Geri Richards, CEO
Geri has worked in media and publishing most of her professional life. She began her career in local press and glossy monthlies, then moved swiftly onto customer publishing, with a strong emphasis on supermarket titles.

Her career at Publicis Blueprint spans almost 13 years and has evolved from Account Manager on ASDA to CEO.

Carol Bronze, Editorial and Creative Director
Carol's career is wholly grounded in magazines. Her work has covered glossy newsstand magazines and customer titles. A passion for journalism, fashion, features, business and women's interest has taken her from Cosmopolitan, Eve, Prima, Woman and Chat magazines to customer publications, such as Tesco, Cath Kidston, De Vere and Prudential.

Carol joined Publicis Blueprint in 2004 as an editor and worked on several titles before becoming Editorial and Creative Director.

Creative Team
We're lucky at Publicis-Blueprint — at least we feel that way! We have dedicated creative teams working to craft the finest work for our clients. These teams also take on extra commissions, such as supplements, brochures, catalogues, web-based work and other incarnations to help clients extend their brand. Yet when a new project comes in, our creatives are very happy to contribute ideas and work with specialist talent brought in for their expertise. This is wonderful, as it ensures our teams feel stimulated and valued.

It also means you get the very best work of the highest standard.

Digital Team
Over the last couple of years we've been winning awards for some of our digital work. For two years running, we've won the APA's award for Best digital solution of the year/B2B for Orange exchange online magazine. We've also been awarded a bronze award from the DMA for best food and drink online magazine for asdamagazine.com. We're proud of this because we feel it shows we work successfully with brands to communicate their marketing objectives to customers on a digital platform. We believe we can do this for you — by tailoring branded content to helping foster trust between your brand and your online customer. And the good news is that we can measure how effective we are. We can track your customer's interactivity and segment those two-way conversations, to effectively shape ongoing development.

Through innovative online and mobile magazines, digital catalogues and brochures, online video, social media content, as well as e-newsletters and eDMs, we can maximise brand engagement and promote sharing to drive growth.

Client Service Team
Ask any of our clients what they think is our greatest strength and they will say our people. We believe teamwork is fundamental to our way of working with clients. To maintain a balance, we ensure our client service teams are at the heart of all conversations. With a full understanding of any brand, and from process through to budget management, our client service team become brand gatekeepers and, in turn, ensure delivery above and beyond expectation for all clients.

Commercial Team
At Publicis Blueprint, commercial extends across one or more of the following: retail media, magazine advertising sales, ambient and out-of-home (OOH) media sales, commercial partnerships, promotions and also competitions and offers.

Whatever the commercial requirement, we believe it is essential to put the client's customers at the core of our commercial strategy. In turn, this directs our approach from initial contacts through to realistic revenue forecasting. Having had a commercial team since 1999 we are fortunate to have built up a large database of commercial partners and, as a result, are proud to be able to state that we have outperformed year on year.

Asda Media Centre
In 2004, we partnered with Asda to offer an unbiased, consultative service for suppliers who wanted to utilise Asda's portfolio of media as a means to promote their products to Asda customers.

Today, our team are planning, selling and co-ordinating much of the core Asda media portfolio, including Asda magazine, national press, out-of-home, trolley media and also a number of in-store media.

Handrails
In 2010, we launched this brand new out-of-home (OOH) media channel. In short, this medium allows branded campaigns to run on escalator handrails. See latest news for more information.

Follow @publicisretail

We have been producing magazines, brochures and supplements for our many clients since 1999. Along the way, we have been responsible for generating commercial partnerships with many of those clients and we even helped one the UK's leading supermarkets launch their own media centre. We have a fabulous team of technical content managers who know how to communicate in a way that connects with businesses and consumers across all platforms. And, last but not least, we have a team of translation and trans-creation experts, who can offer a truly global languages service.

In some circles, we are known for being the customer-publishing arm of Publicis UK. Being part of one of the world's largest agency networks puts us (and some of our clients) in an extremely fortunate position — our extensive skills and experiences are further boosted and extended by our sister agencies, allowing us to offer a true one-stop-shop to implement both a diverse and full service offering.

Mind you, we are big players in our own right — this year we've achieved the number one position in the Marketing league table for customer publishing. That said, our approach and our culture offers clients an agency that is all about teamwork and putting their business objectives, and more importantly, so we think, their customers, at the heart of everything we do.

We do not allow ourselves to be boxed in by the term 'customer publishing'. Yes, we love to produce magazines for our clients, and we have a strong belief here in Baker Street that magazines have a place in everyday life. But our skills have become much broader with the ever-increasing, but very exciting, developments in digital technology, and we are pleased to say that over a third of our business falls into this fast-evolving arena.

