ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS

Essence is a unique communications company which combines the relationship management skills of PR and events with the rigour of big brand marketing. Whether it's running a big event or producing an advertising campaign, we focus on the application of true strategic and creative excellence to all of our core services. Thats how we get to what's important, the very essence of things. We believe that, if it's out there we'll find it and make it work for you. We are a communications agency that has been developed to service individuals and organizations in today’s interconnected, brand-oriented and lifestyle-based environment.

Essence is built on creative energy and professionalism. We deliver:

- Communications

- Strategy

- PR

-Events

- Sponsorship

- Branding

- Advertising

-Design

WHAT WE GET UP TO:

COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY

At Essence we believe that this is the glue that holds a successful communications project together. It requires an intelligent understanding of the market and a clear view of the objectives. Whether the strategic planning process arrives at a real insight or even just an informed point of view it adds value and enhances the creative output PR Reputations are often won or lost in the press. Giving the press what they want when they need it comes down to strong relationships with the media. Getting the right coverage in the right medium is all about having a real and genuine understanding of the medium and of who consume it. Essence have both the relationships and the understanding. We work proactively and reactively to deliver informative and well written pieces that will ensure you are portrayed at all times in a positive light.

metropolitan

como hotels www.como.bz

the met bar www.metbar.co.uk

Oakley www.oakley.com

tabernacle www.tabernacleshorditch.com

vapiano www.vapianointernational.com

graphic - golden square

american retro

paramount www.paramount.com

zoe tees

my lovely jean

cafe de paris

the sunday night project

amy winehouse

linzi stoppard

natt weller

nicky taylor

melissa porter

les nereides

rodo

jo jo and malou

bbc

channel 4

dont tell the bride

let them eat cake

jodie harsh

satay house

barcelona tapas

bourne and hollingsworth

prohibition

the brown horse inn

EVENTS

Essence has a reputation for putting on great events which get great media coverage. The elusive and essential 'Wow' factor is a core component of every event we create and manage. In addition, our strategically based approach ensures that it is 'relevant wow'. We specialise in medium to large scale events designed to meet your specific PR goals and communications objectives. These range from a St Moritz themed private party to taking over Soho House for Soho Pride, closing off Bond St, carpeting the road, and putting on a Hollywood style Oscar party. We take care of every single detail- you can be as involved as much or as little as you want.

SPONSORSHIP

It's no longer just question of brokering deals. It's about getting the right deals that say the right things to the right people in exactly the right environment. It's complex stuff, but more important now than it ever has been. Get it right and it can be the cornerstone of your brand experience, get it wrong and it's a millstone around your neck.. Our approach and our expertise are designed to get it right for you.

BRANDING

Ask people what a brand is, and they may well describe a corporate logo, but what makes up your brand is everything about the way you do business. The need to deliver a clear and consistent message is essential in a crowded market place, and defining your brand is the foundation of this. We will create or update your brand so that it delivers the right message at all times. We challenge and examine every aspect of what you do, to get to the essence of who and what you are. The Essence brand model gives you a clear personality, conveyed in a brand manual, with succinct clear processes to ensure continuous connection with your market.

PERSONAL PUBLICITY AND MANAGEMENT

In an era where celebrity has become diluted, we can ensure you are seen at the right places, mixing with the right people and, just as importantly, make you invisible when you want to be. Managing your profile with the press is an ongoing process that requires careful planning and implementation. It is not enough to be purely reactive; we spend a great deal of our time being proactive on behalf of our clients, creating opportunities to enhance their profile.

ADVERTISING

Not as straightforward as it used to be, but in a multi channel world it is still packed with opportunities for those who take a strategic approach. Now, more often seen as part of the communication matrix rather than the dominant player, it can still have a crucial role to play in kick-starting or raising the profile of a communications programme. At Essence, our people and their experience reflect the wider opportunities that have arisen in modern communications and we seek to utilise these to create audience engagement that will have a real effect on our clients business.

