review of the blogosphere for the leading IT management software and solutions company to establish where to focus activity and then establish CA’s subject matter experts as leading commentators in their fields.

Sarah Atkinson, Vice President Communications Europe at CA Technologies, said : “Kaizo had the most thorough approach to running a social media campaign. They will work with our team to establish a strong online presence in all our target areas. They really understand what it takes to create and sustain online conversations.”

Crispin Manners, who leads the CA Technologies team at Kaizo, said: “Unlike a number of brands out there who see social media as a new channel for broadcast communications, CA Technologies wants to stimulate direct online conversations to build relationships with customers, partners and online influencers. We are looking forward to helping establish CA Technologies as the best practice approach to B2B social media communications.”

About CA Technologies
CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) is an IT management software and solutions company with expertise across all IT environments – from mainframe and distributed, to virtual and cloud. CA Technologies manages and secures IT environments and enables customers to deliver more flexible IT services. CA Technologies innovative products and services provide the insight and control essential for IT organizations to power business agility. The majority of the Global Fortune 500 relies on CA Technologies to manage evolving IT ecosystems. For additional information, visit CA Technologies at www.ca.com