Belvedere Vodka | Made With Nature
In fall 2020, H&S had the honor of launching Belvedere Vodka’s newest platform, Made With Nature. Belvedere Vodka is simply Polska rye and purified water, distilled by fire – no additives or added sugar. The brand believes in being natural and simple, which is so beautifully told through this incredible ad creative. And this is just the beginning for Belvedere.
Alice & Olivia x VW
Alice & Olivia couldn’t have their usual in-person gifting suite this year, so we partnered with VW to bring this fun fashion experience on wheels! The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas was custom wrapped in alice + oliva by Stacy Bendet’s iconic logo. The mobile gifting suite stopped by celebrity and influencer homes in LA last week, including Mindy Kaling, Jules Hough, Candace Cameron Bure, and more.
Check out some moments below of one of our most exciting events this season!
BACARDÍ | Halloween 2021
For the most non-traditional Halloween to-date, H&S embarked on an integrated PR, influencer and talent plan to hero the latest expression to join the BACARDI Rum Portfolio - BACARDI Spiced - as well as the limited-edition spooky bottle of BACARDI Superior, back for the second year in a row.
To make sure consumers knew that Halloween was not dead, we showed them all the ways they could celebrate from home with beauty tutorials from influencers who spiced up their partners and friends’ looks on Instagram. For more widespread buzz, we tapped Halloween superfan Vanessa Hudgens and her bestie GG Magree who held a cross-country virtual ‘spooky date night.
BACARDÍ | Spiced Rum
BACARDÍ® rum is breaking ground in the spiced rum segment with the exciting relaunch of BACARDÍ Spiced – an aged rum blended with natural flavors and spices for a bold, yet smooth taste.
Just in time for fall festivities and sports-watching season, the world's most awarded rum brand has drafted BACARDÍ Spiced into its robust rum portfolio as its reenergized power player to take on the competition.
We’ll be adding this flavor packed spiced rum to all our fall cocktails this season. Try out some of the team’s favorite and easy Rum, 2, 3 recipes below!
Spiced & Cola
2 parts BACARDÍ Spiced Rum
4 parts cola
METHOD: Fill a highball glass with cubed ice. Pour in the BACARDÍ Spiced Rum, followed by the chilled cola. Give it all a gentle stir. Garnish with a lime wedge..
Spiced & Ginger
2 parts BACARDÍ Spiced Rum
4 parts ginger ale
METHOD: Fill a highball glass with cubed ice. Pour in the BACARDÍ Spiced Rum, followed by the ginger ale. Give it all a gentle stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Volkswagen | ID.4 Electric SUV
Electricity is in this air!⚡️This week Volkswagen introduced its first ever electric vehicle in the U.S. market – the ID.4— a compact SUV with the environment in mind, the ID.4 is taking on its EV competitors with a well-equipped and affordable option for millions, not just millionaires.
STAEDTLER-Mars Limited | FIMO Leather-Effect Launch
H&S’ newest client, STAEDTLER-Mars Limited, is working with Michaels to launch the latest addition to the FIMO clay family in the USA - Leather-Effect.
The FIMO Leather-Effect clay can be used to produce crafts that look and feel similar to leather. H&S’ influencer team worked to coordinate the first ever FIMO Leather-Effect sponsored Michaels Community Classroom event with influencer partner, @kailochic (Kara Whitten), to show the clay in action.
A recording of the event is available at www.michaels.com/classes, and stay tuned for plenty more free, FIMO Leather-Effect sponsored Michaels Community Classroom events happening in the coming weeks!
Sign up for the next one at the sign-up link here. Happy crafting!
OMEGA | GQ August Cover Featuring Patrick Mahomes
The man of the hour, NFL star Patrick Mahomes stunned on the August cover of GQ sporting an OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra GMT.
Thank you to the GQ team and everyone who was involved in this amazing story!
Soundbites on Travel Trends
Excerpts from The PR Net,
In the mindset of American travelers—many just want to get away to the beach or visit their friends and family. We predict that domestic travel will top international as travelers get acclimated and COVID comes under control.
Max Buccini, Vice President at H&S
How can we maximize local travel while Covid is still an issue?
Domestic travel and more 'close to home' destinations will be the first areas to bounce back as U.S restrictions start to lift. Our client Booking.com found that more than half of Americans feel comfortable enough to plan domestic travel in the next 6 months. Most travelers are looking to rest, relax, and unwind, so short, quick trips to hike in nature, or visit a beach are going to be the most popular options.
