Widespread Pitch for Staples (Weber Shandwick)

SUBJ: Staples gives WFHers a chance to win a curated home office look

SUBJ: Staples & HGTV’s Jasmine Roth upgrade your WFH Space

SUBJ: Refresh your home office with a look curated by Staples’ WFH Style Squad

SUBJ: Staples Announces Find Your WFH Style Sweepstakes

SUBJ: Giveaway: Win A Curated Home Office Worth $5K

Hi XX – Hope you’re well/custom intro for each journalist!

Just in time for a spring refresh, in partnership with HGTV host and interior designer Jasmine Roth, the Staples WFH Style Squad has designed three unique office looks using their favorite home office furniture, tech, and accessories available at Staples stores to inspire you to find your workspace style.

Plus, in celebration of National Work from Home Day, the WFH Style Squad is giving three lucky winners a chance to find their WFH style by winning one of the three looks – a true dream home office setup (valued at $5K).

• Earthy Office Nook, designed by Matt & Beau founders of Probably This, a DIY, home, and lifestyle blog. Inspired by nature and organic elements, Matt & Beau’s look incorporates natural textures, plenty of light and modern accessories.

• Sunny WFH Hideaway, designed by Sharelle Rosado, founder and CEO of Selling Tampa’s Allure Realty. Inspired by the colors of the Tampa sunset, Sharelle’s look incorporates clean, white lines with pops of orange and yellow.

• Modern Vintage Workspace, designed by Chelsea Henriquez, a New York City-based content creator and owner of Shop As of Late. Inspired by her thrifted treasures, Chelsea’s look is a modern twist on vintage florals and classic gold.

Would you consider sharing the news? More details here and below my signature – happy to answer any questions!

Thanks,

XX
For Staples

Press Release: [LINK]

Images + Video: [LINK]

Website: https://www.staplesconnect.com/workspace

Sweepstakes: staplesconnect.com/FindYourWFHStyle

About the Find Your WFH Style Sweepstakes: Just in time for a spring refresh, the Staples WFH Style Squad has designed three unique office looks using their favorite home office furniture, tech, and accessories available at Staples stores to inspire you to find your workspace style. Plus, the squad is giving three lucky winners a chance to win one of the three looks, each valued at $5,000. To enter beginning May 17 (National Work From Home Day) visit staplesconnect.com/FindYourWFHStyle and submit a photo of your current home workspace along with a short description of why you’re in need of an upgrade.

Jasmine Roth social: link

Jasmine Roth quote: “I loved working with the Staples WFH Style Squad to create their signature looks — each brought a different feel to their space and incorporated pieces that inspire them and represent their personal styles,” said Jasmine Roth, interior designer and builder. “Staples has everything to help refresh workspaces as people rediscover what inspires productivity and joy.”

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Meet the WFH Style Squad:

Jasmine Roth, @jasminerothofficial

Having spent her childhood building playhouses in her dad’s garage, this TV host and interior designer is passionate about transforming cookie cutter houses into custom dream homes.

Sharelle Rosado, @sharellerosado_

Former paratrooper for the US Army, Sharelle is the founder and CEO of luxury real estate firm Allure Realty in Tampa Bay, Florida, and star of the new Netflix docu-series Selling Tampa.

Chelsea Henriquez, @chelseaasoflate

Digital creator. Entrepreneur. An NYC-based creative, thrifting-lover and second-hand shop owner, encouraging her fans to build their wardrobes creatively and sustainably.

Matt & Beau, @probablythis

Interior designers. Entertainers. Writers. Parents to three tiny fur babies: Fox, Barley and Rye.

Press Release Draft for Staples (Weber Shandwick)

Staples Celebrates National Work from Home Day by Giving Customers a Chance to Win Their Dream Home Office Setup

Interior Designer Jasmine Roth and the Staples WFH Style Squad unveil three curated home office looks available at Staples

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – May 17, 2022 – Staples today announced the launch of the Find Your WFH Style Sweepstakes, an opportunity for consumers to enter to win one of three home office looks curated by Staples’ Work From Home Style Squad. For many Americans, the future of work is flexible. Companies across the country have announced their plans for hybrid work options, and new research conducted by Staples shows that 90% of hybrid workers prefer to be remote at least part-time1. Staples is here to support workers and small businesses in creating workspaces that inspire. Just in time for a spring refresh, the Work From Home Style Squad is unveiling three unique office looks designed in collaboration with interior designer and builder, Jasmine Roth. Three lucky entrants will receive the products from Staples within the look they entered for along with gift cards to personalize their space (prize valued at a $5,000).

“Home offices that were once a temporary fix have become permanent setups in the homes of hybrid and fully remote workers,” said Marshall Warkentin, Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer, Staples US Retail. “As the hybrid work model continues to evolve in the U.S., the WFH Style Squad is here to help provide the inspiration for customers to spruce up their spaces and really make them feel like their own.”

The WFH Style Squad, mentored and guided by Roth, is introducing three custom designed WFH office looks. Consumers can draw inspiration from each look:

• Earthy Office Nook, designed by Matt & Beau founders of Probably This, a DIY, home, and lifestyle blog. Inspired by nature and organic elements, Matt & Beau’s look incorporates natural textures, plenty of light and modern accessories.

• Sunny WFH Hideaway, designed by Sharelle Rosado, founder and CEO of Selling Tampa’s Allure Realty. Inspired by the colors of the Tampa sunset, Sharelle’s look incorporates clean, white lines with pops of orange and yellow.

