As John Lewis suffers, is the era of the grand British department store over?
The Express – 16th March 2018
Today’s bargain-savvy shoppers are increasingly hungry for the sort of discounts that can only be offered from soulless units in business parks rather than elegant Victorian buildings with sky-high rents and rates in prime locations.
“Because we are time-compressed the experience of going shopping is no longer so pleasurable,” says brand guru Mark Borkowski.
“Today you might pop into the shop to look at the £4,000 telly but you will use an app on your phone to find out where you can buy it cheapest online.”
Selfridges has stayed ahead by making a £300million investment in transforming its emporia, as well as its online offering.
“The brand has reinvented itself by creating a sense of wonder in the stores,” argues Borkowski
Barack and Michelle Obama ‘in talks with Netflix over TV series’
The Guardian – 12th March 2018
Former president and first lady in advanced negotiations with streaming service, report says
Whatever the cost of the deal one thing is clear: it would be a television coup of gigantic proportions. “It’s a massive deal for both parties and the only thing we can also be sure of is that it will also involve a massive amount of money,” said the PR and branding expert Mark Borkowski. “This is another magical signing in the race to get as many eyeballs as possible.”
“MBS, and the million-dollar Saudi charm offensive you can’t ignore” Middle East Eye
Middle East Eye – 9th March 2018
Advertising experts say the charm offensive will have cost Saudi Arabia a tidy seven-figure sum for the billboards and the brains behind them. They would have paid the same rates as those of major corporate brands for the three-day blitz, with some estimating more than $1m has been spent.
When asked for his best guess, British PR agent Mark Borkowski said: “A lot of money… an-eye watering amount of money. The people I think are involved – they don’t come cheap.”
Whatever ones position on Saudi, the bigger issue may be the expectations that such a massive campaign sets up, said Borkowski.
“When you engaged in this type of PR, you can’t just switch it off. You are now running a marathon every day of visibility and you are in the public domain,” he said.
“It is now on the radar and commentators like me and other people will be very interested to find out what is the next stage on this.
“Of course if the rather interesting modernisations going on stalls, stops, isn’t successful, then that is going to be very difficult for a PR company to contain.”
Mark Borkowski, a media analyst and PR strategist, tells Newsweek that the Obamas’ deal could eclipse both of those
News Week – 9th March 2018
Mark Borkowski, a media analyst and PR strategist, tells Newsweek that the Obamas’ deal could eclipse both of those. He says Netflix may offer the former first couple $500 million.
“Competition between streamers is so intense. We see money being flown at [creators],” says Borkowski. “It depends what it is, what that program is, what it becomes…is it [related] to a foundation or charity work? It could make it a less [expensive] deal. But it’ll still be a big deal.”
As Isabella Rossellini returns to Lancôme at 65, ‘grey advertising’ continues to boom
As Isabella Rossellini returns to Lancôme at 65, ‘grey advertising’ continues to boom “Advertisers are following the money as well as the political tide,” says PR expert Mark Borkowski. “Women of a certain age have been ignored before but that is no longer the case. Increasingly people are looking to the baby-boomer icons and feeling their influence.”
People have gone chicken crazy’: what the KFC crisis means for the brand.
According to the media commentator Mark Borkowski. “Scarcity creates demand. It’s reminded people about KFC, even those who haven’t had one for years,” he said. “When they get everything back running again, you can expect a stampede.”
I’m A Celebrity winner Georgia Toffolo ‘forced to hand over 30 per cent of her £1million earnings to ITV’ after jungle victory
The Sun, 17th December 2017
Top PR guru Mark Borkowski told us how Toff would be “snapped up” by companies to be the face of their brands.
“She’s got a very bright future in front of her,” says Mark, who is the head of Borkowski PR. “She won’t be an immediate millionaire but she’s on the road to make a million.”
Mark says that when Toff leaves the jungle, she’ll be inundated by offers of everything from book deals to being the face of fashion and lingerie brands.
Shamed PR man Max Clifford dies after collapse in prison
The Times, 11th December 2017
Max Clifford, the mastermind the of kiss-and-tell sex scandal, has died in what a fellow publicist described as “the end of a very dubious legend”.
The public relations man, who was 74, died today at a hospital in Cambridgeshire near Littlehey Prison, where he had been serving an eight-year sentence for sex offences. He died after a heart attack.
From rags to riches and back again and the arch schemer – a PR man’s view of Max Clifford
The Drum, 11th December 2017
In the not too distant future when a dogged eared text book on fame is read by a cultural historian referencing the impact of Max Clifford. From that they will ponder on one long chapter. For any student studying the history of public relations now, one common theme can be tracked; those who manipulate the zeitgeist of any media of age understand the need to feed the “herd’s” insatiable appetite for celebrity. Max Clifford, who died yesterday, was that modern exemplar.
Comms pros react to death of Max Clifford
PR Week, 11th December 2017
PR professionals reacting to the death of Max Clifford have distanced him from the comms industry, providing scathing testimony about the former publicist who died in the middle of a prison sentence for sex offences.
Shamed PR man Max Clifford dies after collapse in prison
The Times, 10th December 2017
Mark Borkowski, a PR agent and brand consultant, said: “I think he was preparing to come back into business. He was having meetings [with clients] in prison.” The Ministry of Justice confirmed Clifford’s death in a statement, in which it said there would be an investigation by the Prisons & Probation
The lowest paid celeb on I’m A Celeb has been revealed
theinsidercarnews.com, 7th December 29017
And according to The Sun, she was ITV’s smallest gamble too, being paid just £13,000 for her stint in the jungle, making her this year’s lowest-paid star.
