6th January 2009

Mediasight Announces New Mobile Advertising Medium

Mediasight, the product development arm of the Captive Minds Communications Group, has today announced the launch of a new mobile advertising technology that can be used to display objects in 3D hovering in real space.

Secondsight is based on a concept called Augmented Reality - where live video imagery is digitally processed and augmented by the addition of computer generated graphics. After a free application is pushed to the phone, users simply hold their phones over a specially coded square. Brands can instantly stream 3D reactive objects, video and audio which is all displayed through the screen of the phone. The effect is reminiscent of the Princess Leia hologram scene in Star Wars.

The company hopes to introduce this technology to brand campaigns in the near future by making Mediasight a natural extension to print advertisements. They also believe walking tours could become a major market. Mediasight is working with its delivery partner, Blackridge, to further extend the technology and integrate it with GPS capabilities.

Secondsight is the first product to successfully generate Augmented Reality for a popular consumer mobile platform. The product was in development for 18 months before the launch of the Nokia N Series phones, and selected Nokia N Series handsets were the first phones on the market with sufficient graphic capabilities.

Secondsight is currently available for the Symbian platform with 220 million compatible phones worldwide. PSP and iPhone versions are planned soon. PC versions are already available.

Mediasight provides turnkey solutions for brands and corporate clients that wish to deploy user-intelligent, mediacasting systems in their businesses. The team develop innovative new ways of harnessing convergent media platforms.

11th August 2008

Powershot, Europe's No.1 Energy Shot launches in the UK

Following a strong period of trading across Europe, Powershot arrives in the UK. This small 10ml bottle of pure natural energy is derived from the Panax Ginseng root - the strongest form of natural energy that works in harmony with your body. Powershot is Europe's leading Energy Shot drink having sold over 1m units in 2007. Captive Minds Communications won a competitive pitch to take the Powershot Brand into the health and vitamins sector whilst combining a second tier push into the on-trade and student sector. Powershot Account Director Alex Rayner comments: "The energy shot market was valued at $125m in the US in 2007, being the largest growing sector of the energy drinks market. The UK is tipped to mirror this trend. Using our array of leisure and hospitality clients, we are looking to establish Powershot early as a market leader.

9th April 2008

TCG Acquisitions Ltd. requires experience from Captive Minds

Captive Minds Communications is set to launch the new Hammersmith-hotspot Ivory Lounge. TCG Ltd., who operates over 150 bars in the UK, wishes to extend its brand to West London beginning with the Ivory Lounge. TCG has already established its presence in London operating bars and pubs such as Bar 38, Paxton's Arms, Kings Arms, Admiral Duncan, and the Buck's Head. However, Ivory Lounge is expected to create a new style and service. Following the success of the Ivory Lounge across the UK in Bromley, Edinburgh, Maidenhead, and Reading, TCG will open branches in Bexley Heath and Hammersmith. Riding the success of venue launches such as London hot spots Sound, Tamarai, and the Cuban, Captive Minds is looking forward to promoting the opening of the ultra-chic Ivory Lounge. Tucked away from the pretentious scene of central London, Ivory Lounge offers a vibrant atmosphere of style and comfort. The Ivory Lounge is characterized as a laid-back, versatile and fashionable venue. Proving to be a versatile venue, Ivory Lounge does not just cater to the evening crowd. This intimate venue is welcoming at all times of the day Fine Italian coffees and a delicious breakfast is served in the morning. Afternoons are characterised as a break from the rigors of everyday life and a spot for lunch. The Ivory Lounge in the early evening is an opportunity to tuck in traditional Tapas and a bottle of wine with co-workers and friends. These marketable strengths will be helpful in building a name for the Ivory Lounge. Captive Minds will treat the Ivory Lounge not just as a venue but also an expanding brand with exponential potential for success. TCG and Captive Minds both realize the importance of segmenting the consumer and the venue in growing the brand. The Captive Minds targeted and integrated campaign will focus communications involving press, promotions, online communities, local area networking groups, and local advertising to maximize exposure to the local, domestic, and tourist markets.

