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WHO IS LOOKING AFTER THE PM AND THE OLD DEAR?

What. A. Disaster.

Yes Gordon, it sure was. After all the statesmanlike comments in the national press, the wise words about Europe on the TV debate and the campaign trail growing in positive momentum - things were starting to look a little better for the beleaguered Labour camp.

Until someone forgot to check the leader’s mike was off. First rule of PR – look after your client. Where was his PRO? Why was he allowed to make such a crippling gaffe? One that has surely cost him another 4 years in power.

Whether one agrees or not with his choice of words, they were never meant for public consumption. Someone should have been looking after his interests and ensuring he was disrobed of his microphone and tucked safely away in his car for his next endless round of media opportunities.

He’s not blameless either mind – a schoolboy error on the part of the PM, who must surely know by now ‘if you don’t say it, they won’t print it’ and that old adage ‘the walls have ears’.

He wasn’t looked after that day, but I bet his spin-doctors are wrapping around him like a blanket now.

Who’s comforting the old dear he insulted though? Have we not learnt any lessons from the ‘SuBo’ fiasco? You cannot parachute and old lady from Rochdale into the international media glare, and expect her to cope. I hear today she has a PR agency on board – I hope their representation includes a bit of good old fashioned care and common sense.

But I suspect the next photo-call is already being arranged for polling day, when her lifetime tick in the Labour box will change for good.

Passion for your product really cuts it

By Kari Owers

It’s always easier to sell your story if you believe so passionately about it you can get close to tears. That was the case at an Entrepreneurs’ Forum event I attended this week with internationally renowned hairdresser Trevor Sorbie.

With a career that many of us would kill for, Trevor’s brand is known around the world and his ‘stylist to the stars’ status means he doesn’t have to get out of bed for less than £10,000 a day if he doesn’t want to.

But nowadays Trevor works for nothing - diddly squat. The way he stood up and promoted his new venture Mynewhair.org you were left in no doubt as to why money just doesn’t cut it for him these days.

My newhair.org is a charity set up to train hairdressers how to style wigs for people suffering from medical hair loss, most especially people affected by cancer.

It’s not just the practical tips on cutting a wig being taught, it’s how to talk to someone going through cancer treatment. For any woman especially, having their hair done is a kind of therapy, but for one that is seeing her whole identity disappear as she loses her hair, it really is ‘psychological medicine’ as Trevor puts it.

Mynewhair.org is training hairdressers across the UK how to offer the service at their salon, and hopes to see it become a way of life for people facing wearing a wig, whether they live in a remote village or a major city.

I listened to Trevor talk, and yes I did shed a tear. His passion for helping women when they are at rock bottom, by quite simply letting them face the world with a brave face and a head of hair – was simply moving.

He admitted he needs to get the word out there and asked us to spread his message. So that’s what I’m doing writing this blog. But more than that, Trevor summed up what I’ve always believed in. No matter what your business or message – if you believe in it passionately you will reach people.

This is one cause it isn’t hard to put some PR weight behind. Give that man a tip. Donate or get involved at http://www.mynewhair.org/