Burnley Business sweeps the board at last night’s Oscars

Oscars accolade for Burnley’s global leader in sound engineering

A BURNLEY based digital technology business specialising in sound engineering last night enjoyed huge success at the Oscars.

The prestigious ceremony – watched by a global TV audience in excess of 150 million people - saw massive success for films associated with AMS Neve. Winners that used AMS Neve’s technology included The King's Speech, Inception, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, Black Swan, Alice in Wonderland and True Grit.

Notably, Inception won 2 Oscars that are especially pertinent to AMS Neve, given their expertise - Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing. The sound for Inception was produced on the AMS Neve 88RS analogue audio console at Air Lyndhurst (London) and also on the AMS Neve DFC Gemini console at Warner Bros. (Los Angeles).

AMS Neve enjoys global renown in the ultra high-end feature film scoring and mixing environments, the post-production and broadcast industries, as well as in professional and project music studios.

From their headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire the business employs a team of world class analogue and digital designers, software specialists and audio purists who over the years have been at the cutting edge of the advancement and evolution of professional audio products.

AMS Neve founder and Managing Director, Mark Crabtree said: “We’re delighted to see so many films that use AMS Neve technology winning at this year’s Oscars. It’s a great testament to the quality of our work and the dedication of our people. We see ourselves as inheritors of Burnley’s tradition of engineering excellence.”

“This is a great accolade for AMS Neve and for Burnley’s high tech and digital sector. I hope this will support the work of the Burnley Bondholders group, as we transform perceptions and establish Burnley as a destination for investment opportunities, relocation and tourism.”

---ENDS---

Local girl joins Brandspankin PR and Marketing Agency

EARBY lass Madeline Horth is the newest member of the Nelson-based marketing and public relations agency BrandSpankin’.

Madeline, a final year public relations student at UCLAN University is on track for a 2:1 degree and will work as a marketing and public relations executive with the business.

Madeline has a passion for public relations and is immensely enthusiastic about her work. Whilst studying for a BTEC Media at Craven College in Skipton Madeline achieved the ITV Yorkshire television award for outstanding student of the year.

This will be a great experience for Madeline and give her an insight to the working world. Madeline said: “I am really excited to work with Brandspankin’ - it is such a fantastic opportunity and the people I am working with have lots of experience in the field so I will be able to learn a lot from them.”

Madeline’s dream job is to move to Dubai and ultimately have her own public relations agency.


ENDS

33 and counting for Harry Garlick’s Long Player!

OUR client,electrical retailer, Harry Garlick is set to celebrate the big 33 for its very own Long Player!
But that’s not 33rpm like a vinyl LP – it’s 33 years with the business for longest serving employee Ian Heald, the manager of Harry Garlick’s Barnoldswick branch.

Iain first joined the business in 1978 after he left school and for 28 years worked at the Burnley branch, starting on the shop floor and working his way up to be the branch manager.

He admits that keeping up with the latest developments in technology gets harder as you get older, but he recalls fondly the first thing that he sold - an Ultra Music Centre, that in 1978 cost a whopping £189 – which was the equivalent of three weeks wages for most people!

“It was a music centre,” Iain recalled, “so it was a record deck, a tape recorder and radio - like a radio gram. It was expensive at the time, but now you’d get that type of equipment for next to nothing. At the time it was cutting edge and the thing to have.”

“Things have moved on a lot, because nowadays the thing to have would be wifi equipment, so people can have music all round their house wirelessly.”

Harry Garlick may have diversified into many areas of consumer electronics, but they have a long association with television. Ian says that this is another area where things have progressed tremendously.

“3D is the latest thing in TV, but I can remember in the 1980’s when people were shown 3D and they had to wear green and red glasses. The picture quality was awful and people still think of that. It’s changed massively - I watched the Ryder cup on 3D and it was amazing. The contours on the green were really visible - it was fantastic.”

Besides the changes in technology, Ian fondly remembers the people and characters that he’s worked with and served down the years. But the funniest incident involved his father.