Geri Richards, CEO

Technology
Consumers connect with technology when they can see how it makes a real difference to their lives. That's where we come in. With a wealth of technical and editorial expertise, our specialist team can bring your products to life. We'll make even the trickiest concepts immediate and exciting, leaving your customers eager for the latest innovations.

Our services range from creating individual DM or eDM pieces to managing multi-language CRM campaigns. And we understand the importance of process, so you can rely on our production schedules to fit in precisely with your marketing plans. Whether you need a brochure, website, podcast, online newsletter or full-fledged social media campaign, we can help.

Awards:

• Orange Exchange online, Best Digital Solution, APA Awards 2010
• Best Use of Online Media, eCommerce Awards 2010
• News & Business Magazine of the Year (Bronze), Digital Magazine Awards 2010
• Telecomes & IT (finalist), Marketing Week Engage Awards 2010

Fashion
In today's fast-paced world, nothing dates quicker than last season's must-have. New trends are relentlessly seized upon by customers, who are constantly looking for fresh inspiration.

Our raison d'être is to feed that craving. Whether that's through an elegant fashion shoot — with the ideal models, the perfect photographer and an inspiring location — or rapid-fire street-style vox pops, the motivation is the same: to ignite an insatiable and urgent compulsion among readers to shop.

This editorialisation of your brand's products and services is key to a title's authenticity and what takes it beyond catalogue-speak. So our core focus is around proving how your dresses, shoes, coats, accessories, etc, can help readers redefine themselves via their wardrobes. For an image-conscious audience, that is precisely what will keep them coming back for more.

Awards:

• Toni&Guy magazine, Best Front Cover, Best Use of Photography, Best Use of Illustration, Best Use of Typography, APA Creative Awards 2007

Health
Health features run the gamut of mental well-being, fitness, nutrition and skincare, to you-are-what-you-eat features. And, when it comes to reading about health, consumers look for knowledge from any reliable source. As long as the client we're representing sells product that supports the editorial, we can position them as a font of information.

Our challenge is to couch the content in a lifestyle setting in order to deepen the relationship with the reader and sell more products.

And, actually, we do an excellent job surprising and delighting the consumer by delivering something familiar in a refreshing way.

Beauty
Beauty is both an elusive subject and one that offers editorial and creative the most opportunity to be extravagant, flamboyant and utterly whimsical. While we are always selling product, we have the opportunity to shape creative white space around gorgeously displayed items, which deserve the most imagination to lift them to a higher plane.

Of course, within these parameters, there's a lot of scope. The very same beauty item can be presented in one way for the top ABC readership or in an equally effective manner for a more mass market audience. Our skill is to ensure any product works successfully within its milieu and strengthen the relationship the reader has with the customer publication and the product.

Awards:

• Toni&Guy magazine, Best Front Cover, Best Use of Photography, Best Use of Illustration, Best Use of Typography, APA Creative Awards 2007

Food
Creating the perfect lifestyle food photography for branded content is not as simple as one dish, good lighting and a photographer. We develop a recipe, kitchen test it and analyse it for nutritional value. Then our team of experts gets ready to capture its sheer gorgeousness. There are only a few minutes when the meat looks juicy and succulent; before the ice cream starts to melt and those soufflés get that sinking feeling.

Our in-house talent can turn the most humdrum ingredient into a must-buy, or make the most aspirational dish look accessible. Whatever the culinary challenge, we produce mouthwatering results.

Awards:

• ASDA Magazine online, Food & Drink Magazine of the Year (Bronze), Digital Magazine Awards 2010
• Best Digital Solution (highly commended), APA Awards 2008

Automotive
For most of us, buying a new car is probably the second biggest purchase after a home. And it's an emotional one, because whatever you choose becomes a vital part of your life for some time.

Our task is to instigate that same emotional connection from branded content — in whatever form — to your dealership. We do this using uplifting copy for those who simply want a lifestyle read, to readers who view the dashboard as the control panel of the Starship Enterprise. And we produce that va va voom of stunning, contemporary studio and location photography all new cars deserve. Convincing readers to take a test run is the driving force behind our creative execution.

Retail
What's the secret to producing an outstanding piece of branded copy for a retail client? One that simply marries the best of goods and services? Not enough!

It's one that tells the reader something only you, as the client, know — the hot news and knowledge of your brand that makes your reader smarter, better informed and a keener shopper because you've shared that information with them. Our skill is in helping you editorialise your messages, so they read like a well-knit, beautifully constructed publication. Strike the right chord and your readers will follow your brand anywhere.

