Category: Blog

When You Wish Upon a (Holiday) List

Kelli FletcherBlog, Marketing, Public Relations

These days there seems to be a wish list for everything. Nearly every online retailer I frequent (Amazon, Madewell, Nordstrom) has an easily clickable button for me to oh-so-conveniently add an item to my “wish list” instead of simply bypassing it altogether.

I shake my head as I admit it, but my wish list lists are embarrassingly long at each of the stores in my online shopping mall. And for what? To hold my “maybe” items in a safe place?

It wasn’t long ago when the term “wish list” meant one thing and one thing only to me: Christmas. Once upon a time, I got one chance once a year to create this SUPER IMPORTANT list and I didn’t have the luxury of messing it up with some “maybes.” I waited all year for the thick Sears catalog to hit my doorstep from which I would pick my dream toys.

While Sears reintroduced its once-famed catalog a few years ago, it barely caught on in today’s market dominated by millennials. The nostalgia was nice but the big-box department store seemed just too outdated to bounce back via that holiday book even with its effort to make it digital.

This year I was thrilled to see Amazon’s Ultimate Wish List hit my mailbox, mostly because I couldn’t wait to show it to my kids. Complete with a removable numbered list that encourages you to write down your wants, stickers to tag your favorite gifts and other little tips and surprises throughout, this wish book, created by everyone’s favorite retailer, somehow made looking at a catalog full of toys that you don’t actually have, fun. The perk for mom and dad? There’s a “How to shop” page right up front detailing how you can easily “Add to Cart,” “Scan & Shop” by using codes and/or purchase by asking Alexa.

It’s a brilliant thing, really, what Amazon did. They took an old concept and made it exciting again in a way that only an innovative, forward-thinking company can do: by making it better. This obviously had us thinking about how we can apply this same concept to our work. Whether it be a grand opening, anniversary party or unveiling a new idea, below are three ways you can make sure you get the most out of it.

  • Make it relevant – Will your concept satisfy a need in today’s world? Perhaps you’re offering a digital spin on an old idea. Or maybe you just want to hark back to the good ole days where every party didn’t require a hashtag, and offer a “digital detox” event. Either way, make sure it addresses a need or concern prominent in today’s times.
  • Make it simple – We never get tired of applying the KISS acronym. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here, just make it faster/prettier/bigger. Keep in mind that good ideas never really go bad, they just need to be tweaked with simple, updated details.
  • Make it fun – At the end of the day, girls (and guys) just want to have fun. Offering an interactive activity or anything that allows people to put their own spin on the situation offers people an opportunity for creativity and memorable moments.

Check out other ways we up the wow-factor for our clients.

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In The News: WakeMed Expands to Wendell

Clairemont InternBlog, Clairemont Client News, Real Estate PR, , , ,

Extra! Extra! Clairemont client Wendell Falls — one of the largest master-planned communities in the Triangle — is brimming with news and real estate growth! In addition to breaking ground on a new charter school, the community unveiled its newest commercial partner — WakeMed Healthcare & Hospitals. So once again, we at Clairemont had the privilege of sharing its story of exciting growth far and wide.

In the below article from the Triangle Business Journal, read all about WakeMed’s addition that will continue to transform East Wake County into a destination hub.

Triangle health system plans expansion into ‘vibrant’ community 

A Wake County health care provider plans to expand east of Raleigh following its purchase of 11 acres in the ongoing Wendell Falls development. 

WakeMed has announced its plans to build medical offices and health services facilities “with potential for future expansion” in Wendell. The organization acquired the land this month, paying $3.67 million for the 11 acres off Wendell Valley Boulevard. 

Wendell Falls is a master-planned community led by San Diego, California-based real estate company Newland Communities. The WakeMed property is situated in the phase of development known as The Collective – which will feature a mix of creative and professional office space, retail and hospitality. 

“As a vibrant, growing community, Wendell Falls offers a wonderful opportunity to expand WakeMed’s footprint,” said Debra Laughery, vice president of marketing and communications for WakeMed Health & Hospitals. “We look forward to bringing exceptional care and services to the residents and families of Wendell Falls and the surrounding area.”

