"I have been working with the PRConsultants Group since 1991, when I began searching for PR counsel in key markets for 7-Eleven. Little did I know what synergy that core group would create, evolving into a network of enthusiastic, experienced PR people, experts in their own markets, who work together to create events, write press materials, garner extensive media coverage and do whatever is required for a client. At both 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, no matter what the project was, they quickly understood the goal and had the ideas, the contacts, and the know-how to set up turn key implementation plans and deliver results every time. I know if someone is a member of the PRConsultants Group, I can count on excellence." Karen Raskopf Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications Blockbuster As the director of public relations and marketing communications at 7-Eleven, Inc., I have worked with many members of the PRConsultants Group for more than 10 years and have found them to be the best and most efficient way for our company to market and promote our products, services and brand, as opposed to using a large PR firm for our broad and far-flung communications needs. The individuals in the network with whom I've worked are professional, responsive, forthright, knowledgeable and connected to various organizations and publics that we target. Despite small budgets and sometimes challenging circumstances, this team of PR and marketing communications pros always goes the distance, generates and executes creative ideas, delivers more value than they bill and consistently provide top-notch counsel. We have relied on their instincts and market savvy for years to help us better leverage our opportunities, overcome obstacles and avoid minefields. Speaking of which, the PRCs (as we call them) consistently do a fine job of leveraging our radio advertising, reaching our customers and driving sales. No job is too large or too small for them. We are fortunate to be associated with a network our company first inspired in the 1990s and the individuals we can call "friends" as well as colleagues. Margaret Chabris Public Relations/MarComm Director 7-Eleven, Inc. "Cabot Creamery Cooperative, best know as 'Makers of the Worlds Best Cheddar,' was founded by the farmers of Cabot, Vermont in 1919. As a cooperative business, we are one hundred percent owned by our farm families. Our company blends state-of-the art facilities and a savvy entrepreneurial spirit with the timeless values and personal commitment to quality. It's a special combination that produces the highest quality dairy products. Cabot complements its in-house marketing and pr capabilities when the need arises for local market experitise by reaching out to members of PRConsultants Group for senior-level public relations and marketing support. Cabot likes to work as close to the ground and to the customers as possible. PRCG affords us this proximity with real relationships that have benefitted our brand and our farmer owners enormously." Roberta MacDonald Senior Vice President of Marketing Cabot Creamery Cooperative Cabot, Vermont D'Oh Thank Heaven 7-Eleven turned 11 stores nationwide into Kwik-E-Marts for the month of July, to help promote The Simpsons Movie release on July 27. Colorful character cut-outs and products taken straight from the TV series, such as Buzz Cola, Krusty O's and Squishees (7-Eleven's legendary Slurpees, renamed), attracted thousands of delighted Simpsons fans to the stores. The story, spurred by the efforts of PRConsultants Group members in major markets, was picked up by media nationwide, resulting in TV media values of nearly $4 million in the first week and helping to sell more than one million bright pink Simpsons Sprinkalicious donuts. PRCG members gave an advance to key journalists for the first day of the Kwik-E-Mart transformation, and then pitched the Simpsons story to print, TV, radio and the Internet, arranging for hundreds of in-store TV segments and interviews with 7-Eleven management. PRCG members also handled delivery of hundreds of bright pink Simpsons Sprinkalicious donuts and other Simpsons collectibles around town, garnering a total of 1400 TV segments, hundreds of print articles, including mentions in all top US newspapers and numerous radio segments. The promotion, lauded by marketers as a "bold, brilliant, genius and award-winning" example of reverse product placement, was an Internet buzz leader, hitting the Yahoo and Entertainment Weekly top 10, and was featured in countless blogs. Publicity value was estimated at a very conservative $6.7 million. Blockbuster: Publicizing the total convenience of Total Access From movie releases to video games to new online services, the PRConsultants Group was there with Blockbuster. In November of 2006, Blockbuster launched a totally new way to rent movies called Blockbuster Total Access. The new program gave Blockbuster's online customers the option of returning their DVDs through the mail or exchanging them at more than 5,000 participating Blockbuster stores for free in-store movie rentals. No other online rental service offered customers the convenience of returning movies to the store and receiving free movie rentals. The PRConsultants Group has worked with Blockbuster in all major markets for more than 10 years through both promotions and publicity of new video releases and Blockbuster programs. The PRConsultants Group was instrumental in publicizing the End of Late Fees into a national story and when many stores added a new Game Rush section, the Group planned promotions and video game tournaments to launch the new sections. The PRConsultants Group pioneered the midnight release event, with perhaps with the most grandiose launch of a new DVD release for the movie "Titanic". Across the nation, huge crowds participated in the activities leading up to the midnight release, with customers and staff dressing in costume and a multitude of games and giveaways throughout the night. One store event even had a Titanic replica sinking into the parking lot. Following that success, the midnight event attracted huge crowds for the DVD release of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Spider-Man. So when Blockbuster was ready to launch its latest program, of course the company worked with the PRConsultants Group to publicize and promote the Total Access program. The group's efforts led to local and national coverage