Awards:

• Cath Kidston, Best Catalogue, APA Awards 2010
• Best Catalogue Rebranding/Creative Makeover, ECMOD Awards 2010

Leisure & Travel
Day out? Weekend away? Short break? Annual holiday? Who doesn't love a chance to take a break? And reading about it is the first step on the journey. But the travel and leisure market is a crowded one — with newsstand clamouring for maximum attention. So we can't afford to miss a beat by including a headline that doesn't take you to the peak of your imagination, or an image that doesn't sail you down a golden river. If we haven't got it right, first time, the reader will turn the page without a backward glance. However, what makes our job easier is working hand-in-glove with clients to evaluate trends, customer behaviour and marketing needs to help shape the branded content and give readers exactly what they want.

Finance
Finances are everyday. They're part of the conversations you have with a stranger ('Petrol's gone up again!') a colleague ('Got a great app for free!') or a friend ('Is that another new handbag?'). So the first line for us is to keep money matters in this ordinary, friendly milieu.

It helps if features are attractively illustrated and explained simply. The most successful magazines in this sector are clearly the brainchild of a happy union between publisher and client, which we work hard to achieve. Our skill is developing a lively, easy-to-read publication that sells product and fulfils the reader's needs.

Awards:

• Prudential Magazine, Best Front Cover (highly commended), APA Creative Awards 2007

Business
The way we see it, whatever you're selling, whether it's accounting software, commercial vehicles or agricultural equipment, it all comes down to one thing: people. That's what we have consistently brought out over the years in customer magazines for the clients we've worked with. By tracking down customers who are satisfied with your products, interviewing them, and photographing them going about their real, day-to-day business, we get to the heart of what makes their business tick, and how your products and services play a part in that.

Awards:

• Via Inmarsat, Best B2B Title (special commendation), APA Awards 2008

Handrail Media

4 November 2010
Publicis Blueprint is drawing on its media centre expertise to offer retailers a new out-of-home (OOH) media channel, Handrail Media, that allows branded campaigns to run on escalator handrails. This marks the first time the media has been offered as an advertising channel in the UK.

The new department will sit within Publicis Blueprint and will be headed up by its sales director, Robin Drysdale. The company has extensive commercial experience with major retailers, such as Homebase and Debenhams.

The Handrail Media launch follows successful trials secured with large shopping centre groups Capital and Westfield earlier this month. The first, for Dettol, is now running in Lakeside Thurrock shopping centre and is positioned on the Up escalator leading to the second floor of Boots. The media is designed to create awareness of the non-touch handsoap dispenser and drive footfall in-store. The campaign has researched successfully with recall at 60%, twice as high as the average recall for a poster*.

Gymbox, the leading health club retailer, has taken part in the second trial, a high impact campaign currently live in Westfield shopping centre, London. Both Up and Down escalators at the premium Village entrance to Westfield feature the Handrail Media, in proximity to the new Gymbox outlet.

Branded escalator handrails have only been used twice before in the UK, in the O2 and Heathrow, in both instances as part of overall sponsorship packages. But the media has never been offered to brands as an advertising channel. Publicis Blueprint is currently in talks with major media and OOH agencies about the channel, including Kinetic, Mindshare and Posterscope.

Lucy Thomas, Project Manager, Westfield London commented: "Activating the escalator handrails on the external escalator units at Westfield London has been an effective and interesting way of getting an important message across to our guests. The wraps look stylish and professional and our guests are intrigued and delighted by this media in a place they least expect it. All the people involved in installing the Handrail Media were extremely professional and made the process slick and easy. They are a pleasure to work with."

Richard Hilton, Managing Director, Gymbox, said: "We worked with Publicis Blueprint as part of our advertising for the grand opening of our latest Gym in Westfield London. They worked very closely with ZIP design, our creative agency, to ensure the best outcome for this promotion. Publicis Blueprint installed our designs onto two external escalator units with care and precision and the marketing power of this installation was phenomenal, where a large volume of traffic engaged with the advertising. The work looked great and withstood the elements of the changing London seasons. Handrail Media is certainly something we will look at for future promotion."

Robin Drysdale, Sales Director, Publicis Blueprint, added: "Handrail Media is a fantastic creative opportunity for brands to get a bigger share of voice within Britain's leading shopping centres. A classic footfall driver for retail brands, the media also researches brilliantly for branding exercises. The average 30sec engagement time delivers high impact and recall and adds some real excitement to an above-the-line campaign. The production turnaround is only two weeks and therefore can work in synergy with any ATL outdoor campaign."