“He rang to say that my son had ruined his new video recorder. My son had been giving him instructions over the phone on how to set it up. When he put the video in and pressed play it just made a horrible grinding noise and got stuck. I asked how was that my son’s fault and he said, “well he didn’t bloody tell me to take the cellophane off the tape!”. So when people come in and say they’re techno-phobic, I tell them not to worry - they can’t be as bad as my dad!”

One of Ian’s sons now works at Harry Garlick’s Clitheroe branch, so it’s fair to say he’s kept it in the family!

“Harry Garlick is also a family run business, so it’s got a very good atmosphere, which is important to me. Plus I think it helps as customers have a sense of knowing that they can trust us to give good customer service. We’ve kept that friendly, family approach throughout my time here – even with the advent of new technology and an evolving market place. So for example, this Christmas we used our TV to have a family skype call between us in Barlick, my sister’s family in Nottingham and her daughter in Australia. Being able to do that so easily for all the family is just amazing, especially for the older generation is just mind blowing!

NEWS RELEASE: Burnley Bondholders appoint Brandspankin’ for PR brief

National and Regional media targeted to help change perceptions of the town and borough

A CONSORTIUM of Burnley’s largest businesses and organisations has appointed Marketing and PR agency Brandspankin’ to generate positive coverage across national and regional media and promote the Pennine Lancashire town as a great place to live, work, visit and invest.

The Burnley Bondholders group has been working towards transforming perceptions of Burnley for two years and have committed financially to promoting investment opportunities, relocation to the area and tourism.

Kevin Keith, Burnley Brand Manager, said: “Burnley Bondholders are not followers, they are leaders: people and organisations in Burnley who believe passionately that our town is a great place to do business, who believe more of the right people need to know the right things about Burnley, who champion our world-class aerospace industry; our advanced manufacturing expertise; our all-new schools, college and university, and our breathtaking countryside.”
“Brandspankin’ were selected for this important account in part due to their solid track record of delivering media coverage at regional and national level – it is vital more of the right people know the right things about Burnley - but also due to their drive and determination to show the rest of the northwest and beyond, that Burnley is open for business. We are delighted to have them on board.”

In the first twelve months, the Burnley Bondholder scheme has 90 members representing 50 businesses and organisations, including many of the town’s largest and best-known employers, Aircelle, Burnley FC, Veka Plc and Moorhouses Brewery. In addition to supporting promotional work, Bondholders also enhance the pride the people of Burnley feel about their town.


Julian Jordan, Brandspankin’s Managing Director, said: “Brandspankin’ is delighted to be awarded this contract. It means a great deal to me personally. I made a choice to move back up here from London as I felt it was a better place to bring up my kids.”
“We share the confidence that so many world-class companies have in Burnley. We share the determination that pupils, students and teachers have to excel in Burnley’s new schools, colleges and university. We share the delight of visitors who roam our magnificent countryside or stately homes. We share all of this because we are local - this is our place of business, our place of pleasure, our place to prosper, and we are determined to ensure many others can share this too.”

---ENDS---


About Burnley Bondholders

Burnley Bondholder’s are an influential group of organisations, predominantly from the private sector, who believe what is good for Burnley is good for business, and so contribute financially to promoting the Pennine Lancashire town as a place to live, work visit and invest. Bondholders believe more of the right people need to know about Burnley’s world class aerospace industry; new schools, colleges and university; nationally significant industrial heritage, and breathtaking countryside.

NEWS RELEASE: Harry Garlick appoints Brandspankin’ for PR and social media brief

NEWS RELEASE: 20.1.11
Harry Garlick appoints Brandspankin’ for PR and social media brief

ELECTRICAL retailer, Harry Garlick Ltd has this week announced that they have appointed Pendle Marketing business, Brandspankin’ to manage their PR and social media marketing activity.

Having been trading for nearly 60 years, Harry Garlick is one of the best known companies in the East Lancashire and North Yorkshire areas - and besides its retail outlets has a significant online presence.

