This week MMC hosted our first event for Oneida.com! The theme, which focused around at-home entertaining tips, featured incredibly diverse and well designed table settings created by a premier NYC event designer, Angela Giannopoulos.
Angela, who has worked with celebrities and brands such as Donna Karan, Missoni and Estee Lauder, used Oneida.com dinnerware and flatware to build four different table themes; Classic Picnic Table Twist, Fanciful Formal, Asia to Cuba and World of Whimsy (pictured clockwise in above images).
Each of the tables represented a different design style and showcased Oneida products, which corresponded to these of-the-moment tabletop trends. Angela was present at the event to answer questions and describe her inspiration—her message—take chances when setting your table at home. When speaking about the Classic Picnic Table Twist she explained “not everything should be conventional with tabletop design. I encourage you to pick a bold pattern that is a little risky and surprise your guests with something other than traditional gingham or checkered picnic patterns.”
Another trend Angela highlighted during her discussion was the Asia to Cuba theme. This modern, minimal design has become popular in recent years and can be seen at restaurants such as Asia de Cuba in NYC or Philippe Starck’s Delano Hotel in Miami. Angela set this table with the new Chef’s Table collection from Oneida.com explaining that, “the warm white porcelain color and ability to mix and match the plate shapes is just what you need to complete this look at home.”
All in all it was a lovely evening of entertaining that left us all inspired. What inspires you to entertain?
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During the first week of April, the Dial team had an opportunity to work with Top Chef host, Padma Lakshmi, in launching Dial NutriSkin, a new line of Dial body wash that delivers intensely hydrating moisture with light and refreshing fruit-oils. Beyond the healthy, fragrant new body wash launch, our team was also very excited to work with Padma in support of her charity—The Endometriosis Foundation of America.
Padma, with her glowing skin and gorgeous smile, started her day with us bright and early when she appeared on WPIX morning news to announce her partnership with Dial NutriSkin—encouraging viewers to “fan” Dial on Facebook where $1 will be donated to her charity. The morning continued back at MMC headquarters, where we filmed a Web site video message for our Facebook fans and a Public Service Announcement for Padma’s charity. Media outlets such as People.com and Shape Magazine arrived shortly after 10am to interview Padma about her work with Dial as well as her new busy mom beauty routine.
We wrapped our morning shortly after 10:45am, feeling as though we’d worked a full eight hour day! This initial program kick-off has been a huge success so far with over 800 (and growing!) Facebook fans.
Please help Dial reach their donation goal to The Endometriosis Foundation of America by becoming a fan of Dial on Facebook.
It’s only February and I’m dreaming of Spring! Like Paris, Springtime is famous in New York—the city is beginning to wake from the cold winter, Park Avenue streets are lined with tulips and people can be found picnicking in parks across the city.
As we head into February, the Rockefeller Tree is a faded memory and the temperatures are continuing to drop. Many New Yorkers go into a period of hibernation during this time, catching up on their favorite movies or enjoying new episodes of Lost or Modern Family. I have to admit that I, like many New Yorkers, can fall into love with my television and Netflix account during these months. However, this year I’ve challenged myself to make the best of the season and have found a new hobby to keep me active—skiing!
My boyfriend and I have agreed to ski the slopes at least three times before the snow melts. This is quite a goal for us, since he is a CPA and works most Saturdays, January through April. However, you don’t have to travel far from the city to find a few great slopes. To date, we have been to Butternut Ski Lodge just three hours north of the city and Big Boulder in the Poconos Mountains.
Although I’m still dreaming of the green grass in Central Park and jogs around The Reservoir, I have to admit I’ve found a new love this Winter and although it requires three layers of clothing, it’s making it much easier to leave my cozy upper east side apartment.
What are you doing this winter to stay active?
As with many events at MMC, the annual Halloween holiday party comes with a dash of friendly competition. Each year, employees join together with their respective account teams to brainstorm the best costume. Many of the teams start working together weeks in advance for this event, even planning out skits to leverage their chances of winning.
