PDQ Archives - Clairemont Communications

It’s October – Are We Still Seeing Pink?

October 15, 2015July 15, 2022 Dana PhelpsBlog, Marketing, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PRACS, American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, cancer, NFL, PDQLeave a Comment

I’d venture to guess that is hard to find someone who doesn’t know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From pink bagels, to pink hotels to seeing the color on the field when you watch an NFL game during October, it seems that everywhere we turn this month, there is PINK! And with good reason. Consider these facts from The American Cancer Society:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About 1 in 8 (12 percent) of women in the United States alone will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. This year, approximately 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women, and about 60,290 new cases of non-invasive, early form breast cancer will be diagnosed. It is also estimated that more than 40,000 women will die in 2015 from breast cancer.

While recent years have brought criticism that too many companies are jumping on the bandwagon of supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month, if you’ve ever lost a loved one to breast cancer or even had a “scare,” I hope you will agree with me that the more help in raising funds and awareness, the better. I like to see when brands get creative and do something more than wear a pink shirt or display the pink ribbon.

Take PDQ for example. If you’ve previously read our blog, you might know that Clairemont Communications was PDQ’s public relations partner in North Carolina for an awareness campaign last year. Building on the restaurant’s partnership with National Breast Cancer Foundation in 2014, PDQ partnered this year with an artist from one of its local markets to design PDQ’s Shake Out Cancer t-shirts. The personal touch? The artist’s wife is a breast cancer survivor. Read more about PDQ’s support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the artist in this news release issued by the company:

PDQ TO PARTNER WITH NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION FOR MONTH OF OCTOBER

Proceeds from Sale of T-Shirts and Milkshakes to Benefit NBCF

TAMPA, FL (October 2015) – PDQ (People Dedicated to Quality) restaurants and National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.^®(NBCF) are joining forces again in 2015 to help raise money this October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the second consecutive year, PDQ will sell pink t-shirts in all of its restaurants and this year’s original design was created by South Florida artist Sergio (SURGE) Quinonez, whose wife, Adriana, is a breast cancer survivor.

Guests to PDQ can help raise needed funds in a few ways. Anyone can purchase a $6 PDQ “Shake Out Cancer” pink t-shirt and receive a free 14 oz. milkshake at the time of their t-shirt purchase. In addition, throughout the month of October, if the guest wears their pink PDQ t-shirt back into any PDQ restaurant, they will receive a free milkshake with the purchase of any combo meal.

A donation will be made to NBCF for every t-shirt and every milkshake purchased in October. In 2014, PDQ raised $23,000 for NBCF as part of its October initiative.

“We’re honored to partner with PDQ again this October,” said NBCF Co-Founder and CEO Janelle Hail. “The funds they raise will be used to help women both locally and nationally.”

“Collaborative efforts can help so many strong, amazing women fight this horrible disease,” said Quinonez. “I am proud to partner with PDQ and NBCF for this important initiative.”

“October is a very important month to help raise awareness and money for this disease that has affected so many women, including Adriana Quinonez,” said PDQ President Steve Erickson. “We are so appreciative of the work that NBCF does on a daily basis to assist in this fight.”

To find the nearest PDQ restaurant, visit www.eatPDQ.com/locations.

About National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.^®

Recognized as one of the leading breast cancer organizations in the world, NBCF’s mission is to help women now by providing help and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services. A recipient of Charity Navigator’s highest 4-star rating for 11 years, NBCF provides women Help for Today…Hope for Tomorrow® through its National Mammography Program, Beyond The Shock®, Early Detection Plan, and breast cancer research programs. For more information, please visit www.nbcf.org.

About the Shirt Designer – SURGE

South Florida resident Sergio (SURGE) Quinonez designed this year’s PDQ “Shake Out Cancer” t-shirt. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Miami, Urban Pop artist, Surge, has taken his bold, unmistakable style straight from his sketchbooks to the sun-stained streets of South Florida and beyond. Surge’s love for cartoons and brilliant colors, along with a passion for hip hop culture, has shaped his artistic identity. For more information, visit www.illsurge.com.

