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Category: The Clairemont Team

Trends Tuesday- Triangle DQ

Trends Tuesday- Triangle DQ

April 14, 2015January 31, 2023 Jasmin SessomsBlog, The Clairemont Team, TrendsClairemont Communications, PR Agency, Restaurant PR, Triangle DQ

Everyone has their own way to decompress after a long week. Although I love to pamper myself with a tranquil massage or veg out on the couch for never-ending Lifetime movies, I discovered this past weekend that a quick stop to Triangle Dairy Queen satisfied my sweet tooth and had me smiling the rest of the day. Since Triangle DQ is one of our esteemed clients, I know the Blizzard menu like the back of my hand.

So what’s so prodigious about Triangle DQ you ask? For me, I love knowing there is always a new Blizzard waiting for me as soon as I step into the door. Leave the classic Neapolitan flavors behind as you bask in the glory of the Salted Caramel Truffle Blizzard of the Month. If salted caramel truffles, buttery toffee pieces, choco chunks and rich cocoa fudge – just to name a few options – aren’t enticing you into a Triangle DQ store, the new DQ Bakes items are sure to do the trick.

I was ecstatic to hear about the new menu options DQ would be introducing and the opportunity to try them out for myself. DQ Bakes is a new line that features artisan sandwiches, snack melts and deserts a la mode. If you are already in love with the traditional menu items, the new additions to the menu take your taste buds to a whole different level.

Did I mention that the Clairemont team got a VIP tasting of the new menu additions? The girls and I spent an entire lunch hour serving as official taste testers for the brand. Not only was the food delicious, but owner and operator Andy Valkanoff was one of the first in the state to offer the new menu.

But for me, the DQ treats are what are sure to keep me coming back for more. Create a special birthday with a custom DQ ice cream cake, make mom smile with a Blizzard after dinner. So this weekend, skip the massage and ditch the gym. I am sure that DQ will aid in a blissful weekend and if not, your next Blizzard is on me.

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Intern Takes Amsterdam

Intern Takes Amsterdam

March 2, 2015January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternBlog, Professional Development, The Clairemont Team, Wonderfully Randomaudiovisual PR, international communication, tech PR, trade shows
  • 59,350 Attendees
  • 1,052 Exhibitors
  • 12 Halls
  • 1 RAI Convention Center

Who knew the audiovisual industry was so huge? After spending five days at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) trade show in the Netherlands, I learned that there is a lot more to speakers, projectors and TVs than we all think, and ISE, the largest AV trade show in the world, proves it.

Last week, I took a hiatus from UNC, Clairemont and my everyday life to travel to Amsterdam with rAVe [Publications], an all-digital publication and marketing company that serves both the commercial and residential industries. As a reporter for the company, my job was to title and upload more than 1,000 product videos featuring everything from smart home technology to a virtual dressing room.

Screen Shot 2015-02-25 at 9.28.19 AM
Part of the rAVe team at ISE

For those of you who have never attended a trade show, it’s an unforgettable experience. Here’s what I learned from my time with rAVe at ISE:

1. When communicating, remember your audience: Although the official language of the trade show was English, there were many international companies present from all over the world. As a North Carolina native, I tend to talk fast with a typical Southern accent. When shooting videos with international vendors, many encouraged me to slow down and articulate, which I perfected after a few booths. Communication is key in this industry, and it’s vital to keep in mind the culture and language barriers in any professional environment.

2. Take breaks: Sitting in front of a computer can make your head hurt, and being on your feet all day can drain you. Whether you’re working in an office, restaurant or trade show, it’s important to take a walk, drink a coffee or grab a snack to refresh your mind. At Clairemont, we value a break from our work to re-energize — a concept that I certainly practiced at the trade show by making a loop around the convention center or treating myself to a Nutella crepe.