Altogether, plans for Wendell Falls call for thousands of homes and millions of square feet of commercials space across thousands of acres in the eastern Wake County town.

“Since opening in 2015, more than 750 families have moved into Wendell Falls, a growth rate that is increasing every month,” said Dan Klausner, vice president of commercial real estate for Newland. “With 3,500 planned homes in Wendell Falls, quality health care will be a critical cornerstone, and we’re excited to partner with WakeMed to offer these services to our community.”

Wendell Falls is owned in a joint venture between Newland and North America Sekisui House, LLC (NASH), the U.S. business unit and a subsidiary of Sekisui House, LTD., Japan’s largest homebuilder.

The community is designed to be a walkable live-work-play area for residents and a retail and entertainment destination for those living in and around the community. 

The Wendell Falls development has seen multiple announcements in recent months.

In August, Cardinal Charter Academy of Cary announced a new location in the development. The school is expected to open by August 2020.

Cardinal will serve kindergarten through eighth grade, and developers hope it will be another incentive for residents to settle in the community east of Knightdale. Dan Klausner, director of development for Wendell Falls, previously said bringing high-quality education into the site was a necessity.

In September, Farmhouse Café opened its Wendell Falls community location to the public. The brainchild of Daniel Whittaker and Patrick Cowden, the co-owners of downtown Raleigh’s Pharmacy Café, began serving mixed dishes, salads and sandwiches in mid-September.

For WakeMed, the expansion into Wendell comes as the region’s health systems continue to compete for access to the Triangle’s growing population.

We love helping our clients tell their stories to the right audiences. Want to see how we can tell yours?

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News: Wendell Falls Welcomes New School

Cherith AndesBlog, Clairemont Client News, Real Estate PR, , ,

Shovels, hard hats … and a new start for education! Client Wendell Falls just broke ground on Cardinal Charter Academy, the first fully accredited charter school in East Wake County.

Located on-site at Wendell Falls in Wendell, North Carolina, Cardinal Charter Academy will be a tuition-free school for grades K-8 modeled after its flagship academy in Cary, North Carolina.

We loved working with both Wendell Falls and Cardinal Charter Academy to shape and share the story of their groundbreaking … and all it means for East Wake County. Check out this news segment from ABC 11!

What else is noteworthy about Cardinal Charter?

  • Enrichment Classes: As a rare 100-percent-accredited school, Cardinal Charter Academy at Wendell Falls will offer an individualized approach with enrichment classes, such as the arts and foreign languages.
  • Personalized Learning Plans That Increase Reading/Math Scores: Cardinal Charter Academy at Wendell Falls will implement technology as a fundamental tool and provide personalized learning plans that allow students to set, track and meet goals.
  • Cambridge International School Program: The flagship academy in Cary spearheaded the Cambridge International School status in Wake County as the first school east of Greensboro to be accepted into the program. Cardinal Charter Academy at Wendell Falls will also offer the Cambridge advanced course opportunity.

Congratulations to Wendell Falls and Cardinal Charter Academy!

We’ve done some other fun things with Wendell Falls to involve local media, including a square-dance competition. Check it out!

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Soccer PR: USWNT World Cup Win

Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, ,

I’m a soccer fan – more specifically, a U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) fan. So you can imagine, as the concluding whistle blew at the World Cup finals this summer and the USWNT paraded around the field in Lyon, France, I was watching from my home in Charlotte with tears of joy in my eyes. The beloved team I have ardently followed for the last six years won the greatest match in its sport.

With the lingering excitement from the USA win, I can’t help but think about how these soccer icons employed an unofficial – yet effective – PR strategy during the World Cup to support their own goal of securing equal pay in the industry. Through establishing relationships, understanding their audience and leveraging the tools and circumstances at hand, these pro-athletes fostered support and acceptance for equal pay activism.

Here’s how the USWNT made an impact in the PR game.

