Dooley Communications - Public Relations - Advertising
Dooley Communications has moved. As of March 1, 2013, we’ll be offering public relations, corporate communications and media relations services from our new location at:
475 Beresford Ave.
Winnipeg, MB
R3L 1J4
[e] contact@dooleycommunications.ca
[p] 204-415-0688
We’re one of Winnipeg, Manitoba’s largest public relations agencies. We serve clients from across Canada with a special focus on the Prairies, northwestern Ontario and western Canada.
The story appeared in the front section of the Saturday Free Press
When Kane Biotech needed help launching a ground-breaking new pet dental care product, it turned to Fusion Communications Group to handle the marketing and branding. But Fusion recognized there was a public relations angle to pursue for the Winnipeg-based biotechnology company, so it turned to Dooley Communications.
“We saw there was a good news hook, so we called Dooley Communications to help us with the media relations,” said Florence Ozirney, project manager with Fusion. “They quickly came up to speed on the project and were able to put together a solid PR plan that meshed with the rest of the product launch.”
Kane’s plan was to launch its new product, StrixNB, at the province’s biggest veterinarian conference. The company wanted to market the StrixNB oral care water additive by selling it through the province’s vet clinics. The product helps fight bacteria and protects pets’ dental health. It also helps fight ‘doggie breath,’ which the media immediately recognized as a fun news hook. While Fusion worked its magic spreading the word to veterinarians, our job was to let consumers know that this innovative new product was on the market.
Photo from Winnipeg Free Press
Dooley Communications created a targeted list of media, industry trades and bloggers who were most likely to be interested in the story. We also recommended giving print photographers and television cameras something interesting to shoot. That meant organizing a photo and video opportunity on the vet show floor with Kane Biotech executives, a very obedient dog (thanks Fusion!) and a product demonstration.
Because the product was to be launched in Manitoba only, we were asked to keep our efforts targeted at local media. In the end, we were able to interest two of the most popular news outlets in the province – the Winnipeg Free Press, CTV Winnipeg. It was also covered by popular local news blog ChrisD.ca and earned mentions on social media as well as local radio and television morning shows.
The results were outstanding: Kane reported it immediately received multiple orders from vet clinics wanting to stock StrixNB. The vets were getting calls from pet owners looking to try the new product.
In the end, we feel it was a great example of how advertising and PR can work together.
Composites World Weekly was one of several prominent industry trades to cover the story.
When fire destroyed the Omniglass factory in early 2012, a lot of people wrote the company off for dead. But Winnipeg businessmen John Zadro and Leroy Dankochik saw potential in resurrecting the company, which was a North American leader in manufacturing fiberglass for windows and doors.
They purchased the assets and re-established the company as Omniglass SCT late last year inside the state-of-the-art facility owned by Zadro’s Structural Composite Technologies.
Even with its patents and processes, the company knew it had an uphill battle to get the word out that it was open for business. That’s how Dooley Communications got involved on the public relations side. Omniglass SCT was already working with Fusion Communications Group of Winnipeg on branding and marketing. They called us in to help with the media relations portion of the relaunch.
We quickly assembled a list of targeted media from across North America, including a large selection of trade publications, blogs and industry news sources. With the help of Fusion and Omniglass SCT management, we were able to write, edit and distribute a news release with photos and images to media across Canada and the United States within just days of getting the assignment. All of our efforts were done in time for Zadro to attend a major industry trade show, where news of the launch had already earned some attention.
The client was extremely pleased with the results of our efforts which earned positive mentions in multiple industry publications including Window and Door, Composites World Weekly, Door and Window, Glass Online and Plastics News. Local media also ran the story including the Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg Metro, CJOB and CTV.
Dooley Communications is proud to announce it is returning as a sponsor of the 2013 edition of Red River College’s Creative Communications Media Awards. As part of its Silver Level Sponsorship, Dooley Communications will put its name to the best Campaign Proposal of the Year award for second year PR students.
We’re always happy to support the great work done by Red River College and its Creative Communications program. We regularly accept students for work placements and speak to the public relations classes every year. It’s thanks in part to the program that Winnipeg has such a strong reputation in corporate communications and public relations.
11 teams get ready to do battle in Gingerbread Stadium
Breakfast Television's dalmation design takes shape
In December 2012, at Dooley Communications we took on the challenge of organizing a gingerbread house decorating contest… with a twist.
Instead of modeling their creations after houses, participants were encouraged to create tiny doghouses, in keeping with the business of our client, Petsecure pet health insurance.
The contest took place at The Forks in Winnipeg over the lunch hour just before Christmas. We secured eleven awesome teams willing to take time out of their schedules for a good cause, including Global News Winnipeg, Breakfast Television Winnipeg, QX 104 FM, Winnipeg recording artist Sierra Noble, 99.1 Fresh FM, Energy 106, CHVN 95.1 FM, 99.9 BOB FM, 92 CITI FM, The Winnipeg Humane Society and D’Arcy’s A.R.C.
