The Kotchen Group

case studies
case studies

back
Polonaise

The Challenge
The Polonaise Collection, Kurt S. Adler's premier line of collectible blown glass ornaments, needed a competitive edge. Aggressive marketing from competitors already had strong visibility as well as an ongoing relationship with The Today Show and Oprah. Without a celebrity-sized budget, how could Polonaise compete in the national arena? The Kotchen Group was retained to generate brand awareness among holiday shoppers, collectors and the bridal market.

The Solution
For a promotional tie-in with the Rosie O'Donnell Show, we pitched a creative concept of having celebrity guests sign Polonaise ornaments for the show's new Christmas tree set. The signed ornaments were then auctioned off on Ebay in support of Rosie's charity, For All Kids Foundation. A Harry Potter Campaign was also developed with the new Potter ornament designs and pitched to collectible magazines, newspapers and television. An ongoing Magazine Campaign placed new product designs in collectible, decorating, bridal and special interest niche publications.

The Results

From Cindy Crawford and Johnny Depp to Tom Hanks and Jane Pauley, over 50 celebrities signed and hung Polonaise ornaments on the exclusively Polonaise Christmas tree on the Rosie O'Donnell Show. On Ebay, Mel Gibson’s and Sean Connery’s attracted over $1,200 each in support of Rosie's charity.

Featured prominently on Ebay’s home page, the Rosie auction, positioned Polonaise as a hot collectible among collectors and new visitors, opening more vehicles for awareness and impacting increased activity on the Polonaise web site. A gift presentation for the audience was also arranged, with Rosie herself attesting to being a Polonaise collector. Holiday TV segments were booked in major markets including Weekend Today show, publicizing Potter and other wedding ornaments. A Polonaise artist also appeared on regional TV with newspapers covering advance and in-store event signings.

The PR campaign achieved over $3 million in media value without the estimated value of the 3 week visibility on Rosie. Placement was garnered in the AP wedding gift guide, and over 70 newspapers featured Harry Potter ornaments during the holiday season, with another 150 newspapers featuring other Polonaise ornaments. Highlights of the magazine campaign include a 7-page spread in two Better Homes and Gardens, plus over 50 placements in collectible, niche, trade and consumer publications, including Woman's Day. It was, indeed, a Rosie holiday for Polonaise!


The Kotchen Group
270 Farmington Ave., Ste 322
Farmington, CT 06032

Phone: (860) 676-2266
Fax: (860) 676-2267
Email: pr@kotchengroup.com




Web Design by: Bontane