3. Teamwork is key: Just like in every industry, it’s important to remember that you are part of a team. This was definitely true for my time with rAVe. If one member of the team wasn’t on her game, everyone suffered. Having a supportive, creative team made my experience in Amsterdam unforgettable, and I learned how important it is to work with caring people. This is definitely true at Clairemont; I am surrounded by colleagues I love to see when I come to work.

IMG_2046

The last bit of advice taken from my time in Amsterdam is to be present. During my travels, I had a difficult time concentrating on enjoying my time abroad, and instead I spent a lot of time thinking about all the things on my to-do list when I returned home. In work, in school, in travel and in life, it’s important to focus on the tasks in front of you instead of stressing about the next day. So take a deep breath, go for a walk and get to it!

Editor’s Note: This is the second year in a row that a Clairemont intern has been accepted for this project. We understand that it is a prestigious assignment, and we are so proud of Kaitlyn Goforth, the author of this post. Last year, Sam Halle wrote about her experience in a post called (S)Amsterdam.

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Friday Five: 5 Office Faves

Friday Five: 5 Office Faves

February 27, 2015January 31, 2023 Cherith AndesBlog, Free Advice, The Clairemont Teamoffice trends, PR Agency, productivity, staying productive

Since 2015 marks Clairemont’s fifth anniversary, we’re doing several lists of “fives.” It’s no lie that the Clairemont crew loves to travel; some favorite client trips include recent visits to Austin to Tampa. But since the life of a PR rep includes a fair number of days in office, I’ve curated a list of five tools that fuel my time while I’m at the Clairemont House.

1. Something Hot, Something Cold
Coffee and NalgeneWho knew that dehydration negatively affects concentration? I stay armed with a Nalgene of chilled water and a steaming cup of java—sometimes Starbucks, sometimes whatever is left over from yesterday’s coffee pot. (Don’t judge.)


2. Vitamin C for the Brain
Stephen King captured it best: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” Yes, PR professionals—and Bookscommunicators in general—should regularly invest time exploring the written word. However, for afternoon slumps or mental blocks, I’ll reach for a book, a magazine, a Far Side comic—anything to introduce a fresh flow of ideas. Nationally renowned publications such as The Wall Street Journal command a distinctive cadence that I find helpful to jump-start my thoughts. I’ve perused everything from poetry (a friend of mine swears that poetry is like jumping jacks for the brain) to the back of a Cheerios box. And it works.


3. Evernote

Evernote ImageWhile the market peddles a plethora of organizational software, I’ve found a friend in Evernote, Apple’s note-taking application. Dubbed as “the workspace for your life’s work,” Evernote provides a user-friendly system for recording, curating, organizing and accessing data—from lists and tables to videos and sound bites. The functionality allows me to keep tabs on client projects with ease.

4. Kicks
AsicsThese bad boys. Nope, they’re not aesthetically appealing, and the idea of donning sneakers with my pencil skirts gives me flashbacks to that frightful skort-and-Keds trend a la 1993. But nonetheless, a brisk walk around the block does wonders to freshen my perspective, boost energy and revitalize creativity.

5. These People
It sounds like a given, but corporate America doesn’t always afford us the luxury of a collaborative environment. Clairemont TeamStruggling with a paragraph? Searching for a fresh idea? Need a hand assembling media kits? The shared passion and investment of my colleagues offer a great resource for encouragement and inspiration. And you know what? We have a lot more fun when do it together.

Pretty simple tools, right? What tips do you have for staying productive at the office?

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The Beauty of Raleigh PR: Day 29 – Snow Day

The Beauty of Raleigh PR: Day 29 – Snow Day

February 17, 2015January 31, 2023 Jasmin SessomsBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, The Clairemont TeamClairemont Communications, Clairemont Team, PR Agency, PR team, team work

The winter advisory has the Clairemont team bundled up in our respective households. Today, I realized how valuable it is to have good communication with colleagues and a positive team spirit. I think teams that perform well are shown to have more positive interactions than negative ones.