The Winnipeg Humane Society team won with their Snoopy's Doghouse
Each team played for a pet welfare organization in Manitoba, competing not only to raise awareness, but for a $1,000 top prize which was ultimately won by The Winnipeg Humane Society’s Snoopy Christmas house.
After an hour of frenzied activity with icing, gingerbread, tiny toy dogs and lots of candy the participants stepped back to let the judges view their creations. Petsecure pet health insurance surprised them by awarding not only the best overall gingerbread doghouse, but also handing out four certificates of recognition worth $200 and making a $100 donation to each additional pet welfare organization represented at the event.
Singer Sierra Noble was joined by chocolate master Constance Popp
Not only was the event fun for participants, pet welfare organizations received a welcome boost to help them continue in their important work caring for someone’s future pet.
This was a complete turnkey event for our client. We handled all the details from booking the space and purchasing supplies, to inviting teams and creating certificates. It’s another example of how we use creative thinking to benefit our clients with positive publicity.
Petsecure Pet Health Insurance hosted the event and contributed their own themed doghouse (though they didn't compete for prizes)
Dooley Communications is very proud to welcome Jenette Westervelt (nee Martens) to our company as Account Manager in charge of the Western Financial Group and Petsecure accounts. Jenette is a wonderful addition to our team. We prize people who can write well, think creatively, act professionally and take care of the nitty gritty details. Jenette fits that description perfectly.
Prior to joining us, Jenette looked after the social media platform for the Winnipeg Foundation, one of the oldest and most prestigious charitable foundations in Canada. She created a constant stream of content including contest, videos, stories and graphics.
She has enhanced our own social media and writing capabilities, and brings to us the skills we look for to offer senior level corporate communications and public relations services to our clients across Canada.
Jenette holds a joint degree/diploma in communications from Red River College and the University of Winnipeg. She also worked with Parks Canada where she developed various marketing materials as well as a popular geocaching program.
Welcome to our growing team, Jenette!
Winnipeg as a hotbed for cutting-edge web and software app development? Well, yes.
One of our jobs as PR people is to keep on top of local trends. We noticed a growing number of app developers here so we suggested that one of our clients, Ford of Canada, should capitalize on it.
They agreed and we were immediately at work planning a Winnipeg, Manitoba stop for Ford’s national ‘Smart Tour’ to highlight technologically innovative features on its vehicles. We’re lucky to have a client that pushes us to think of new ways to engage the public. In this case, we knew Ford was on the look out for ideas from software developers to develop new ideas for its SYNC™ and MyFord Touch™ systems.
Our idea was simple: let’s invite local web developers to a presentation on what Ford’s engineers were looking for. So we set up a Skype seminar with Doug VanDagens, Global Director for Ford Connected Service Solutions.
Leading up to the event, we knew it was key to get buzz and people talking about it. We promoted the event through a variety of forums, including widespread media (television, daily papers, college/university papers, radio, etc.), social media message boards, Twitter, developer “meetup groups” and direct email pitches to independent developers, companies, and to university and college programs that might be interested in the event as well.
We invited Winnipeg app and web developers, media and tech enthusiasts including representatives from New Media Manitoba, MTS Allstream and DMT Development Systems Group Inc, to name a few.
Doug discussed and answered questions on how developers can get involved and submit ideas to Ford. Following Doug’s presentation, Michael Robins, MyFord Touch™ Facilitator, spoke about the upgrades to MyFord Touch™ and offered in-vehicle demonstrations.
In addition to achieving our main goal of spreading the word about Ford’s quest for new software ideas, we also obtained over 20 media hits for our client using social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook and secured interviews and articles with local television and print outlets. By making a global story very local, we were able to attract Winnipeg media who helped us reach a much larger audience with Ford’s story about being a technological leader.
For more information on Ford’s App Development go to: www.syncmyride.com/developer
We have worked with the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council for several years now providing a wide range of communications services from newsletters and website to media relations and event management. Recently, MCEC participated in a trade mission to China where it spoke to food buyers about the quality of Manitoba beef.
We supported the mission by creating business cards and presentations in Chinese and English.
Dooley Communications has built strong relationships with translators, designers, printers and many other vendors. These relationships give us the ability to turn projects like this one around very quickly.
Ahh, springtime… when a Winnipeg PR agency’s thoughts turn to having another crackerjack intern around.
We’re pleased to welcome John Gaudes (@johngaudes) to our fold for three weeks as he finishes his two-year Creative Communications program at Winnipeg’s Red River College. John is helping us on a number of accounts including doing some copywriting and media relations for Western Financial Group. He’s also going to help us publicize a Ford dealer event in The Pas, Manitoba, plus many many “other duties as they may be assigned.”
Neighbour was whistling for her dog. I reached for my iphone. Must change that!!
Looking fwd to yr 2 RT @DooleyComm @j_westervelt celebrated her 1 yr ann with @dooleycomm. Truth be told, we're the ones who are celebrating
RT @dooleycomm: @j_westervelt Just celebrated her 1 yr anniversary with @DooleyComm. Truth be told, we're the ones who are celebrating.
@j_westervelt Just celebrated her 1 yr anniversary with @dooleycomm. Truth be told, we're the ones who are celebrating.