About PDQ

PDQ is a fast casual restaurant known for their hand-breaded chicken tenders, hand-tossed salads, made-to-order sandwiches, fresh-cut fries and hand-spun milkshakes with dine-in, drive thru or catering options. Outback Steakhouse co-founder Bob Basham and MVP Holdings CEO Nick Reader are the two principal owners of PDQ. The partners spent more than two years developing the concept behind the brand and quality of the food and establishments. On October 30, 2011, the original PDQ restaurant opened its doors in Tampa, Florida and the concept now has 46 locations throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. PDQ prides itself on delicious sandwiches and salads made with the finest ingredients and their 12 signature sauces and dressings are homemade every day on-site. PDQ stands out from other quick service restaurants by featuring an open kitchen, allowing guests to see the food preparation from start to finish. Restaurant Business Magazine recently named PDQ as the number one fastest growing small chain in America and Nation’s Restaurant News chose PDQ as a 2014 Hot Concepts recipient. All menu items are under $10 and combo meals start as low as $7.69. PDQ is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week with dine-in seating and a drive-thru. Catering is also available for events and carryout. For more information, visit www.eatPDQ.com.

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Clients Who Care: PDQ

December 19, 2014July 15, 2022 Dana PhelpsBlog, Case Studies, Clairemont Client News, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PRcharitable giving, chicken tenders, PDQ, PDQ Fresh, PDQ Fresh Food Fast, PDQ tenders, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, Restaurant PR, St. Petersburg PR, Tampa PRLeave a Comment

In the spirit of holiday giving, “Clients Who Care” is a blog series that recognizes some of the recent acts of kindness and caring demonstrated by Clairemont clients. We hope these stories inspire you to be charitable this holiday season and throughout 2015. Happy Holidays!

Having worked closely with PDQ throughout 2014, we know that it is a company that gives back to its communities on a regular basis, not just during the holidays. Charitable giving, school and community sponsorships and helping neighbors is part of PDQ’s culture. It has been an honor to assist in many community initiatives here in the Triangle for this Tampa-based, growing restaurant brand that’s actively engaged everywhere it has locations.

Last Friday, PDQ got involved in local toy drives in more than one location. PDQ Durham helped Sean Maroney and WNCN #stockthesled, while PDQs in Tampa participated in WILD 94.1‘s toy drive and PDQ St. Petersburg 102.5 The Bone. In each case, PDQ asked the radio stations, “What do you need?” In Durham, the answer was to meet the goal of 1,000 toys as the end of the drive was quickly approaching. PDQ team members and their families went shopping at 9 p.m. and helped WNCN exceed its goal! Similarly, Orlando from WILD 94.1 said they needed bikes. PDQ delivered bikes! In St. Pete, 102.5 needed toys and food for its volunteers. PDQ delivered its famous hand-breaded chicken tenders for everyone onsite and donated $500 in toys.

We admire our clients at PDQ for their dedication to helping good causes and for their ability to move quickly when community organizations have immediate needs. Our holiday hats are off to you, PDQ!

Surprise & Delight: Le Meridien Tampa

July 2, 2014July 15, 2022 Dana PhelpsBlog, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PRCustomer Service, Le Meridien, PDQ, PR, PR Agency, Restaurant PR, Starwood, Starwood Preferred Guest, Tampa1 Comment

Last week I had the pleasure of returning to Tampa to visit again with our clients at the PDQ (People Dedicated to Quality) corporate office. As our local PDQ restaurants wrapped up their rounds of the company’s annual employee shake competition, I was excited to get to Tampa to hear what “our stores” in North Carolina are up against in the way of competition from the other PDQ locations. Check out the coverage our Clairemont team secured to learn more about PDQ’s shake contest: N&O, Cary Magazine, WRAL Out and About, Fayetteville Observer and Durham Magazine.

Since we started working with PDQ earlier this year, there have been more shake breaks in our office than we probably want to admit. My point is, I can get distracted by one shake… like the current feature shake, Key Lime Pie. See, I just did it. I got distracted. So can you imagine how hard it is for me to focus when I’m thinking about 20+ shake flavors?!? Maybe that’s why I didn’t notice that the Le Meridien in Tampa only been open for few hours when I booked my reservation through the Starwood Preferred Guest website. That’s right. a few hours.