of the Total Access program including in-store events and promotions. The initial goal of $1 million new online subscribers was met before the end of 2006. Cold Stone Creamery: A brighter day for children It's always a great day for ice cream, and the PRConsultants Group helped to make it a brighter day for critically-ill children, too, when the group worked with Scottsdale, AZ-based Cold Stone Creamery to publicize its 2006 big benefit event for the Make-A-Wish foundation, "The World's Largest Ice Cream Social." Make-A-Wish child Cole developed his favorite Cold Stone mix, which was then offered free to customers at a fund-raising event held simultaneously at Cold Stone stores across the country. Members of the PRConsultants Group in major markets worked diligently with local market developers and franchisees to get the word out about the event. Morning show anchors at major market TV stations mixed up their favorite Cold Stone creations on the air as they talked about the benefit; reporters went to stores to interview customers and franchise owners. In all, the PRConsultants Group generated more than 124 million media impressions; better yet, the "World's Largest Ice Cream Social" brought in more than $100,000 so that ill children could realize their dreams. Cabot Creamery Cooperative: The World's Best Cheddar Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919 and is best known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar." Cabot is owned by the dairy farm families of Agri-Mark, the Northeast's premier dairy cooperative. When Cabot Creamery was looking for external support for their internal public relations team in 2005, the company turned to PRCG to provide media relations and program support for Cabot's wide range of marketing and public relations initiatives. Impressed with the service and results, the company expanded its relationship with PRCG by engaging the services of four more PRCG members. PRCG team members working on the account handle a wide range of tasks including: new product launches, arranging media tours for Cabot's celebrity spokeschef, Jon Ashton, publicizing Cabot's highly-successful supermarket Road Show program and "Calcium is Cool" nutrition education programs, and managing media relations for numerous community relations programs for the company. Over the years, the PR team has garnered millions of media impressions - including over 100 radio interviews - and numerous major media hits in nearly every regional media outlet in the markets they serve. PRCG support for Cabot Creamery Cooperative currently covers the entire east coast and extends into the Midwest with plans to expand public relations support on an as-needed basis throughout the remainder of the U.S. in 2008. Marriott Spa Day: For the Griffin Gate Marriot Resort & Spa Opening in Lexington, Kentucky, Marriot hired Brendy Barr Communications, PRCG's Detroit-based agency. Working with spa representatives, the Detroit agency managed the project and oversaw national and trade media while partnering with PRCG's Kentucky representative, Susan Hamburg Public Relations, to handle local media in Lexington. The project included a new announcement of the opening, creation of a spa-themed press kit (complete with slippers!), and the coordination of an exclusive Media Spa Day for select reporters to experience Griffin Gate Resort and Spa. Placements were obtained in all targeted media as well as additional blog hits on travel web sites. The Media Spa Day was a big success that resulted in both local and national attention. PainePR: Local Outreach through PRCG PainePR, with offices in Los Angeles and New York, has been working with the PRConsultants Group for many years as a way to expand and enhance local outreach efforts for its clients. Under the direction and auspices of Paine PR, members of the PRConsultants Group have handled local media efforts and event planning and execution for a variety of Paine's clients, including Duracell, Old Spice, Pampers, Dreft, Luvs, Ivory, Levis, Dockers, Ricoh, Hilton Garden Inn, IAMS and XM radio. PRConsultants Group acts as an extension of Paine PR on these projects, enabling the agency to offer broad yet local media expertise and outreach. Paine oversees the project, and can depend on the experienced local PRCG member to offer the advice and provide the skills to handle all details in the field, greatly increasing local media coverage. Wal-Mart and Medicare Part D: A timely, proactive message for seniors Need a complicated process simplified and publicized on a tight deadline? The PRConsultants Group delivers. When Wal-Mart was facing the May 15, 2006 deadline for Medicare Part D prescription drug plan registration and needed to get that message out to their senior customers in a short period of time, it turned to the PRConsultants Group. Eligible senior citizens who did not enroll would incur penalties and see their Medicare premium increase. Wal-Mart needed customers to know that a full awareness, education and enrollment program was available in all Wal-Mart and SAM's CLUB pharmacies to explain the enrollment program and benefits. Wal-Mart needed a very quick turnaround to publicize and plan in-store promotions and education about the Medicare Part D enrollment deadline. The company turned to the PRConsultants Group in major markets to distribute and pitch the news release and put together in-store promotions working with local senior citizens organizations, retirement homes and senior centers in addition to store managers and pharmacists. Within 10 days, the PRConsultants Group had scheduled presentations to local senior citizens organizations and in retirement and nursing homes, pitched the news release to local and national media resulting in extensive coverage in print and on radio and television and initiated in-store events with local radio stations to promote and distribute information to all eligible customers. The results were increased enrollment in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan and knowledge of the plan and its benefits to seniors and other eligible participants. And lots of positive press for Wal-Mart. PRConsultants Group received PRSA's Silver Anvil for excellence in Marketing Consumer Products for Blockbuster for the Launch of Titanic PRConsultants Group received PRSA's Silver Anvil for excellence in Community Relations for 7-Eleven for Operation Chill

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