Are there any elements within the travel industry that will thrive post-Covid – for example, the ultra-luxury market?
As a travel and lifestyle agency, our experiences ranges from brands like Booking.com all the way up to the luxurious such as Ian Schrager and Tropic Ocean Airways. Understanding where the industry stands right now, we are seeing some hesitations from consumers for mass transit. This is will lead to a slight rise in rental car demand or charter flights, as Americans in particular are just looking to get outdoors and reunite. In the mindset of American travelers—many of whom have been quarantined and socially distancing—many just want to get away to the beach or visit their friends and family. We predict that the trend for domestic travel will still top international for a little while as travelers get acclimated and COVID becomes further under control.
Two key trends we’re seeing both in travel, and also in a much wider context, are sustainable travel and equitable travel – that is, travel aligning with social justice. How you are responding to these trends?
Prior to COVID-19, there had been a rise in more mindful travel – especially in regard to sustainable lodging, and decreasing the negative effects of over-tourism, and this is likely to continue under the current climate. In fact, Booking.com even presciently predicting last year that 'second city' travel in 2020 would be a major trend and introduced new filters to help search for accommodations with sustainable practices.
What are some destinations that will be hot once travel reopens?
We have a unique advantage working as both the Agency of Record for Booking.com North America and Mama Shelter. While our focus for Booking.com remains keyed in on domestic travel, we are also getting a court-side view of how travel is unfolding internationally as Mama Shelter begins to reopen some of their properties. In both areas, travelers are looking to stay closer to home, so there will be a much larger demand for domestic destinations. Recently, Booking.com found the top domestics destinations for U.S travelers are: Orlando, FL, Myrtle Beach, SC, Miami Beach, FL, New York, NY, Las Vegas, NV. Mama Shelter’s reopening were also met with fantastic reception from their local markets, proving that there is an appetite for people to travel.
How are marketing & PR campaigns pivoting successfully during Covid?
As an agency with clients in the travel and hospitality industry, we have certainly had to be mindful and adjust some of our plans and approach. PR professionals must monitor daily to assess the current climate and be in touch with their contacts regularly to check and see if they are open to receiving pitches. Its always better to start a conversation, rather than send a pitch and come off as tone deaf, and so before we could launch a campaign, we had to ensure we had ears who were receptive. An example of a great campaign was Booking.com’s aspirational Wish List. The new data released by Booking.com offered some optimistic trendlines from consumers on the future state of travel here in America and across the globe. The number of “wish lists” created by users on Booking.com still shows a strong belief in the power of travel—even to hard-hit COVID areas like New York City. Demonstrating a true spirit of resilience across demographics, this hopeful outlook appears to bridge the divide of global borders.
ALICE + OLIVIA | #ShareTheMicNow
We are proud to stand with Stacey Bendet and our friends at alice + olivia as they #ShareTheMicNow with Julee Wilson. When the world listens to women, it listens to white women. For far too long, Black women’s voices have gone unheard. Not anymore. Let’s listen to their stories, their lives and their calls to action.
Be sure to follow along on Instagram, Wednesday, June 10th at 1pm EST!
OMEGA | World Oceans Day
OMEGA is committed to the protection of the ocean through their partnership with GoodPlanet Foundation and its founder, filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The collaboration has lead to award-winning documentaries and life-saving conversation projects, but the critical work continues.
To celebrate World Oceans Day, OMEGA is offering free access to a screening of Yann’s film PLANET OCEAN.
Volkswagen | 10 Movies Co-Starring VW Classics
Exhausted your movie options on Netflix and are seeking some suggestions?
We have a list of classic films and newer releases to add to your queue featuring Volkswagen. Models from the iconic car brand have made cameos in variety of movies, some you can guess and some you didn’t know about! The ten films listed below are available for rent on most streaming services, so settle in and see if you can spot these beloved cars.
The Love Bug (1968)
A down-on-his-luck racecar driver and his mechanic discover a white 1963 Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own.
Footloose (1984, 11)
When a teenager gets pulled over for listening to rock-n-roll in his yellow 1972 Volkswagen Beetle, he realizes his small town is overdue for some change.
Pretty in Pink (1986)
A high school misfit drives her light pink 1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia to the prom – a perfect accessory to her homemade, puffy-sleeved dress.
Happy Gilmore (1996)
The transformation of a hockey hack into a pro golfer takes many hilarious turns, including an attack with a white 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle.
