My internship: Sophia

Month 1 : June 2014
Off To A Great Start (Satisfaction 4.5 / out of 5)

cck team 2014 sophia month1

Only one month into my PR and marketing internship at Coffee, Cake and Kink and I've already had so many fun and interesting experiences. Although I knew this internship would be hands on, the amazing opportunities and responsibilities I've already been given have exceeded my expectations - I'm not quite sure where to start!

I have been very impressed by the induction I was given at CCK, and the support I have been given so far to ensure I settle in well and understand all tasks which are set. This included not only step by step inductions of systems and software used, but also looking at my own goals and personal objectives with Sonia to help me to get the most out of this experience. I appreciate the time that has been taken so far to look at the skills I want to develop and the types of experiences I would like to have during this internship.

On a personal level, the best part of this internship so far has to be meeting new interesting, open-minded, progressive, lovely people. I have also probably drunk more coffee in the past month than I have in the last year (I used to be a self confessed tea devotee) and savored my first delicious Monmouth coffee in Covent Garden last week.

I was also able to go to the Jean Paul Gaultier Exhibition, From Sidewalk to Catwalk, at the Barbican to write a review for the Coffee, Cake and Kink online magazine. The exhibition was absolutely beautiful, inspiring and thought provoking, I really enjoyed Gaultier's boundary breaking explorations of gender and sexuality through fashion. Being able to visit events and exhibitions for free is definitely a huge perk of Coffee, Cake & Kink internships, and it's cool to be on the Guest/Press List!

I have also been researching and scheduling events into the marketing calendar and then tweeting about them. I am beginning to learn to use the Hootsuite software tool and the ways of using social media for business PR and marketing. I've enjoyed working the tweets because it made me think about making my writing more short and snappy, which is something I've wanted to work on.

Researching events for the marketing calendar has been fun because I've learnt about all these amazing workshops, festivals and events going on in London which I was previously unaware of - I've added a few of these to my own calendar too!

Since the launch of CCK2 is not far off there is lots to do and prepare for - I've joined CCK at a very exciting and busy time meaning there are a variety of tasks for me to do - which are keeping me on my toes!

So far some of these include putting together pledge packages for CCK2 kickstarter backers. I learnt about how important liasion with kickstarter supporters was and how communication with them can encourage positive feedback and good PR. For example, personalising the hampers for kickstarter backers and delivering them in person when possible, reiterates unique and special customer service.

I've also been taking short videos of people talking about their favorite coffee, cake and kiss for the CCK2 YouTube channel which I've really enjoyed - I took one of a lady selling cakes at a street food market who kindly gave me a free cupcake after we had chatted for a while about the new CCK2 project (yummy!). Not only is it fun to film these short clips, but I've really enjoyed the responses from people when I tell them more about CCK2, so far they have all been so positive and excited about it and all want to come visit when it opens! I did one of these short videos with Rogerio, the designer for Libidex Latex at the workshop where the garments are made. This was fantastic as he showed me some of the amazing new outfits and styles for this season.

I can't pick out many lowlights during my first month at CCK - so far I have felt very supported and encouraged and am looking forward to what the next month will bring, I'm getting prepared to get stuck in and work hard to help ensure the CCK2 launch goes as smoothly as possible.

 

Month 2: July 2014
Branding Bliss (Satisfaction 5 out of 5)

This month has been a very busy and varied one, I have been working on lots of different tasks which have been keeping me on my toes.

The absolute highlight of month 2 has been taking part in brand design for CCK2 and the opportunity to sit in at the branding meetings with the agency which has been selected to design its visual identity. I took part in an initial meeting with the branding team, and all the follow-ups! I felt like this rare and unique experience taught me a lot about the intricacy of branding, I realised how important the communication with the design team is in order to make sure the concept and its key values are clearly defined and can be conveyed in design.

I found this useful because it opened my eyes to the in depth process of brand development, and the importance of the concept of a brand resonating cohesively through all aspects of it's design and actual atmosphere. I've realised that creating a strong brand requires a really in depth approach and even the smallest of details (such as stickers, for instance!) can make the difference between an okay brand and a fabulous, unique, eye catching brand. The experience of sitting in on these meetings has been invaluable to me and I feel very excited about being a part of it.

