Success means something different to each client. And, since at its core, Pearl is a business that starts and ends with relationships, nailing your brand’s definition of success is our highest priority. The stronger our relationships are with you, the clients, the more fluent we become in sharing your business’ news and accomplishments with the outside world; and, the more authentic we sound. This is exactly what you want from your PR team: A voice that accurately and passionately gets people buzzing about your brand—in print, on the air and online—by customers and reporters alike.
As public relations specialists, we know that solid editorial content is often at the top of our clients’ lists—and, for a good reason. While you can put a monetary value on advertising, the value of earned, objective content is in a category of its own. And, when a good media placement results in new customer relationships, mutually beneficial business partnerships or greater total sales of your service or product, we know we’ve done (at least part of) our job well.
Press hits to spread the good word about your brand will always be a coup, but now, more than ever, you don’t have to rely on a third party to tell your stories. You have the ability to be the newsmaker. As the power of social media continues to grow, so should your brand’s commitment to staying on top of its game. Providing a constant stream of fresh, relevant content worthy of social media likes and shares and media attention is a must.
Tapping into the unique aspects of your business and products is our—and your—bridge to the media, your customers, and your bottom line. Our mission is to generate meaningful, targeted content that will get your brand noticed, and at the end of the day, keep your customers excited to come back for more.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
At Pearl, everything we do revolves around your brand’s identity. Before we embark on any level of media outreach, it’s essential to hone your distinct story and develop messaging that accurately reflects your business—not just as it is today, but also as you want your customers and the media to see it in the future. Whether you’re launching a new business or looking to re-tell (or re-create) your story, articulating your brand’s unique flavor is key. First impressions matter. And, creating ongoing messaging that’s in line with your company’s identity is the key to not only growing, but strengthening the impact of, that brand.
One of the things we love most about what we do is sharing your company’s news with the press. Through the years, we’ve built strong relationships with writers and editors—many of whom we now call friends—covering a variety of topics and industries. We’ve listened to their feedback on the stories and angles that excite them, and used that information to better position our clients for inclusion in features, profiles, trends articles and other relevant editorial. We also draw on our own consumer interests and knowledge to create content that begs not to be left on the back burner.
Even after years in the biz, seeing your company’s news pop up on different websites, surface in the dailies or make the evening news gets us just as amped up as it does you.
The bonus? Your story doesn’t become yesterday’s news anytime soon. Enter social media.
SOCIAL MEDIA
First, let’s get one thing straight: Social media is not about you and your brand; it’s about your audience. It doesn’t matter where you’re trying to connect—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.— creating content that fans want to see, comment on and share is what it’s all about. It’s about hosting virtual hangouts where people go to have fun and interact with others who share their interests (starting with your brand). It’s about building relationships.
Much like public relations, it’s important to develop and use messaging that accurately reflects your brand on social media. So, while you’re getting creative, ask yourself, “Does the voice I’m using match the voice on my website? Does it mimic the in-store and/or online customer experience?” No matter where or how your customer finds you, the interaction with your brand should always feel pretty much the same.
When it comes to managing your social media campaigns, we offer several levels of support, each tailored to your company’s overall marketing goals. Whether it’s explaining how social media works, advising on the best online platforms for your business, creating content that shares your story and projects the true image of your brand, or discovering untapped markets and customers, Pearl will help you establish and grow your social identity.
COPYWRITING
It’s important to get your messages—big and small—across succinctly and accurately, so having an experienced writer at the ready is more than an advantage; it’s a necessity. The written content your company chooses to share must be carefully crafted as it will live forever on the web, and ideally, be shared. We provide quality writing that is consistent with your brand, but with a fresh, objective voice.
Pearl can help with:
Have a copy project that’s not listed above? Run it by us.
BRANDING
When you’re running any type of business, it’s important to know what your strengths are. Just as important, though, is creating strong relationships with people who shine in the areas where you do not. Our partnership with Brand Revive, a local boutique branding firm, gives Pearl clients convenient access to an extremely creative and talented team that specializes in everything from logo creation to e-commerce website development—all at discounted rates.
Kimberly Ettinger is a public relations & social media innovator in the Philadelphia area, where over the past 8 years, she has honed her marketing skills and created a real niche for herself.