Not unlike our competitors, the home care team started planning out ideas a few weeks ago when a save-the-date email was sent to the agency. We never fully settled on our costume theme though until Wednesday, October 28th, one day before the party! To pull off a win, we knew we would have to work quickly so we took our lunch break and headed to Ricky’s to try on wigs and practice our dance moves! In just a little over an hour we had our costumes planned out; tight jeans, studded gloves and all.
As you can see from the action shot above, the Jonas Brothers rocked pretty hard to claim the 2009 “Best Pop Culture” costume title, but we also realize that the competition is stiff. We’re going to have to start the hunt a little earlier next year if we hope to win in 2010. Congratulations to all the winning teams at this year’s MMC Halloween Party!
Each year MMC organizes a variety of events that allows employees to participate in charitable activities. This program, called MMC for a Cause, presents us with an opportunity to step away from our desks to work together for the better good of the community around us.
This year we have participated in a bake sale, which encouraged friendly competition amongst those who are talented in the kitchen and donated all monetary proceeds to the Food Bank of New York, Hands on New York Day, where a cleaning group of staffers cleaned up Canarise Park in Brooklyn, a toiletry drive, benefitting low-income families in central New Jersey, and a soup kitchen, where we are volunteering each Friday throughout the month of August.
Last Friday was our first day working at The Community Kitchen & Food Pantry of West Harlem. This full-service soup kitchen, which provides close to 365,000 free meals annually, calls on volunteers to serve and clean at their Monday thru Friday dinner service. Our MMC team of three arrived at the kitchen around 3pm, dressed in our hair nets and aprons and began working at our assigned food station. Samara helped to prepare and serve the salad, Marissa set-up the fruit and I placed the juice, cutlery and hot food on the trays. Between 3:30 and 5:30pm about 250 people benefitted from the meal service. As the patrons picked up their trays of hot food, each was very thankful and appreciative. Following the dinner we were each handed a broom to sweep the floor and a wet towel to wipe down the tables.
In a matter of three short hours we were feeling not only proud about giving back to the community, but also proud to work for a company that values the importance of helping those around us. It’s amazing what you can accomplish in a short amount of time for a great number of people!
I was drawn to a career in PR because the day-to-day job is exciting and ever changing. On any given day I could be writing press releases, communicating with media, brainstorming a BIG idea or planning events.
Upon joining the Dial team at MMC, I received news that we would be planning two events for two separate brands on consecutive days. The exciting part of this planning challenge was that each event had a unique objective, allowing us to launch news in different ways.
Event #1 Editor Event for Tone
Our first event took place on May 28th with the introduction of Tone Antioxidant Body Wash with Blueberry and Vitamins. Being the on-trend publicists that we are, we landed on a theme based around the body washes’ blueberry ingredient and decided to offer our media attendees the newest must-have “minx” manicure! If minxing is something that you haven’t heard of, you should know that salons are just beginning to offer this manicure. Before our event, Beyonce was the only lady with metallic “minxed” nails.
With the theme of blueberries in mind, our space was set using these delectable berries in everything
cocktails, catering, even flower arrangements. As the editors arrived they were invited to enjoy the blueberry surroundings while soaking their fingers in the product and receiving a “minx” manicure. Editors walked away from the evening with the scent of blueberry on their hands and metallic colors on their nails!
Event #2- Media Day for PurexChangesLives.com
The next morning we launched a program called Purex Changes Lives with the help of actress Angie Harmon. This program gives consumers the opportunity to make an extraordinary impact in the lives of others when purchasing the all new Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets, which combine detergent, fabric softener and anti-static all in one powerful sheet.
For this initiative Purex teamed up with Kiva.org, a micro-lending organization that helps entrepreneurs all around the world create their own sustainable sources of income. During our media day Angie explained that for every UPC registered at www.PurexChangesLives.com Purex will donate $1 to this worthy cause.
With the help of our superstar media team, Angie was able to launch this news on PIX Morning News, Mike & Juliet, Fox & Friends, Access Hollywood, OKmagazine.com and PeopleStylewatch.com. Whew! It was a whirlwind of a day, but the successful chatter was worth all the coordinating.
Check out www.Toneskincare.com and www.PurexChangesLives.com for more information on these exciting products.
