Adam Ritchie Brand Direction

07/29/2024

"New business for Adam Ritchie: Adam Ritchie Brand Direction was hired by Worried About a Veteran to provide Idea Creation and Strategic Planning services as WAV expands from a New York State pilot program into a national initiative. WAV empowers loved ones to prevent Veteran gun su***de. The agency will be guiding WAV's messaging, partnership and media strategy, and developing signature Invention-based campaign concepts."

Story in PRovoke Media: https://bit.ly/3ym0tH1
Story in O'Dwyer's Public Relations News - odwyerpr.com: https://bit.ly/4dlh5gP
Story in Bulldog Reporter: https://bit.ly/4c2dWBB

06/28/2024

PBR's "180-Pack" is an Type 3, timed for the brand's 180th anniversary. Did they have to scour far and wide for a rare ingredient? No. They put a little more ink and cardboard into an idea they knew would earn media:

Pabst Brewing is betting that its 180-pack drives both sales and conversations this summer beer season.

12/25/2023

Capping off the Christmas countdown of the best examples this holiday season, we saved the biggest for last.

Part 5 of 5: IKEA's "Turkey-Sized Meatball" is a 10-pound version of its iconic Swedish meatballs, big enough to feed the entire family for Christmas, and an Invention in PR Type 3: Transformation.

It's earned category-busting coverage in the Washington Post, New York Post, Daily Mail and more.

Lingonberry jam and cream sauce are included, naturally.

12/24/2023

It's Christmas Eve, and we're in the home stretch of our Christmas countdown!

Part 4 of 5: Pizza Hut's "Reverse Delivery Doormat" is a QR code doormat you can purchase to gift your hard-working delivery driver $25 worth of food from Pizza Hut.

It's earned media on the TODAY Show, USA Today, People and a slew of local market broadcast.

Starting Wednesday, Dec. 6, Pizza Hut customers can order a Reverse Delivery mat and gift any delivery drivers with a free $25 gift card.

12/23/2023

Let's look at a Christmas that's super cute, but hasn't earned coverage outside the trades.

Part 3 of 5: Outback's "Koala on the Walla" is a fuzzy transformation of Elf on the Shelf, who judges if you deserve steak, launched with a funny original holiday song.

So far, the Koala hasn't left the walla in terms of coverage. Compare this to the GOAT plushie, Aflac's "My Special Aflac Duck," an animatronic friend from the PR brain of Carol Cone, which earned media around the world because it combined a lovable mascot with technology and a powerful purpose.

Every concept can be pushed to the next level. From "Aww" to "Wow." Pushing one step further, then another and another...until the idea goes from good to great.

Spotted in the wild by Chris McMurry.

Outback Steakhouse declares it Steakmas Season. And, this Steakmas Season the Koala on Walla is watching to see who deserves steak. To learn more and for a c...

12/22/2023

Continuing the Christmas countdown with the best examples we've seen this holiday season!

Part 2 of 5: Miller Lite's "Beercracker" is an Invention in PR Type 3 (Transformation) which turns a classic holiday nutcracker into a device that opens your beer bottles and cans. They went all-out on details like barley boots, a pilsner foam cape, hop leaf buttons, a beer can scepter and a removable hat.

A worthy follow-up to last year's "Miller High Life Gingerbread Dive Bar Kit" which was recognized in the PRWeek Awards and the PRovoke Media SABRE Awards!

The new festive product is inspired by classic holiday nutcrackers

12/21/2023

Domino's "Plowing for Pizza" is an service, offering $25K grants to towns for snow plowing, ensuring pizza delivery goes off without a hitch. A worthy follow-up to "Paving for Pizza" featured in the "Invention in PR" book from Routledge Books!

Ann Arbor-based pizza chain giant Domino's is helping cities plow snow with $25,000 grants to ensure warm pizzas are delivered.

11/22/2023

Preparing for launch! On-site with Level99 as we gear up for their expansion early next year. Hear Level99's Matthew DuPlessie interviewed on WGBH at 01:11:40: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/boston-public-radio-podcast/id923045032?i=1000635594658

11/20/2023

Even Snoop Dogg is practicing . "The Snoop Stove - Bonfire 2.0 Limited Edition Bundle" is an Invention in PR Type 2 (Creation) which kicked off with Snoop's cryptic announcement about "giving up smoke." If this were the first appearance of the Solo Stove smokeless technology, it would have been a Type 1 (Invention). So far, it's a name slapped onto an existing product, albeit with a clever launch. However, the brand promises more to come! Spotted by Brenda Manacas:

In an announcement made today, Snoop Dogg clarified that he’s partnered with the smoke-free fire pit brand Solo Stove to create a limited-edition fire pit bundle.

11/17/2023

Microsoft's Wonka-inspired edible Xbox controller, made of 100% pure chocolate and wrapped in a signature gold wrapper, is timed for the upcoming "Wonka" movie and is an :

You can win the edible device in the gaming company's new sweepstakes, which also includes a Series X console inspired by the famous confectioner.

11/07/2023

Every great begins with the vision of one person. Michael O'Connor Marotta of Knyvet gave out rotisserie chickens for Halloween and made the news several times over, giving Market Basket a surprise hat trick. Well done!

Michael Marotta purchased five rotisserie chickens at the Market Basket in Maynard for $4.69 apiece, "America's last great bargain."

11/06/2023

Thank you to everyone who attended Adam's Author Talk at Boston Public Library on National Publicist Day!

