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'Best press release ever' BBC tells PR agency

Delight for PR agencies is usually reserved for when their news releases secure clients positive media coverage.

But Springup PR, based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, was left doubly chuffed when its quirky media pitch itself hit the headlines after a BBC presenter said it was “one of the best press releases I’ve ever seen!”

Springup PR was keen to produce an eye-catching media pitch on behalf of Coventry entrepreneur Andy Fox, who heads car-servicing franchise iAutoUK.

During a phone call to Springup PR’s director Adam James, Andy Fox said he is often told he resembles Barack Obama.

This sparked the idea to distribute a quirky, well-designed A4 flyer to target media. It would include details of Fox’s business success, photos of Fox and Barack Obama, and the tagline: “Need opinion from a successful entrepreneur? Call Andy Fox – He’s not Barack Obama. But he knows about business.”

On receiving the posted flyer, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire radio asked Andy Fox to come into its Coventry studio for an interview.

While trailing the live interview on July 19, amused presenter Mollie Green began praising the flyer itself, laughing: “Andy Fox – he’s not Barack Obama. But he knows about business. This is one of the best press releases I’ve ever seen!”

James said: “I was recording the interview in the office, and my jaw almost dropped to my keyboard

“To have journalists praise your news release informally is one thing.

“But for a broadcaster to make your news release itself part of the story is quite another.

“Once I’d slotted my jaw back into place I must say I was rather chuffed. We do pride ourselves as being a PR agency composed of media insiders. So this proved the point!

“Our client was also happy, as we did secure him a 10-minute interview on the success of iAutoUK.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Springup PR .