Introduction to AMC
Thank you for dropping by the AMC Network website.
We are a team of fifteen experienced European and US public relations and marketing professionals. Working predominantly in the UK, Western Europe and the US.
Our consultants are based in, London, Leeds, Paris, Berlin, Cologne, Geneva, Barcelona, Milan, New York and Los Angeles. The main office is located in London, UK.
Past projects have seen us active further afield in places such as, Japan, Australia, India, Nigeria and Algeria.
We have worked on campaigns with some of the world´s biggest names, and some much smaller operators too. Some examples are, MTV, News International, Endemol, United Business Media, PwC, the Danish Government, Hankook, TripAdvisor and Firebox.
We offer the full range of public relations and marketing services at a pan-European and US level. We have a strong focus on digital communications.
To be specific, we create, plan, design, manage and deliver publicity campaigns for our range of clients. This can be on and offline, or, fully integrated. Depending on the client requirement. We are keen to fit the campaign around the client, and not the other way around. We have extensive knowledge and experience of working with social media. We have been active in this space since the mid-1990s.
We have a number of trusted creative and technology partners. Some examples of these are, Reactor Mobile, Neoco, Catapult Digital, Airlock and Future Platforms.
Between the fifteen consultants, we have our own extensive network. To augment this and cover some smaller territories we also work alongside networks such as The Network One, based in Covent Garden, London. This network of independent marketing and creative agencies works across a range of sectors at a global level, and compliments our own team.
AMC News
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AMC is Ten
Raise a glass. October 2009 celebrates ten years of AMC being in business. Starting with an almost exclusive Internet focus. AMC retains a strong new media base, and has in the last decade added, media, banking and motoring to its fields of expertise.
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Banking. Cleantech
AMC signs with London based investment bank on a range of projects. Launching first with a large scale cleantech initiative. More here soon.
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WiseHead
An odd title, but a good cause. Xavier selected by Enterprise Insight to be a WiseHead. The Virgin Media backed project launching late 2009, will see support given to business people. Who may otherwise struggle to find the knowledge and experience which helps when setting up a new business.
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Music Launch
AMC gets fantastik with Plastik Philosophy. The new music venture launching in London has already signed a number of well known DJs and musicians. AMC is working with the label on its forthcoming launch event and subsequent media and commercial activities.
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Twit Awards are Live
AMC Network sponsors the inaugural Twit Awards. This fun event has been developed in conjunction with leading web agency, Miramedia. More here soon.
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Marketeers Appoint AMC
Three senior marketeers have come together to form a new venture and partnered with AMC Network to offer services to media and technology companies. The illustrious team, comprises a number of well known members, including the ex Marketing Director, of egg, the Internet bank now owned by Prudential.
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AMC Supporting b.TWEEN 09
AMC Network has been a keen backer of b.TWEEN for the last few years. It really is an excellent event. We like it so much, we are supporting the 2009 edition in Liverpool. Our sponsorship and advertising will be running at the event.
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AMC Partners
AMC has come to an agreement with a leading Shoreditch interactive agency. Offering digital services and online public relations across Western Europe.
The AMC team will initially work for the joint entity in France, Germany and Spain. The US will be included in the arrangement at a later stage.
The stellar client list includes, premium motor manufacturer Aston Martin and many well known lifestyle brands.
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AMC Joins the IAA
AMC Network has been invited to join the IAA, the International Advertising Association.
An illustrious global network of advertisers, their agencies, and relevant service providers.
Members in the UK include, Google and Sky.
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Willkommen Munich
AMC Network has instated LTC of Munich to cover media relations in southern Germany and Austria.
Having worked with LTC previously on technology accounts. AMC is looking to increase the scope of the relationship to encompass technology, media and consumer projects.
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AMC Network Goes East
If you are interested in working with us in Eastern Europe, we are currently growing the team. Please email details to hello@redamc.com
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Travel Parasol is live
From some experienced Internet operators, comes Travel Parasol.
