Apple’s secret scandal 

We all come into contact with Apple products at some point during the day, whether it be our smart phones, laptops or whilst listening to music. Apple has become a global super power with their trademark bitten apple recognised all over the world. 

Imagine my horror then when I read that such a trusted multi-billion international company is allegedly then avoiding tax. I mean it’s not like they are short of money. Apple’s accounts have been under investigation for months, but it has been reported they have dodged more than £30 billion in tax-avoided profit. 

How has such a massive company seemingly got away with this? It almost doesn’t seem possible, yet with a base in Cork, Ireland and the US it would appear they have discovered a loophole. Allegedly informing the Irish government they have a US address and base for paying tax and notifying the US they have an Irish address where they pay all taxes.

I am shocked that such a reputable company as Apple have apparently avoided paying tax on such a large amount of money. If there is some truth in these claims, will this change your opinion and persuade you to swap your Apple smartphone to a Galaxy phone and convert your MacBook into a notebook?

Competition is rife between the smartphones and no doubt companies like Windows, Samsung, HTC (belonging to Android windows) and Blackberry will be thrilled to see such negative PR surrounding Apple.  

Their PR strategy will no doubt be very different to Apple’s capitalising on their apparent dishonesty, trying to gain as many converts as they possibly can.

Apple on the other hand, will be in crisis management mode trying to save any loyal customers that might be slipping away. 

With such high prices that seem to represent Apple, what is there to stop people from switching to a more honest, better value for money brand? Let’s just hope Apple do the right thing if found guilty, face the music and promise change. 

Sarah 

Can you leave a band and become a success? 

With Take That Mark Owen the latest to announce another “solo” project, does going it alone work? 

Millions of screaming fans have been left devastated when popular boy and girl bands split. Can you remember the moment when Take That announced they were splitting up? Or when Spice Girls were no longer Viva forever?

Bands splitting up crush the fans, so imagine their delight when they find out their idols are continuing as individual solo artists. However, they gradually become increasingly disappointed as many attempts to launch these solo careers flop!

Does anyone remember Victoria Beckham’s single? I surely don't. Yet she was a member of one of the most successful bands of all time. Victoria’s PR team made a mistake when they brought out her debut single the same time as Kylie Minogue -  and she quickly disappeared off the solo singing radar. Was she always doomed to be unsuccessful in her solo career? (Lets face it her voice isn’t that great.) Or with the right PR team, could she have been another Beyonce? (Unlikely, but you never know.) 

Take Girls Aloud for example. One thing for sure, when looking for a PR agency to promote a solo career, I would go with Cheryl Cole’s PR backing over her band mates any day. Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberly Walsh have all attempted it with singles that have faded into the darkness and only peaked at number twenty in the charts.

Cheryl has come out on top, with three successful albums, a stadium tour and lucrative deals worth millions off the back of her “nations sweetheart” status – all thanks to her savvy PR team! (And she doesn't even have the best voice!)

Although few manage to break away from their band status, some have actually risen to the challenge. As well as Cheryl, Michael Jackson, Robbie Williams and Justin Timberlake all launched their own solo careers, and in fact are known more so for this today. 

Is their success all down to choosing the right PR company - to create the right image and release the right single at the right time for the member going it alone? Lets just see what happens with JLS, the most recent band to enter the pop graveyard! 

Sarah 

Beckham calls it a day

Just after the news Alex Ferguson is retiring from Football, Beckham drops a bombshell he is also retiring. Could this be a coincidence or simply Beckham wanting to overshadow Fergie?

The future seems bright for Beckham, although this is the end of his footballing career, it has been reported his unique appeal will last at least 20 years.  As after all he is the only English player to win championships in four countries.

Consequently for Beckham and his empire, companies will be competing and mithering Beckham to endorse their products or brand. But who will he choose? His previous endorsement deals range from Diet Pepsi, Samsung and Marks and Spencers.

So whats next for Beckham?  His own fashion range like his wife Victoria perhaps? Anything he does is sure to be a success, due to his large following and the icon he has become over his footballing career.

It is rumoured that Beckham is lined up with a £20 million role as an ambassador for sky television. As well as a £50 million deal which he has signed to become an ambassador for the Chinese super league.

Whatever ambassador or endorsement roles Beckham chooses, he is set to make a fortune out of his retirement. 

Hidden anti-abuse campaign

 Will the message encourage response? 

