CREATIVE ; A round-up of news from the region's creative sector in the past week [Birmingham Post (England)]

(Birmingham Post (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) WPR lands tennis deal The Aegon Classic, one of the leading tournaments on the WTA Tour , has appointed Edgbaston-based PR agency WPR to support its promotion.

The brief for the event, now in its 32nd year of presenting world- class tennis in Birmingham, is to help it as one of the region's 'must attend' social and business events in Birmingham and the Midlands this summer.

The agency will create and deliver a campaign to raise awareness of the tournament in both 2013 and 2014. The campaign, which will involve various promotional activities and some wellknown faces - using traditional and digital media channels - will be designed to increase the profile and awareness of the Aegon Classic both regionally and nationally.

The agency has also been tasked with driving ticket sales to the week-long event, which will run from June 10 to 16, at the Edgbaston Priory Club (EPC), and is handily positioned just five minutes from Birmingham City Centre. Tickets to the event will go on sale from March 4. The club is also currently undergoing a multi-million pound redevelopment including a new 2,000 seat sunken show court which will see its first play at this year's tournament.

Lawrence Robertson, commercial director at the LTA, said: "The Aegon Classic has a long history in the city of Birmingham.

Yet, whilst we have been in the city for over 30 years, many of the city's residents are still unaware of the significance of this event for players in their preparations for Wimbledon. We are looking forward to working with WPR to help us further raise awareness of this event and establish it as one of the region's great social occasions." Jane Ainsworth, managing director of WPR, added: "We're incredibly excited by this appointment. The Aegon Classic is a dream account for us and is a great opportunity for all of us to help the LTA grow the event's awareness across the Midlands. We look forward to working closely with the team at the LTA in helping achieve this goal together." The appointment follows the announcement that the LTA and WTA plan on upgrading the Aegon Classic to a WTA Premier 600 event in 2014, which will see even more of the world's top female tennis players competing in Edgbaston.

Firms work together on app Communications agency drpgroup's team has been working with Kerrang! Radio, the Birmingham-based national rock music station, to develop a quiz app for rock music aficionados.

The Kerrang! Radio Rock Quiz was launched in the iTunes store this week. It allows quiz fans to test their knowledge on some tricky rock questions and register their scores on a global leader board to see how they may compare to other rock music fans around the world.

The Kerrang! Radio Rock Quiz will test the player's knowledge through a series of multiple choice rock trivia questions. Each round consists of five questions and the game kindly arms you with three 'pass' options, allowing you to swap out a really tough question.

The quiz also includes audio and video content from Kerrang! Radio presenters, as well as audio clips from well-known rock bands in a special interview audio round, enhancing the experience for fans.

Ben Wallace, drpdigitalmedia director, said: "We've made a number of interesting game applications for smartphone devices over the past few years and this one is no exception. We felt that with this type of app, it was important to include a high level of social media interactivity so people can share in a sense of competition across their chosen platforms. "It was also important for us to get the look and feel of the app exactly right. Working with such an iconic music brand as Kerrang! Radio, it was important that we gave fans of the radio station and magazine another channel of interaction with the brand that was seamless." The Kerrang! Radio Rock Quiz is available to download from the iTunes store here or via your iPhone handset's app store. The quiz will be constantly updated with new trivia to keep the app fresh and exciting each time you return to it.

Bridge wins deal Coventry firm Bridge PR has begun working with newly-created machine tool brand Baker and will be supporting the company on its digital marketing throughout the year.

The deal will see Baker take to social media for the first time as it unveils its latest new product to manufacturers worldwide. Officially unveiled in spring 2013, Bridge will help Baker to raise awareness of the product's launch, revealing more details about the product through social media as the launch date becomes closer.

Phil Baker said: "Bridge PR came to us as a company with a proven track record in social media and digital marketing and are going to be useful in helping us to launch our latest product. Their knowledge of the manufacturing industry means that they know how we can reach out to manufacturing companies worldwide to help market our product and our brand to the right people." Bridge will be supporting Baker with social media activity and training, helping the company to establish a presence on social networking platforms.

Cloggs account win Full service agency, Big Cat Group has been appointed to work with international shoe retailer Cloggs to help the firm boost brand awareness and sales of the Cloggs' Everyday range.

Cloggs have been trading since 1998 and turns over Pounds 12.7 million with a team of four directors in their Midland head office. The firm is looking to develop and enhance their Everyday range, which looks to incorporate their customers' favourite styles at value prices.

Big Cat has been chosen following a competitive three way pitch. The firm already works with Hugo Boss, Topman, L'Oreal, Mars, Tails and Birmingham City Council.

Chris Thomas, managing director at Cloggs, said: "I am greatly looking forward to working with Big Cat Group. After delivering an impressive pitch they have demonstrated some brilliant plans which I know will help drive the expansion of our Everyday range forward." Nick Morgan, chief executive of Big Cat Group, said: "We are very excited to start our working relationship with this international online retailer.

"We believe that our experience in all that's online and digital will help us to create a fully integrated marketing and communications strategy for Cloggs.

"We also fully intend to leverage our expertise in social media, design, PR, events and advertising for the client to help further develop the Cloggs brand internationally and increase online sales." Washing firm chooses PR One of the UK's biggest vehicle washing operations has appointed Lichfieldbased Ian Strachan Communications to handle its press relations.

Victor Valet in Kingsbury Road, Curdworth has brought Ian Strachan Communications on board to raise its profile as it approaches its 10th birthday.

Victor Valet washes more than 500 vehicles a week, including trucks operated by some of the UK's best known companies.

Founder Christian Humpherston said: "We chose Ian Strachan Communications to raise the profile of our operation as we prepare to celebrate our 10th anniversary." Ian Strachan Communications was set up 13 years ago by Ian Strachan, formerly corporate affairs director at Birmingham commercial vehicle manufacturer LDV and corporate communications director at Rover Group.

Major clients include Mansell Construction and the Manufacturing Technology Centre.

Colleagues come together in new firm Two former colleagues from a Birmingham marketing and PR agency have joined forces to launch a social media consultancy.

Katie McDermott and Jane Whitehead have founded Katie & Jane to provide social media training through innovative online courses, face-to-face training and easy-going advice sessions.

The duo will offer basic, intermediate and advanced social media training for companies and brands to help them understand the basics and implement social media, achieving objectives and goals, and measuring and evaluating success.

Previously the team has managed the social media platforms and PR accounts for brands including Showcase Cinemas, AEG and Zanussi, carving out a social media offering which fused integrated PR and crisis management with creative and inspired social campaigns to build targeted and engaged social communities online.

Katie & Jane also provide social media evaluations having developed a customised method using a number of online sources to thoroughly analyse a brand presence on social.

The pair said, in a statement: "In most cases now social media is no longer an optional add-on so we want to help businesses to understand the 'social speak' and train them to use their platforms in a positive, innovative way." Design practice completes contract Green Room, the UK's fastest growing retail design and delivery practice, has completed an expansive interior design project for the global anti-aging company, Nu Skin.

The work on Nu Skin's new 'Spark Centre' on Poland Street in London, was officially unveiled on January 12 when the centre officially opened.

The Poland Street 'Spark Centre' occupies approximately 1,500 square feet and provides an all-in-one sales, training, meeting and conference facility. Green Room created a bright, contemporary and flexible space that allows Nu Skin distributors and their guests to meet in comfort and without distraction.

Taking inspiration from the Nu Skin brand, the design uses a pure palette of materials including wood, glass and stainless steel, along with a variety of furnishings and integrated AV equipment to provide a welcoming, professional and positive Nu Skin brand experience.

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