Work Experience Photos

My Duties:

-          Drafting press releases

-          Researching blogs suitable for each brands for both gifting and publicity

-          Finding suitable celebrities for gifting and to be prospective brand ambassadors

-          Creating a calendar of upcoming events to predict future trends

-          Creating graphic email alerts, announcing new styles, prints, trends etc.

-          Sending out samples to magazines upon request, including arranging couriers

-          Packing past collections to be returned to different designers

-          Manning the phones and responding appropriately

-          Using Fashion Monitor and Red Pages to locate contact information

-          Chasing up RSVP’s for a press event

-          Calling fashion assistants/ stylists to enquire about what they are working on and send them relevant pieces in response to this

 

Soph xox

Daily Dose of Cuteness

I'm all for sharing cuteness around; so, here is my bunny Cookie Dough who was chilling on my bed yesterday in all her fluffy glory! 

Love & cupcakes,

Soph

xxx

My month as a PR Intern comes to a close...

Week 4: 25^th May

Tomorrow is my last day and I can’t believe how quickly the four weeks have gone.  I will be sad to leave The Clear Agency, just as I feel I’ve really got the hang of it and been given more responsibility.  It has also been really refreshing to work in an environment that is relaxed whilst still being highly productive, and where the people are so genuinely nice.    

Last Friday, Tony, the director, said that for my last week I should be doing something more worthwhile so that they can make use of my skills.  Since then, I have been working on a website called Global Searchlight which is another company owned by the guys in the office.  It’s basically like a dating website for the fashion industry; it matches brands, agents, distributors, PR companies etc. so that they can form successful business partnerships.  The company has been slightly neglected since they have been focussing on the Clear Agency – my job has been to advise them on what to tell their web designer with regards to redesigning the site to make it look modern and professional.  (Very grateful for my graphics A level at the moment!)  They have also entrusted me with re-writing all of the content on the website… no pressure.  I have really appreciated the opportunity to do more than just calling people – I have heard some hideously dull tales of work experience within PR agencies, so these four weeks have been a real stroke of luck.

My other main duty this week has been to create and mail out e-mail alerts to let magazine staff know about new styles/ prints/ trends etc. in the hopes that they will call the items in to feature in their publication.  I’ve been getting really good responses from them which has been really rewarding.  Since I have been speaking to various fashion assistants over the past few weeks, they now recognise me and the main brand that I have been trying to get publicity for, making my life so much easier.  Not only have I got several magazines calling in or requesting high-res images one week after the other, but I have also introduced new people to Brat & Suzie, who will also be using them for the pieces which they are currently working on.  

Although I recognise that I have been very fortunate to land myself such an enjoyable internship, as the weeks have passed I have realised that PR isn’t just a fall back to journalism; the equivalent of the guy you meet and could get on with but really don’t feel much for.  Instead, it’s definitely a serious contender for my future… it might just be ‘the one’.   

 

Adventures of a PR Intern: Week 3

Since Amber left for her holiday I've been doing pretty well ( I hope).  I have a schedule of everything I need to do and send out so I know what I'm doing.  Plus, she e-mails me every day to make sure I'm on track - I haven't been completely abandoned. 

This week I've been researching gifting to promote some of the brands Clear represents.  I have been trawling the internet for appropriate Bloggers with good sites who would be good for publicity and have also been searching for celebrities who would make good brand representatives.  It has been quite interesting to discover some amazing online fashion mags, websites, and blogs, but the hours spent on Google, Fashion Monitor and The Red Pages have turned my eyes square and made me feel like I've got a proper office job (which is what I've never wanted.)  

Tuesday was my lowest point since I started.  Calling endless publications to find out what they are working on this week to try in order to try and find where it would be good to send samples/ high-res images was the most disheartening thing I've done in a while.  It really opened my eyes as to where the reputation of fashion 'bitches' comes from... they're genuinely rude.  As tempting as it was to ask certain fashion assistants whether their mothers forgot to teach them manners, I remained sweet and kept trying to remind myself that they are plagued with calls similar to mine every single day and it must get pretty tedious for them too.

Wednesday was a complete turn around I'm pleased to say.  It's funny how charming the previously icy magazine staff can be when they realise that you represent good brands and decide that they want something from you!  I got to arrange getting my favourite of the brands, Brat & Suzie, into Company, Sunday Times Style, Heat, Cosmopolitan and Bliss magazines.  Finally, some success!  I've had good responses from the e-mail alerts that I have been creating, which has led to more exposure and me to see the more rewarding side of working in PR.  Let's hope this carries on...

Adventures of a PR Intern: Week 2

This is my second week at the Clear Agency and I have well and truly settled in.  No longer being 'the new girl' means I am now highly susceptible to office banter which is not only entertaining, but makes the day go a lot quicker.  I've really fallen on my feet in a relaxed workplace where everyone gets along which is such a relief.  The commuting doesn't phase me any more, nor do the hours; but then I have worked full time before.  Regardless, this interning business is a lot more enjoyable than I predicted.

A bombshell was dropped on me at the start of the week - Amber, the head of PR is leaving to go on holiday for three weeks, Thursday being her last day.  I think I just got promoted!  I've now got to hold the fort more or less entirely as the others in the office have sales/ marketing/ accounts roles only... no pressure.  At least I've had a few days for her to fill me in on everything that I need to do while she's off sunbathing, but I'm still slightly worried I will crash and burn once she's gone. 

So far this week I have been writing more draft press releases and e-mail alerts.  I've found that it's so much easier to write about the brands which I myself would buy, rather than those aimed at a demographic with wrinkles and a lot more cash to spare.  It's made me think that if I'm going to go into PR after my degree then I would probably enjoy being in-house for a label that I really like.  

Work Experience

Adventures of a PR intern:

 Today is my last day of my first week of interning at the Clear Agency - a fashion brand management company in Shoreditch.  Commuting has been a horrendous shock to my system after a long Easter break but I'm glad to say that I'm really enjoying my work experience here so far.

I have been writing press releases for some of the brands that they have here as well as finding blogs that are suitable for the brands to send gifts and samples to with the expectation that they will then spread the word, raising brand awareness.  As the office is actually a studio, I have also been making sure that the right collections are on display, looking wonderful for when representatives from various magazines come in for meetings.  This may sound a little dull but it's saving my eyesight from the hours of gazing at a computer screen. 

My other duties are to answer the phones, send out samples, arrange couriers etc. I have not once had to do a coffee run - very relieved to not be used as a dogsbody, my last minute placement has turned out for the better.  Plus the staff are lovely, even if they do make me hungry talking about curry a lot!

You can't beat a bit of Brighton!

Here's a few things I've loved so far this bank holiday weekend...

Sitting on rooftops

  Messy nights out in Brighton

 Seeing my best friend too much

 

Celebrating Lauren's birthday

 Listening to cheesy songs as we got ready

 And colourful film for my camera!

xxx