The company has built a solid reputation for service and reliability and now feels that the full range of its retail offering - and the service it offers - needs to be understood more clearly by a new generation of savvy consumers.

Ian Scothern, Harry Garlick’s Commercial Director, commented: “Over decades we’ve evolved from a TV shop and repair business, to a significant retail player, across the North West and beyond - we’re now one of the top 20 independent retailers in the UK. Our values however, remain as they always were – competitive on price, and excellent on service. To communicate this, we required an agency that understood our business, our customers and our values, so we’re delighted to have appointed Brandspankin’.”

Julian Jordan, Brandspankin’s Managing Director, added: “Harry Garlick is a business with a long track record of excellent service across East Lancashire and North Yorkshire. Besides their retail presence they have 64,000 square feet of warehouse space at their Earby distribution hub and head office. They’re a member of Euronics, the UK’s biggest buying group - all of which means they can offer great deals to people and we’re looking forward to getting that message out there. By using PR and social media marketing, Harry Garlick don’t just provide cutting edge household electrical equipment, they also use cutting edge ways of communicating with their customers and prospects!”



---ENDS---

NEWS RELEASE: Inspirational Stan’s resilience turns adversity into opportunity

Pendle man sets up SIMCAM remote camera business after stroke

A PENDLE man has launched an innovative new remote camera business after having a stroke two years ago.

Stan Glover had led an active and healthy life, having previously been a market manager, but he suffered a massive stroke in July 2008. He was told he would probably never regain his mobility, but plucky Stan, 58, decided to prove doctors wrong and teach himself to walk again.

During this time, Stan was terrified of falling over and not being able to get up again without assistance. His wife worried about even going to the shops and leaving Stan alone, especially after one occasion when he had almost fallen into the fire.

However, the experience actually inspired and motivated Stan, who started researching solutions to the problem. That was when SIMCAM came about - a small, portable, alarm remote camera powered by battery or mains and fitted with a SIM card, allowing it to call mobile phones or send emails. The ingenious solution costs a fraction of orthodox CCTV systems and comes with a remote key fob, meaning that if a disabled user falls it activates the alarm/camera.

“Not only can my wife hear everything the camera hears but she can see everything the camera sees. Also a motion detector is incorporated into it, so they can be used for security purposes too – unauthorised entry of a property protected by a SIMCAM will generate a call to a mobile phone.”

“This allows everything that’s going on to be heard and sends very clear images of the intruder. The image is sent with no time delay, and if the first contact’s phone is turned off, it can call up to ten other numbers,” said Stan.

“I’m determined to make a success of it, but in all honesty, I’d be happy if it only prevented one disabled person from being stuck on the floor for hours after a fall,” he added.

SIMCAM has now spawned several versions – a portable one which is ideal for car security and one with a smoke sensor. Stan has even made SIM-CAMS available on a lease system and can provide a completely independent monitoring service.

“The whole process has given me an impetus. I was determined not to let the stroke beat me and SIMCAMS have been a massive part of that, both in terms of keeping me safe and keeping me active. It’s been a real Phoenix from the flames story – almost literally,” joked Stan.

You can read more about SIMCAM at www.simcams.co.uk

---ENDS---

Notes to Editors:

For further information, comment and photographs contact: Julian Jordan at BrandSpankin’ Ltd

t: 01282 878 301 m: +44 7912 786 947 e: julian@brandspankin.co.uk

About SIMCAMS

SIMCAMS was founded by Stan Glover. The business provides a GSM camera solution that helps people with disabilities and reassures their loved ones. Simcam is the first totally wireless remote camera that can alert you wherever you are in the world.
SIMCAM can alert you of any accidental fall, smoke or unauthorised entry in your own home by calling/text message. It also sends images of anything the camera sees to your mobile phone and e-mail – even in total darkness.