@kelleyohara

Social Media: Every day of the World Cup, the players were extremely active on social media. These interactions garnered excitement and attention, encouraged fellow players on match day and eventually gained worldwide engagement. Seeing the team not only post consistently but also intentionally interact with each other on social media platforms helped the nation to adore the friendships and camaraderie on the team. Bolstered by this bond with its fans, the USWNT effortlessly collected supporters to rally behind it on and off the field, even yielding “equal pay” chants after securing the final victory. 

The Power of Relationships: Due to the attention drawn to the wage conversation during the World Cup, USWNT sponsors willingly responded to the noise. Secret Deodorant, LUNA Nutrition Bars and other team sponsors donated money in an effort to help close the wage gap. Because of the positive relationships cultivated by the team, the sponsors made a statement of support, providing the team greater exposure, agency and acceptance. 

Press Coverage: The women knew the amount of news coverage they would get surrounding a World Cup win, so they took advantage of the opportunity. For example, the players weaved the topic of wage equality into post-match and post-win interviews. Players Carli Lloyd, Christen Press, Morgan Brian and other notables even sat down with then-CBS News Correspondent Norah O’Donnell to discuss their next steps in spurring the end to wage inequality in their sport.

With a win, the team more powerfully leveraged its position in the media’s presence to earn circulation of its equal pay message. The country that so faithfully supports the team’s on-the-field effort has now rallied behind its message of equality.

I love soccer and PR. Check out my introduction blog to learn a little more about me!

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Hop to it! The Power of Positivity

Kelli FletcherBlog, Inspirational, Professional Development

Last month, I ventured outside of #DTR (gasp!) to Durham for a workshop on positivity. The condensed program, hosted by Don Sandal of GoPositiv, was designed to promote happiness, positivity and optimism in the workplace, ultimately leading to higher performance.

I sat amongst 20+ other individuals who came to seek out the science behind what Don coined the “HOP (Happy, Optimistic, Positive) Mindset” and learn how to achieve it for ourselves. The change, Don insisted, begins with intention and continues with commitment. Four hours later, I left the workshop feeling refreshed and ready to implement some of the practices Don walked through in an effort to establish and build my personal HOP Mindset. While there’s a number of factors that can contribute to your positive position, here are three takeaways I found most valuable and have been putting into practice the last few weeks:

Gratitude Activity

I kick off each week with #GoalsandGratitude, listing three “goals” for the week followed by three “gratitudes” – things for which I’m thankful. My goals are simple. I want to meet them so I’m realistic. They include daily time entry at work or doing laundry before Friday. I’ve found that writing my goals down gives them power. Listing my gratitudes has become my favorite part. It allows me to pause and ponder what I’m truly grateful for in that moment. The list almost always includes a person in my life and a memory from the weekend. This small practice sets positive intentions for the week and lifts my mood instantly.

Acts of Kindness

I like to live by the mantra “live and help live.” We’re all just here trying to do our best, don’t you think? And sometimes, when we can’t be our best selves, we need a little help. Life is busy, but when I can, I try to look around – at the grocery store, in my neighborhood, at work – to see how I can help. Sometimes I pick up trash along the route of my jog. Sometimes I offer to watch my friend’s kid so she can run errands. When someone helps me, I’m surprised and thankful. When I help someone else, I feel proud and just plain good.

Reframe Negative Thoughts

For me, this has been the hardest, and I consider myself a positive person! Instead of letting a negative individual or situation snap me into a negative state, I work on reframing my view and finding a way to see the positive light. Reframing my negative thoughts takes some consistent practice, and it’s something I’ve far from perfected. But the days, weeks, months and beyond are a lot more fun when I don’t let my negative flurries snowball into a heap of worry.

If this all sounds simple, good. It should! However, retraining your brain to approach things in a positive light is actually harder than you think. It takes time and, even more, intention to not respond to negativity with … negativity. But it’s worth the practice. Because ultimately, achieving the HOP mindset places you at a competitive advantage not just in life but in the workplace, too. Instead of just identifying problems, you’ll be able to see solutions and offer strong, successful suggestions to colleagues and clients.

Want more tips on how to be more productive at work and in the PR field? Check out the Professional Development section of our blog!

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