N.J. BMA SPONSORS CONTEST
Business-to-business communicators in New Jersey have until Feb. 11 to enter their creative work in the 1997 Impact Awards competition sponsored by the Business Marketing Association of New Jersey. For information or to submit entries, contact: Sherry Hahneman, Sales Support Services, 114 Mayfield Avenue, Edison, N.J. 08837; or call 908/417-5601. (BMA, 201/890-1818)
A PR SHOE-IN
You would think it would be bad PR to have a celebrity accused in one of this century's most notorious murder cases linked to your product, but apparently O.J. Simpson still carries some celebrity clout.
Sales of shoes made by Bruno Magli have reportedly jumped about 30 percent worldwide in the past year. The FBI has alleged that the bloody shoe prints left near the slain bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were made by someone wearing size 12 Bruno Magli shoes.
PORTER NOVELLI RELEASES JAN. 30 STUDY ABOUT PC USAGE IN U.S.
One-third of Americans who now own a home computer plan to buy another PC within the next 12 months, according to a survey of more than 3,000 Americans by Porter Novelli, a PR house in New York. The finding was part of "The American TechStyles Audience Segmentation Project" - a study which probed the technology lifestyle patterns of Americans. (Porter Novelli, 212/872-8000)
HAYES ADDRESSES HOUSE OF LORDS IN ENGLAND
Roger Hayes, 1997 president of the International Public Relations Association, pinpointed during his inaugural address Jan. 27 at the House of Lords in England a new agenda for PR practitioners.
The eight areas he targeted include economic growth, emerging democracies, the World Wide Web, environmental concerns, education, ethics, evaluation of the effectiveness of communication and electronic media/communications. (IPRA, 1/561/996-8383)
REGIONAL RESOURCE FOR PR EXECS IN UTAH
PR practitioners in Utah have another media guide at their fingertips: the 16th edition of the Utah Publicity Source Book, which is available for $130 plus tax and shipping. (Utah Publicity Source Book, 801/596-143)
PR AGENCIES TO EXPAND THEIR OFFICES IN 1997
Colle & McVoy, a marcom agency headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., will open a new branch in Lincoln, Neb., in March.
The office will be headed by agency VP Sharon Stephan, who joined Colle & McVoy last year after working as an independent PR consultant. The address will be: Mill Town Building, 650 J Street, Lincoln, Neb. 69508. (Colle & McVoy, 612/897-7653)
Schwartz Communications Inc., a high-tech PR in Wellesley, Mass., will be leasing more than 18,000 square feet at Prospect Place in Waltham, Mass. The move will double its current office space. Beginning Feb. 10, the new mailing address will be: Prospect Place, 230 Third Avenue, Waltham, Mass. 02154. Phone number: 617/684-0070; fax: 617/684-6500. (Schwartz Communications, 617/431-0770; See Cyber PR feature in this issue for more information about Colle & McVoy and Schwartz Communications.)
KAMBER GROUP TEAMS WITH TRANSPORTATION COALITION
Washington, D.C.-based The Kamber Group will provide graphic and public affairs consulting services for the federal Transportation Construction Coalition, Washington, D.C. The deal calls for Kamber employees to create a series of advertisements on transportation policy issues. (The Kamber Group, 202/223-8700)