For more information, contact:
Jess Morgan or Sarah Owen at Pumpkin
T: 020 7287 2007 E: jess@pumpkin.uk.com

* Based on average figures from the Outdoor Adverting Association (OAA).

Publicis Blueprint no.1 in UK Customer Publishing Agencies League

14 June 2011
Publicis Blueprint has been ranked top of Marketing magazine's annual customer publishing agencies league table — posting a strong growth in turnover and beating traditional heavyweights in the industry such as John Brown and Redwood.

The league table measures agencies according to year-on-year growth (2010 vs 2009). This twelve month period has seen Publicis Blueprint deliver 46% growth in turnover by bringing in incremental business from existing clients Asda, Cath Kidston, Hewlett Packard and Orange, including many new projects from these clients.

Geri Richards, Chief Executive of Publicis Blueprint, comments: "The opportunity lies in digital and branded content and we have been creating structures to respond to this growing client need."

Download the full article (pdf)

Publicis Blueprint shortlisted for five APA International Content Marketing Awards

London, October 13, 2011
Publicis Blueprint has been shortlisted for five awards at the APA International Content Marketing Awards 2011. This year there were over 500 entries - a 16% increase in submissions from last year, and 60 content marketing agencies shortlisted.

Publicis Blueprint has been shortlisted for its work on Asda, Orange and Cath Kidston. Winners will be announced at an awards evening held at Old Billingsgate, London, on Wednesday November 23.

Publicis Blueprint is shortlisted for:

• Best Consumer Publication (Retail) - Asda Magazine
• Best Catalogue - Cath Kidston (Summer 2011, Issue 3)
• Editor of the Year - Coralie Dorman for Asda Magazine
• Best Digital B2B/Internal Solution - Orange Exchange online
• Best Integrated Marketing Solution of the Year (B2B) - Orange Exchange

Julia Hutchison, COO of the APA (the Association of Publishing Agencies), which organises the awards, said: "The shortlist demonstrates that content marketing is one of the most dynamic and vibrant global marketing industries, with both content specialists and their clients pushing the boundaries of what's possible across all the available channels, from iPad editions through to video."

For more information, contact:
Catherine Turner, Publicis Communications
Tel: + 44 (0)207 830 3476 / Mobile: +44 (0)7971 861082

Prioritise your content strategy - five key trends for marketers

1 November 2011
In a feature entitled 'the evolution of engagement', this week's Marketing magazine recommends that content-orientated strategies need to become a boardroom-level priority, identifying five key trends to help marketers learn how branded content and customer publishing agencies like Publicis Blueprint can drive their brands forward.

Neal Anderson, Publicis Blueprint's Digital Director, was asked to contribute to the feature. He highlights content's effectiveness as a sales tool, and offers advice on mobile content and getting the context right.

Julia Hutchison, COO of the APA, also underlines why customer publishing agencies are best placed to create and deliver branded content to drive effective consumer engagement.

Download the full article (pdf)

INVITE: ASDA Media Centre creates interactive virtual walk-through store

Industry invited to experience available media portfolio on 10 November in Baker Street

The new department will sit within Publicis Blueprint and will be headed up by its sales director, Robin Drysdale. The company has extensive commercial experience with major retailers, such as Homebase and Debenhams.

As part of a push to demonstrate the huge scale and range of media ASDA offers the industry via the ASDA Media Centre, Publicis Blueprint will create a virtual ASDA store in its Baker Street offices on Thursday 10 November - suppliers and agencies are invited to experience ASDA's vast media portfolio for themselves.

The walk-through store recreates the ASDA customer journey, exposing those present to a wide array of ASDA media channels in 3D. Showcased channels range from in-store radio, to trolley media, to out of home and digital channels - many of which agencies and suppliers may not have previously used.

The event, which is open to all in the advertising and media industry, will be held at the Publicis Offices, 82 Baker Street, W1U 6AE from 4.30pm on Thursday 10 November.

Robin Drysdale, Commercial Director at Publicis Blueprint, commented: "We're delighted with the ASDA Media Centre's standing in the industry. As we're constantly innovating, we were keen to present both our flagship and very latest channels in a way that really brings them to life.

"The ASDA Media Centre provides the ultimate one-stop shop covering all media channels across-the-board. This is a great opportunity to showcase what we believe is the most integrated sales offering in the UK, offering in excess of 20 offline and online solutions."

"This event gives us the opportunity to show advertisers just how much the ASDA Media Centre can benefit them, from both a core and a digital perspective. It will also give everyone a chance to get to know agencies and suppliers better, and build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships."

"We also look forward to taking this on the road as a pop-up store for other events."

