Happy Birthday Press Dispensary
Press release and online news specialist Press Dispensary celebrates its fifth birthday. Starting as a part-time business in 2003, it is now a thriving company based in Lewes, East Sussex, with six staff and a team of writers, clients running into the thousands and an enviable reputation for quality news that gets noticed in the press and online.
Lewes, United Kingdom, March 05, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Press release and online news specialist Press Dispensary (http://www.pressdispensary.co.uk) celebrates its fifth birthday today. Starting as a part-time business in 2003, operating from a flat in the middle of Brighton’s North Laines, it is now a thriving company based in Lewes, East Sussex, with six staff and a team of writers, clients running into the thousands, and an enviable reputation for quality news that gets noticed in the press and online.
Press Dispensary was originally founded in 2002 by PR distribution specialist Greg Bourne, who was then joined by PR executive Jo Chipchase, and corporate communications expert Rob Shepherd, pioneering an essentially new approach to PR. The company was incorporated in February 2003.
At the time, the idea behind Press Dispensary was unknown in UK businesses: to take the core activities of PR agencies – press releases and journalist contact – and offer them as standalone services at flat rates advertised openly on its website, using IT and web technology to reduce costs to a fraction of what PR agencies would typically charge, but without loss of quality. The activities of press release writing and press list building remained skilfully manual – and from the start the three directors set out to impose high standards on these activities – but the rest of the business, from order processing to distribution, was automated. For the first time, quality PR was affordable to small businesses.
High quality press releases remain at the core of what Press Dispensary does today, though it has expanded its services to include a host of online activities and press release training.
Online news distribution is a must in the current climate, and Press Dispensary has a strong network of global distribution and syndication destinations, reaching consumers as well as journalists and providing a vital tool to search engine optimisers as well as those who wish to reach the media. In 2007, Press Dispensary became the first UK agency to launch media release applications into Facebook and the first European agency to open a permanent office in the virtual world of Second Life. New services are similarly planned for 2008.
Web technology allows the company to operate virtually as well as physically. It is run from its offices in a 16th century brewery in the heart of Lewes, where most of its employees have permanent desks. Meanwhile, its home grown intranet enables its writers to work from home and allows director Greg Bourne to divide his time between homes in Brighton and Goa, while Jo Chipchase works between homes in Newhaven and Lanjaron, Spain.
Robert Shepherd, MD, comments: “The world of PR is changing rapidly at the moment, particularly online. Journalists look for their news on the web as much as anywhere, and now it’s difficult to slide a Rizla between online PR and online marketing. We’ve learned in our five years exactly how to help our clients – who nowadays include PR and marketing agencies as much as SMEs – to work in the new PR and marketing age. We’re looking forward to an extremely bright, productive and high-growth year.”
###
Notes for editors
Press Dispensary Ltd was incorporated in February 2003 by media specialists Greg Bourne, Jo Chipchase and Robert Shepherd. After a short spell in Greg’s flat, the company became based in the Innovation Centre at the University of Sussex before moving to new premises in The Old Star Brewery, Lewes, East Sussex. The management team offers more than 30 years’ combined experience spanning media relations, PR and corporate communications. In summer 2005, Philippa Short joined the team as client manager. The company now employs six staff and a team of writers.
Existing clients range from sole traders to international companies spanning the arts, entertainment, business and technology sectors. Big brand clients include Iceland, The British Red Cross and Pretty Polly, while ‘political’ clients include the Union of Democratic Mineworkers, Iran Interlink and great train robber, Ronnie Biggs. Press Dispensary has also carried out dedicated press work for festivals, including Lost Vagueness and A Rum Do, and shows at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Since 2005, Press Dispensary has run a successful half day ‘PR Copywriting Course’ and is launching a full day press release master class course from April 2008.
Press Dispensary was originally founded in 2002 by PR distribution specialist Greg Bourne, who was then joined by PR executive Jo Chipchase, and corporate communications expert Rob Shepherd, pioneering an essentially new approach to PR. The company was incorporated in February 2003.
At the time, the idea behind Press Dispensary was unknown in UK businesses: to take the core activities of PR agencies – press releases and journalist contact – and offer them as standalone services at flat rates advertised openly on its website, using IT and web technology to reduce costs to a fraction of what PR agencies would typically charge, but without loss of quality. The activities of press release writing and press list building remained skilfully manual – and from the start the three directors set out to impose high standards on these activities – but the rest of the business, from order processing to distribution, was automated. For the first time, quality PR was affordable to small businesses.
High quality press releases remain at the core of what Press Dispensary does today, though it has expanded its services to include a host of online activities and press release training.
Online news distribution is a must in the current climate, and Press Dispensary has a strong network of global distribution and syndication destinations, reaching consumers as well as journalists and providing a vital tool to search engine optimisers as well as those who wish to reach the media. In 2007, Press Dispensary became the first UK agency to launch media release applications into Facebook and the first European agency to open a permanent office in the virtual world of Second Life. New services are similarly planned for 2008.
Web technology allows the company to operate virtually as well as physically. It is run from its offices in a 16th century brewery in the heart of Lewes, where most of its employees have permanent desks. Meanwhile, its home grown intranet enables its writers to work from home and allows director Greg Bourne to divide his time between homes in Brighton and Goa, while Jo Chipchase works between homes in Newhaven and Lanjaron, Spain.
Robert Shepherd, MD, comments: “The world of PR is changing rapidly at the moment, particularly online. Journalists look for their news on the web as much as anywhere, and now it’s difficult to slide a Rizla between online PR and online marketing. We’ve learned in our five years exactly how to help our clients – who nowadays include PR and marketing agencies as much as SMEs – to work in the new PR and marketing age. We’re looking forward to an extremely bright, productive and high-growth year.”
###
Notes for editors
Press Dispensary Ltd was incorporated in February 2003 by media specialists Greg Bourne, Jo Chipchase and Robert Shepherd. After a short spell in Greg’s flat, the company became based in the Innovation Centre at the University of Sussex before moving to new premises in The Old Star Brewery, Lewes, East Sussex. The management team offers more than 30 years’ combined experience spanning media relations, PR and corporate communications. In summer 2005, Philippa Short joined the team as client manager. The company now employs six staff and a team of writers.
Existing clients range from sole traders to international companies spanning the arts, entertainment, business and technology sectors. Big brand clients include Iceland, The British Red Cross and Pretty Polly, while ‘political’ clients include the Union of Democratic Mineworkers, Iran Interlink and great train robber, Ronnie Biggs. Press Dispensary has also carried out dedicated press work for festivals, including Lost Vagueness and A Rum Do, and shows at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Since 2005, Press Dispensary has run a successful half day ‘PR Copywriting Course’ and is launching a full day press release master class course from April 2008.
Contact
Press Dispensary Ltd
Philippa Short
+44.8454304433
www.pressdispensary.co.uk
Philippa Short
+44.8454304433
www.pressdispensary.co.uk
Contact
Categories