Another app, another season

Hot on the heels of the iPhone app we developed for the DRUM, we’ve unveiled another – this time for Style Birmingham. It’s been a busy few months since the summer shoot and we’ve been busying away on a number of different fronts. Here’s a well overdue update:

Going mobile

First up, the iPhone app. This is the first incarnation of what will hopefully become a great (free) tool for Birmingham shoppers. At present the app allows users remote access to directory data and news from the site, as well as guiding users around the city centre based on their location in Google maps. Before going to press the app has so far been downloaded over 100 times and we’re already planning a number of updates in time for the New Year.

Here’s the full press release:

Retail Birmingham has launched the first iPhone App designed to guide visitors around the city’s shops and entertainment venues.

The Style Birmingham iPhone app provides users with a directory of over 1,000 shops, bars and restaurants, access to news updates from the stylebirmingham.com website and full route planning through Google Maps. It is the first iPhone app in the UK to be developed on behalf of a city’s retail district and it is available to download for free.

The iPhone app is the latest in a number of promotional activities to market Birmingham’s shops and lifestyle destinations. For the second year running, a comprehensive shopping directory has been published, providing listings for all of the retail outlets in the city centre.

The recently developed stylebirmingham.com website also hosts a new day planner feature, allowing visitors to create a customised search of fashion and dining locations in Birmingham.

Kevin Breese, Chair of Retail Birmingham Marketing Group and General Manager of Harvey Nichols said:

“Birmingham has a great reputation for shopping, and attracts millions of visitors each year. With the new Style Birmingham iPhone app, shopping directory and day planner we want to make exploring the city and its fantastic retail offer as easy and enjoyable as possible.”

The press release also mentions a day planner feature which has recently been added to the site – this allows users of stylebirmingham.com to register and save a customised shopping route which suggests stores and activities based on users age, buying habits and shopping choices etc.

You can download the app here

AUTUMN ADS

In addition to the iPhone app we’ve also got another photoshoot wrapped up featuring the Autumn lines from Birmingham retailers. If you grab a copy of Style Birmingham magazine this month the shoot features heavily, or alternatively grab a taxi and look at the doors- we’ve been seeing them everywhere!

CHRISTMAS

Lastly, stay tuned for some exciting news leading up to Christmas – there’s some big stuff in the stocking!

383 Project unveils campaign for Sony TV Asia

We’re pleased to announce another great win for the team here at 383. We were commissioned by Sony TV Asia to design an outdoor and press campaign to promote Sony’s new TV channel package ‘Max Mix’.

The ads are designed to reflect the vibrant mix of Cricket, Bollywood film and news that will be available across the channels and engage audiences on a personal level through the use of quotes.

You can read the full press release over at The DRUM, but suffice to say we’re really pleased with this win and looking forward to working with Sony TV Asia in the future.

Cards on the table

There’s a nice article in the current issue of The DRUM which 383 Project were interviewed for. It looks at various agencies business cards and asks a simple question – what does the card say about you? Take a look if you’re registered with the site or have a copy of the magazine.

Urban Pie and Handmade Burger in Guardian Top 10

We were delighted to see today that two restaurants we’re very much proud of at 383 project have been featured in a Guardian top 10 list of restaurants in Birmingham. The icing on the cake was that Urban Pie (which we designed and have since produced all on and offline marketing for) was placed at number one. A big well done goes to the guys at both Handmade Burger Co and Urban Pie who make the food (which is obviously key!), but we’re sure the design helped a bit!

As an aside, a brand new Urban Pie has just opened this week in Leicester, so pop along to Highcross if you’re in the area.

New team for Style Birmingham

We’re pleased to announce that 383 Project has been appointed as the new creative agency for Style Birmingham. After a hotly contested pitch process we were delighted to be selected to work on the years campaign and are looking forward to getting stuck in to the brand, advertising and website relaunch in the next couple of months. A big well done also goes to the guys at rewired who’ve been appointed as the new PR agency. Here’s the full press release:

Retail Birmingham has appointed two regional agencies to carry out a new creative, web and PR campaign on behalf of the organisation and its brand, Style Birmingham.

383 Project and Rewired PR, both based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, were selected after a multi-agency pitch.

The campaign will include a re-brand for Style Birmingham, a fresh advertising creative, development of a new, interactive website, and year round PR, events and promotions to raise awareness of Birmingham’s retail offer and drive footfall across the city’s stores.

Retail Birmingham Business Improvement District was launched in 2007, and is a not for profit company representing over 1,000 retailers including Bullring, The Mailbox, Pallasades, Pavillions, Great Western Arcade and Picadilly Arcade.

Kevin Breese, General Manager at Harvey Nichols and chair of Retail Birmingham’s marketing group, said: “Retail Birmingham represents the entire spectrum, from designer fashion to leading high street names and independent stores.

“We wanted to appoint a marketing and PR team that would have the expertise, creativity and energy to support retailers through the current climate and maintain Birmingham’s leading position as the UK’s shopping destination of choice outside London.”

“Both 383 Project and Rewired PR impressed us with their original approach and ability to create fresh campaigns that will have real resonance for the city’s retail sector.”

John Newbold, Creative Director at 383 Project said:
“It’s an exciting time to be promoting the retail offer within the city. Building on our previous work with Retail Birmingham we’re keen to create a campaign which plays to Birmingham’s strengths and increases the brand perception on both a regional and national level.”

Ruth Ward, Managing Director of Rewired PR said:
“Having experienced Birmingham’s retail renaissance first hand over the past decade, it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to promote the city in this way. We’re looking forward to generating even greater interest in Birmingham as a shopping destination, from its big brands to the hidden gems.”