• Modern Vintage Workspace, designed by Chelsea Henriquez, a New York City-based content creator and owner of Shop As of Late. Inspired by her thrifted treasures, Chelsea’s look is a modern twist on vintage florals and classic gold.

• Staples and the WFH Style Squad are giving three lucky winners a chance to find their WFH style by winning one of the three looks, each valued at $5,000. To enter now through June 7, visit staplesconnect.com/FindYourWFHStyle [GS(1] and submit a photo of a current home workspace along with a short description of why it’s in need of an upgrade.

The Work From Home Style Squad has been working together since February to inspire hybrid workers and small business owners to reimagine their workspaces.

“I loved working with the Staples WFH Style Squad to create their signature looks — each brought a different feel to their space and incorporated pieces that inspire them and represent their personal styles,” said Jasmine Roth, interior designer and builder. “Staples has everything to help refresh workspaces as people rediscover what inspires productivity and joy.” Staples aims to support hybrid workers and small business owners as they outfit their homes to create a productive and flexible working environment and can help style entire workspaces with everything from furniture to supplies and more. The curated assortment of products features stylish and functional office furniture, technology, and accessories that encourage productivity and creativity. The product line includes chic chairs like the Gry Mattr Faux Leather Swivel Task Chair, a variety of desks like the Gry Mattr Parsons Desk and Turning Desk, an array of lighting options like the Gry Mattr LED Desk Lamp, plus today’s latest technology and accessories that pop.

People looking to upgrade their home office setups can follow the WFH Style Squad throughout the year for design inspiration on social, @StaplesStores and #WFHStyleSquad. Plus, they can check out how these products come to life at staplesconnect.com/workspace. Head to a nearby Staples store to shop the new assortment of products curated to help customers inspire their workspaces. Customers can also order items via Instacart or by shopping online at Staples.com.

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About Staples Stores

With a focus on the community of small businesses and consumers, Staples Stores provide innovative products, services and inspiration essential to the new ways of working and learning. Staples Stores and Staples Connect retail locations serve millions of customers from entrepreneurs and small businesses to remote workers, parents, teachers, and students. Explore Staples Connect at a local Staples Store or online at StaplesConnect.com.

Media Contact

Staples

Name

Phone Number

E-mail

[1] The Idea Lab Community, Hybrid/Remote Working Media Survey. April 2022.

MEDIA RELATIONS EXERCISE

The Weber Shandwick team is responsible for media outreach to garner coverage of the Thank You Treats initiative in Upstate New York. Typically, with this task, the team will begin by reaching out to the media with a pitch via email. You are supporting the team and have been asked to draft this email pitch for reporters to help convince them why they should cover the news. Oftentimes this exercise is accompanied by identifying local media outlets that are likely to be interested in this announcement.

Draft a pitch email that will be sent to reporters to help generate media coverage for Fast-Food Thank You Treats in the Upstate New York area. Use the above background details to draft an enticing pitch that will pique interest and result in media coverage.

Subject Line: Local Fast Food restaurant gives “Thanks you treats” to local educators

Hi XX,

I’ve been enjoying your recent coverage on the NY food scene. I have a story for you. As you know, the 2020-2021 academic year was unlike any other, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented teachers with unprecedented challenges. That’s why Fast-Food, a local Rochester, NY restaurant, is paying homage to local educators by offering unlimited “Thank You Treats.” Fast Food is immensely grateful for the commitment teachers have shown their students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

I believe your audience will truly enjoy reading such a warm story. We invite you to the “Thank You Treats” kickoff event on Jan 6th from 10am-2pm, where you’ll have a chance to speak with John Smith, a Central New York Fast-Food owner and spokesperson, some amazing teachers, and members of the community. Smith believes initiatives like these boost community morale and help keep the community motivated to get through such unprecedented times.

About the initiative:

• Fast-Food would like to give special thanks to local educators for their contributions to students and the community during the pandemic.

• It will take place from Jan 6th to Jan 15th at participating Fast-Food restaurants in Rochester, NY.

• Thank You Treats include the new trio of bakery sweets such as Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin and Cinnamon Roll – and the offer free of charge is complete with an any size hot coffee.

Thank you for your time; Let’s make sure all of our local teachers get a “Thank You Treat” this year!

Best,

Melissa Calvo Vides

Please identify three to five media outlets that you would recommend reaching out to with this note along with your rationale for selecting them.

The media outlets being pitched should be diverse, TV, radio, print, etc.

1. Tracy Schuhmacher    

   tracys@gannett.com

   Outlet - Democrat and Chronicle (Daily newspaper)

   Rationale - Schuhmacher from Democrat and Chronicle covers a lot of the restaurants, food and drink sector in Rochester, NY. This coverage would be great for Fast-Food, and it will build a sense of community since the “Thank-You Treats” uplift local educators.

2. Katie Reilley

   katie.reilly@time.com

   Outlet - Time Magazine

   Rationale - Times Magazine September's issue was titled “The people who saved a school year” - The issue featured educators, custodians, bus drivers, etc from all over the nation who went above and beyond to make the pandemic school year a good one.  I think they would appreciate that Fast-Food is celebrating teachers by giving them free “Thank-You Treats”

3. Ally Peters

   APeters@wroctv.com

   Outlet - CBS: WROC (local TV station)

   Rationale - Peters is interested in new stories in the Rochester area. She covers stories in the “community” section. I think this story would be a perfect fit for her.