Part of Our “Best of NHS Products & Innovations” Series…

As readers of our blog might recall from an earlier post, we previewed some features of Sears Blue Tool Crew following our time at the National Hardware Show. We mentioned the company’s obvious fresh spin on customer service with Social Media networking and the new Click-to-Call element on the Sears Blue Tool Crew website. These are the efforts Sears is making to enable its customers more interaction with the tools and brands the company carries. And, Sears carries a robust selection of power and hand tools, more than 30,000 tools from 400 national brands like Craftsman and the newest in-store addition, Hitachi.
The National Hardware Show was the venue at which Sears announced the addition of Hitachi products to the shelves of its vast tool department. Hitachi’s high-powered HXP lithium-ion battery technology proves the superior and innovative design for which the brand is known. This HXP battery technology is featured in many of Hitachi’s power tools like the Micro Series’ Driver Drill and Screwdriver, both of which provide exceptional results in smaller packaging. A great thing about a new line like Hitachi merging into the Sears family of products is that the Blue Tool Crew will be available to provide expert advice and service to customers using not only the Hitachi tools, but also all Sears tools in general.

Blue Tool Crew members serve many roles to customers, a matchmaker between shopper and the perfect screwdriver, a knowledgeable expert on drill bits, even a middle person for a consumer’s pick-up order. Customers can order online then drive to the nearest store, and a Blue Tool Crew member will deliver the order within five minutes, the “Guaranteed in 5” service. We love how available these services are for online shoppers as well. The Click-to-Call feature on the website connects to a Blue Tool Crew member either by allowing the shopper to dial 1-877-4BLUCRW or request a call back. Or, people can tap into Blue Tool Crew’s Facebook, Twitter or YouTube for engaging ways to become tool experts.

Sears’ Blue Tool Crew is making high-level products coupled with information and support readily available online, by phone and in person. This modern system of interfacing with customers is unique to the industry, and it addresses today’s younger demographic of homeowners who face their days in a hurry, with too much to do, and not enough time in which to do it. In short, the best part of the Blue Tool Crew is super-fast product information in real time and easy-to-get help from real people.

In our day-to-day article writing for editors and ongoing public relations work in the home, garden, design, homewares, and hardware categories, we have experienced various branded programs intended to supply product information and relational support to customers. But, none has been quite as impressive or wide-ranging as the Blue Tool Crew. Our hats are off to the folks behind the brand and this truly innovative initiative, which is why it was an easy decision for us to include the Blue Tool Crew in our “Best of Products & Innovations” series. – Editors and producers, comment below or contact us with your feedback and questions. The Blue Tool Crew would make for a solid expert resource to share with your readers, listeners or viewers.

~ Don and Jeff

Part of Our “Best of NHS Products & Innovations” Series…

We continue our series by showcasing a viable, safe and eco-friendly alternative to traditional herbicides called Clear Choice. And, during the summer season of cookouts and backyard play, the last thing consumers want to worry about is pesky weeds or the harsh spray covering their yards. The brainchild of Petro Canada Lubricants, Inc. (The world’s largest manufacturer of white oils), Clear Choice offers lawn and garden consumers the option to effectively knock out over 60 types of tough broadleaf weeds with a spray that has dramatically reduced chemical loads.

With more and more lawn and garden consumers aware of the harmful dangers that chemicals in weed killers exude, Petro-Canada developed the Clear Choice formula with pure synthetic isoparaffins and technologically advanced surfactants. This means that the smaller particle size formulation allows for easier absorption by the pores of the weeds, making Clear Choice as effective as traditional herbicides. And, the low odor of the spray and the ergonomic design of the bottle are two additional features that make us enamored with Clear Choice.