“He’s the highest-earning contestant ever, even eclipsing what they paid Katie Price”.
I’m A Celebrity fans, who widely condemned the challenge as particularly “horrendous”,’ flocked to social media to praise the reality TV star. The report claims that Made In Chelsea star Georgia “Toff” Toffolo, 23, is earning the lowest fee – £13,000 for her three weeks in the jungle.
Why Toff is already I’m A Celebrity’s biggest winner
tellymix.co.uk, 7th December 2017
Win or lose, things are looking good for Toff on I’m A Celebrity 2017.
Made In Chelsea’s Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo is the favourite to be crowned Queen of the Jungle in Sunday’s final, but according to some she’s already won. PR guru Mark Borkowski has suggested Toff could end up making a million from the show after winning over viewers.
SWIMMING IN CASH I’m A Celebrity’s Georgia Toffolo takes a dip in the jungle bath as it’s revealed she’ll ‘make a million’ through lingerie deals
The Sun, 6th December 2017
I’m A Celeb’s Georgia Toffolo broke out her khaki bikini again as she took a dig in the jungle bath.
It comes after The Sun Online revealed Toff will make a million through lingerie and fashion deals, endorsing products and possibly even a book deal.
The reality star has wowed fans with her amazing wardrobe of bikinis and even said she’s been enjoying the cold jungle shower and that it helps her to wake up in the morning.
No-one wants to hear you talking about politics. But Get I’m a Celebrity right Kezia, and it’s panto at the Glasgow Pavilion next year
inews, 25th November 2017
“Most celebrities only go in the jungle for the money, which is good if you have a decent agent,” said Borkowiski. “The real winner is always ITV and the format. You can’t control how you are edited which determines how you come across. But the casting is always genius.”
Mark Borkowski believes those earnings will suffer over the coming months if advertisers pull out
The Mirror, 24 November 2017
“Crisis and brand publicity specialist Mark Borkowski believes those earnings will suffer over the coming months if advertisers pull out. “I think he will take a hit,” he told Mirror Online, predicting Maynard will be flung into a “short-term financial crisis.” However, Mr Borkowski says that the star’s direct link to his fan base could actually be the key to his survival… as long as he makes the right decisions.
“Where there’s a downturn, it’s how you deal with it, and how you address the accusations,” he continued. “With Youtube you have the power of your own fate. Previously celebrities were beholden to the papers to persuade public that they are good. But with your own channel, you can turbo charge that message. “And if you get lots and lots of fans who believe in you, they will fight the media. “People with great teams and sensible advice can weather the storm. If he can maintain his numbers and address the mater correctly then the advertisers will return.”
Jack Maynard: When stars’ social media posts come back to haunt them
BBC, 23rd November 2017
PR guru Mark Borkowski says Jack Maynard’s actions highlight that there’s nowhere to hide for the generation who have grown up on social media.
“Perhaps it proves a degree of abject ignorance and arrogance,” he says.
“Past attitudes and social hubris will haunt many, many celebrities who now attempt to plunder celebrity status. They will reach the realisation that fame is toxic fame.”
Generating interest at Christmas, a time when every brand wants to get coverage
The Guardian Online, 21 November 2017
“Generating interest at Christmas, a time when every brand wants to get coverage, is difficult, says the PR expert Mark Borkowski. “For a cynical old git like me, you can see the roots of all the stories [in the papers about advent calendars],” he says. “It’s very difficult to keep your client happy around Christmas, with the rest of the noise. Clients and PR agencies are in bubbles; they think something is successful because there’s a snippet in the Metro.” The slew of luxury advent calendars this year is “an opportunity for people in PR to extend their creativity and persuade their clients how clever they are.” For good measure, Borkowski takes a swipe at millennials, not long moved on from their childhood Christmas countdowns, for whom he thinks these advent calendars are “being reinvented”. What a Scrooge. He laughs.”
Mark Borkowski of the Independent believes “the possibility for forgiveness remains.”
Inquisitr, 12 November 2017
He says that if the worst of the allegations have already been reported and Spacey continues to lie low for six or so months, “he will surface for a heart-to-heart – the right interviewer, the right title.”
“Many would like to hear what he has to say. Should a reformed Spacey be deemed credible, it could be as little as two years down the line that the actor could be winning plaudits for a supporting role in an off-Broadway production or Sundance hit.”
Borkowski points to the redemption of Mel Gibson after his drunken anti-Semitic rant more than a decade ago, and even the continued tolerance of Roman Polanski in some circles as reasons for Kevin Spacey to hope Hollywood will someday crack open the door for his undeniable talents again.
With the Weinstein revelations, the tide is turning on media protection of stars
The Drum, 20th October 2017
If the money’s flowing the questions stop. This was what precipitated the downfall of Bell Pottinger: the PR firm lost the plot over what its South African subsidiary was up to and see a toxic campaign ultimately reduced the behemoth to rubble.
Similar dynamics are at work in the conditions that allowed 30 years of predatory abuse to be allegedly perpetrated by Harvey Weinstein. I have heard countless Harvey stories over the last week from industry figures none of whom were particularly surprised by the revelations that appeared in the New York Times and New Yorker.
But why wasn’t anything said?