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Tag: raleigh restaurant PR

What Does a PR Agency Do? DQ’s Miracle Treat Day

What Does a PR Agency Do? DQ’s Miracle Treat Day

February 8, 2018January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternAwards, Blog, Case Studiesaward winning PR, case study, PR Agency, raleigh restaurant PR, Restaurant PR, Triangle Dairy Queen

Triangle Dairy Queen has grown to be the largest DQ franchise in Wake County since Andy Valkanoff founded it in 2005. In 2016, Triangle Dairy Queen celebrated its 11th annual Miracle Treat Day as part of a 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 are donated to Duke Children’s Hospital for research, care and family support programs.

Strategy

Looking to drive traffic to Triangle DQ locations to raise funds on Miracle Treat Day, Andy turned to Clairemont Communications to create a media relations campaign. Our objectives were to build awareness of Miracle Treat Day and help drive traffic to Dairy Queen locations by securing media placements, community calendars posts and media and blogger coverage on social media. 

Fans visit Triangle Dairy Queen on Miracle Treat Day!

Execution

To drive traffic to Dairy Queen locations on Miracle Treat Day and raise money for Duke Children’s Hospital, Clairemont chose to craft a news release to share with

local media contacts. We recognized that a release would provide the most concise and efficient vehicle to communicate the full story of the event and maximize coverage opportunities to media and influencers – especially when partnered with targeted and personalized pitches. A release would also allow us to easily share the event on community calendars and news release sites to increase visibility and attract potential customers to the restaurants. 

Results

Clairemont surpassed its original objectives, securing leading media placements, including in our state’s most read paper, The News & Observer, and an exclusive feature story with our ABC TV affiliate. We also secured prominent posts on community calendars and across social media. Miracle Treat Day was a strong success for Triangle Dairy Queen and continues to be part of its ongoing legacy.

The work Clairemont Communications conducted in partnership with Triangle Dairy Queen won an Award of Excellence from the North Carolina Public Relations Society of America. It also won a Silver Award in PR Writing from the Raleigh Public Relations Society. We are proud that this campaign represents two of the 175 awards we’ve received since starting Clairemont in 2010.

To read more about the work we do with clients, please visit the case study section of our blog.

*Cover image courtesy of Dairy Queen.

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What Does a PR Agency Do? Vita Vite Creates “Raleigh’s Sunday Spot”

What Does a PR Agency Do? Vita Vite Creates “Raleigh’s Sunday Spot”

December 12, 2017January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternAwards, Blog, Case Studiescommunity events, increasing sales, PR Agency, PR Awards, PR case studies, raleigh restaurant PR, Restaurant PR, Vita Vite, what does a PR agency do

Two Decembers ago, Lindsay Rice opened Vita Vite, a wine bar and art gallery in downtown Raleigh’s warehouse district, and the concept quickly became a hotspot for locals to gather for a glass of wine after work or to sit by the fireplace on a date night. While Vita Vite attracted steady traffic throughout the week, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, the typical Sunday crowd was smaller. Clairemont Communications help designed a creative approach that would bolster the number of Sunday Funday guests at Vita Vite.

Strategy

Targeting downtown Raleigh businesses and residents, Clairemont devised an events-based campaign, leveraging Vita Vite’s event space to host fun happenings on Sundays and position the wine bar as “Raleigh’s Sunday Spot.” Clairemont’s goal was to increase guest traffic on Sundays by the end of 2016 by planning and executing community events that would attract at least 50 people on-site. We planned to share engaging content from these events as a part of a larger strategy to increase followership on Vita Vite’s Facebook page.

Execution

Since Vita Vita is located in a vibrant downtown location, Clairemont identified a ready-made audience all within walking distance of the wine bar’s front door. Our research revealed that downtown Raleigh residents enjoy exercise, value social activities (that include their pets) and believe strongly in supporting local businesses. As a result, Clairemont crafted an event series that creatively targeted each of these preferences. We decided to push the boundaries and combine several favorite activities into a few key events to “pack a punch.” The best part? The soirees would be just a short stroll from their own homes and businesses!

Sweat and Sip: To tap into the active lifestyle of this demographic, Clairemont partnered with Barre3, a popular Pilates studio, to host an exercise-meets-wine experience in Vita Vite’s event space. After class, participants received a complementary glass of wine, bubbly or beer to allow them to experience the wine bar and socialize with friends. The first Sweat and Sip filled to capacity and was such huge hit that we immediately planned additional events with other downtown Raleigh fitness studios, such as Core Power Yoga and Cirque de Vol. This event also gave Vita Vite a chance to showcase its large event space behind the main bar area. Many attendees commented that they were very impressed by the space and had no idea it was even there.