I've done some more videos for the CCK2 YouTube, a few with friends and people I have met whilst out and about, for instance a lovely lady who has a cake stall at Lower Marsh Street Market, and by taking part in the video it was also good promotion for her cake business! I also visited the South Bank as it is currently holding a month long Festival of Love, which directly ties in with our focus at CCK2. I approached people there to tell them about CCK2 and then see if they wanted to take part in a video for our YouTube channel.

I then subtitled them all for accessibility using the captions tool on YouTube. Initially I thought this was something that would take a long time but once I got going they actually didn't take very long at all and is of a great benefit to our hard of hearing/seeing followers. It is also good for marketing, and - once in a csv.file - also good content for our website. It was a fun task to do as I got to look back through every single video.

I am also enjoying the combination of working from home and coming into the office. It is nice to be able to correspond via email and telephone and then get on with my own work at home on some days; I like being able to manage my own time in this way, and being able to work at home in your dressing gown is also a plus.

Not only have I been enjoying the work aspect of this internship, but also getting to know Sonia and Alana more. Seeing how hard they work, and the passion they have for CCK2 is inspiring, and makes me excited about being a part of it. I can't wait to see what the next meeting with the branding meeting will reveal, and look forward to another busy and interesting month at CCK.

Month 3: August 2014
Buzzing (Satisfaction 5 out of 5)

cck team 2014 sophia2

It has come to the end of the third month of my internship at Coffee, Cake and Kink and there are many exciting things to talk about! It has been a month of social media and PR bonanza and I have been developing my confidence with writing tweets, setting up small social media campaigns and using web tools to search and retrieve contact information for future outreach. Oh, and I baked ;)

I have been using Buzzstream software as a tool to gather, sort and rate contact information in preparation for the PR work we will need to do when the brand launches. The most interesting thing I've found is that there are so many different avenues to explore! Coffee, cake, baking, food, drink, travel and interior design to name a few!

There are also email templates for PR outreach, meaning I can create emails which automatically fill in the personalised contact information relevant to each person we want to get in touch with. It is reassuring and satisfying to do this sort of preparation prior to the brand launch, and it's good to be given right tools for the job!

I have also been corresponding with people who are helping with the new shop, and give them some social media support as one good deed definitely deserves another!

I got in touch with Hattie Hassan from Stopcocks women plumbers to help promote her comedy night at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival via our social media. She was really grateful for our support and even suggested organising a comedy night for us in the future which she would perform at and we could give away tickets as some sort of competition over social media.

I also contacted Simon Farrow from Harzfloor - who are putting in our resin floors - to help him raise money for a charity by running the Great North Run. His JustGiving charity page was quite sparse so I sent him some suggestions on how he could improve it. Once he had updated his information I then wrote a small piece about him and why he was doing this run to go up on our Facebook page. I also scheduled regular tweets to go out that week with links to his JustGiving page and the twitter handles of the charity he was running for. I enjoyed organising this small campaign to boost his donations and it was rewarding to help him out and support him in reaching his target (which he did!).

I reached out to different people who organise events in London which are relevant to our audiences to see if we could organise any support for them via our social media to promote their club nights, workshops or events. I was in touch with Dolores from the Kitten Club who organises burlesque nights and classes, she invited us to come along to one of the nights and write a review for the Coffee, Cake and Kink online magazine. She also suggested that we could offer a deal to our followers if we could help promote her events.

I am enjoying corresponding with these people and supporting them in different ways, it is also important to create these positive relationships where we help others out, as when we launch the new brand we too will need support and hopefully they will return the favour when that time comes.

As part of working on the brand and maintaining a presence within our community and followers - we decided to hold a meet and greet at the Southbank with our Kickstarter supporters to not only give them a sneak peek of what's to come, but also receive some feedback on the designs the branding team had been working on for us. We were met by a few of the backers that day and had a lovely afternoon of coffee and cake, discussing people's thoughts and hopes for the new cafe, and their own preferences on coffee, cake, baking - and kisses! This meeting with the Kickstarter supporters really showed me the importance of getting feedback on ideas from the people who will eventually be your customers. I baked cakes!

I can't really identify any low points from this month, though I would say it has been a very busy one, at the internship and for me personally (in a good way!). I just can't believe how quickly the weeks are going and I am already going into my fourth month at CCK. I am looking forward to September as there are lots of exciting trade shows to go to and browse for suppliers and inspiration.

 

 

 

The Kitten Club