Author: Jasmin Sessoms

Real Estate: Trends to Watch in 2015

Jasmin SessomsBlog, Real Estate PR, , ,

The future of home design is looking more and more well-organized, compact and personalized. At Clairemont, we love our real estate clients, and we are well versed in master planned communities as well as the industry’s leading developers. Whether you are buying new or looking to spruce up your old home, here are a few tips from the team that we are watching as the hot trends for real estate in 2015.

Freestanding Tubs: Imagine the luxurious amenities of a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own home. Now, you can dip into your own freestanding tub after a long day at the office. Although they may evoke mental images of the Victorian age, the newest designs from companies like Kohler show modern twists to an age-old idea.

Heated Floors: Stepping out of a warm shower onto the cold tile bathroom floor is a thing of the past. Heat your bathroom floors and bask in the warmth and the comfort of your bathroom. Not only does radiant floor heating keep your feet warm, but it also ensures that the rest of your body will be toasty as well.

Open spaces: An open floor plan may feel like old news, but it’s proving to be a trend that is here to stay. Homeowners are knocking down barrier walls in their homes to offer larger spaces. Airy living rooms and open kitchens are all the rage for 2015.

Charging Stations: In this day and age, we are lost without our smart devices. With the size of our electronic devices shrinking and the huge explosion of Wi-Fi, the need for a separate home office is diminishing by the minute. Homeowners are seeking spaces for charging their devices conveniently all around their homes. The new trend: wall outlets that are catered to Apple chargers and Android devices alike. Change the way you think about sockets and outlets and have your home almost ready for the Jetsons.

Outdoor living: Private dog washing stations, outdoor showers and hot tubs are all trends exploding for 2015. Families are flocking to the idea of taking the living room outdoors and outfitting patios and porches by enhancing and utilizing the natural exterior space.

What new trend will you use to spruce up your home? What are some features that you can’t live without?

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Bob the House- Real Estate

Jasmin SessomsBlog, Raleigh PR Agency, Real Estate PR, , ,

On Twitter, I discovered a house named Bob.

Yes, a house. In a family-friendly neighborhood close to schools and shopping. He hates to say it, but he’s cheap and easy. That’s not a joke. Bob is an actual house.

My twitter search led me to an attention-grabbing source. Personalized tweets from the voice of the house itself. Yes, a house that tweets. Well, the house doesn’t tweet on its own. The inventive real estate agent sends out specialized tweets on a regular basis on the home’s features, family members and neighboring homes.

Rather than making an overt sales pitch, Bob subtly mentions things that paint a picture, enticing you to buy. Have you ever wondered how real estate agents perfect their craft? How do they stay relevant with social media constantly changing the industry?

Not only can you read about Bob’s features, but you can enjoy picturesque photographs of every detail inside. He shares pictures of himself, his basement/den, dining room and other areas that allow the more educated buyer to fall in love with him even before stepping foot inside for a showing.By personifying the house with cleaver tweets, he is also highlighting the key selling points of the house.

As PR and marketing gurus, we love finding and creating campaigns that have the power to differentiate a brand from its competitors. We like Bob as a creative tactic. How about you?

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What does a PR Agency Do? LEKKER Bikes

Jasmin SessomsBlog, Case Studies, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , 2 Comments on What does a PR Agency Do? LEKKER Bikes

Client: LEKKER Bikes US

Objectives: In 2014, LEKKER Bikes US became the first American distributer of LEKKER bikes, Dutch-inspired bicycles originally established in Amsterdam and later sold in Australia. LEKKER Bikes US retained Clairemont Communications to research the U.S. cycling market, capture the public’s attention and craft a dynamic event to introduce this custom-designed cruiser to the American audience.

Execution: To maximize online and in-person engagement with LEKKER’s target audience, Clairemont focused its efforts for “LEKKER Bike’s First 24 Hours in America” in the following areas:

24-Hour City Tour: LEKKER’s debut event introduced the first LEKKER bike in the U.S. by positioning it as a celebrity during its first day in America. During the 24 hours of festivities, the LEKKER bike made stops at nine local hot spots throughout Greensboro. Clairemont strategically planned the event in tandem with First Friday—one of Greensboro’s most popular community events—to maximize visibility.