~ Jeff

Part of Our “Best of NHS Products & Innovations” Series…

Innovative quality shade at value prices. That is the tagline for the Shade Made Easy umbrella products: easyFlex, easySide and easyUpDown. These three shade solutions feature Shade Made Easy’s simple opening and closing technology as well as quality materials. The combination of superior manufacturing and beautiful design makes creating shade in any outdoor environment a breeze. In particular, these shade options are value-priced, making them quite attainable for homeowners. So, retailers, distributors and dealers, take note of these fantastic products from the National Hardware Show. I am sure you will be hearing a lot more about them in the near future.

The easyFlex wall umbrella allows for sun protection all day long and then conveniently folds right against any wood, brick or concrete to which it is attached, maximizing outdoor space and making winter storage hassle-free. Space-saving when needed, this umbrella product truly is shade made easy, as it allows for shade even when the sun changes position throughout the day.

Next, the easySide umbrella collapses above standard table height and requires one quick touch to open or close, making it a functional addition to patios. Whether used for a lounging area by a pool or to cover an outdoor dining space, the open-close motion supplies versatility and ease-of-use.

Finally, there is the easyUpDown wood umbrella. With its Indosian hardwood pole, quick-touch design and square or round canopy top, easyUpDown is made to fit any standard table or to stand alone. For beachside homes or just in the back yard, the basic up-down function is often most practical and necessary. This option is convenient and offers a touch of elegance as compared to so many umbrella selections on the market.

Based upon the shade product feedback we receive from our media contacts, we believe this “Best of…” will hold high interest for editors and their readers. And, see Shade Made Easy’s website, www.shademadeeasy.com, for more information and options for fabric and color.

For those interested in a higher-end designer and more fashion forward shade line, ShadeScapes Americas provides North American luxury home and contract markets with designer shade solutions, www.shadescapesamericas.com. – Media members, comment here or contact us through phone or email with any questions or for high-resolution images.

~ Sarah Kate

Part of Our “Best of NHS Products & Innovations” Series…

We continue our “Best of” reviews for products and innovations from the National Hardware Show last month with an invention from Rapid Tools called the The Rapid Shark. Aptly named, this ferocious tool combines a utility knife and wire stripper into one. The knife and stripper have been cleverly combined in a rugged yet ergonomic case, about the size of a standard utility knife, with a one-button blade change feature and storage in the body for four blades total. Wow! Rapid Tools has definitely made The Rapid Shark a worthwhile tool to have inside any toolbox. We also have to note the two different models available, the original Shark with stripping holes for AWG 10-18 wires and the Big Bite Shark for larger AWG 6-12 wires.
With a whimsical design yet powerful features, what an amazing product spotlight this tool could be for any interested editors! And readers, feel free to leave any thoughts below. – Next week, we have a few pretty incredible hardware and homeware products to feature, so stay tuned.

~ Sarah Kate

Part of Our “Best of NHS Products & Innovations” Series…

As many of you already know, we spent time blogging and writing articles about “Sneak Peeks” for the National Hardware Show that took place in Las Vegas, NV, May 4-6. While there, we scoured the trade show floors to develop a long list of products and innovations to share with everyone as our newest series titled, “Best of Products & Innovations”. With interviews we have conducted along with in-person and online research on the part of our team, we’ve narrowed our selections down to feature some remarkable items. Our showcase begins today with…Black Flag brands.

Black Flag introduced us to its powerful new indoor / outdoor pest control formula in a 1.33-gallon high-performance pump spray that protects against more than 40 different pests. We found it to seem easy, affordable, and most importantly, effective.

The pump spray boasts a 10-minute continuous spray after just a dozen or so pumps. The concentrate itself is not only fragrance-free but also non-staining, so it can be used indoors as well. This saves a homeowner the costs of hiring outside pest control services, since to spray with the Home Insect Control product costs less than 20 dollars, incredibly affordable for any DIYer. With this product, the company has made pest control easy and doable for homeowners, even those with a fear of the little critters.

For more information, visit www.blackflag.com. – Members of the media, let us know your questions or feedback.

And, stay tuned for more “Best ofs…” from the National Hardware Show.