50 First Dates (2004)
An art teacher suffering from short-term memory loss drives a sunny yellow 1973 Volkswagen Thing as she goes on dates around Hawaii.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
A dysfunctional family comes together as they road-trip to California in a yellow 1971 Volkswagen T2 Microbus.
Horrible Bosses (2011)
Three disgruntled employees plot revenge against their oppressive bosses from a silver 2011 Volkswagen Jetta.
BumbleBee (2018)
When a teenager discovers a beat-up yellow 1967 Volkswagen Beetle in a junkyard, she unwittingly brings an extraterrestrial civil war to Earth.
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (2019)
An actor's stunt double drives a baby blue 1964 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia as he struggles to find meaningful work in the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age.
Between Two Ferns: The Movie (2019)
In his quest to earn a show on network TV, a comedian drives his 2006 Volkswagen Passat wagon across the country, interviewing celebrities along the way.
Steinway WWII Piano
Sharing a fun Memorial Day fact! Did you know Steinway & Sons produced specially-built pianos for the American troops during World War II? Called the Victory Vertical or G.I. Steinways, the pianos were proudly manufactured in the U.S. before airdropped onto battlefields to provide a bit of relaxation. We hope you have a relaxing Memorial Day, too!
BELVEDERE | World Cocktail Day with Martha Stewart
On May 13th, Belvedere Vodka launch Quality over Quantity, a U.S. initiative to inspire mindful consumption and celebrate the brand’s all-natural philosophy and quality stance with an immersive mixology session with renowned lifestyle expert, Martha Stewart. Guests joined Martha and Belvedere Global Education Manager, Alice Farquhar on Belvedere’s Instagram channel to learn more about the initiative centered on mindful consumption, mix up cocktails and try their hand at creating the new superfood Belvedere Berry Zest cocktail. The half-hour session offered many light-hearted Martha-isms.
OMEGA | Coloring Book
To help pass the time these days, OMEGA watches has created a brand new captivating illustrated gallery for your inner artist! Each design takes inspiration from OMEGA’s rich history, from iconic timepieces to oceans, space and more.
You can bring OMEGA to life in full color here: https://www.omegawatches.com/coloringbook
WACOAL | NURSES WEEK
Wacoal National Nurses Week Donation
In honor of National Nurses Week which began on May 6 and International Nurses Day on May 12, Wacoal has committed to giving back to and supporting those who put their lives on the line every single day. To bring a little joy to nurses and medical professionals, Wacoal has donated thousands of one-size bras and underwear to hospitals and organizations across the country, including the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, DC Nurses Association in Washington, DC, Keck Medical Center at University of Southern California, Lenox Hill as part of Northwell Health Group in New York, New Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago, NYU Langone Health in New York, Overlook Medical Center in New Jersey and St. James Parish Hospital in Louisiana. As a sign of Wacoal’s appreciation, the company is donating Ultimate Comfort styles because one thing nurses and medical professionals should not have to worry about is their undergarments when saving lives. The comfortable styles provide support in and out of the emergency room – taking away one small stressor under the current circumstances.
BACARDÍ | Mojito Remix Contest
BACARDÍ Rum is challenging all at-home bartenders – and even some celebrities— to join the #BacardiMojitoRemix Contest, an Instagram competition that calls on consumers to put their own spin on the signature mojito recipe! Keeping the key ingredients of the iconic drink consistent – BACARDÍ Rum, lime, and club soda – the mojito remix leaves it up to budding mixologists to infuse this classic cocktail with their creative spin. The winning Mojito remix and the at-home mixologist behind the recipe will receive an exclusive virtual BACARDÍ rum happy hour DJ’d by MICK.
VW | COLORING BOOK
Volkswagen recently released a mini coloring book featuring a slew of six VW models – both new and classics – for artists of all ages and levels to personalize their very own Beetle or create a one-of-a-kind Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport! Whether you have kids at home and are looking for a fun activity to do as a family, or are a Volkswagen enthusiast searching for ways to help pass the time - simply download and print out the VW coloring sheets before grabbing your colored pencils, markers, or crayons to design the VW of your dreams.
Check out the coloring book here: http://newsroom.vw.com/vehicles/alleviate-stress-and-boredom-with-volkswagens-new-coloring-book/
Don’t forget to share your finished masterpieces with Volkswagen on Instagram by tagging @VW too!