11/01/2023

Today is a big day for our LifeSpan client! They're launching a sleek office bike that charges your laptop and phone with its pedal power. The LifeSpan Ampera Office Bike changes the way we work at home and the office, and is already winning respected industry awards from respected outlets like Interior Design Magazine!
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231101184432/en/LifeSpan-Launches-Ampera-Power-Generating-Office-Bike

10/25/2023

Rick Astley and UK eyewear/hearing aid brand Specsavers rerecording "Never Gonna Give You Up" using the most amusing misheard lyrics -- with a call to action to get your hearing checked -- is an Type 3: Transformation:

Astley said he had been noticing issues with his hearing so decided to get it tested, finding he had suffered from some hearing loss - which he put down to playing the drums as a child and working in the music industry.

09/29/2023

On National Publicist Day, the Boston Public Library will host “Invention in PR” Author Adam Ritchie for a discussion on flipping the PR model from promotion to creation. The event will be held in the Commonwealth Salon at the Central Library in Copley Square on Monday, 10/30, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a book signing to follow:
https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/64fb2769fe001e3e00f1bbaa

08/10/2023

Today Adam shares the most important thing to do before launching a User Generated Content campaign with PR News:

User generated content (UGC) allows audiences to see people, very much like themselves, showcasing relatable stories and social media posts for products and experiences.

07/28/2023

In this week's "PR Roundup," PR News asked Adam about the Twitter -> X rebrand:

In this week’s PR Roundup we look at Musk’s rebrand of Twitter as “X,” how the Hollywood strike is crushing PR firms there and Muck Rack’s latest report on PR salaries.

07/26/2023

"The Cheez-It Stop" is a gas station that pumps Cheez-Its. This Type 3 is based on an insight that Cheez-It fans are road trippers and it's timed to capitalize on peak summer travel near a top destination 🧀:

Cheesy snack fans can actually drive to visit the Cheez-It Stop located in Joshua Tree National Park.

07/11/2023

"The Shinola Runlate" is an accidental Type 2 RF. On April Fool's Day, Shinola posted an image of a watch where every hour on the face said, "LATE." This week, they actually released the watch. Spotted by Matt Ragas from DePaul University!

The new Shinola Runlate Limited-Edition Watch, released in 2023, with expert analysis, specs, price, and photos.

06/26/2023

The Grand Prix winner in this year's Cannes Lions PR Lions was an . Doordash launched the "Self-Love Bouquet," a bouquet for single people to send themselves on Valentine's Day, containing 11 roses and 1 Original Rose by INYA vi****or:

DoorDash celebrated self-love on V-Day with vibrating roses. Celebrating all kinds of love on Valentine’s Day 2023, including self-love, the popular delivery...

06/12/2023

Kicking off NeoCon, the largest commercial design conference in North America with a category win for LifeSpan in Furniture>Health + Wellness. Congratulations team and thank you Interior Design Magazine! We're previewing their new invention at NeoCon Shows Booth #: 7-4012 at THE MART.

05/19/2023

The Oscar Meyer Wienermobile has a new name. See why Adam calls it "undercooked" in this PR News story:

This week's PR Roundup looks at a report from Muck Rack that includes new PR data, a glow up for the Wienermobile and the impact of Montana's TikTok ban.

05/02/2023

It's graduation season, and Adam shares a top ability he looks for in candidates with PR Daily:
https://www.prdaily.com/what-pr-managers-want-in-an-employee/

Most aren’t looking for skills — they want intangible qualities. With colleges ready to release a wave of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed new graduates onto the job market and more seasoned pros ready to make moves to increase their income and overall happiness, it’s a good time to talk about hir...

05/01/2023

Why did previous Bud Light engagement with the LGBTQ community not result in a brand crisis, but this one did? The founders of Adam Ritchie Brand Direction and Peppercomm discuss with PRWeek:

PR pros react to Bud Light putting two executives on leave after Dylan Mulvaney backlash. From PR Week

04/13/2023

Adam recently completed his third walk across the U.S. while doing PR. There's been a LifeSpan treadmill desk in our office since May of 2012 when we became their agency of record!

03/24/2023

Adam tells PR News what brands should ask themselves before getting involved with :
"If you're going to compete, be original. You're stepping onto the court wearing a branded jersey, and you get to design the ball you're about to shoot."

PRNEWS took a look at best practices for brand activations by Twisted Tea, DiGiorno and Hormel, focusing on the current March Madness cycle.

03/21/2023

Adam took a walk with O'Dwyer's Public Relations News - odwyerpr.com and shared how PR pros can come up with not just the campaigns, but the products themselves.

PR pros should be the ones coming up with new products and services instead of being called in after the fact to create a campaign for something that has no PR legs.

03/03/2023

What's the difference between "creative PR" and "Creative PR?" Adam talks on the latest episode of , Agility PR Solutions' series of conversations with its "favorite powerhouses in the PR and communications industry."

https://www.agilitypr.com/blog/post/pr-profiles/invention-in-pr-and-why-an-appreciation-for-the-absurd-is-an-essential-skill-according-to-adam-ritchie-pr-profiles/

02/28/2023

Today is the audiobook release of "Invention in PR," Adam Ritchie's guide to putting PR in charge of product and service development, from Tantor Audio. The content won "Best Thought Leadership in PR" in the PRovoke Media !
http://InventionInPR.com

02/22/2023

Adam will be kicking off , BU PRSSA's annual in-person district conference. The theme is "Looking Back to Move Forward," and he'll be sharing some of PR's greatest hits, including some Inventions in PR, of course!
https://www.pradvanced.org