Pooches on the Porch: We let Vita Vite’s porch go to the dogs on Sundays –literally. Vita Vite partnered with Unleashed, a healthy minded pet store located nearby, to set up a treat table where guests and their dogs can create “doggie bags” of natural and organic snacks. Pet owners lounged on the porch with wine and took selfies in the pet photo booth with their pooches, and the dogs played with wine-shaped dog toys. We encouraged guests to share their puppy portraits on social media and tag Vita Vite to increase online reach and visibility.

Results

In direct correlation with our stated objectives above, we helped bring more people to Vita Vite on Sundays by planning and executing events that attracted approximately 100 people on-site. We were able to increase our Facebook followers by almost 200 percent, as well as engage additional followers when partners shared on their channels. Clairemont’s creative events program boosted business on Sundays, and Vita Vite continued to developed business relationships and gained new regular customers.

The work Clairemont Communications conducted in partnership with Vita Vite earned an Award of Excellence for Creative Tactics from the North Carolina Public Relations Society of America. It also won a Silver Award in Event Marketing from the Raleigh Public Relations Society. We are proud that this campaign represents one of the 175 awards we’ve received since starting Clairemont in 2010.

To read more about the work we do with clients, please visit the case study section of our blog.

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“Man-i-fy” Brunch for Father’s Day

“Man-i-fy” Brunch for Father’s Day

June 13, 2017January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, Clairemont Client News, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PRevent marketing, food events, food pr, raleigh restaurant PR, restaurant events, restaurant marketing, Restaurant PR

Dads are getting short-changed. Mother’s Day brunch is a no-brainer, but what about brunch for guys? 

Client Pizza La Stella is “man-i-fying brunch” for Father’s Day — featuring all the foods guys love. You’ve heard of “breakfast for dinner?” Pizza La Stella —  a Neapolitan-style restaurant in downtown Raleigh —  is serving “dinner for breakfast” and pizza for brunch. 

Ready to man up to the menu? Try…

“The Chicken and Waffles ‘Za” Pizza

Spike your pizza! This Italian take on the traditional southern dish (chicken and waffles) piles eggs, pancuitto and apple-wood chicken on a cinnamon and sugar dough — spiked with black pepper maple syrup.

Chicken Wings

Pizza La Stella transforms this typical tailgating treat into a brunch classic with proprietary flavors like Maple Black Pepper and Honey Habanero.

Edible Drinks and Drinkable Eats

Try drinks you eat (a skillet called Bloody Mary’s Revenge) and eats you drink (like a cocktail made with French Toast cereal). 

Courtesy of Dylan Wade Film

The menu — big, bold and bodaciously brunchy — is now available every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrate on Father’s Day and every weekend after that!

We love creative ways to celebrate traditional holidays with our clients. Check out some of the other “sweet” food events!

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What’s Tasty: 2016 Food Trends

What’s Tasty: 2016 Food Trends

December 23, 2015January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, Marketing, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PR2016 culinary trends, 2016 food trends, Food Trends, Raleigh food PR, raleigh restaurant PR

Hawaiian spam? Vinegar tea? As the Triangle continues to grow in culinary acclaim, you’ll likely see some of these food trends in our local restaurants next year.

Ethnic Cuisines

The survey is in, and next year’s palates will be craving flavors from afar — specifically African, Hawaiian and Middle Eastern cuisine. Condiments and garnishes with a spicy kick will take the spotlight. So, what if you’re an all-American grill? Don’t panic. Take this opportunity to showcase your restaurant’s existing distinct sauces, flavors and house specials to appeal to new diners.

Local Clucks and Moos

Already on the rise from 2015, local sourcing remains high on the list of 2016 culinary trends, specifically in reference to proteins. Many Triangle restaurants already adopt the farm-to-fork approach to cooking, evidenced by local initiatives such as the Farm-to-Fork Festival. But there’s always room to spotlight your fresher offerings, such as crisp produce and local seafood specials.

Quick and Easy

Even with the continued popularity of healthy eating trends, Americans still want the convenience of online ordering and quick delivery. Services such as 919Dine.com and GrubHub are predicted to see a spike in sales as costumers demand their favorite foods fast. Restaurants should take the opportunity to evaluate the creativity and convenience of mobile ordering, apps and text options, like Domino’s text ordering program that lets you request a delivery with a simple pizza emoji.

Sour, the New Sweet.

Bid farewell to sugary yogurt, and welcome savory flavors. Food Business News highlights the new “switchels” as an example, a health drink made with apple cider vinegar and ginger that might eclipse standard energy drinks. Highlight existing items that already lend themselves to a salty profile or try a new spin on restaurant stalwarts.

Clean Eats

Restaurants are combing their menus and ditching preservatives as well as salt, sugar and fat additives. The trend got an early start this year when Panera removed 150 ingredients – like maltodextrin – from its menu to what it dubbed its “no-no list.”  It’s time to explore fresh produce and chemical-free proteins.

And then there was that time that one of our Clairemont team members decided to start her own culinary movement of eating sand — which ended up being plate garnish. But until that becomes a bona fide trend, check out how to market existing dishes to millennial diners.

