Three little favourites from Yule...Tree, Elves and a Few Santas

Trees, Elves and few Santa...sad that Baby J didn't make his entrance

Have it...

Feeding time at the Zoo...

The Pre-Xmas 100 Push Up Competition...

Norm makes 50...no sweat 

Shari did 1...ONE..UNO...

However Graham can have his hair....

...so can Wilko!

Packaging - do scare tactics work?

The unveiling of the new cigarette packaging in Australia will be watched keenly in the UK and worldwide. Will the images have the desired long-term effect and reduce the 3m Aussies who smoke, put BAT and the like out of business or simply give rise to branded packet holders (the new iphone cases) and under-the-counter cigarette sales.

The move on cigarettes has been long coming and gone at the days of John Player sports sponsorship, Marlboro country ads and the iconic purple material campaigns on TV.

But the question is twofold, should cigarette boxes be targeted like this?

Maybe they should instead carry pictures of say missing people, like the US have adopted since the late 70's on milk cartons, arguably cigarette packets probably have the potential for more readership in pubs and clubs, football stadiums, coffee shops etc than cartons of milk and could actually provide a 'beneficial' cause-related channel for worthy campaigns - I can't think of any other consumable product, save clothing or phones, that are carried around and displayed so readily.

Secondly, smoking does kill. Fact. But should other brands be forced to follow suit; should chocolate show images of obese people, fizzy drinks images of blackened teeth.

Brand owners spend a great deal on focus groups and great design to increase product sales - are we entering a new age of visually connecting products to their ill-effects?

We're sending Shoeboxes to our Squaddies...

Scrumptiously stacked shoeboxes of super scrummy (and washy and cleany and brushy) goodies are being lovingly prepared by Mrs Claus (Issy) at OWB's Squaddies Grotto.

The serious point is that the world's finest rugby club Walsall RFC are collecting boxes this weekend to  go to the girls and boys of the British Armed Forces around the World.

Enjoy the goodies with fondest wishes from all the Team at OWB. Merry Christmas. find out more and how you can help at Shoebox Appeal

Business Awards - a great way to share business glories with staff, customers and prospects

A lovely big juicy award is the fillip every business needs. It fills a void somewhere between schoolday memories of the excitement of winning the U14 inter-house cricket competition and collecting an oscar. It is the independent recognition that however tough your business world has become/is becoming somewhere, someone thinks you're making a good fist of it.....and what's better it also means you are doing a better job than your nearest competitors, who, at the very same moment as you are beaming with success, weaving through a packed room of dinner suits to make it to the stage, are grimacing into their empty glasses, feeling bitter and wondering how quickly they can leave, whilst at the same time smiling courteously and putting their loss down to the fact that 'they (you!) must know someone on the judging panel'.

Entering an award is a daunting task, it means extra work, lots of extra work. It means sitting down and gathering facts that everyone seems to have hidden away, it means getting hold of real case studies and often engaging customers or suppliers to agree to your recollection of the facts and ultimately it means writing a concise piece of evidential, yet memorable (it has to be memorable) copy that will leap off the page and shout to the Judge, who is doing this for one day only, I AM A WINNER.

So, five quick rules for Award success:

1. Enter the right award for the right reasons:
This sounds obvious, but is a stumbler of the highest order. Enter awards that you have a real chance of winning, that reflect your business, your sector, your region of influence and most importantly can provide real business opportunities and return for the investment - here's an idea; ask your PR team to provide 5 key awards for 2013 and a brief synopsis - "who won this year and the entry criteria".

2. Get your timing plan right:
Simple, but very easily forgotten. I have been involved in writing many award submissions, gathering data from multiple stakeholders and have been staggered by the fact that the majority of the work is done with less that 24 hours to complete the document. The entry date is clearly signposted. Use it.