~ Don & Jeff

One of the notable things This Old House does extremely well is reinvent household, home ware and hardware items. Its TV hosts and magazine / online editors and writers are exemplary at finding alternative uses for common household objects. The case in point refers to a common garden hose and 10 creative uses for it, other than its typical function of watering. Some of this article’s highlights for us include the “Gird the Garage” and the “Grip Buckets” (pictured below) tips.

To protect a car and a garage from unavoidable dents and dings from a driver-in-training, This Old House suggests screwing lengths of hose at bumper level to absorb the blow. And then, note how handy a hose can be as a better grip for a bucket handle. TOH contributor Jeanne Huber even shares her idea of linking hoses to relocate an outdoor spigot to a convenient location.

We hope other editors and home improvement industry leaders are as enamored with these pointers as we are. See the rest of the article: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1607708,00.html

The TOH article is one incredible example of ingenuity with products for homeowners. Nice job, TOH!We have some additional “tips” ideas based upon other, similar products. – Members of the media, for a unique set of tips related to home wares and hardware exclusive for your readers or viewers, contact us anytime. Our mix of clients and sources could make for a great new article of tips with exclusive content.

~Sarah Kate

“We surf the Internet. We swim in magazines.” This is the current tagline for one of the largest print advertising campaigns created by the leaders of five foremost magazine companies—Charles H. Townsend of Condé Nast, Cathie Black of Hearst Magazines, Jack Griffin of Meredith Corporation, Ann Moore of Time Inc., and Jann Wenner of Wenner Media. “Magazines, The Power of Print” campaign will be seen as an ad in nearly 100 magazines across the industry as well as online, reaching nearly 112 million readers per month. The concept is simple yet empowering; magazines are a vital medium in our culture. Despite the common notion that print is dying out, magazines are actually thriving due to continuous consumer commitment. The publishers point to data from Mediamark Research & Intelligence that shows magazine readership has risen 4.3% over the past five years.

We, as a PR firm that is constantly interacting with print, enthusiastically support this campaign. We continuously write for and submit to magazine’s editorial staffs because the depth and lasting quality of print offers an amazing harmonization with the internet. Yes, times are changing and media is evolving, but we don’t believe there can be anything that replaces the powerful physicality of print. We write byline articles for over 125 magazines each year, many of which are in printed formats. Our select syndicated campaigns publish in between 50 and 300 newspapers. So, believe us when we say that print is alive and well.

There is something utterly divine about skimming your fingers over the glossy pages of a magazine or rejoicing at a new month’s issue arriving, bright and unscathed, in the mail. “Magazines continue to resonate on many levels with consumers, and this is reflected in the enormous trust and value readers have for their favorite titles,” Griffin says in the campaign’s press release.

As much as the campaign is geared towards consumers, it targets advertisers and industry influencers. “There’s a reason magazines are such an enduring and engaging media force. The format showcases our rich content and our advertisers’ brand messages like no other medium,” said Townsend. And according to Affinity’s VISTA Print Effectiveness Rating Service, 2005-2009, magazine effectiveness is growing. Ad recall has increased 13% over the past five years. Action-taking—based on readers recalling specific ads—increased by 10%.

For more information about “Magazines, The Power of Print” and for a full list of interesting study findings showcasing exactly how popular print magazines are today, visit http://www.magazine.org/NEWS/magazines-the-power-of-print-campaign.aspx. Or better yet, flip open a magazine; the ads say it all. – We send our thanks and support to the publishers in mention. Keep up the great work you are doing, and let us know if and how we can assist you.

~ Sarah Kate and all of us at ECPR

The ECPR team is excited to report we have been chosen by The Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of Atlanta’s Top 20 Public Relations Firms. The list of top firms was published in last week’s (May 14) edition and will also be included in this year’s Book of Lists, 2010-2011. While our clients are corporately located across the United States and Canada, our office is located in Midtown Atlanta. So, in this round-up of top public relations firms, we were ranked as part of Atlanta’s Top 20.