There was something really fun about walking into a grand opening you weren’t expecting. Especially since we plan so many grand openings for our clients, it was interesting to see it unfold from a guest perspective. I learned upon check-in that I was there on the hotel’s second day, and while I had only booked one night (due to not yet knowing if the location was convenient to my meetings for the coming days) after seeing how beautiful this hotel was and receiving such excellent client service, I extended my reservation. I’m so happy I did! Here are the stand-outs that will make Le Meridien my first choice anytime I’m in Tampa:

Friendly, helpful, passionate staff. WOW these people. Sure, it might be easy to be excited during the opening, but I suspect that when I visit again later this month and the months to follow, it will be the same experience. From the woman who so warmly greeted me at check-in (the only name I didn’t get – next time!) to Jason Lutrell (recent PR grad – congrats!) answering my many questions and expertly fixing one tiny thing that wasn’t 100 percent perfect to the beautiful and friendly Colleen at the bar, the service was excellent. At checkout, Evanlee said she liked my usage of the word stow instead of store. Before our conversation ended, I was off to a business extravaganza instead of a normal ole business meeting — what a fun start to my day! But I wasn’t out the door until Julius made me the most delicious chocolate hazelnut latte and seemed truly disappointed when my answer to his, “And will I see you again tomorrow morning?” was no.
Community partnerships. My room key doubled as a ticket good for free admission to the Tampa Museum of Art. I loved learning that as I was checking into the hotel. I also noticed that photos of the nearby Tampa Theatre joined photography of other lovely architectural details from around the city to complete the room decor. This beautiful photography is by artist Amy Martz. I love an organization that supports its local arts scene.
Conveniences for the business traveler. I’m on the road a lot for work, and I’m always surprised when my hotel room doesn’t have enough outlets or outlets in the right places. I loved the bedside tables that had pop-up charging stations with a regular outlet and a USB outlet, in addition to the ones at the desk. My MacBook and iPhone stayed well charged my entire stay. I also loved the baskets in the closets that facilitated quick unpacking and organization while allowing me to being able to build a day’s outfit at a glance instead of rummaging through drawers.
It is simply beautiful. I intentionally saved this for last because it is the most obvious cool factor if you have seen or read anything about the hotel. I had not, so it was a huge delight for me, a lover of historic buildings and the kind of architecture typically only found in old downtown areas. Le Meridien Tampa is housed in a former U.S. Federal Courthouse. It is absolutely stunning! Get a virtual tour through the hotel’s Facebook page.

A chance meeting with the hotel’s general manager, Brent Scarbro, was delightful. I commented that as a PR person, the opening seemed to be seamless and a huge success. I suspect Brent, a Starwood veteran, was being humble when he gave the credit to the building’s history, his staff and the marketing efforts of the corporate Starwood team based on the resulting news coverage. Extra credit for the creative PR move to get the former judges who once worked in this building to be part of the VIP tours — awesome media angle! Check it out below, and join me in congratulating Brent and his team. And when you are in Tampa, now you know where to stay.

Courthouse transformed into elegant hotel

Tbo.com – ‎Jun 11, 2014‎

The Le Meridien also joins a growing pack of new hotels in downtown Tampa, not to mention several new or renovated hotels in the Westshore area geared to business travelers. The Epicurean hotel opened on South Howard Avenue last autumn, focused …

First looks at Tampa’s Le Meridien Hotel, a federal courthouse reborn

Tampa Bay Business Journal – ‎Jun 11, 2014‎

First looks at Tampa’s Le Meridien Hotel, a federal courthouse reborn. of; 35. IMG 4699. The signage against blue downtown skies makes for some nice facade treatments. The hotel is slated to open June 16 with 130 guest rooms. Alexis Muellner/Tampa Bay …

Bizou to provide ‘approachable’ French-themed dining at Le Méridien

Tampa Bay Business Journal – ‎Jun 12, 2014‎

The front steps of the former federal courthouse on Florida Avenue take visitors directly to Bizou Brasserie and Longitude Bar, the restaurant operations of upcoming Le Méridien hotel in downtown Tampa. The restaurant will play a key role in the success of …

Old Tampa courthouse transformed into new hotel

Bay News 9 – ‎Jun 11, 2014‎

From the outside, the old courthouse in downtown Tampa really doesn’t look much different. But step inside and the 109-year-old building on North Florida Avenue has been transformed. The old courthouse is now the Le Meridien Hotel. “I couldn’t be more …

Photos: A new life for a long-abandoned courthouse

MyFox Tampa Bay – ‎Jun 11, 2014‎

Tampa’s long-abandoned old Federal Courthouse just finished quite the makeover. On Wednesday, developers of Le Meridien Tampa unveiled their new 130-room boutique hotel, which is housed inside the old Tampa landmark. MORE PHOTOS: Click here …

Keep Calm and Communicate

February 17, 2014July 15, 2022 Dana PhelpsBlog, In Our Community, Public RelationsCarolina Theatre, downtown Raleigh, Marriott, PDQ, snowstorm, Triangle Business Journal2 Comments

As I sat around the conference table with fellow Raleigh public relations professionals for our NCPRSA board meeting on Wednesday, the snow began falling and whirling and swirling outside the windows. Thirty minutes earlier, I had boldly proclaimed to my team that I just didn’t believe “it” was going to happen. (But I packed a bag just in case that morning.)