3. Write it out longhand:
This sounds obvious, but in the same way you should approach a PowerPoint, write it. And create a structure. This makes the piece come to life, feel less turgid and also prevents you blindly cutting and pasting huge chunks of financial data and statistics like dead rodents dropped on a page. Yes you need evidence, but you are also looking to appeal to a Judge, who is a human...

4. Bring in Creativity:
It is true that the vast majority of awards are online submissions. But if feasible use your Creative Team or Marketing Dept to put a spin on the award. Colourful language, engaging descriptions of your process or a fresh infographic to display results can bring the award to life.

Finally, 5. Read it through thoroughly:
Again extremely obvious, but it is vitally important that the award has a flow. - you are telling an engaging story, you are bringing the reader into the story, you are delivering a proposition as to why you should win...ensure that story is well-told.

Entering awards should be a fun and the pinnacle part of your commercial strategy, it can take a while to get the formula right, but when you do the red carpet is an extremely seductive place to be.

Yule come back...

Christmas has definitely arrived very early this year, not surprising really as the retail sector needs a super-bumper harvest.

A few early observations of my own - it's the first time I have seen so many second hand toys being advertised by friends on social media sites especially Facebook. This is an interesting tactic, maybe I've just missed it in previous years but it strikes me as a good move for making a few quid and shows the power of online networks (or is it the fact that the new eBay logo looks exactly like Google's and folks are confused and taken matters into their own auction hands)

And secondly why have the big supermarket xmas ad spots followed exactly the same message, which is hilarious, it is almost as though the same brief has passed around the creative departments of their agencies.

Brief: We need to show; harassed Mother, over-indulgent Christmas, non-supportive family and a great big supportive retailer..

Anyway back to making my
stormtrooper outfit for the OWB Xmas party...

OWB'Boys Night Out....

Making sure of consistent hydration...

 The OWB Octoberfest boys night out was another wonderfully fuelled evening at the
Belfry Sporting Club with top golfing legend Peter McEvoy OBE and comedian Ian Irving. Naturally the BelAir took a good hammering

Eato, Norm, The Largemeister and the lovely Doc Geoff

Jonesyboy in Daniel Craig style - whilst Norm begins to struggle to focus

Mike forgets how to focus....

Get the Water Balance Right

Drinking around eight glasses of water a day helps us to maintain optimum health. It’s common knowledge. But, still, eight glasses can seem like quite a lot – especially if you’re not used to drinking the recommended amount!

Certainly, attempting to gulp down your daily intake in just a couple of sittings will overload your system and leave you feeling quite unwell. In fact, this can be extremely dangerous. It can lead to water intoxication, which can have devastating effects.

The trick is to drink water throughout the day.

When you wake up, drink a glass of water straight away. It will refresh you and help clear your mind. The liver and kidneys are at their most active before midday, so this will also help them to carry out their natural functions.

Once you are at work, forget the takeaway coffee. Head to the water cooler in the mid-morning and enjoy a glass of cooler water. You can’t get a purer drink than clear, filtered water – so you’ll avoid all the potentially damaging side effects of coffee or tea.

But remember – you don’t have to drink all your recommended daily intake of water in the form of, well, water! Herbal teas are a great idea if you fancy a change. At lunch, enjoy a glass of cold water before you eat and half an hour later help your digestion with a mug of peppermint tea. Follow the same approach at dinner time, and at the end of the day enjoy a mug of chamomile tea to help yourself relax. Before you know it, you'll be drinking the optimum amount of water and looking and feeling great.

Remember to drink extra water when you are exercising – a bottle taken with you can be very beneficial and you can sip on it at intervals. But, again, don’t drink too much, as this can be dangerous.

What the judges said...

"...In a highly competitive sector OWB stood out for the breadth of its
work, the strength of its client roster and its continued financial success when others have fallen by the wayside..."
The Judges comments, Post Business Awards.