9th April 2008

Captive Minds to launch ViVO

Captive Minds Communications has won a new account ViVO, Alphabet Bars latest addition to their exploding bar and restaurant group. As one of London’s leading independent bar-restaurant operators, Alphabet Bars understands the importance of a skillful integrated & targeted campaign to jump-start their venue into a range of markets, via a variety of marketing platforms. Captive Minds won over Alphabet Bars Management with a solution that offered PR and marketing on a variety of levels. Captive Mind’s has acquired a myriad of experience in launching venues in the West End, London, and UK-wide with clients such as The Cuban, Tamarai, and Sound. The debut of a venue is more than just simply a PR-generated build-up of excitement—it’s knowledge of the consumer’s psychographics within the local, domestic, and tourist market is what enables the bar/restaurant’s to put down its roots. The campaign should prove to be true to the ViVO name, bringing to the bar upbeat energy and excitement as well as promoting it’s exciting Latin cuisine. Captive Minds will bring ViVO into press, promotions, corporate notice boards, and flood online communities all looking for the next destination. Located on Poland Street, ViVO snugly lies in the heart of Soho. In this unpretentious venue you can choose to relax and enjoy the fantastic food, or let loose at the bar downstairs with Latin inspired cocktails, beer, or wine. The bar at ViVO is deliberately set downstairs, to provide a down-to-earth yet glamorous bar area. Guests can relax on luxurious and comfortable leather sofas or, if they prefer, sit in banquette seating. Custom-built LED lighting systems provide an intimate area, which are simply ideal for drinks and tapas and good conversation. The restaurant menu combines Spanish tapas with street food adapted from Mediterranean and Latin style dishes. Inspiring the cuisine is the gauchos of South America, where each steak is imported in. In the five to six weeks from the pasture to the ViVO table, the meat ages beautifully. Among other fantastic ViVO offerings, a Very Happy Hour begins at 5 and ends at 8 everyday a perfect start to an evening out or the end to a long workday. ViVO is a chic but refreshing addition to the Alphabet collection of West End & Shoreditch venues.

26th March 2008

Captive Minds Focuses Press Spotlight On Global Warming

With only four days of warning, Captive Minds Communications arranged a press call for Camilla Hempleman-Adams at Parliament Square on Thursday March 13, 2008. The daughter of esteemed British explorer David Hempleman-Adams will become the youngest British woman to ski across to the North Pole. At only 15 years old, Camilla aims to raise the environmental alarm, 'lose the ice...lose the planet," to her peers. On the balmy March day in London, Camilla posed with a six-foot melting ice clock in front of a crowd of environmental correspondents and photographers. The ice clock served as a perfect metaphor and drew the attention that time is certainly running out to save the polar ice and much more broadly, the environment. Camilla will soon become the personification of the Polar Extreme Foundation inc., an organization dedicated to raising interest on global warming among youth across the globe, founded by her father and Hollywood screenwriter Danielle Alexandra. After three days of intensive pitching and chasing the media, Captive Minds Communications secured journalists and photographers from national press from the Metro, The Times, The Daily Telegraph and the London Paper, along with broadcast outlets such as ITV London Tonight, BBC London and Radio 5. Camilla will depart from London Heathrow airport on April 3rd and return on the 17th. Her first destination will be Oslo, onto Longyearbyen, Spitzbergen for training and acclimatization, and finally land in Barneo Ice camp in Antonov's 74. Needless to say, we are all anxious for her departure and safe return. More media coverage is sure to come.

28th February 2008

TfL Oyster Card Promotion Confirms Sound as No.1

A first for nightclub entertainment and for Transport For London, Sound London, 1 Leicester Square, will be partnering with TfL's Oyster card 2 for one promotion . The Oyster card 2 for 1 is currently promoted weekly in Metro & London Lite, on posters on the underground and in print marketing collateral.

19th November 2007

Red Carpet For Chicago Musical 10th Anniversary

Captive Minds will be closing a large part of Leicester Square on 5th December for the anniversary celebrations of Chicago. A selection of major stars will be expected at the party held at Sound, No.1 Leicester Square.

10th September 2007

GLE Selects Captive Minds As Top Creative Force

Greater London Enterprise selected Captive Minds 9 months ago as one of 10 London creative companies to undergo their 'creative accelerator programme'. We've now finished and would like say a big thanks to all.

Captive Minds to launch newly managed RS Lounge

Captive Minds Communications Group has won a new integrated marketing account, East London’s chic and savvy RS Lounge. Formerly known as The Rising Sun, leisure company the Millennium Group invested £5 million to develop the site & create a unique and glamorous bar/lounge/restaurant. Millennium Limits group understands the importance of launching the venue to achieve high brand recognition as well as driving footfall to the destination. By using targeted on and offline marketing and PR strategies is key in Captive Minds’ campaign. By creating residential awareness and driving businesses to the venue to enhance lunchtime and weekend trade, Captive Minds and the RS Lounge will work together to promote East London’s current hidden treasure. Captive Minds is well qualified to launch and manage the RS Lounge having recently launched venues across London, in the West End, Shoreditch and UK-wide. CMCG’s leisure clients include Sound London, The Cuban Restaurant and Bars, Vivo and Cantaloupe. The RS Lounge is a venue where one canon the Al Fresco terrace, a chilled glass of rose after work in the Lounge, or a carefree night out in the Main Bar and dance floor. Integrating the posh elegance of contemporary glass front and the serene background of Epping Forest, the RS Lounge creates an atmosphere unlike any other in the area. The RS Lounge is unique enough to become a destination lounge and with the right exposure it is sure to be identified as landmark on the East London landscape. By Lauren Brucker