The secrets of Manchester number one product placement PR team: ‘Chubs and Ginge’. Their identities kept secret to keep them safe, here’s a day in the life of a pressure product placement drop…
THE DIARY OF CHUBS AND GINGE
5.00 am start. Train 6.30. Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. Victoria Wood and Alex Duckett Chubs and Ginge ready to roll.
Mission: To deliver Greggs Valentine’s Day products to 11 journalists dotted around London.
After arriving at Piccadilly breakfast was needed – hot chocolate and one sausage sandwich. One English tea and one fruit pot. You can tell which one of us is on a diet.
Next stop newsagent, FHM – Standard.
The train departed. Chubs and Ginge were officially on tour 2K 12.
Arrived in London at 8.45, the weather was perfect, baking hot, tanning weather. Our chauffeur driven stretch limo took us to the London office in a traffic/stress free journey.
Okay, I lie. Let me try again.
Arrived in London at 8.45, the weather was #awful, torrential rain, drowning weather. We walked to the London office through the hustle and bustle that is rush hour in London. Ginge’s pumps were squelching and Chub’s shoes had changed colour, it was like Gene Kelly’s singing in the rain video… without the joy.
We finally made it to the Euro RSCG London office. Waiting for us were 100 Greggs Valentines cupcakes – beautifully made and decorated and 100 Valentines heart shaped pops (they tasted good, I mean, really good.) This more than brightened our mood.
Having packed them up we set off to various destinations. This time we were chauffeured! By Mark! In fact we preferred to call him Michael Schumacher or Sat Man, his driving skills consisted of speed, daring manoeuvres and he seemed to know every single road in London off by heart.
Chubs and Ginge on Tour ft Mark.
First destination, Mail Online. Deborah Arthurs. A legend in her own right, Deborah is one of the editors of the site that takes up at least half an hour of your day, as you are unable to read the daily gossip and news that constantly appears. Deborah (Ginge’s crush) loved the treats, we hope she loved them enough to cover them on her food pages. Deborah are you reading this?
From there we went through the Nation’s capital hitting all the major media titles like a team trained by the S.A.S and we made every meeting on time armed with irresistibly tasty treats. We were like Greggs angels sent to bring only happiness to the journalists we love – Daily Mirror, IPC Media, Daily Express and Stylist were all targets on our mission.
Chubs and Ginge ft Mark were tearing up London. With photographic evidence…
Daily Star and the wonderful Natasha Jones, we brightened her day and she made ours worthwhile. The Northern and Shell building houses last year’s Celebrity Big Brother chair. With stunned yet excited faces Chubs, Ginge and Natasha posed while snaps were taken.
Chubs – “Jedward ain’t got nothing on us.” It’s true!
Next stop on our mad rush – The Sun. We met Tim Spanton – You may know him only as Captain Crunch. It was only after the following picture was taken that we found out he actually owned a superhero styled cape. Unbelievable tekkers.
The day was a fantastic success. The only downside was the fact that we didn’t have lunch till 4 pm. Outrageous; however we did devour a packet of crisps, a sandwich, a wrap and a funky pastry.
Score.
Back to the London office where to top it off, Russ Lidstone our CEO took us on the full tour of the office. Very kind of him. The cupola lab is something else.
So back on the train at 6.15 – London Euston – Manchester Piccadilly.
…. The drama didn’t stop there. Chubs and Ginge after a long day had to then endure, no not each others company for the twelfth consecutive hour, but what could only be described as the coldest train we have ever been on…
Arrive in Manchester at 8.30 pm
Mission complete.