Double Award Winners - OWB wins in the 2012 Birmingham Post Business Awards

WOW! What an amazing night for Team OWB, following on from our International Media and Creative Award at the UKTI/Insider Awards in June we beat off the competition to win the 

Marketing & Creative Award at the Birmingham Post Business Awards last night, held at the fantastic new Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

A great evening, shared with wonderful Clients and friends of OWB, the evening also raised a whopping £5,000 for the inspirational Harry Moseley 'Help Harry Help Others' charity http://hhho.org.uk/

Very Very Proud of our great team. Thank you. Recovering gently.....

Great Moment in front of 600 people..thanks Jezzer

OWB team - Issy, Andy, Shari and Bryony

Toby, Issy, Andy, Shari and Iain hit the stage....

Two Great Awards for One Great Team in 2012....

Bryony's letter from Lord Coe...great touch

I love this app, I love this app, I love this app....

Paper by 53 - if one loves to draw,and if one loves to draw digitally, then one wants to buy this beauty. App ad out.

Bryony The Gamesmaker

And whilst the creative juices of OWB flow-forth Bryony is taking full advantage trackside at The Olympic Village in her role at the Press Office as a Gamesmaker at the Paralympics...Go Bryster!

McLaren Spider. Enough Said.

McLaren Birmingham at Hockley Heath launched the eagerly awaited British-designed convertible supercar, the MP4-12C Spider  - so myself and Joneseyboy (parking at the far end of the car park in our supercars!) ...slipped in for a chit-chat, glass of bubbly and a few piccies

"The  second model is an exciting milestone for the brand. We have loads of interest and welcome the chance to talk to prospective customers" commented David Tibbetts, Sales Director.

The new 12C Spider is now available to order at McLaren Birmingham: http://www.birmingham.mclarenretailers.com/contact/location-and-opening-hours 

Launch of the New McLaren Spider at Rybrook McLaren Hockley Heath

Quite simply STUNNING.....

Carry on Camping...

Few people realise that Kathryn and Shari are the secret 'Bear Grylls' of the Bond - and are often seen under canvas in the office, cooking on an open-fire (powered by a USB of course), eating out of billy-cans and watching Deliverance...

Shortlisted in Post Business Awards...

OWB is shortlisted in the 2012 Birmingham Post Business Awards - OWB is proud to be named finalist in the Communications category!

"What a great year this could be, already winning the Insider International agency award was amazing but this could be phenomenal" comments Andy
Wilkinson.

http://www.bpbusinessawards.co.uk/2012/shortlist.php

Unlike England... We Won!

            

OWB enjoyed a fantastic evening at the Insider International Awards on Thursday, taking home the coveted 'Media and Creative Award for International Trade.' 

The Awards gathered more than 150 companies and professionals at the National Motorcycle Museum and aimed to reward not only the success of companies in the Midlands trading overseas but also those businesses that are putting the Midlands on the world map.

OWB's entry was commended as a real ‘cut above the others’ and clearly our proactive membership of ComVort our international agency network, went down well with the Judges.

OWB would like to say a big thank you to all of our clients, and we look forward to returning next year!

It's not just England hoping for a trophy this summer...

OWB shortlisted for international award!

We have been shortlisted for Insider’s International Trade Awards created to celebrate and encourage the drive for exporting excellence. 

We are one of the finalists in the Creative & Media section of the awards, with the winners set to be announced at a prestigious dinner at the National Motorcycle Museum on July 12. 

Twenty seven companies, colleges and quangos from across the region are set to battle it out at the black tie event, created to celebrate and encourage the Midlands’ drive for exporting excellence and achievements in attracting inward investment.


So fingers crossed folks, we will be back with news shortly!!

It's Eur-O-W-B 2012. Win an O-W-Brolly!

Add your starting English Team for a chance to win life-changing prizes

...Jumpers for goalposts...rushback goalie... and old Johnny "Johnny" Johnnerson upfront....It's the OWB EURO competition corner - simply tell us by Midday on Monday 11th June you're starting England line up for England vs France and you could be keeping precipitation off the Burberry with a super-stylish OWB brolly, tucking into a choctastic football boot* or knocking back Jubilee vodka by the cart-load whilst hurling abuse at the telly.