The list of top firms noted the success of our social media services as a significant achievement. Indeed, we have burned the midnight oil many nights to create what has evolved into one of the most successful social media service programs to date.

Many thanks to our internal staff and extended team members for your hard work and daily service. We couldn’t do it without you. To the leaders and companies in the Home, Garden, Design, Agribusiness, Landscape, Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Furniture, Hardware, and Homewares Industries, we send you our thanks for your support of our firm at events and conferences. Last, but certainly not least, thank you to our clients for your trust in our services and ability to represent you to the media. It is a privilege to serve you.

Here’s to a positive, productive and prosperous year for all of us!

~ Jeff & Don

The Sears Blue Tool Crew hosted one of the most informative (and fun) events we’ve attended at a trade show in some time. Thanks very much, Sears! – Publicizing products and services for clients manufacturing / selling home wares and hardware for years has exposed our team to some of the best products and brands on the market. We have spoken at and attended many trade shows, conferences, and events. But, there was something very different and special about the Sears Blue Tool Crew party, which was our pleasure to attend. The Blue Tool Crew staff members did an amazing job of combining a traditional PR event with new forms of social media, such as Twitter, videos, visuals, sights, sounds, etc. The result was a very cool vibe, a nice break from a busy day on the show floor and educational seminars. With multi-media, they treated attendees to a physical and online display of the many tools and brands they represent.

Check out the video below, and catch a glimpse of Jeff and yours truly, as we headed into the event ready for a great time with the Sears Blue Tool Crew. Then, read more below…

About our NHS “Best of Products & Innovations” series…

We are excited to report that we have chosen the Sears Blue Tool Crew and its select products as our top “Best of Products & Innovations” pick for our upcoming article and social media series. We’ll be featuring the Blue Tool Crew information and a few related products and brands that make this creative approach so unique. For now, we’ll just say they make finding tools and quick help for home repairs and remodeling nothing like our grandfathers’ home improvement methods! – More about this soon…

Before clicking to another page, take a minute to get up to speed regarding our NHS coverage… We have received a great number of positive responses about our National Hardware Show “Sneak Peeks” which we published on our blog leading up to the National Hardware Show, May 4-6. Many of you told us you enjoyed the NHS exhibitor products we posted on our Facebook Fanpage and Flickr photo-story pages. And, thanks to everyone for following our tweets from the NHS show floor. The initial feedback from our media contacts indicates strong interest in having some of the products featured in various trade and consumer publications. We’ll be including NHS products in articles assigned to our staff during 2010 as well.

If you haven’t read the “Sneak Peeks,” scroll down and enjoy learning about at least a few of the incredible innovations from the show. At the bottom of each blog page, select, “Older Posts” to continue reading them in reverse order. And, come back to our blog often and read our ongoing series of “Best of Products & Innovations” articles / posts, all of which will be linked to about 125 online media outlets. – Comments from retailers and requests from the media are always welcome.

~ Don

The 8th annual BKLYN Designs (interior furnishings and products) event took place this weekend. It was hosted by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. On display were original furniture, accessories, lighting, textiles, wall coverings, and flooring. The pieces were by designers from Kings County, New York. Three, in particular, we wanted to point out to our Fanpage followers include the Vice collection by KWH featuring a high-design bar cart; a line of maple and walnut children’s furniture that is eco-friendly; and Asha Carpets’ new designs of its hand-spun / hand-woven wool carpets and rugs. The editors of Interior Design magazine created a product photo slideshow at the following link, and we hope you’ll take a few minutes to view it. You’ll likely be seeing more product inspirations from these companies in 2010. And, for all you interior designers and home furnishing retailers, we know you like to be inspired by a bit of refreshing design and product innovation this time of year. Enjoy the slideshow: http://bit.ly/cq4Cpz

~ Don