Another day, another photo shoot here at Propaganda…

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to produce a series of beautiful and contemporary photography shots, captured by the wonderful Ruth Rose.

The focus of the shoot was to showcase the innovative lash treatments available from our pioneering beauty client, Nouveau Lashes.

Keep an eye out for the finished shots, which we’re busy working away on as we speak.

When Propaganda first started working with Tangle Teezer, our Discovery process saw us talk to a range of consumers, as well as businesses within the hair industry. Across everything one thing was clear – until they tried the Tangle Teezer for themselves, no one understood the power of the hairbrush. They all relied on shampoos, conditioners and styling-formula products to change the condition of their hair.

With a strong following of already loyal fans, it was clear that using a Tangle Teezer really could transform your hair.

To attract new customers, we invested in a research programme that collated the feelings and perceptions of 200 women after they switched their hairbrush to a Tangle Teezer for the first time.

The results cemented what we already knew: in just 30 days Tangle Teezer can create healthier-looking, shinier, smoother hair.

The results are the starting point for the brand’s first consumer media campaign launching this month in Marie Claire.

Here’s some more statistics the research taught us:

‘89% of people saw an improvement in their hair.’

‘9 out of 10 women felt satisfied with their hair.’

Keep your eyes out on ITV1 in Yorkshire and the North West today for The Car People’s brand new campaign ad!

When we first began work on the campaign, our brief was to get across all the different things that make The Car People a positive, hassle-free experience, and all the ways in which they go the extra mile to help their customers. So, as well as focusing on the huge choice and high quality of the cars available to choose from, we needed to find a way to highlight how The Car People cater to a wide range of personalities and priorities.

From using technology like their Virtual Sales Advisor app, which allows visitors to access detailed specs and finance information about each car at the touch of a button, to pioneering an industry-defying loyalty programme, The Car People are constantly looking for ways to make any visit to one of their showrooms even better, and that means service tailored to your individual needs.

The new campaign is called ‘Meet The Car People People’ and shows off The Car People’s personal service in the form of six brand new characters, each of whom visit the showroom with their own priorities. From Savvy Simon (who wants to be certain his car has been quality checked to the highest standards) to Calm Colin (who appreciates the chilled out space to think and research), each approaches the showroom to find out that however they want to buy their car, The Car People is for people like them!

We have been working with our partners Finger Industries to bring the animated characters to life in the real world environment, alongside our famous Car People hero, Martyn. The first ad features three of the new characters, and the remaining three will star in their own ad later on in the year. The characters will also feature in an integrated campaign, across channels including; in-store, social, digital and outdoor.

So, next time you’re in the market for your next car, think about whether you’re a Techy Tina or a Value Valerie… either way, The Car People has something for you.

Propaganda is proud to announce our continued support of CNG, the UK’s largest independent shipper of gas. The news follows a successful first year together, which has seen us help the Harrogate-based business launch its new brand and unveil its commitment to giving power – not just energy –  back to its SME customer-base.

The retention of Propaganda in a brand consultancy capacity throughout 2016 and into 2017 will ensure CNG continues to benefit from significant market insight, as the business enters an exciting period in its history.

CNG enlisted the help of Propaganda in 2014 as it looked to capitalise on the excellent reputation it had within the energy sector and grow its market share. Its success in the industry had been built on outstanding customer service and doing the right thing. But the wider market wasn’t aware of this, and that’s where we stepped in.

Through the development of a bold new CVI, brand strategy and corporate communications approach in 2015, CNG reaffirmed its position as one of the most trusted service providers in gas supply. This was underlined by key business milestones reached during that period, including surpassing one million customers across direct and wholesale customers. The brand also launched Bright Sparks, a primary school education programme designed to inspire and educate the next generation of energy users.

With a move into electricity on the horizon, as well as exciting plans to support its brokers even further, we’re looking forward to working with CNG, every step of the way.

Last week, saw Clipper present the fourth in its Future Forum events series, with the 2016 event focusing on the challenges of click-and-collect in today’s changing retail landscape.

The event, held at The Cumberland Hotel in London’s Marble Arch, brought together some of the brightest minds in retail, logistics, and IT, with an emphasis on solutions that future-proof the delivery services of tomorrow. With speakers from John Lewis, leading parcel and carrier management company GFS, Mobile Technology solutions, M-Netics and software and consultancy experts JDA, the afternoon was packed with ideas and insight from the world of click-and-collect. It made for a great opportunity to further cement Clipper’s standing as the market leader within retail logistics.

