By Kelley Brackett

In today’s economic funk, many companies are searching for new ways to reinvent themselves to avoid losing business or even worse closing their doors.  Just last week, local nightclub, Buckhead Saloon, was forced to close after losing clientele to neighboring competitors.  In an area with many restaurants and bars its important to find your niche and stick to it.  If one approach isn’t working, try, try again (that can get expensive though).

That’s exactly what local eatery Fins and its renowned chef William D’Auvray did.  Fins, located at 110 East Davie Street, has gotten a face lift recently to compete with other downtown restaurants.  Formerly known for their exquisite seafood dishes with an Asian fusion, Fins is now reopening under the name Bu.ku.

In a sea of many, Fins has reinvented itself to compete with the hundreds of dining options in the Triangle.  The name Bu.ku originates from a French-Asian twist on the phrase “merci beaucoup,” meaning “thank you, very much.” D’Auvray aims to present global street fare from the four corners of the globe in an exotic, yet simple way.

Niche Marketing enables companies to identify a highly targeted audience, creating a unique business concept that allows you to emerge from the masses. As a former seafood restaurant, Fins had a target audience.  But by creating a unique concept, Bu.ku will attract a target audience that is open to ditching normal American fare and exploring cross-cultural cuisine.

Photo Source: viZZZual.com

By James Schlegelmilch

The continuing saga of disgraced governor  Mike Easley and his affiliates seems to be far from over.  Just hours before the indictment of former Easley aide, Charles Ruffin Poole, Lanny Wilson announced he will step down from the North Carolina Board of Transportation.

Wilson said in a letter to Gov. Bev Perdue, that he has “become a distraction” and will remove himself from the board.  Wilson was appointed to the board by former N.C. Gov. Easley in 2001, and again in 2005.  Wilson had testified before the State Board of Elections about Easley’s campaign finance violations.

Just this past Monday, Wilson announced that he will also be removing himself from the board of the N.C. Turnpike Authority.  This announcement comes as those involved in all aspects of the Easley debacle are pointing to Lanny Wilson as one of the “key money men.”

Indictments continue to roll in, and one has to wonder if traditional crisis PR tactics are going to be enough to restore the face of North Carolina politics.  As this situation continues to unravel, more and more of our state leaders are attempting to right their wrongs.  Crisis PR was created to handle these types of situations.  But with honesty and responsibility falling to the wayside, are PR strategies enough to restore North Carolinians confidence in our state leaders?

Photo Source: whoohoo120

By Audrey Beckett

As I read the News and Observer online this afternoon, I noticed the large headline GlaxoSmithKline Gives $1.5M to Morehead Planetarium. This grabbed my attention for a couple of reasons. First, $1.5 million is an impressive financial donation, especially during an economic slump. Second, as an aspiring public relations professional, I notice such acts of corporate social responsibility as examples of good PR.

GSK’s donation will go towards the conversion of the planetarium’s Star Theater from analog to digital technology. In the article, GSK explained it has a commitment to “making positive contributions to the communities where employees live and work and to invest in health and education programs.”

Under this criteria, the donation to Morehead Planetarium is certainly fitting. The planetarium is a frequent field trip destination for North Carolina students and offers a number of scientific programs and experiences for the community, such as the “Science in the Summer” program, also sponsored by GSK.

Following the article, I noticed a comment criticizing GSK for not pouring that $1.5 million into Haiti relief. I was bothered that the company’s good deed was being met with such criticism. After all, individuals should be grateful for the socially responsible corporations in our community.

This comment sparked my curiosity so I went to GSK’s Web site and found the following press release. Sure enough, the company has already given $1.4 million of medicinal aid to a number of organizations that are providing relief in Haiti. It has also committed $408,000 to the British Red Cross to aid in water and sanitation efforts in Haiti and is currently assessing requests from its partners to determine how much additional medicine it can donate to the cause.

The truth is that GSK is providing important aid around the world AND enriching the community around it.

From a public relations standpoint, an act of corporate social responsibility as the target of criticism is an extremely interesting situation. It emphasizes the importance of the PR professional’s adaptability to any given situation. GSK’s consistent communication and commitment to social responsibility is a good example of how unexpected challenges should be handled.

Photo Source: Ian Wilson

By Kelley Brackett

This morning, just as Haitians were regrouping after last Tuesday’s devastating earthquake, they were struck again with a 6.1 magnitude earthquake.  According to the Associated Press, an estimated 3 million people are in dire need of food and water.  In this time of need, the world is uniting to provide aid for Haitians.  Now is your chance to help!

Providing charitable donations to organizations and fellow human beings in need is not only the right thing to do, but also good for business.  Local organizations have stepped on board to show their support including North Carolina State University, Redress Raleigh, The Oxford, Pepsi Bottling Company, and many others.

Raising money for Haiti or donating supplies is a way to show your support in their time of need.  And like other charitable donations it can do several things to enhance your company’s image:

• Raise company awareness in the community
• Create opportunities for employee team building
• Communicate to current and future clients that charity efforts are important to you.

At the end of the day, you can rest with a good conscious, knowing that your company has contributed to a world crisis.  And don’t forget to spread the news!  Let others know the amount of money you’ve raised or the amount of supplies you’ve collected.  Your efforts won’t be soon forgotten.

Photo Source:  mulmatsherm

By Kelley Brackett

It’s official.  As of last Friday, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors unanimously elected William Randolph “Randy” Woodson as N.C. State University’s new chancellor.  Woodson, formerly serving as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs for Purdue University, is expected to serve his Wolfpack community more effectively than his predecessor-former Chancellor James Oblinger.

Oblinger was a source of constant media attention in his last days at N.C. State, as officials questioned his involvement in the hiring of former first lady Mary Easley in 2005 as well as his arranged pricey pay-out for State’s former provost.  As a public university, the scandal and its financial implications could not have come at a worse time.

The three critical steps of managing a public relations crisis are:

• Take ownership of the problem

• Tell the truth, tell it all and tell it fast

• The organization must take steps to correct the problem and publicy announce what those actions will be. 

Although, Oblinger may have tarnished his reputation as well as the university’s, he did accept responsibility for his actions.  In light of all the bad press, after a five year stint Oblinger recognized that stepping down from his role as chancellor would be the best thing for the university.

Moving forward, all eyes are on Woodson as he takes the reins. I anticipate with everyone keeping a firm grip on their wallets and an eye on state officials, Woodson will be under strict scrutiny in the months to come.

By Kelley Brackett

Greetings and welcome to a new decade!  I am MMI’s Social Media Intern for the semester.  As a college student, I am certainly no stranger to social media. But you’ll be happy to know that instead of aimlessly searching YouTube for content and constantly updating my Facebook status, the hours I spend on social media Web sites will finally serve a greater purpose!

I am in my last semester at North Carolina State University, majoring in communications-media with a minor in journalism.  I am a member of Lambda Pi Eta Communications’ Honor Society, an ambassador for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, a representative on the board of directors for  NC State Student Media, and I am in the University’s Honor Program.  I am also an avid State fan – Go Pack!

In the weeks to come, I look forward to blogging about public relations happenings in and around Raleigh.  Speaking of – did anyone else witness the extraordinary turnout for Raleigh’s First Night 2010?  Despite the rain and fog, thousands gathered to witness the historic acorn drop in Raleigh’s new city plaza.

With a new year ahead of us, and the world of social media continuing to expand by the day, I look forward to a wonderful semester at MMI Public Relations.

Photo Source: NC Genealogy