Getting a room of PR people to abruptly end a discussion is no easy task, but one that was done when we were told under no uncertain terms that the building was closing. Our cars were covered and the lanes of the streets were no longer distinguishable by the time we got to the parking lot. That didn’t stop us from doing what everyone else did at that exact time — attempt to make a break for it! Yes, we all knew what happened in Atlanta earlier in the month, but that didn’t stop us from rushing to the safety of our own homes, needing to pick up our children or succumbing to the panic of a milk and bread shortage.

I had to make a game-time decision between joining my family at home or returning to The Clairemont House, knowing that my choice would determine where I would likely be “stuck” for the following days. With a scheduled dinner with out-of-town clients staying near the office, I decided to head downtown. Hey, one of them is Canadian, and I knew she’d never let me live it down if I cancelled over a couple of snowflakes! So, after it took 2.5 hours to drive 10 miles, I put my car in park (at the office for the next three days) and myself in observation mode. I knew it was about to get interesting.

The snow continued, businesses closed and fiery traffic accidents became the topic of national news. Most of the restaurants had closed, and we altered our dinner plans. I marveled at the most quiet downtown Raleigh scene on my walk to the Marriott to join our clients. With few choices, we decided to dine there. Enter smart communications observation #1.

The lobby, bar and restaurant of the Marriott became a makeshift home of winter storm hostages. Our clients included people from around the country, as well as a local who couldn’t make it home. Our fellow refugees shared similar stories. Some had cancelled flights. Some didn’t get out of their downtown offices soon enough. While many embraced the spontaneity like schoolkids on a snow day, for others, tensions ran high. For Raleigh Marriott City Center, it now had to figure out how to service a sudden surge in guest numbers with a short staff.

The hotel rose to the challenge. As soon as we nabbed an open table in the bar area, the server let us know that if we planned to order food, they were working on a limited menu due to being understaffed, and she listed the four or five items available. She was friendly and direct. She let us know right away before we looked at the regular menu and got our hearts set on something we couldn’t have. The beauty of this simple and clear verbal communication was reinforced by the customer service actions all around us. The suited manager was busing tables. The always-smiling bartender had been there since the morning shift. I never saw a Marriott staff member look frustrated, nor did I hear anyone complain.

Across the Triangle the next night, Carolina Theatre decided the show must go on despite the fact that the weather kept many ticket-holders glued to the local news instead of enjoying a live performance by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. After much criticism for this decision involving the upholding of its refunds policy, enter smart communications observation #2. Theatre management issued a statement on its blog called, A Letter to Angry Fans Concerning the Weather.

Having worked at a performing arts center early in my career, I understand that you simply can’t reschedule a stop on national tour. I’ve also found that people who work in arts organizations typically do it as a labor of love for the arts and the community. The letter reminds readers that the target of angry and threatening comments, which can be expressed through impersonal, online channels, are people. People who are most likely hardworking, community-supporting neighbors. Extra kudos to Carolina Theatre for continuing to evaluate the feedback (despite the harshness) and respond by offering tickets to an upcoming show.

The snow began to melt on Friday morning. Having been away from home since Wednesday morning, I was busy trying to wrap up work for the week when smart communications observation #3 was delivered to my inbox. A letter from Triangle Business Journal’s publisher, Bryan Hamilton, let me know that this week’s print edition was coming, albeit a little late. In addition to really admiring the tone of the note below, I think it conveys that the TBJ staff really tried to make it happen. And when they knew it was time to accept defeat, they shifted gears to anticipating their customers’ questions of when will I get it and what can I do in the meantime? Providing instructions on how to get the content online was absolutely brilliant, and I received this email before I would have typically received the print edition on my doorstep, leaving no time to even ask the question, “Where is my TBJ?”

Bravo, Marriott! Bravo, Carolina Theatre! Bravo, Triangle Business Journal! Also, my hat is off to the NC State students who helped stranded motorists, our local news crews who worked around the clock to provide updates, our fire/police/emergency responders, Clairemont client PDQ for delivering free food to those stranded and those helping others, and the Thursday lunch staff at The Raleigh Times (who might have also been the dinner staff and the late night staff) for embracing the “we can’t go anywhere, we might as well drink beer” mentality of its wall-to-wall patrons who had very few choices of open places in downtown Raleigh.