Clipper CEO, Tony Mannix, headed up the event, and was keen to emphasise the rapid advancement of retail, and how Clipper has risen to meet that demand. “We believe that what we’ve created fulfils a need,” he said, as the event concluded, “and the reality of that need is evolution.”

The Future Forum formed the latest campaign we’ve developed for Clipper, which positions Clipper as industry and thought leaders within the retail sector.

The event has since got great coverage from Drapers, a boost for Clipper and a first for the Future Forum series.

You might recall that a few months ago we posted a blog piece about our most recent photoshoot for Slaith, a luxury knitwear brand based in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield. The brand is family run, and uses generations of spinning expertise to produce knitwear to standards which go far beyond anything their competitors could match; all their garments are created from extremely fine gauge merino and cashmere and are knitted in 3D to ensure a perfect drape with no seams. In fact, Slaith is the only company in the world that can produce seamless garments made with 30gg cashmere and merino, as the fibres are simply too delicate for most brands to work with.

When we started working with Slaith, it was clear that there was a niche opportunity in the finest independent UK and international retailers to supply Slaith knitwear to the world’s most discerning customers. Over the last few months, we have helped Slaith to build their brand around the key proposition: ‘From Forgotten Comes Finest’. This simple phrase encapsulates how the brand, born in Huddersfield (once an area of huge importance for the booming twentieth century textile industry), brings together once-forgotten spinning knowledge with a passion for creating the finest possible knitwear for a modern audience.

When we came up with the concept for the photoshoot, it was all about getting across Slaith’s perfect balance of heritage spinning skills and modern elegance. Shot in Spa Mill, home of Slaith, using classic and vintage props against the mill’s modern machinery, the images show off the luxurious finish and classic fit of Slaith garments. We’d like to share a couple of the final images with you here. To see more, and to find out about the garments themselves, visit www.slaith.co.uk.

The MCA is the voice of the consulting industry and here at Propaganda we’ve been members since 2005. So when the MCA made the decision to launch a new ground breaking scheme for the consulting industry, we were proud to be selected to create and design the ‘Consulting Excellence’ identity and launch collateral.

The MCA membership comprises around 60% of the UK consulting industry, including Deloitte, Accenture, IBM and KPMG. We believe that Consulting Excellence epitomises everything that MCA membership means to its members, and importantly, to their clients. Consulting Excellence is the ‘new hallmark of quality for management consulting firms, and commits them to the highest standards, adding tangible value to their clients. Getting client results is something we’re obsessed with, and has been recognised through the numerous MCA awards we’ve won for strategy, change management and consulting excellence.

Yesterday, the organisation marked their 60^th anniversary with the launch of the new initiative. Unsurprisingly, it was a triumphant ceremony, whereby the brand received a huge amount of praise. In attendance was our Planning Director, and past winner of ‘MCA Consultant of the Year’, Julian Horberry

So, from us at Propaganda, congratulations to you all at the MCA for initiating an exciting step forward in the consulting industry.

2016 has certainly been a big year for the professional salon haircare brand – with a recent overhaul of their core brand imagery, two seasonal campaigns (so far) and a 65% increase on sales on last year – the launch of three volumising (big) hair care products felt like the perfect direction for the brand.

As with all the other Neal & Wolf campaigns created by Propaganda, the launch will be supported with a beautiful suite of assets and was kick started last week when we worked with photographer Steve Sharp, to shoot the stunning imagery that will front the campaign.

Shot at local creative space, Duke street studios, we were also joined on set by celebrity hair and make up artist Penny Smith whose client list boasts stars including Laura Whitmore and Caroline Flack.

Whilst the photography shares the same ethereal style as the previous Neal & Wolf shoots – the new imagery has taken a slightly unique direction in homage to the products it is promoting.

The campaign will launch at the beginning of September, online and in salons across the UK.

The longstanding and successful relationship between Clipper Logistics plc and Propaganda is set to continue following our reappointment to provide ongoing strategic and creative direction. We’ve worked together since 2008, during which time Clipper has become one of the most trusted, respected and innovative logistics providers to the retail industry.

The retention of Propaganda in a brand consultancy capacity will ensure that Clipper continues to benefit from significant market insight, which feeds directly into the direction of the brand and business.