Launching this week, Travel Parasol is the one stop portal to view a range of holidays. No longer is the websurfer restricted to a certain type of holiday, or, location. With Travel Parasol bringing the best holidays from a range of its 50 partners to one central website.
With editorial on each trip, Travel Parasol aims to fill the void the other holiday websites are just not checking-in!
The online marketing viral has already had a large take up. Create your own at HoliMoment
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b.TWEEN 2009
AMC Network has had an involvement with this excellent media, culture, technology, money event for the last few years. Katz Kiely is well known in the media field for bringing people together, and running truly innovative events that are so much more interesting than the production line approach of some other operators.
Attracting a diverse global crowd, including some of the top people from eBay USA, the BBC and Channel 4, this event is highly recommended.
Dates just announced, 10 - 12th June 2009. b.TWEEN
Location, Liverpool, UK.
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Sponsors of IMA Awards
Announcing our sponsorship of the IMA Awards 2008
These took place in London at the end of October 2008. The awards are now in their fourth year, and are a partnership between New Media Age and Marketing Week.
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Financial Win
Large scale digital communications strategy delivered for City firm.
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Spring Events
The events season kicked off with the Reactor mobile marketing seminar in Soho, London. This was excellent with a huge attendance drawn from the worlds of agencies, brands and charities.
Followed on by the Thoughtbubble event, Google for Grown Ups.
Please email for more information on upcoming events. hello@redamc.com
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Major Channel 4 Show
Going live in the next few days, a cross platform television show... lots of publicity is anticipated. More here soon...
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Kleinwort Benson
The second of the 2008 Entrepreneur Forum events has just been wrapped up, and was a great success. More dinners and away days are scheduled for 2009.
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European Marketing Directors' Forum
AMC network was very pleased to be invited to present on viral marketing at this prestigious event. Held annually around the UK, the forum attracts the cream of Europe's marketing sector. Some of the organisations present included, Virgin Money, Lateral and Soup.
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Internet Win
Announcing the recent win of a significant European Internet company. Alongside our European partners, we will be working across Europe to drive awareness of the venture. AMC Network will be driving the public relations and marketing effort for this firm in the UK and Ireland. In conjuction with a Bordeaux based partner marketing agency.
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Bringing People Together
Well known Internet journalist, Graeme Aymer, was looking for delegates to attend his event on interactive design in Shoreditch. A couple of calls later, we had two panellists for Graeme and Computer Arts. The event, although held in the dark Strongroom Bar basement on a summer's day, went with a fizz thanks to Graeme, his contact book and ability to encourage interesting debate.
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Danish Government Event
Denmark is one of the smaller European countries and has few natural resources. Therefore it is important for the country to push itself strongly in the area of young enterprise and innovation. Working with the government's investment fund for promoting young enterprise, we organised an interactive gaming launch, at London's Mandarin Oriental hotel. Attending the day were media and influencers from the world of interactive and gaming. To bring the event to life and give it another dimension, on site gaming was made available for guests.
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AMC Network Summer Party
Smithfield was the setting to bring together clients, media, investors and anyone else that we like ! Hosted jointly with Oc-EO, everyone had a splendid time and the rain held off for the evening.
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Maybach
The London Cinnamon Club was the setting for a AKJL/HSBC event, kindly part sponsored by luxury car company, Maybach. A wide crowd was drawn from the worlds of media, investment and technology. We are looking forward to the next event in conjunction with this prestigious and historic marque.
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Kleinwort Benson
Great event sponsored by the City private bank. Dinner for 14 entrepreneurs in the setting of Queen Victoria's childhood holiday home. Next edition slated for later in the year.
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Heineken DraughtKeg with Airlock
We just worked with Airlock promoting their recent work on the digital launch of the Heineken DraughtKeg. The results were excellent, with lots of positive exposure in the marketing and interactive media.