I think that this reigns true on a day like today for the Clairemont team. Even though we aren’t physically together, we have spent the entire day corresponding via email and text message to stay alert on important tasks and serve our client needs. Since your workplace is where you devote countless hours of your life, getting along and working efficiently with your colleagues is imperative.

With a list of tasks for today, I set out to finish a few projects. With the  InSpire Awards‘ early bird deadline tomorrow, the team is putting together our best entries for submissions. With all of the hustle and bustle of deadlines around the office, the importance of a positive team spirit has never been more necessary. Since I wasn’t a part of the team for some of the projects being submitted for awards, I have spent most of my day putting together photo albums and media coverage reports for the awards. This requires me to be able to juggle multiple tasks at once and train my brain to quickly toggle between accounts.

The realization of how much work goes into one account amazed me. I realized while putting together coverage reports just how much goes into making sure events go seamlessly and smoothly. The team took a divide-and-conquer approach so that everyone would be able to accomplish equal amounts of work and not feel like they were responsible for more than they could handle as an individual.

So, how can you shape a successful team? Knowing that trust and respect are vital components for building relationships in the workplace, you should commit to cultivate both. You can create positive collaborations in the office by offering more praise, smiles and high fives.

How do you define a good team?

Editor’s Note: Clairemont enthusiastically welcomes Jasmin Sessoms to our team! Follow this former beauty queen’s journey as she documents her first 30 days in a Raleigh PR agency.

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The Beauty of Raleigh PR: Day 26 – Valentine’s Day

The Beauty of Raleigh PR: Day 26 – Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2015January 31, 2023 Jasmin SessomsBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, The Clairemont Teamcreative PR agency, Raleigh PR Agency

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love. Whether you and your partner are keen on the holiday or not, it’s a good excuse to celebrate love. If you don’t have any ideas for this weekend don’t worry! The Clairemont team brainstormed a few inventive ideas that might make your life a little bit easier. Let us help you navigate through the pressure with a little creativity.

Valentine’s Day survival guide from Clairemont:

1) Focus on the food. Fondue is a romantic, hands-on dish that you and your sweetheart can prepare together.

2) Create the movie theater ambiance at home. Don’t feel like being bothered? Grab your favorite pillows and snuggle with your honey on the couch.

3) Get the card now. The selection of Valentine’s day cards has drastically declined already. Don’t be the person that has to cross out “Grandma” for “Wife.” Paper Buzz is a great place to start, and it’s local.

4) Give them a sweet treat. Our clients are offering sweet deals across the Triangle. PDQ is offering a free cookie with a purchase of lunch. What a great end to any meal. If lunch isn’t what you have in mind, pop into one of three Triangle DQ locations and pick up a super sweet custom “Cupid Cake.”

5) Make a custom CD or playlist. Music is a great way to remind your significant other of how much they are loved.

Editor’s Note: Clairemont enthusiastically welcomes Jasmin Sessoms to our team! Follow this former beauty queen’s journey as she documents her first 30 days in a Raleigh PR agency.

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clairemontcommunications

Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media Have you heard about Meta’s newest social media platform? It’s called Threads, and it’s being referred to as “the new Twitter.” Read everything you need to know about Threads in our latest blog post - link in bio!
SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc SNEAK PEEK! @dellthepig landed at @wendellfallsnc (client) today, and rumor has it that @blah2voila has already been hamming it up with Dell! We know you want a selfie with Dell to post on Pigstagram, too!
We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of P We are proud to represent Raleigh as a member of Public Relations Consultants Group, allowing us to offer clients expertise and support across the country! Clairemont founder, Dana Phelps aka @blah2voila, recently attended the PRCG conference in Oklahoma City.
2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Comm 2022 has been a fantastic year for Clairemont Communications! Visit our blog for the full 2022 year in review!
As communications professionals, we wear a variety As communications professionals, we wear a variety of hats to meet our clients’ needs.
 