WHO WE ARE:

SIMON RAYNER

Managing Director

Before becoming a Managing Partner at Essence, Simon Rayner gained valuable experience in a number of areas of PR. He began his career in the International Marketing Department at Paramount Pictures as an event manager and publicist, working on both international and UK launches, film premieres and press junkets for films such as Mission Impossible II, Vanilla Sky and Tomb Raider. 2002 saw a move to Purple PR to head up their events division. Projects included the opening of Asprey's Bond St. store, Jade Jagger’s 1st anniversary at Garrard, Burberry Brit fragrance launch, Yves Saint Laurent store opening and a London Fashion Week event for Matthew Williamson. He now concentrates on events and personal PR, and when not managing Essence, Simon enjoys walking his dog, Bob, (featured on our home page).

MICHELLE DANAN

Managing Director

Prior to becoming a managing partner of Essence Communications, Michele worked for over 10 years as a Strategic Planner in leading London agencies. She began her career at Ammirati Puris Lintas responsible for strategic direction on Unilever and Vision Express. She moved to St Luke's in 2001 and spent five years at what was one of London's most innovative and forward thinking agencies. Amongst other things, she ran the successful re-launches of Emirates Airline and Quorn. Michele worked with Nick Welch for numerous clients including Greenpeace, euroffice.co.uk and Movies 24. In an earlier existence she managed the Soho Brasserie and ran her own art gallery. When not at Essence, working with clients such as MyWorth and Go More, Michele is often to be found with her horse, Lullaby.

NICK WELCH

Creative Director

Prior to becoming a partner at Essence, Nick worked for over 20 years as a Creative Director and copywriter at London agencies such as JWT, BBH, Ammirati Puris Lintas and CDP. He has worked with an enormous variety of clients in all major product fields. He has also worked in PR, journalism and communications consultancy. He has extensive experience of delivering creative communications campaigns through many different channels, and at all levels of expenditure. Shocked to discover that he is known at Essence as the 'mad professor', Nick is responsible for all aspects of the creative output at Essence, ensuring that lateral thinking, flair and originality are ever-present.

ANNA SHARP

Events and Sponsorship

Anna's background was originally in live television production where she worked for a number of years for leading companies such as Endemol, ITV and the BBC. Her move into advertising led to a fantastic experience working in theTV and radio department at M&C Saatchi. However Anna maintained a desire to get back into event focused activities. After freelancing on various events as an event manager, marketing and sponsorship manager, Anna has settled at Essence to head up the events and sponsorship departments. Anna lives in Camden but will happily dance anywhere on the planet.

ANNA KAPRANOS

Venues Director

Anne has worked in food, drink and lifestyle PR for 4 years, planning and undertaking successful press campaigns for a number of varied clients in the club, restaurant and event sector including the Cuckoo club, S&M Cafes and Art London. Anne also has a great deal of experience in event planning, having organized product launches, large scale charity dinners, comedy shows and music events, as well as co-hosting a regular successful club night. Amongst the London-based PR clients she presently handles are Bournee and Hollingsworth, Barcelona Tapas and Mokssh. Anne is slightly addicted to Tangfastic Haribo mix, but is otherwise virtually vice free.

ROSE LANGLEY

Fashion PR Executive

Rose has already gained experience in many different areas of fashion, from working on magazines such as Tatler to modeling for Vogue and even working as a shop assistant at Anya Hindmarch and Pickett. Rose now helps to manage Fashion PR at Essence Communications and works full time on a number of our fashion accounts including American Retro and Jojo &Malou.

WHAT WE'VE DONE:

At Essence, it’s all about chemistry so we work only with clients in whom we truly believe. As a result, we share a genuine passion for our clients’ goals and their desire to succeed. And the clients we work with have the same philosophy as us. We care about working with people who not only appreciate the fact that we give it our all but who put as much effort into making the partnership work as we do. In the same way, people who join Essence do so because they share our outlook – energetic, professional, passionate and fun-loving. There is no-one at Essence for whom working here is ‘just a job’.