Creative media relations campaigns for Parrot, Faurecia earn accolades

Southfield, Mich., June 29, 2010 – Airfoil Public Relations, an independent public relations agency specializing in public relations and marketing communications for technology companies, was honored with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Detroit’s 2010 Renaissance Award for media relations in the communications management division for Parrot and in the multi-audience communication category for Faurecia.

The agency received the Award of Excellence for an integrated campaign conducted on behalf of Parrot and the launch of its AR.Drone, a quadricopter controlled by an iPod touch or an iPhone, at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Airfoil’s work with Faurecia also earned an Award of Merit in the multi-audience communication category for Faurecia Clean - The 2009 LA Auto Show. Airfoil developed the press kit content highlighting Faurecia’s “clean” approach to vehicle innovation and conducted press outreach surrounding the show, with more than 50 media interviews and more than 300 attendees at the press announcement at the show.

“Launching a product in a new industry and building buzz at a crowded, news-laden event are not easy tasks,” said Janet Tyler, Airfoil president. “In true Higher Thinking form, our team rose to the challenge and exceeded all expectations.”

Appropriately titled “Out of Nowhere,” Airfoil’s award submission for Parrot effectively showcased the disruptive and buzz-building impact the campaign had at CES. In advance of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Airfoil team created a strategic marketing communications program to build mystery and drive consumer demand for the AR.Drone. The launch drove more than 100 media briefings, 600 media mentions, more than 3,000 new Twitter followers, and was the most-viewed video on YouTube during the opening day of CES. The Parrot website also received a nine-fold increase of website visitors and received five Best of CES Awards from publications and industry groups like WIRED and Popular Science.

In addition, Airfoil was awarded the 2010 PRSA Silver Anvil Award of Excellence and Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation for the same campaign. Airfoil was also recently awarded platinum Hermes Creative Award for campaign.

Airfoil Public Relations is retained to provide media relations, digital media and marketing communications support for Parrot in North America, where it continues to support Parrot’s Bluetooth hands-free and designer collection product lines, including Zikmu Parrot by Philippe Stark wireless speakers and Grande Specchio by Martin Szekely Android-enabled digital photo frame.

About Airfoil Public Relations, Inc. (http://www.airfoilpr.com)
Airfoil, with offices in Southfield, Mich. and Mountain View, Calif., is an independent firm specializing in marketing communications and public relations for technology companies. Airfoil also serves a growing roster of emerging and established clients across technology segments in consumer, enterprise, healthcare, cleantech and automotive. The agency’s client solutions group informs and accelerates clients’ marketing communications, digital and social media, and brand strategy programs. Airfoil has been named a PRSA Silver Anvil finalist, Technology Agency of the Year by the Holmes Report and recognized as a top firm in numerous industry rankings. For more information about Airfoil Public Relations, please call 866.AIRFOIL.