For further information, or to attend, contact:
Robin Drysdale, Commercial Director, Publicis Blueprint
Dir 020 7830 3019, Mob 07760 108327
robin.drysdale@asdamediacentre.co.uk
www.asdamediacentre.co.uk

Publicis Blueprint scoops Grand Prix at APA Awards

Orange Exchange first ever digital campaign to claim top spot in Awards' history

Publicis Blueprint, the UK's number one customer publishing agency*, has picked up the coveted Grand Prix at this year's Association of Publishing Agencies Awards, the industry's flagship accolades. The agency was awarded the top spot, the best campaign of all entries across 25 categories, for its work on Orange Exchange online, which also picked up Best Digital Solution (B2B) for the third year in a row.

One APA judge commented: "Orange Exchange online is convincing proof of how well fantastic content can work digitally." Another judge commented: "I was blown away by the figures."

The agency also triumphed with Cath Kidston magazine, which took home the Award for Best Catalogue for the second consecutive year, whilst its Asda Magazine came Highly Commended in Best Consumer Retail.

Launched and developed by Publicis Blueprint, Orange Exchange online is a customer loyalty publication designed to boost engagement and retention, as well as enhance customer service for the company's small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) B2B base. Produced bi-monthly in eight different versions for specific customer channels and life stages, the magazine presents information on the latest Orange products and services, inspirational and practical business advice using rich media content, plus exclusive online features, offers and competitions.

Unique vistors for the site are up 26.5% year-on-year (according to Google Analytics), while competition entries, which are used for reader surveys to deliver valuable customer insight, are up 27% year-on-year.

Caroline Welsh, Head of Communications — B2B at Everything Everywhere: "Exchange is a significant part of our in life contact strategy for SME customers, driving activity, reducing churn and improving loyalty - a staggering 92% take positive action after reading, with 55% visiting our website and 32% contacting us about products/services."

Geri Richards, CEO of Publicis Blueprint, commented: "We're over the moon to have picked up this year's APA Awards Grand Prix. It's testament to the fantastic work the team do — Orange Exchange online provides a unique digital solution that's spot on for the target audience, combining fantastic editorial with a seamless digital strategy and innovative online approach."

Orange exchange online
Publicis Blueprint
APA Awards

* According to Marketing magazine Customer Publishing Agency league, June 2011

For more information, contact:
Jess Morgan at Pumpkin
T: 020 7287 2007 E: jess@pumpkin.uk.com

Orange Exchange online — awards

• APA Awards 2011, Grand Prix
• APA Awards 2011, Best Digital Solution (B2B/Internal)
• APA Awards 2010, Best Digital Solution (B2B/Internal)
• APA Awards 2009, Best Digital Solution (B2B/Internal)
• B2B Marketing Awards 2011, Best Website (runner up)
• NMA Awards 2011, Business to Business Campaign (finalist)
• Marketing Week Engage Awards 2011, Telecoms & IT (finalist)
• Marketing Week Engage Awards 2010, Telecoms & IT (finalist)
• Digital Magazine Awards 2010, News & Business Magazine of the Year (Bronze)
• eCommerce Awards 2010, Best Use of Online Media (finalist)

Publicis Blueprint named Marketing's Customer Publishing Agency of the Year

13 December 2011
Publicis Blueprint has been named Customer Publishing Agency of the Year by top trade magazine Marketing. The agency, which works with brands including ASDA, Cath Kidston, Hewlett-Packard and Orange, was praised for its turnaround and its offer of "compelling branded communications and content across platforms".

Judges were also "particularly impressed by Publicis Blueprint's ability to work both as a lead agency and collaboratively with other agencies and suppliers globally". They continued: "Despite being one of the biggest agencies in the UK, Publicis also managed to be fleet of foot with innovation", they continued.

The accolade follows a stellar 12 months for Publcis Blueprint, which earlier this year topped the Marketing magazine customer publishing league table. It moved from fourth to top the table for the financial year 2010. ASDA Magazine was also named the UK's highest circulating title this year. In the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) figures for January to June 2011 it had 5.3 million readers.

Last month, Publicis Blueprint took home the Grand Prix at the Association of Publishing Agencies (APA) International Content Marketing Awards 2011. The agency won the top gong for its Orange Exchange online work, which also picked up the Best B2B Internal Digital Solution award. New business included the quarterly Heathrow Traveller magazine.

Chief executive Geri Richards said: "This is testament to the hard work of all of the team at Publicis Blueprint. We're absolutely thrilled to be named Marketing's Customer Publishing Agency of the Year — roll on 2012!"

Download the full article (pdf)