Xavier Adam Blog
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Nearly Man
A while back my friend’s father in law labelled the 2009 Formula 1 Drivers World Champion, Nearly Man.
As my friend recently said, he was nearly right.
Having had an accidental drink with Jenson Button one afternoon in Chelsea, I felt this was a somewhat unfair title.
Working with a number of motor manufacturers and race teams, I have more insight than most, and most of the time considered Jenson worthy of his F1 seat. The Honda withdrawal of late 2008 looked like Jenson would be left high and dry.
Since Jenson and Brawn GP won the Championship recently, it would appear many now agree. He is a bona fide sportsman.
Isn’t it amazing how attitudes change towards a winner?
The above snapped in London’s Savile Row.
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Simplicity and regularity work
I have always said communications need to be consistent. A quick blast of PR may make the Chief Executive feel good, but is a quick spike in marketing spend really the way to go.
Back in 2002, I remember being near the Tate Modern on London’s Southbank and first seeing the Starbucks Red Cup promotion. Really simple, red cups for Christmas. That is it.
Every year Starbucks does a low level push of the red cups. This simple idea gives Starbucks some variation on its usual product range and helps to bring customers to the coffee shops. As well as the feel good factor of the brand getting in on the seasonal action.
Marketing does not need to always be about the big ubiquitous idea.
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Can a bus look good?
Being based in Central London, there is never a shortage of buses and their sometimes interesting livery to admire from my window. All day buses trundle past in a non-descript fashion. Single and double deckers, Routemasters, Ken’s reviled bendy bus, coaches and mini-buses.
Despite this malaise of traffic, once a month an advertisement jumps out. This month it was the one pictured above, for Swiss airline, Swiss. Not Swiss Air, for which it is commonly mistaken, they were one of the first airlines to go out of business at the start of the decade. As a result, one time magazine editor and creative, Tyler Brulee, cleverly turned Swiss Air in to Swiss. I digress.
What we really want to talk about here is using the media. Working with raw material and doing something eye catching and different. Some clever creative has thought, how do buses in ski resorts look, and painted (well stickered) a rack, skis and poles to the back end of this number 9. Eye catching and simple. The creative idea is a 10/10. Now will it sell more flights?
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Guest Blogger, the first
When I set up this blog a while back, the idea was to feature some guest bloggers. Some of the people at work, were less forthcoming about the idea!
Here we have our first skilled author. The likeable solicitor from Soho based law firm, Matt King of Simons Muirhead Burton.
“Back in spring, Courtney Love became the first celebrity sued for Tweeting. A libel (or “Twibel”) claim was brought against Love for a message posted on Twitter in which Love accused a clothing designer of being a “lying thief” and a “drug addict”.
Last month, Chicago resident Amanda Bonnen was sued when her landlord, Horizon Group Management, filed a claim for $50,000 against her, alleging that one of her Tweets resulted in damage to the company’s reputation. Jeffrey Michael of Horizon declared to the Chicago Sun-Times, “We’re a ‘sue first, ask questions later’ kind of an organization.”
Twitterers beware: it can be very easy to slip into complacency where the likes of Twitter and Facebook provide us with a means of instant publication. It is only a matter of time until a similar suit is brought in England. Users should be reminded to think first, Tweet later.”
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Not media, marketing or public relations!
Latest article written for ski website, PlanetSKI.
It may be only September but PlanetSKI reader, Xavier Adam, has just booked his first ski trip. It’s going to be in November, but he doesn’t know where. He’s got a few other plans too.
“I don’t know exactly where I’ll go in November. I have the flight booked and will simply see where the snow is falling.”
In reality, being an avid skier from 5 years old , my thoughts are never really far from winter and this summer I have been doing some serious (ish) training in the gym and swimming pool and what has kept me going is imagining how fit I’ll be for the winter!
Last season was awesome, the best ever with amazing conditions across Europe from November onwards, so I’m off again in November.
Maybe to Verbier as I spent a lot of time there last season.
