Jan212010
Laura McAliley
Some recent HM&P work for Georgia-Pacific Professional includes an online teaching tool to help kindergarten and
first grade students learn the proper way to wash their hands. The Art of Washing Hands site (www.ArtOfWashingHands.com) is part of Georgia-Pacific Professional’s effort to improve hand washing practices across the country – and HM&P is excited to help them spread the word.
In fact, the project extends beyond the site. Earlier this month, The Art Of Washing Hands materials were shipped to schools as an insert to Weekly Reader. (Yes, the same Weekly Reader we had as elementary students!) Last fall the free materials were offered to school nurses as well. Plus, Mo, Georgia-Pacific Professional’s VP of Hygiene and Chairman of Cool, has been promoting the program in schools. In fact, he visited one in The Villages, FL just yesterday.
A press release announcing the site and the program was launched this week. Check out this great coverage:
Mother Nature Network
USAToday.com
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Jul152009
Laura McAliley
Here’s a great social media story about customer service:
Dave Carroll and his band Sons of Maxwell are on tour. Dave checks his guitar, of course thinking that it should arrive safe – maybe late, but safe. Not exactly. In fact, a fellow passenger saw United Airlines employees throwing his guitar around on the tarmac. And, to boot, United Airlines refused to pay for the damage they caused. So, like any savvy musician these days, Dave and the Sons of Maxwell documented the customer service nightmare with a song and music video on YouTube.com: “United Breaks Guitars”
Here’s another example of how the internet is a key tool consumers use to let companies know when they mess up – royally. It’s proof that sites like YouTube.com offer a customers an outlet to air their grievances with others en masse.
Customer service is key; especially in a down economy. One bad experience can be easily shared with millions via the internet. And consumers are more savvy to online outlets than ever before. It is also an example of why businesses today monitor social networks and blogs so they can respond quickly, before an issue becomes viral. Keep in mind – the original video was posted just two days ago. After 48 hours it had nearly 1.5 million views.
United did respond to this video via twitter: “This has struck a chord w/ us and we’ve contacted him directly to make it right.” In fact, Dave Carroll created a second video to share how United reacted.
Oh, and Taylor Guitars has offered to replace the guitar – now that’s good customer service.
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Jul22009
Laura McAliley
Well actually, as the N&O reports, it’s tiny organisms. But, it looks like something out of a b-rate horror flick. Let’s hope it stays out of our pipes.
May82009
Laura McAliley
In order to stay healthy, its very important to wash your hands. That’s the message Georgia-Pacific Professional is sharing.
Today, the beginnings of an integrated campaign launched in USA Today with the tagline “It’s The New Chicken Soup”. Check out the ad below, Healthy Solutions web site and press release for information about proper hand washing techniques. Oh, and Mo is, of course, there to help.
Apr282009
Laura McAliley
Chuck Lorre shows are some of my favorite: Grace Under Fire, Dharma & Greg and The Big Bang Theory, arguably one of the wittiest shows on TV today. His smart comedy provides a running commentary of American culture and it’s substrates.
One of the best attributes of Lorre shows is the vanity cards that play at the end of each show. All individually numbered, they read like an essay and are a statement about society, culture, life… Lorre provides us a slightly cynical view of the world without overstatement.
The vanity card that followed last night’s The Big Bang Theory gives great insight into how our culture is shifting. Gone are the days of Murrow and Cronkite. Gone are the days when our news was delivered by calm voices of reason and objectivity. Good job Chuck Lorre – you called it like it is. We live is noisy world where every one yells at us – even the news.
Apr232009
Laura McAliley
This is a great story from Nightline on the impact of social media and how businesses are using the web to respond.
Caught On Tape – Nightline
Apr22009
Laura McAliley
Here at HM&P we love birthdays. At 3:30 on the third Thursday of the month, we are all eating cake and ice cream just like when we were kids. It’s Cake Day. (While the purpose of Cake Day is to celebrate the month’s birthdays – it’s really about eating cake. We get way too excited about it. And when it’s your birthday month you can give input on the type of cake. YAY!)
In the PR department, we go out of our way to show our fellow team members just how much we love them. Jessica Redman celebrated her birthday on Sunday March 29. And, she found a cheerful surprise in her office when she arrived on Monday (see photos below). Our ‘birthday presents’ – or office trashing escapades – brighten offices. They make us laugh. They fit our style.
The history of office trashing goes back to the early days of the PR department. I believe it was Stephanie Styons’ birthday. Imagine her surprise when she found her office full of cray paper, balloons, and a pile of birthday confetti. That was 2006. Today we have a bag of random birthday decorations and we often add to it.
Since then, we have learned a lesson or two about appropriate birthday office trashing practices. For instance, 12 rolls of toilet paper hung from the ceiling will make an office very warm in July. Then it’s not so fun.
But the number 1 rule is to always help the birthday guy or gal clean up the mess – and save the festive decor for the next birthday.
Happy Birthday Jess!