After receiving a communications degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in ’07, Kim jumped straight into a position at a Philadelphia marketing firm. There she handled PR campaigns for the firm’s diverse lifestyles clients, and worked closely with the advertising team to develop creative concepts for print and broadcast ads. As an avid foodie herself, Kim organically migrated towards the firm’s culinary clients, launching Campo’s “Heater” cheesesteak and 500°, as well as many other brands that have become iconic thanks, in part, to her vision. She also scored a prestigious invite for chef Carlo deMarco (333 Belrose) to cook at the James Beard House in NYC—a coveted feat she repeated for Moon Krapugthong (Chabaa Thai, Yanako) in 2011.
In 2010, armed with a proven track record for exceptional client management and media relations, Kim traded her established agency experience for the opportunity to put her own stamp on the region’s PR scene. As Executive Partner of The Warden Ettinger Group, Kim handled media relations and social media for a diverse spread of lifestyles clients.
Via The Whole Enchilada PR, the firm’s dedicated culinary division, Kim fed her passion for all things food and drink. She spearheaded the launches of Nomad Pizza, Yanako, Black Powder Tavern, Freshii and Gozen Yogurt, among others. She also worked to help existing brands freshen up their images through the creation of new, engaging written and visual content, interactive social media campaigns, special events, and good old-fashioned PR.
In December of 2014, Kim decided to pioneer her own company as she rebranded to “Pearl Communications”. Under this new name, the firm continues to serve Philadelphia-area lifestyles brands with a primary focus on culinary clientele.
When she’s not busy promoting, adventuring, sampling and showcasing on behalf of her clients, you can find Kim getting creative in the kitchen, eating her way around Philadelphia with her family and friends, or snuggling her baby girl, Greta, whose name just so happens to mean “Pearl”.
Manayunk’s Chabaa Thai, which was considered by many to be the city’s best Thai restaurant, closed in 2014 with the intention of opening again just down the street in the tandem property at 4343-45 Main Street. May 12 is the projected date when Moon Krapugthong plans to reopen her bistro, this time, with Binto Market & Cafe, her new, Asian quick-serve concept, attached.
Full article here.
Chef Moon Krapugthong spent ten years serving Thai food to the people of Manayunk (and beyond) at her original Chabaa Thai restaurant on Main Street, and when she closed it down in September of 2014, people were upset. First, because the loss of Chabaa meant one less place for good Thai food in a city that has very (VERY) few to begin with. Second, because this was Manayunk, and while there was no shortage of places for beers, burgers and chef-y tacos, it wasn’t like the neighborhood was exactly overflowing with ethnic options.
Read more here
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Sage honey adds an earthy whisper to balance the nip of Bluecoat gin in this perfectly chilled saffron-colored cocktail. Tart touches of lemon and grapefruit juices give this drink a bit of summery citrus to fend off the winter cold. The martini pairs exquisitely with baked cedar-plank salmon and holds its own with New York strip steak. $9.50.
Chabaa Thai Bistro, chef Moon Krapugthong’s long-running Thai BYOB in Manayunk, closed in fall 2014, in favor of larger digs at the corner of Main and Grape Streets.
The year and a half’s wait will yield not only a new Chabaa Thai but an Asian market and cafe next door called Binto.
Projected opening is May 12.
Full article available here.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Black Powder Tavern on 1164 Valley Forge Road in Wayne is now a bustling restaurant, but in the 1700s, it had a secret.
“Well, basically it was a farm, it was a meeting place for people during the Valley Forge time. They would come here and they would also store gunpowder in the basement and different things like that. Those kind of things had to be hidden. They couldn’t just be out in plain sight.”
Full article available here.
“Don’t call me sir. You can call me madame for all I care,” Bill Murray said to server Alex Seadan last night at Black Powder Tavern in Wayne.
On the night before New Year’s Eve, comedian Bill Murray was in town to visit family and, as we recently found out, to attend a Villanova men’s basketball. (“My dad just met Bill Murray at a Villanova Basketball game,” noted @rob_radico on Twitter. Through further investigation, we discovered that Murray’s son is the assistant basketball coach of Xavier University’s team, who happened to face Villanova University today at noon in the finals.)