 

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Photo of the Week: Better with Bacon

Photo of the Week: Better with Bacon

December 18, 2015January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, Marketing, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PRbacon cocktail, bacon recipes, cocktail recipes, Italian cocktails, Italian cooking, raleigh restaurant PR, Restaurant PR, winter cocktail

Last week, we popped by Il Palio — Clairemont client and Chapel Hill’s AAA-rated Four Diamond regional Italian restaurant — to conduct a quick photo shoot. Armed with our trusty Canon, we nabbed images of everything from raspberry gelee to Italian caviare.

During the holidays, Il Palio offers its own twist on the classic Manhattan, dubbed “Old Smoky.” This winter cocktail features brown sugar smoked on Il Palio’s signature wood-fired grill and a garnish of — that’s right — candied bacon. Everything’s better with bacon, even your nightcap.

We love a good food photo. Check out this fun example of how to get a great shot!

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Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media platform? It’s called Threads, and it’s being referred to as “the new Twitter.” Read everything you need to know about Threads in our latest blog post - link in bio!
SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc (client) today, and rumor has it that @blah2voila has already been hamming it up with Dell! We know you want a selfie with Dell to post on Pigstagram, too!
We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of P We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of Public Relations Consultants Group, allowing us to offer clients expertise and support across the country! Clairemont founder, Dana Phelps aka @blah2voila, recently attended the PRCG conference in Oklahoma City.
2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Comm 2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Communications! Visit our blog for the full 2022 year in review!
As communications professionals, we wear a variety As communications professionals, we wear a variety of hats to meet our clients’ needs.
 
We’re writers, social media managers, photographers, marketers, editors, content creators- the list goes on and on.
 
Check out our recent blog post to learn what @olivia.noles , account coordinator here at Clairemont, does on a weekly and monthly basis.
#communicationsagency #communicationsmajor #pragencylife #pragency #raleighpr
This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voi This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voila , will be speaking at the 2022 @nc_prsa Strategic Communication & MarCom Conference! Phelps is a repeat presenter at this annual conference, and this year she is leading a session called Growing from Communication Technician to Strategic Counselor during which she will share three of her coined concepts: knowcasting, morecasting and collabolighthing. Visit our blog for the link to register for the conference!
@clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative g @clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative go together like the bacon and eggs! And speaking of bacon and eggs, have you been to @therainbowluncheonette yet? YUM!
Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc, a master-planned community just 15 miles from downtown Raleigh, will welcome @parksideraleigh, a Raleigh-favorite restaurant known for its fresh, made-from-scratch dishes, to the community!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Parkside.
“What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we “What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we get this question often, we have a series on our blog where we dive into our recent projects to give you a look at what a PR Agency really does.
 
For example, a statewide resource for small businesses recently hired Clairemont to devise an executive visibility campaign to help position the organization and its director as the leading small business resource in North Carolina.
 
Head to our blog to read what exactly an executive visibility campaign entails and to learn more about our services!
So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let us tell you about our new favorite @drink321coffee ! If you are in Raleigh, go see Paul, the other Paul, Emma  or whichever smiling faces are working today. We LOVE this place and the coffee! ❤️❤️❤️
Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest mas Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest master-planned communities in the Triangle, closed on its first age-eligible rental community plan, Arden at Wendell Falls, that will offer 140 open-concept units and exclusive onsite amenities!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Arden at Wendell Falls.
Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by client @vitaviteraleigh for good snacks and great wine!🍷 Both locations are open normal hours Friday-Sunday and closed on Monday.
You never know who might be hanging out at The Cla You never know who might be hanging out at The Clairemont House. Thanks to @yellowdogcreative for helping save this buddy. Notice that we speak lizard. Or skink. Or gecko or whatever he is. Or maybe it’s the extra caffeine before our client presentation.
Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh
Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting?
Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street South @raleighwineshop ! @blah2voila was there today representing Clairemont at the grand opening festivities and enjoying the @grandchamphospitality sandwich pop up. Yum! 🍷🥪
It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers ar It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers are needed more than ever! Many organizations with scarce resources rely on volunteers and would not exist without them. Visit our recent blog post to read about the organizations Clairemont has supported and how you can make a difference in your community!
Authenticity is trending, and research shows that Authenticity is trending, and research shows that consumers are 2.4 times more likely to view user-generated content as authentic. Read our recent blog post to learn about UGC, how it can benefit your brand and how to use it in your marketing strategy.
From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 has left an impact on every sector of life, including marketing. Read our blog on marketing in a post-COVID world to learn how things have changed and how that should impact your business strategy.
We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned eight awards, five gold🥇and three silver🥈, at this year's Sir Walter Raleigh Awards hosted by the Raleigh Public Relations Society!🎉 We are beyond grateful to work with so many amazing partners, clients and industry friends!
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