Whip in your team to andy@owb.uk.com and all your dreams could come true....



Promotional Terms: Your football related boot may not be a boot but could be a packet of Penguins. When we say all of your dreams could come true of course that does not include England winning.

25th Year Anniversary at Woburn

Helping to raise a whopping £30,000 for MacIntyre at the Annual Charity Golf Day at Woburn, despite some crazy weather conditions, is a always a huge pleasure. This year we had the great pleasure of top-drawer golfers, friends and clients in Andy Hume and Simon Sheldon to shore-up OWB's ever valiant performance. Andy W's 5-iron played a lead role and was never far from his hand...

Dreaming team

Shaz takes aim at Simon

Lonely guy....

Top tabbing with the Hoppers...

As Aubrey's suit jacket sleeve was carefully tailored to a more fashionable above-the-elbow "cut" the 2012 Stourbridge RFC Celebrity lunch had the all the hallmarks of a memorable event. Kicking off in style with some not so serious karting at http://www.wheelspinkarting.com and graduating downhill with some legendary tab-action from the king of the slate...it was good work all round in the company of top fellas. Thank you chaps, once again I managed to leave the Lyttleton for an early bath...

The Queen's Favourite Tipple....

Made from an original recipe with 100% British wheat sourced from the nutrient rich soils of Norfolk, Suffolk & Cambridgeshire. Produced by one of London’s oldest distilling family's with exceptionally pure English water, to produce a superior smoothness and elegant, clean finish....and available from our great friends at Frazier's Wine Merchants http://www.frazierswine.co.uk/london-vodka/

McLaren test drive...enough said

Jonny Cooper, friend, business consultant and all-round good guy to OWB and our clients was invited by McLaren Brimingham to put the legendary British built MP4-12C through its paces at MIRA. Excitement Kia not the word, Jonny will be providing a full review of his amazing experience but suffice it to say a picture paints a thousand words...and here's a few pics...

New strikers off the bench for Belfry Sporting Club

The Belfry Sporting Club, the UK's oldest and best-loved sporting dinner club, welcomes a power-packed duo to the committee. Kelly Long, Sales Director with Aramark and Matt Smith, Director at Grant Thornton bring heavyweight skills to the committee with the vision and drive to increase membership and continue to propel the club forward in 2012 and beyond.

Next dinner is in the Autumn and tickets are available (£23.50)from Andy@owb.uk.com or call me on 07779 304579 if you want a great membership deal....
Www.belfrysportingclub.co.uk

Best of British at Foodex

Apex Linvar, the leading racking, shelving and storage manufacturer, enjoyed a fantastic Foodex flying the flag for British manufacturing.

Anthony Finlayson-Green, CEO commented “I am very pleased to recommend OWB who we chose to work with earlier this year. It’s a great team, very proactive and has fitted into my team well as we re-launch our business, our product and our people. They have come up with great concepts, designs and positioning”.

The creative work with the Milton Keynes based team has kicked off the year in style and we look forward to exciting campaigns through the year as the Apex Linvar brand celebrates 75 years of manufacturing excellence in 2012.

Three jacketed Spuds

Denstone's finest exports got together for the inaugural thought-leader conference yesterday in London to discuss the future of education. Keynote speakers included Prof Tim 'dunna pud' Collingwood and Simon '3 O levels' Martin:
Feedback from Londoners included '..move big fella you're blocking the pavement' and '..another bottle of wine, really, are you sure?'
Collingwood summarised: "..in London there's a train under the ground."
Martin was last clutching a small manbag.

NOTE: if anyone sees a set of keys let me know

my tiny little handbag 

"If i push my gut right out i can almost touch the fence"

All gone Big Ron

Great night at the Belfry Sporting Club with some choice Ronglish - which should be standard stuff for any budding copywriter...