The skiing, restaurants and nightlife were excellent.
I also visited Zermatt, Formigal and Port del Compte and made many, many new friends.
From the Spanish junior ski champion I spotted taking a Friday off school for training, to retired jovial friends, with lots of ski experience between them, acting as if in their youth again.
I hadn’t skied in the Alps for over ten years prior to last season.
Being part Catalan and based in Spain, it’s easier to throw the gear in the car, and just drive two hours to Baquiera,Taull, La Molina or Val d’Nuria up in the Spanish Pyrenees.
All fantastic ski resorts, if a little overrun like everywhere, at the peak time of Christmas and New Year.
Being based in Europe makes it possible to track when and where the snow is good and just head off. Very, very easy.
Having spent a lot of my youth in the Pyrenees, for me they are one of the most beautiful mountain ranges.
The Savolyeres area in Verbier has a Pyrenean aspect with fir trees and flowing, rounded mountain tops. The added bonus of it being quiet and off the badge collector ski trail, means it is a very tranquil and picturesque environment.
Ski-wise it can also be challenging too, if you know where to look.
Last November, I upgraded my skis, boots and various other bits of gear, going for quality over aesthetics.
The new skis were so radically different to what I was used to, I hated them at first, and it seemed they hated me but perseverance and the fact they cost nearly £1000 saw me get them dancing after a few weeks.
Going back to my old skis now is like hopping in a steam driven vehicle c1900.
This season again, I will be partly based in Verbier, with plenty of trips planned to the Pyrenees.
What a flight Geneva-Barcelona is in winter, the snow capped Alps merging quickly from the air with their Pyrenean cousins.
Breathtaking and worth it for the flight alone.
In Spain, I am hoping to go back to Baqueria after a six year break, try Formigal on a good weather day and explore La Molina, with the local Barcelonenes.
Austria is another option, having been to Kitzbuhel for a mountain party pre-season, it must look even more beautiful with a picture postcard dusting of snow.
The opportunities are endless…… roll on November.”
Events
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Isle of Man hosts entrepreneurs in the cleantech space for two days.08/12/2009- 09/12/2009
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Investor and industry events series to run for this growing film fund.25/01/2010- 26/03/2010
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The big one for all that is mobile, tech and entertainment. Usual attendance of up to 60 000 delegates.15/02/2010- 18/02/2010
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Europe's leading automotive show. No doubt with a heavy focus again on green-tech this year.04/03/2010- 14/03/2009
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Awards for companies and advisors relating to the PLUS market. Central London.19/05/2010
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Premier event for the television sector.18/09/2010- 22/09/2010
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Now global, as the title suggests. Many events taking place for all range of business types and size.15/11/2010- 19/11/2010
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Cleantech awards aimed at the European sustainability sector, sponsored by GP Bullhound, AMC Network, Schroders Private banking, Choate, Prince's Trust, ELP and nexec.16/11/2010- 17/11/2010
References
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"Since our trade sale of E*TRADE UK I've worked with a number of companies as a non-exec or adviser and have always taken to the opportunity to introduce Xavier to each company. I know how good he can be and I know what he does best, so recommending him is second nature. If I were to pick just one of his attributes, it would be his irrepressible enthusiasm. And that translates into exhaustive attention to detail, meeting and beating deadlines and it creates a positive buzz around his clients."
Julian Costley, former CEO E*TRADE, UK
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"AMC Network has been great for us: very helpful and obviously well-connected. They have put a number of media opportunities our way, giving us profile in pan-European media such as the Wall Street Journal Europe, and in the trade press such as Digit Magazine."
Tom Hume, Managing Director of Future Platforms, Brighton UK
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"It is vital that a public relations consultant can quickly grasp the project he is called on in order to promote it effectively with real enthusiasm to the right media targets. AMC Network did this on the Ark. Their doggedness and attention to detail were exemplary."
Simon Jenkins, Project Manager, The Ark, London and St Helens, UK