We’re writers, social media managers, photographers, marketers, editors, content creators- the list goes on and on.
 
Check out our recent blog post to learn what @olivia.noles , account coordinator here at Clairemont, does on a weekly and monthly basis.
#communicationsagency #communicationsmajor #pragencylife #pragency #raleighpr
This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voi This Friday, Clairemont’s Dana Phelps, @blah2voila , will be speaking at the 2022 @nc_prsa Strategic Communication & MarCom Conference! Phelps is a repeat presenter at this annual conference, and this year she is leading a session called Growing from Communication Technician to Strategic Counselor during which she will share three of her coined concepts: knowcasting, morecasting and collabolighthing. Visit our blog for the link to register for the conference!
@clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative g @clairemontcommunications and @yellowdogcreative go together like the bacon and eggs! And speaking of bacon and eggs, have you been to @therainbowluncheonette yet? YUM!
Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc Later this year, Clairemont client @wendellfallsnc, a master-planned community just 15 miles from downtown Raleigh, will welcome @parksideraleigh, a Raleigh-favorite restaurant known for its fresh, made-from-scratch dishes, to the community!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Parkside.
“What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we “What exactly does a PR Agency do?” Because we get this question often, we have a series on our blog where we dive into our recent projects to give you a look at what a PR Agency really does.
 
For example, a statewide resource for small businesses recently hired Clairemont to devise an executive visibility campaign to help position the organization and its director as the leading small business resource in North Carolina.
 
Head to our blog to read what exactly an executive visibility campaign entails and to learn more about our services!
So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let So you say it’s National Coffee Day? We say let us tell you about our new favorite @drink321coffee ! If you are in Raleigh, go see Paul, the other Paul, Emma  or whichever smiling faces are working today. We LOVE this place and the coffee! ❤️❤️❤️
Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest mas Our client @wendellfallsnc, one of the largest master-planned communities in the Triangle, closed on its first age-eligible rental community plan, Arden at Wendell Falls, that will offer 140 open-concept units and exclusive onsite amenities!
 
Visit our blog to see the @trianglebizjrnl coverage and read the full feature in the TBJ to learn more about Arden at Wendell Falls.
Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by Staying in Raleigh this Labor Day weekend? Stop by client @vitaviteraleigh for good snacks and great wine!🍷 Both locations are open normal hours Friday-Sunday and closed on Monday.
You never know who might be hanging out at The Cla You never know who might be hanging out at The Clairemont House. Thanks to @yellowdogcreative for helping save this buddy. Notice that we speak lizard. Or skink. Or gecko or whatever he is. Or maybe it’s the extra caffeine before our client presentation.
Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh Yep, our town is pretty cool. #raleigh
Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting Who wants to have a Friday afternoon porch meeting?
Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street Congrats to our new neighbor on Bloodworth Street South @raleighwineshop ! @blah2voila was there today representing Clairemont at the grand opening festivities and enjoying the @grandchamphospitality sandwich pop up. Yum! 🍷🥪
It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers ar It’s National Volunteer Month, and volunteers are needed more than ever! Many organizations with scarce resources rely on volunteers and would not exist without them. Visit our recent blog post to read about the organizations Clairemont has supported and how you can make a difference in your community!
Authenticity is trending, and research shows that Authenticity is trending, and research shows that consumers are 2.4 times more likely to view user-generated content as authentic. Read our recent blog post to learn about UGC, how it can benefit your brand and how to use it in your marketing strategy.
From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 From social values to behavior patterns, COVID-19 has left an impact on every sector of life, including marketing. Read our blog on marketing in a post-COVID world to learn how things have changed and how that should impact your business strategy.
We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned We are so excited to share that Clairemont earned eight awards, five gold🥇and three silver🥈, at this year's Sir Walter Raleigh Awards hosted by the Raleigh Public Relations Society!🎉 We are beyond grateful to work with so many amazing partners, clients and industry friends!
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