Media Outreach: We targeted each news outlet with hyper-individualized pitches, highlighting the nontraditional 24-hour aspect of the event. Clairemont secured local TV anchors to host the bike as the first appearance of the day and live-tweet an inaugural ride on the morning show.

Social Media Campaign: Clairemont established LEKKER’s online presence and engaged its target audience on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Pre-established relationships on social media paid off as local organizations spread the word through Twitter and Facebook.

V.I.P. Reception and Community Outreach: Clairemont hosted a special V.I.P. reception during the 24-hour event at a local restaurant for community leaders, biking experts, media and bloggers to increase in-person interaction with the bike.

Website and Print Collateral: We carefully crafted SEO-friendly content—key messages, company history, mission statement, product descriptions and photography—to showcase LEKKER’s custom quality and accessible style. Additional collateral featured eye-catching photography and easy calls to action; Clairemont designed and distributed these materials during the event to attract and secure new leads for future sales.

Onsite Support: The Clairemont team worked around the clock for 24 hours to escort the bike between locations, distribute information, encourage interaction and live post the bike’s adventures on social media.

Results: Our efforts landed the bike on stage with a nationally renowned bluegrass band, at a pub party and in a four-star hotel where the chef honored the bike with its own signature cocktail. With the goal of only four stories, Clairemont secured a total of five media stories, one in every key outlet in the market. The event produced five blog posts and more than 100 social media posts to at least 285,000 followers, a result that exceeded the goal by more than 300 percent. Through the 24-hour event, more than 350 individuals encountered or interacted with the bike, including 30 community influencers that attended the V.I.P. reception, also exceeding our goal.

Our team agrees that this was one of our most fun assignments in 2014. The LEKKER bikes are beautifully designed, and we loved introducing it to everyone from potential buyers to members of the media to fashion bloggers who saw the bike as a hot summer accessory! Thank you Will at LEKKER Bikes US for letting us be part of bringing LEKKER to North America!

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Trends Tuesday- Triangle DQ

Jasmin SessomsBlog, The Clairemont Team, Trends, , ,

Everyone has their own way to decompress after a long week. Although I love to pamper myself with a tranquil massage or veg out on the couch for never-ending Lifetime movies, I discovered this past weekend that a quick stop to Triangle Dairy Queen satisfied my sweet tooth and had me smiling the rest of the day. Since Triangle DQ is one of our esteemed clients, I know the Blizzard menu like the back of my hand.

So what’s so prodigious about Triangle DQ you ask? For me, I love knowing there is always a new Blizzard waiting for me as soon as I step into the door. Leave the classic Neapolitan flavors behind as you bask in the glory of the Salted Caramel Truffle Blizzard of the Month. If salted caramel truffles, buttery toffee pieces, choco chunks and rich cocoa fudge – just to name a few options – aren’t enticing you into a Triangle DQ store, the new DQ Bakes items are sure to do the trick.

I was ecstatic to hear about the new menu options DQ would be introducing and the opportunity to try them out for myself. DQ Bakes is a new line that features artisan sandwiches, snack melts and deserts a la mode. If you are already in love with the traditional menu items, the new additions to the menu take your taste buds to a whole different level.

Did I mention that the Clairemont team got a VIP tasting of the new menu additions? The girls and I spent an entire lunch hour serving as official taste testers for the brand. Not only was the food delicious, but owner and operator Andy Valkanoff was one of the first in the state to offer the new menu.

But for me, the DQ treats are what are sure to keep me coming back for more. Create a special birthday with a custom DQ ice cream cake, make mom smile with a Blizzard after dinner. So this weekend, skip the massage and ditch the gym. I am sure that DQ will aid in a blissful weekend and if not, your next Blizzard is on me.

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Friday Five- The 5 P’s for Your Next job Interview

Jasmin SessomsBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Fashion, , , , ,

Congratulations! You’ll be graduating from college before you know it, and you’ll have the chance to astound the world with your knowledge, talents and abilities.

As a recent grad, you will face the interview stage–the nerve-wrecking interview stage. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by job interviews and even a little intimidated. Here are my five interview tips on how to make your ideas shine while making sure that the importance of appearance and first impressions aren’t forgotten.

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