Learning about new clients, their goals, objectives and business as we start working with them is one of the most exciting parts of what we do. But the reality of time constraints on the client’s part can often result in the start of a working relationship becoming a crammed session of briefings via internal documents and conference calls that doesn’t always result in an agency really getting a true understanding of a company or brand’s DNA. Fortunately, we have a solution. The best way to work with a PR agency is to treat them as a partner, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in your business. Your PR team needs to be as passionate about your brand as you, and that’s our approach and starting point when working with new clients. It’s vital to get under the skin and learn about every aspect of a new client’s business. Face time is important, but many agencies forget to meet the people outside of the marketing team. It’s key to meet everyone involved with the business, from those working in production and the experts behind brand development to the customers who buy a company’s brands. When we started working with Estrella Damm, a Mediterranean beer brewed at source, and so heavily influenced by its local culture, we believed it was imperative to visit Barcelona to see where the beer for this 140 year old brand was made and what inspired the brand’s voice. The full Estrella Damm account team from Richmond & Towers spent two days visiting the brewery, seeing the production line and meeting the team who ensure every bottle of Estrella Damm tastes the same as the last – a tough task when all ingredients are 100% natural and can be affected by seasonal weather changes. This was then followed by a tour around the city and the brand’s key on-trade accounts to see how local restaurants and bars showcased Estrella Damm. Lastly, we were taken to the historic family run factory Ceramica Cumella, where the unique Estrella Damm ceramic draught beer fonts are made. These fonts were designed by Martí Guixé, a world-renowned Catalan artist, and are individually handmade by ceramicist Antoni Cumella for restaurants and bars around the world (a process that takes seven days). Now with an improved understanding of the brand, culture and people, as an agency we’re better equipped to bring the Estrella Damm story to life. In fact, we’re fizzing with new ideas. What our experience really reinforces, though, is that there is nothing more important than understanding a client’s business and what shapes them. Passion for a brand is contagious and when you fully immerse yourself in a brand you can learn not only the key messages they want you to portray, but also the best way to shape them for the end audience. Taking this approach to working with a new client helps us to understand both a company and its brands, aiding us to create better solutions. It goes without saying that face to face interaction helps strengthen our relationships. And we also believe that time focused solely on a client’s brand, outside of the office and away from computer screens also allows us to show our dedication and enthusiasm for creating a positive start to work together – as partners.
Big news in the world of booze – The Grocer’s latest Focus on Beer & Cider report (29th March 2025) has landed, and it’s spilling some serious insights. The headline? Stout is making a bold comeback and cider is getting a premium glow up. Drinkers are getting more adventurous, chasing… Read more
In March 2023, Richmond & Towers proudly became the UK’s first 100% employee-owned, B Corp certified PR and social media agency. Achieving B Corp status was a further demonstration of our commitment to ethical and environmental business practices and social responsibility. Celebrating B Corp Month felt like an opportune moment… Read more
Snack bars are evolving – fast. While some brands are feeling the squeeze (cheers rising costs and HFSS regulations), others are proving that with the right mix of innovation, great taste and a strong brand story, there’s still massive room for growth. And we’re not just saying that – the… Read more
It’s fair to say that the impending withdrawal of Great Britain from the European Union has been one of the most talked about, incorrectly predicted and probably most misunderstood phenomena in recent memory (well, until America trumped us, anyway). Far from the doom and gloom foreseen by the economic elite following last June’s surprise referendum result, Britain is currently beating growth forecasts, defying the analysts to remain very much open for business. So what is the outlook for British brands? Well for those trading off the values and virtues of British quality, the outlook appears to be bright. Take Richmond Towers client Franklin & Sons, for example. The premium British tonics, mixers and soft drinks specialist is enjoying impressive growth both at home and abroad, having just entered its 30th international market. And Franklin & Sons is not the only quintessentially British brand reporting such success on both the domestic and exports front, either. Among others, luxury British stalwart Burberry is going from strength to strength here in the UK and abroad – with sales up 30% – while clothing and homeware retailer Cath Kidston – famed for its iconic British-inspired floral prints – is also among those companies continuing their rapid global expansion. Some may attribute the success of these brands to the devaluation of the pound, but there has to be more to it than that. And it’s important to note that the key qualities that link all these successful brands and business are product quality, innovation and exceptional craftsmanship, as well as their Britishness. For example, Franklin & Sons may continue to trade off its quintessential Britishness in a post-Brexit world, but it’s also the fact that brand uses only the finest, natural ingredients in its range of drinks (including Britain’s finest sugar beets) that makes the brand so attractive to a wider audience. In this way, those brands that combine a magic mix of Britishness and quality will continue to be the winners in our brave post-Brexit world.
Big news in the world of booze – The Grocer’s latest Focus on Beer & Cider report (29th March 2025) has landed, and it’s spilling some serious insights. The headline? Stout is making a bold comeback and cider is getting a premium glow up. Drinkers are getting more adventurous, chasing… Read more
In March 2023, Richmond & Towers proudly became the UK’s first 100% employee-owned, B Corp certified PR and social media agency. Achieving B Corp status was a further demonstration of our commitment to ethical and environmental business practices and social responsibility. Celebrating B Corp Month felt like an opportune moment… Read more
Snack bars are evolving – fast. While some brands are feeling the squeeze (cheers rising costs and HFSS regulations), others are proving that with the right mix of innovation, great taste and a strong brand story, there’s still massive room for growth. And we’re not just saying that – the… Read more