For most professionals, the words “annual planning meeting” solicit a groan. A big one.
But at Clairemont, we can’t help but to have fun with our clients while brainstorming creative strategies for the upcoming year. And we think this photo — captured at Clairemont client Briar Chapel along with our friends and collaborative partners at Roni Hicks last week — says it all!
Sometimes big miracles come in small packages. Four-inch plastic baggies, to be exact.
On July 28, Clairemont client Triangle Dairy Queen celebrated its 11th annual Miracle Treat Day, an annual nationwide fundraiser that supports more than 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across North America. On Miracle Treat Day, proceeds from Blizzard purchases at Triangle Dairy Queen locations were donated to Duke Children’s Hospital where they will be used for research, care and support programs for children and their families.
But Triangle Dairy Queen owner, Andy Valkanoff, couldn’t stop there. He took a road trip to Duke Children’s and spent the afternoon dishing out frozen treats to the children and staff at the hospital. One family said that Andy’s ice cream was the first thing their daughter had wanted to eat in days — a huge encouragement to them.
Throughout the past three years, Andy’s efforts 
alone have raised more than $120,000 to support Duke Children’s. Thank you, Andy, for serving and giving back to your community!
Check out some of the other fun shenanigans Andy is doing in the Triangle!
I thought Domino’s had stolen my heart when it launched the pizza tracker — complete with customizable themes. Themes, people! I’m fairly sure my pizza-per-day ratio skyrocketed just so I could watch that parrot squawk updates about my pepperoni-with-extra-cheese creation.
And all was right in the universe…until I discovered Eat24 by Yelp. Concept? Online food delivery. Price? A touch higher (to account for outsourced delivery fees, understandably). Copy? My new favorite.
Eat24’s website is proliferated with promotional phrases that tout the usual products for a website of its ilk (fast delivery, an easy app, reliable reviews). But the copy’s unexpected and playful nature combined with the punchy brevity transforms it from advertisement into entertainment.
Need help? Don’t bother calling anything so stodgy as a “customer service representative.” No, Eat24 employs “support ninjas.” I almost want to invent a problem just to find out what that phone call entails.
Once you submit that order, you’re normally hit with a “thanks, and we’ll get it to you shortly.” Not with Eat24. Your order sparks cosmic celebration.
Looking to download the Eat24 app? It’s not a gaming app, but after the copy’s humorous jab about the chopsticks, you don’t really care.
Just one more example how good, well-targeted writing never goes out of style! Check out some of Clairemont’s other favorite Copy Cat picks!
Still confused about Pokemon Go? Can it be a branding platform that lures customers to your business? We explored the basics and crafted tips to help you leverage this hot program in its early stages!
Looking for other tips on social media? Master Facebook’s Livestream for your restaurant!
Restauranteurs, chefs and culinary authorities have long debated the ultimate appeal of a meal. Especially with the rise of social media, photographers argue that you “eat with your eyes first.” Neuroscientists (or anyone who sat through fourth-grade science) insist that smell dictates flavors, and hence the allure of food is aroma-based. Some market research even suggests that the color of your flatware influences taste.
Beyond the basics of biology, food and hospitality experts add another, and perhaps more holistic, angle to the prism. Emotions.
Gallup research reveals that the primary influencer of repeat restaurant business is the service — how the employees and staff value the customer. Tom Colicchio, one of Bravo’s Top Chef judge, hones this concept further. It’s how customers are greeted immediately as they enter and exit the doors of your restaurant. Hospitality. Service. Ambience. Trust. This concept appears in restaurant vernacular under many banners.
So what gains repeat business? What makes a memorable meal? The truth may be closer to “D: All of the above,” a delicate blend of the physical sensations and emotional ambience rolled into some enigmatic “sixth sense.” Every element, from the ingredients and kitchen sounds to the energy and tempo of beverage service, colors the experience, and hence, every staff member plays a key role.
We needn’t remind hospitality professionals to invest in the holistic process of staff development. But as an extension of the team, PR experts also play a vital role in completing the picture when interacting with guests, influencers and staff beyond the restaurant’s four walls.
The experience doesn’t halt once the guest exits the front doors. Memories last, opinions gel, questions surface and social media often provides a ready mouthpiece for an ongoing relationship with diners. Here’s where your PR team needs to be integrated into your culture. Our expertise allows us to capture your voice and personality while providing efficient answers, addressing concerns and nurturing a sense of fun and play. Real people connecting with real people.
We also connect with groups that may not come to mind as an official audience, such as influencers, festival attendees, media and even our own social groups. Storytellers, relationship builders, friends, spokespersons — our role amplifies your personality beyond the walls of your dining room.
Since we have our fingers on the pulse of the restaurant industry, PR partners like Clairemont can provide valuable feedback and strategic council that stays in step with the ebb and flow of culture. Certainly, we can assess overt forms of feedback, such as Yelp and blogger posts, restaurant reviews and Facebook messages. We also stay abreast of current trends and proffer fresh tactics to highlight the restaurant’s distinct offerings.
But what about the subtle tones? The conversation (or lack thereof) on Instagram or the “word on the street” among unofficial culinary thought leaders? Our relationships with these circles provide valuable insight into the prominent vibe and enable us to offer direction to our clients.
Of course, the “in and out” verbiage might suggest that restaurant PR and marketing is akin to a two-way street. Arguably, the process is far more cyclical and fluid, more like the Disney World’s Mad Tea Party ride than unidirectional traffic. But with 24-hour news as the norm, the role of PR is all the more important — a constant extension of the team’s eyes, ears and voice to communicate messages and foster relationships on your behalf.
Want to know what else a PR agency does? Oh, we throw cheese parties and pitch top chefs — all fun and effective and all in a day’s work!
