vox-popPRcareers

Forward PR is interviewing for London Fashion Week-focused work experience.

Successful candidates will be:

• Assisting with catwalk show preparations and execution.
• Engaging in frequent interaction with clients and liaising with local, national and international media outlets on behalf of clients.
• Coordinating production of press materials including press releases, client biographies, email correspondence, etc.
• Coordinating and preparing large mailings.

Applicants must:

• have exceptional communication skills (written and verbal) in English
• have exceptional organisational skills
• be able to work as part of a team
• be able to work under pressure
• understand varying media styles
• have basic professional office skills (phone answering, fax, copier, etc.)
• have a professional and enthusiastic attitude

Please email CVs and covering letters to Laura McCluskey: laura.mccluskey@forwardpr.com. Please quote vox-popPRcareers in your application as the source of the vacancy.

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Courtney Blackman is one of the preeminent women in fashion in the UK. The MD of boutique agency Forward PR and the co-founder of the Fashion Business Club, Courtney has been featured in Drapers and Vogue.com.

Forward PR has secured coverage for their clients in press such as InStyle Spain, British Vogue and The Financial Times’ How to spend it supplement, to name a few.

1) What was your inspiration behind starting Forward PR?

I started Forward PR in 2004 after working as the in-house PR and marketing director for a British designer who relocated to Tokyo. Honestly, I’m not sure if there was a lot of inspiration behind it. I absolutely love doing PR and it was more like oh, the label I’m working with is moving abroad and I’m staying in the UK. I’ll just launch my own agency! I initially worked with jewellery and accessory designers, which occurred organically, but in the last few years, Forward PR has taken on a variety of clients ranging from fashion designers, jewellery designers, luxury lingerie designers, a model agency and a handbag label, to big events including the Ford Models Supermodel of the World UK Search and the Fashion Summit.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Abigael Sullivan is the editor of Wedding Venues & Services magazine. Catering to the bridal market, the magazine takes the stress out of finding the right venue for the big day.

Abigael tells vox-popPRcareers the tips fashion PRs need when pitching to the wedding market:

1. Good images on email and quick, informative responses.

2. We often receive press releases that aren’t relevant for the bridal market.

3. Qualify, qualify: do you know the magazine you are calling, their readership etc. It saves everyone time, effort, patience and energy. No need to speak to an editor to get that info, call and quality with whoever answers the phone or an editorial assistant.

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When Crosby Noricks could not find information on fashion PR in 2006, she created PRCouture.com, an award-winning resource about fashion PR. In this interview, Crosby lets us know how she built her online powerhouse.

1) When you started PR Couture, did you have any idea that it would be so popular and even get you an award as blogger of the year?

Absolutely not. I knew I wanted to create a space online to talk about fashion PR, because when I was writing my Master’s thesis it was really hard to find any research – academic or anecdotal about the profession. I knew that there was nothing like what I wanted to create out there already but certainly at the start I had no real long-term goals or sense of how long I would stick with it. I went through a period of questioning if I was the right person to do this – but I also had this tiny voice saying, “well, why NOT you?” and that was the one I tried to listen to. Read the rest of this entry »

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Image usage: Creative Commons Licence of attribution via flickr user litonali

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1) Start grafting

Malcolm Gladwell’s hit book Outliers touches on the concept of the 10,000 hour rule, which is about spending time working hard to achieve your goals. Fashion PR is of no exception. Alison Lowe, founder of boutique firm Felicities says: “Normally, working hours in an agency are from 10-6pm.” But, extra work means more time is needed. “Sometimes extra hours are necessary for events and shows”, Alison adds.

2) Know your limits

However, it is important to make sure you are not overworked. “You need to ensure that you are not taken advantage of”, Susan Czarny who runs her own firm, says. “From my experience, I’d say 75 per cent is hard work. Hard work is never glamorous”, Sophie Sheikh of pr-eo pr tells vox-popPRcareers.

3) Be enthusiastic

Sophie Sheikh says: “I started pr-eo PR with no training in fashion. It’s all about passion. You can do anything if you’ve got passion.” This passion has translated into success: Sheikh has secured coverage for her clients in publications such as ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar and Tatler.

4) Be a powerful networker

Tierney Fox of Dangling Carrot, a Bristol-based PR firm thinks networking is vital to career success. Fox says: “Superior contacts should form the armoury of a PRs campaigning. Good contacts in any industry will always give you the edge. Though it’s what you do with them that counts!”

5) Look beyond the glamour

Alison Lowe stresses the importance of avoiding being seduced by image. “If a graduate is entering the profession thinking it is glamorous they have made the wrong career choice”, Lowe says. The PR entrepreneur explains: “We work in a glamorous world working with beautiful people and clothes, but at the end of the day we are there to represent the client. We often work in the background and it is hard work, so any glamour attached to it is a bonus”

6) Keep your eye on the prize

“If you really are of that mindset that ‘I want to be MD by tomorrow at 6, put the effort in today at 3”, Sophie Sheikh says. While ambition is regarded, try and avoid being side-tracked. “You are only as good as your last job, whether you are an actor or a fashion PR”,Sheikh advises, who wrote this book on breaking into fashion PR.

7) Have ideas

Susan Czarny suggests that aspiring PRs come with ideas. “One way of showing your worth to the company would be to put together an outline plan with a range of fresh new ideas for promoting the clients”, the PR veteran suggests.

8 ) Sharpen your personal skills

Tierney Fox says: “Fashion PR graduates will require tremendous grit and tenacity if they expect to succeed in the industry.” Fox’s agency has secured coverage for their fashion clients in magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar. “Like any creative profession, competition is fierce and clients expect consistent results, whatever the season”, Fox explains.

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