SIMCAM can monitor any movement, perfect for checking on baby or loved one. You can also check by listening in, on YOUR MOBILE, from anywhere in the world, whenever you choose. SIMCAM connects to remote smoke detectors and also door or window sensors too. SIMCAM works in your home, workplace car/caravan/van, inside trucks/wagons, in total darkness. SIMCAM is delivered from England completely set up ready to work, complete with recharger and TWO remote control units, that not only turn SIMCAM on/off but also include an emergency button which activates camera, to alert up to TEN different mobile numbers.

http://www.simcams.co.uk/

NEWS RELEASE: SIMCAMS gives PR brief to Brandspankin’

NEWS RELEASE: 02.12.2010
SIMCAMS gives PR brief to Brandspankin’

SIMCAMS, the North-west based GSM remote camera business has this week announced that it has appointed Pendle agency Brandspankin’ to manage its PR and social media launch campaign.

The business specialises in remote monitoring cameras that are used in a variety of contexts including monitoring elderly or disabled relatives, as well as home and vehicle security.

The business is the branchild of Stan Glover, 58, himself disabled following a stroke. Stan ignored medical opinion and through sheer determination taught himself to walk again. Stan still has mobility issues though and this heightened his concern that people who are old or disabled are vulnerable when alone – falls whilst unattended can leave them unable to raise the alarm or get help. For that reason, Stan conducted research and SIMCAMS was the result.

Stan commented: “My initial motivation was to assist people in circumstances like my own – eventually I want to set up a social enterprise to help provide monitoring services for people with disabilities. However, in the meantime, our solution is proving affordable and popular as a home or vehicle security solution. I hope to see the security side of the business ultimately help me fund the social enterprise.”

“SIMCAMS can alert relatives if somebody has had an accidental fall, if there is smoke in the house or if there’s been an unauthorised entry into your home. It sends images of anything the camera sees to your mobile phone and e-mail. It can work anywhere in the world and it will alert up to ten different mobile numbers. “

“The next step is to get our message out there, so we’ve appointed Brandspankin’ as they have national media experience, but they also have a specialism in social media, which will help us target specific groups where we think our solution will be particularly valuable.”

Julian Jordan, MD of Brandspankin’, said: “Stan’s story and his determination is inspirational. The launch of SIMCAMS will mean that there is an affordable solution that will give a great deal of reassurance to the families of people with disabilities. So, we’re delighted to be working with SIMCAMS and we look forward to significantly raising their profile.”

---ENDS---
Notes to Editors:
For further information, comment and photographs contact: Julian Jordan at BrandSpankin’ Ltd
t: 01282 878 301 m: +44 7912 786 947 e: julian@brandspankin.co.uk

About SIMCAMS
SIMCAMS was founded by Stan Glover. The business provides a GSM camera solution that helps people with disabilities and reassures their loved ones. Simcam is the first totally wireless remote camera that can alert you wherever you are in the world.
SIMCAM can alert you of any accidental fall, smoke or unauthorised entry in your own home by calling/text message. It also sends images of anything the camera sees to your mobile phone and e-mail – even in total darkness.
SIMCAM can monitor any movement, perfect for checking on baby or loved one. You can also check by listening in, on YOUR MOBILE, from anywhere in the world, whenever you choose. SIMCAM connects to remote smoke detectors and also door or window sensors too. SIMCAM works in your home, workplace car/caravan/van, inside trucks/wagons, in total darkness. SIMCAM is delivered from England completely set up ready to work, complete with recharger and TWO remote control units, that not only turn SIMCAM on/off but also include an emergency button which activates camera, to alert up to TEN different mobile numbers. Or our local monitoring service

About Brand Spankin’
BrandSpankin’ is a creative marketing and public relations business based in East Lancashire, offering high quality, affordable marketing services in a friendly and efficient manner. We service businesses from small start-ups to larger enterprises. We have the experience and scale to help you build awareness and win new business. From media relations to graphic design and print, websites and digital marketing - from contract and trade publishing to advertising, our no-nonsense marketing will help your business stand out from the crowd.
To find out more visit www.brandspankin.co.uk