Clipper Logistics Executive Chairman and Founder, Steve Parkin, said: “Propaganda are a trusted strategic partner who have helped us achieve a number of important milestones in recent years. I’m delighted that we’ll continue to work with them for the foreseeable future and they’ll be at our side providing great creative ideas backed up by invaluable market insight.”

Propaganda Chairman, Julian Kynaston, said: “Clipper has grown to become one of the biggest business success stories from Yorkshire and we’re proud to have played an important part in their progress. The longevity of our working relationship shows just how involved we are with the businesses we work with, and represents one of a number of long-term strategic partnerships with our clients. In our industry, client / agency relationships come and go, but the fact that Propaganda has worked with most of our partners over the long-term – in Clipper’s case a decade – proves we deliver work that works.”

The new deal will see Propaganda continue to support the brand into the tenth year of partnership. Milestones over that time have included Clipper’s highly successful IPO in 2014, creation of Boomerang, a UK first returns proposition, and Clipper’s distinctive ‘Logistics Evolved’ branding.

Last week we were on set with The Car People, filming their next two TV ads. We’ve been working on the concepts, scripts and storyboards for The Car People’s most ambitious TV ad campaign yet for several months, following on from the great response their last ad, ‘How Car Buying Should Be’, received. Like the previous ad, these new ads will feature a blend of real world and animated action.

Together with our partners Finger Industries, we have spent the last few weeks preparing for the shoot and had covered every eventuality for the big day – but none of us could have predicted the incredible luck we had with the weather! On Tuesday we took advantage of the high temperatures and glorious sunshine to capture all the external shots at The Car People’s Sheffield showroom. As it is their largest site, we had plenty of opportunity to show off the huge selection of cars on display. A life size cardboard cut-out of the star of the show, our ad’s hero Martyn, was used to make sure the composition of each live action shot was perfect before Finger Industries add our animated characters over the top. After gathering our internal shots, on Wednesday afternoon we wrapped up a successful shoot. Our thanks go to Finger Industries and our fantastic production team for making sure it all went smoothly and we captured the beautiful shots we needed.

The first of the two ads is due to air at the start of August on ITV and Granada, so make sure you keep an eye out for Martyn (and a few new faces as well!).

CNG is reaching out to the next generation of energy users with an education programme – delivered from concept to creation by Propaganda –  to help children get smart with energy. The lesson pack is called Bright Sparks, and targets primary school pupils aged 7-11, teaching them the basics about energy: how we use it, where it comes from and how we can be more responsible with it.

During Brand Discovery, we identified a lack of knowledge about energy, which manifested itself in fear. Fear of switching, fear of loss of supply, or simply fear of making the wrong choice. We traced this back to a knowledge gap about energy, which begins at a young age.

Propaganda worked alongside CNG to research, design and produce the lesson plans, which aim to tackle the widespread fear and doubt around energy supply at its root. We helped channel CNG’s expertise into fun, engaging content that aligns with the business’s bold identity.

CNG is taking its ‘Power Up’ message into the community and the classroom, with lessons inspired by the imagery of superheroes, whose powers help others, save the world and destroy fear. There is also a Design Your Own Superhero competition, which comes with the prize of £500 worth of book vouchers for the winning school, and the opportunity for pupils’ work to be displayed in the CNG offices.

It’s an initiative that’s got us and everyone at CNG really excited, as we look to make a real difference in the industry, while stamping CNG’s unique mark on it. We’ve even got CNG parents on board to help with the rollout.

We’ll be working with Harrogate’s flagship newspaper, The Harrogate Advertiser, and other selected press in order to promote the initiative. CNG has high hopes to roll out Bright Sparks on a national basis, following initial launch exclusively to Harrogate primary schools.

After engaging CNG on a Discovery over a year ago, we’ve worked alongside the team to completely transform the business and brand. Our knowledge-driven insights and creativity combined with CNG’s enthusiasm and specialisms have helped create a powerful identity that stands out from the crowd.

Last Friday, we shot brand new campaign imagery for Tangle Teezer with the ever-so-talented Ruth Rose.

Think Summer-inspired candy-pinks, Tangle Teezers in every colour you could possibly imagine and big, beautiful hair.

The campaign features two real-life girls, and genuine advocates of the Tangle Teezer detangling hairbrush, who were given the chance to be part of the campaign after winning the #TThairsquad competition on Instagram.

The campaign will be live August 2016 – watch this space…