Hello there.
THIS WEEK:
Welcome call, 9.30am 17th June. An onboarding call for new members or those in need of a quick refresh. Join live here.
PR Drop in session, 1pm 19th June. Your questions, answered. A casual drop-in call you can jump into whenever you need. Nothing too small (or too niche), and no PR topic is off-limits.
COMING UP:
Want to land a spot in Stylist’s Christmas gift guide? On 24th June, we’re hosting a members-only call with Stylist Deputy Editor Tom Gormer – the editor behind their coveted Christmas gift guides.
This is your chance to hear exactly what makes an editor say yes. Join live here.
Rosie & team PR Dispatch
Current Newsjacking Topics
How the hype around matcha is making a mockery of this deeply traditional drink →
A Spree change: from Berlin to Oslo, Europe’s urban swimmers take the plunge →
Boho patios are trending on Pinterest, and it’s easy to see why - this beautiful, eclectic look is so easy to achieve →
Oxford St set for pedestrian revamp →
Jump on these topics quickly to align your brand with trending conversations. Find out more.
In an Hour This Week
Refresh your founder story
Instead of packing your pitch with too much detail, share a link to your About page. Take an hour to revisit your founder story and update it with any key principles or values that really reflect what your brand stands for now.
Christmas gift guide guide checklist & hooks
Editors start making their picks as early as July, and the brands that plan ahead are the ones who
maximise every festive PR opportunity. This checklist gives you everything you need to get prepped,
from assets and timing to punchy hook prompts that help your pitch standout.
What to Do This Week
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90% of your PR efforts should be proactive.
WHAT:
Pitch to 5+ ‘Proactive Opportunities.’ Across product placement or profile press.
Follow up on last week’s pitches.
Why? Journalists often check their inboxes first when looking for products or businesses to feature.
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Core requests
Press requests offer great opportunities, though journalists often check their inboxes first, so proactive outreach is key. Around 10% of PR involves responding to these fast-turnaround requests.
Gift guide requests
Christmas gift guides ramp up from July to December. Dedicate extra time to these during the festive season.
.WHAT:
Check both core and gift guide ‘Request’ pages.
Only respond to relevant requests to ensure you are building positive press relationships.
Why? You’ll instantly increase chances of being featured because the press are actively looking for that certain product, comment, experience or opinion.
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The press often features brands without replying, so track potential coverage and quickly share mentions across your channels to maximize impact.
What the Press Are Working on in June
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Recently Updated
Current Request Opportunities
Current Gift Guide
Requests
Academy+ June Highlights
Product: Gift guide requests
It may only be June but with the first of the long lead Gift guides opening next month it’s time to start thinking ahead. This section covers everything you need to know about pitching to gift guide requests.
Affiliate links, simplified
New in the Academy+. We break down the world of Affiliate platforms to help you figure out what works best for your press strategy.
Pitch hooks
Standing out requires a strong opening. Use our press hooks resource to write pitches that convert.
What We’re Reading & Listening To
The science of gifting: a comprehensive guide for marketers
Racounter
Gifting is emotional, and strategic. Raconteur reveals how holiday shoppers are guided by sentiment, social dynamics, and timing. For eCommerce brands, understanding these behaviours is key to turning festive feelings into lasting loyalty and sales.
How brand preferences shift across the UK
Tracksuit
Tracksuit's "Brand Map of Britain" reveals that regional identity significantly influences brand loyalty in the UK. From tea to biscuits, local preferences highlight how geography shapes consumer choices more than age.
The hard sell: Datekin founder on its UK debut
Michael Epstein, co-founder at Datekin – the healthy pitted date snack brand – talks about the start-up challenges the business faced before its UK launch earlier this year.
