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2013, The Old and The New

The phrase ‘out with the old and in with the new’ is one commonly associated with the start of a New Year.

This year’s biggest trend predictions aren’t all about the ‘future forward’ however. As The Trend Hunter 2013 Forecast reports, brands looking to innovate will embrace the past as well as the future.

Continuing the fashion for retro design, the organisation predicts “antiqued imagery” akin to the Polaroid finish of yesteryear will be the big advertising influence. Consumers, too, are embracing the “deliberate vintage” effect thanks to the growing number of photography apps such as the market leader, Instagram.

Further drawing on the past, brands will look to engage consumers with a trip down memory lane, developing products and experiences with a strong focus on nostalgia.

In sharp contrast the digital revolution will continue to drive advancements in retail.

Enhancing the shopper experience and achieving competitor stand out is the name of the game with virtual fitting rooms and augmented reality store greeters just a couple of the applications making their way in store.

And in today’s time precious world, convenience is the key to unlocking the potential for growth.

Watches that enable the wearer to socially connect, work as a credit card, game and tell the time aren’t a thing of the future, they’re here and now. Apple, it is rumoured, is working with Intel on a smart watch that could go on sale in the first half of 2013.

And consumers needn’t worry about finding the time to plan a repeat shopping trip. The subscription model so successfully adopted by publishers will, The Trend Hunter predicts, continue to break into the wider consumer market in 2013 with fashion, interior and intimates stores realising the opportunity of ‘subscribed purchases.’

Proving to be an ever popular and increasing trend for 2013 is the roll out of modular restaurants and retail stores. Satisfying consumer demand for new and fresh retail experiences whilst continuing to transform empty units and brighten the UK High Street, this is one trend we’re pleased to see remain in fashion.

The Trend Hunter compiles the latest in cutting edge fashion, interior, lifestyle and brand ideas. For further information on this year’s top 20 forecasted trends visit http://www.trendhunter.com/tv/trends-in-2013-forecast-video

We’re Hiring in MediaCityUK

We’re hiring two PR people to join our start-up in MediaCityUK. We’ve only been here a few weeks but it’s an incredibly exciting location (the shot above was taken this week). We want a strong account executive (but we’d consider an account manager too). You would ideally need consumer PR experience and an understanding of the use of social media in PR campaigns. We want an ambitious personality with a determination to succeed and good writing skills are essential. You can apply via our website.

Rule 5 Launches in MediaCityUK

Our new PR agency has officially launched. We are based in MediaCityUK, the development that is home to BBC North, Salford University and ITV from next March. The founding directors Rob Brown and Julie Wilson were formerly with TBWA\ owned Staniforth and have been joined by other members of the now defunct Manchester agency.

“We chose MediaCityUK because of the rare concentration of media businesses, new and old. There is also a huge amount of creative talent and people that we want to work with to create media content” said Rob Brown. “The old network advertising/marketing/PR model is broken beyond repair. PR companies are becoming much more aligned with media organisations channelling information in written form, as well as audio and visual.”

The new agency launches with clients in the food, sports and media sectors. Rule 5 combines traditional PR and media expertise with a strong digital offer but won’t specialise in one or the other “the boundary between on and off line doesn’t really exist.” From launch Rule 5 will build and manage online communities, monitor and create content without compromising its relationships with journalists, editors and producers. “We’re equally at home with Twitter and the Times.”

PR Firm to Launch in Manchester this Week

On Friday ‘Rule 5’ will be Manchester’s (and the UK’s) newest public relations firm. We have an office in MediaCityUK and the infrastructure is all in place. Manchester is a great city to be in right now. A new study by Oxford Economics estimates that the region will see output growth of 3% by 2014, nearly 1% higher than the UK as a whole. Media city also has a unique concentration of media and creative talent. Needless to say we are excited.

We’ve been active on Twitter for a few weeks now and there are three questions that regularly come up:

1. Where will you be based? – We’ve answered that.

2. Will you be hiring? – We will. We are a small team but we’ll be announcing recruitment plans imminently.

3. Why are you called ‘Rule 5’ – We’re not going to give a straight answer to that but there are five options.

Roll on Friday.

Why Rule 5?

Generally you name a business for a reason and ‘Rule 5’ is no exception. We’re going to give you a clue or rather let you choose from a selection of possible answers. One is completely untrue, some are true and but only one is the genuine reason. We’ll leave you to make up your own mind.

1 The five second rule – the founding directors both used to work with someone who regularly dropped their lunch on the floor but picked it up unabashed and carried on eating it claiming the ‘five second rule’. We just liked the sound of it.

2 Behaviour trumps brand values – whilst we were planning the launch of the business, Brand Republic published an article entitled ‘Six marketing lessons from Red Bull Stratos’ – the Felix Baumgartner record-breaking jump. The fifth lesson was entitled ‘behaviour trumps brand values’. We strongly believe it to be true so we named our company after it.

3. Rules for cyclists – an online cycling community called the Velominati has published a set of rules for cycling. Rule five is an ‘Anglo-Saxon’ invocation to try harder. Results comes through effort and we sign up to that.

4. Fight Club – in the film ‘Fight Club’ Rule 5 is ‘one fight at a time’. Our philosophy is that you shouldn’t get into situations of conflict and if you do never more than one at a time.

5. The Rule 5 draft in Baseball – Major league Baseball has a ‘Rule 5’ draft that is concerned with identifying and developing young talent. It is something that we strive for too.

RULE 5