A new anti-child abuse campaign has incorporated a concealed messaged through cleverly using lenticular. This technique allows the poster to be seen in two different angles, a lower view for children under 1.3 metres and a different message for the adults.

This “secret” message to children reads, “If somebody hurts you, phone us and we’ll help”. Encouraging children to pick up the phone and respond if they are being beaten.  Yet the message to those taller reads “Sometimes child abuse is only visible to the child suffering it”

The large images used on the billboards are hard hitting and effectively communicate the message to both parent and child. Showing an unhappy child to the adult, and a beaten up child to the children. This billboard display can be seen as an affective piece of PR. As it is direct and persuades both parent and child to become aware of the situation they are involved in.

However is the widespread PR around the campaign seen as a negative?  As the billboard has had various press coverage in the news, for instance BBC and daily mail. It does bring up the topic of child abuse and enables people to come forward as there is an increase in PR around the problem of child abuse.

Yet with this coverage could it make the adults/abusers deter the child from ringing the helpline? Or distract the child from looking at the sign? It could be questioned that too much coverage isn’t always a good thing.

Branson’s airhostess transformation

Coincidence or a clever tactic?  

Just weeks after Virgin employees complained about their new uniform, describing their blouses as to “flimsy” and “revealing”, Richard Branson dresses up as an airhostess.  Is this coincidental or a clever PR stunt?

Although Virgin is dealing with the problem regarding the blouses, issuing vouchers for the employees to buy undergarments, so they don’t feel uncomfortable. This negative PR regarding employee’s discontentment could have an affect on the brand image.

But beyond that, Sir Richard Branson has taken matters into his own hands by dressing up as an airhostess on board a flight. After losing a bet with AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes a rival company to Virgin.

This adds to a list of Branson’s publicity stunts, which include driving a tank down New York’s Fifth Avenue, in 1998 to promote Virgin Cola. Or when he dressed up as Elvis Presley to promote the direct service from London to Las Vegas in 2003. Virgin is a regular feature within the press and Branson is a significant figure in the media.

So is this simply good timing, or is this a clever PR stunt burying the “bad news”?  It has not yet been revealed what the bet is. Virgin is being portrayed as honest and reliable as Branson is sticking to the wager. He is using his celebrity status to detract people’s attention from last weeks story.

 The attention of the original negative story regarding the blouses is almost forgotten, due to Branson. The face of the brand has turned a negative story into a humorous light-hearted way to promote his brand. And by making a joke out of the matter is he suggesting that if Branson can wear the uniform why can’t his employees? 

Sarah 

Are Celebrity endorsements overrated? 

Celebrity endorsements have become a popular PR technique, used to boost companies’ revenue and create large-scale publicity for a product or company. With the increase in reality TV stars like Kim Kardashian and Snooki, using celebrities to promote products has never been easier.

Companies see it as an opportunity to enhance products reputation. Take Virgin media for instance they wanted to use a well-known familiar face to endorse their product. Who did they choose? Usain Bolt and David Tennant, both popular faces to a diverse range of consumers. These characters both represent travel and speed, therefore can be seen as a positive representative for the brand. Virgin are indirectly comparing their product to these characters, letting the consumer visualise and compare their company with these characters.  Highlighting the speed of Virgin Media.

Can this method always be effective?  With the increase in celebrity endorsements such as make-up and gym advertisements, companies are opening themselves to a larger spectrum of criticism. Take L’Oreal endorsement of Cheryl Cole for example, the company was highly criticised and their sales were affected. When it was discovered Cheryl Cole was wearing extensions in the advertisement. Yet could all publicity be seen as good publicity?

Likewise celebrities like Kim Kardashian appear to be signing their name up to endorse almost any product. Is this publicity stunt ran its course? Or are the products being picked up purely because celebrities are supporting the company.  Would you still consider swapping your favourite brand and buying a product because Kim or Cheryl has been spotted using it? Or has this fad simply been overused.

However with competition between consumers considerably high especially within the economic recession, does a using celebrity to showcase your product or brand effectively work? I would consider this to have a positive affect within PR, as it gives your product an added feature and ensures larger press coverage, not necessarily always because of the product.

 Yet as the celebrity name comes alongside your product or company, the public begin to link your product with the celebrity. Dedicated fans will tune into your product and become regular consumers, due to the famous endorsement. Consequently creating an established household brand and name, increasing brand awareness.