About Hippo Communications

High Impact Publicity and Promotions Organisation is the promise of HIPPO Communications!

Owned and run by Beryl Eichenberger with a small core staff she started the consultancy in 2000, following more than three decades of working in both retail and media fields. Beryl's extensive experience in promotions, Public Relations, Event Management, consumer marketing and related fields has given this small consultancy an excellent grounding.

With a network of contacts stretching from government officials to society hostesses the agency is regarded as one with integrity, empathy and above all delivery!

Specialising in building the image of your brand, HIPPO will work with your organisation to devise a strategy aimed at maximising brand awareness in your target market and ultimately contributing to your bottom line.

Working with your marketing planning departments is vital to ensure complete understanding of your objectives and obtain maximum exposure.

HIPPO Communications offers access to a vast network of skills and projects will be personally driven. Working with other like-minded professionals to provide joint venture operations that meet BEE criteria and can handle projects both large and small, experience of working in a media organisation has given an understanding of what the media are looking for. HIPPO has built relationships across all media types through innovative campaigns that have opportunities for all parties.

Mission Statement

To offer the client the best opportunity to build a lasting relationship with their target market through a strategic communications plan that meets the needs of both consumer and client

Services Offered

Brand building (both internal and external)

• Planning and devising strategy in consultation with your Company
• Co-ordinating launch functions, conferences, events and national roadshows
• Generating ideas
• Managing and implementing the promotions campaign

Media Liaison

• Generating publicity / Preparing press releases
• Journalist contact/ media briefings
• Media analysis (value per column cm)

Project Management

• Co-ordination and implementation of the project
• Assistance with innovative ideas
• Sourcing external skills to ensure success
• Management of the budget and full de-brief

Who is BERYL EICHENBERGER?

Beryl was born in the UK emigrating to South Africa in 1969.

Her training a dress designer gave her a good feel for fashion and, after working at Truworths in Display she moved to Greatermans City store in 1973.
Here she found her true niche in the Public Relations and Special Events department - innovating exciting and unusual promotions for the store

In 1978 she moved to Cape Town and was appointed a selector at Woolworths which gave her excellent experience in the buying side of the retail industry. She changed course with the company in 1988 when she was appointed Public Relations Officer for the Cape division.

In 1991 Beryl was appointed to the position of Promotions Manager for The Argus and was responsible for various ongoing promotions and events such as the Argus/Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour, amongst other responsibilities.
In 1996 she was appointed to the position of Promotions Manager of the Independent Newspapers Cape group covering the Cape Argus, Cape Times and Community Newspapers.

In 1997 she was awarded the Rotary Press Award for her contribution to the furtherance of Rotary projects as a non-Rotary member.

In 1998 she attended the International Newspaper Marketing Association World Congress in Amsterdam and delivered a paper on "Building Brands and Bridges" on behalf of Independent Newspapers South Africa which was also the first time a South African newspaper had presented at such an event.

In 1999 she was asked to project manage the Cape Times "One City, Many Cultures" initiative, a ground breaking project for a newspaper and one dedicated to promoting tolerance and understanding in the diverse Cape Town communities. This led to the ongoing Cape Town Festival, which aims to build understanding through the arts.

Since 1998 Beryl has organised the Independent News and Media International Advisory Board Conference each year in February. She continues to organize this under the HIPPO brand. Hosted by Sir Anthony O'Reilly and chaired by Right Honorable Brian Mulroney this features high profile decision makers such as Ben Bradlee, Ambassador Andrew Young, Baroness Margaret Jay, David Dinkins, the Honorable Kenneth Clarke, Sir Sean Connery and others and has become an annual event which includes gala banquets and functions. In 1997 she was awarded the Rotary Press Award for her contribution to the furtherance of Rotary projects as a non-Rotary member. Her citation mentioned the excellent press coverage and growth of these two events due to her continual promotion and commitment to the projects.

Whilst still at Independent Newspapers Beryl was asked to organise the annual "Personal Finance Raging Bull Awards" which rewards the Collective Investments Industry. Now in its 13th year and considered the most important awards event in the Collective Investment Industry, she continues to organise this event under the HIPPO brand.

With the new millennium HIPPO Communications was born and since March 2000 the company has continued to work with corporate clients whilst building a solid base of both local and international clients for both publicity and events.

A variety of major events and publicity campaigns have marked the progress of this small agency

Some of the major events and publicity campaigns handled by the consultancy:

• 2000 to present: Annual gala events for Independent News and Media International Advisory Board; upwards of 300 people at these events
• 2000 - to present: Personal Finance Raging Bull Awards: upwards of 350 people per event held alternately in Johannesburg and Cape Town
• 2002 to 2005: Waterfront Food Festival
• 2004 Charity ball launching the Wellington Guild of Fine Wines at the Diemersfontein Estate: The Duke of Wellington Ball.
• 2004: A series of skills development and mentoring breakfasts led by Sunny Stout Rostron
• 2004: "Cook off" community event for British American Tobacco for 600 people as a first for the BATSA outreach days.
• 2004: The Celebrate Women Book Festival at the V&A Waterfront took place from 22 to 25 July and was an innovative new literary event celebrating SA writing and reading.
• 2005: Handled the 10th anniversary promotions and publicity plan for Fine Music Radio 101.3
• 2005.Mother City Book Festival from 30 August to 4 September
• 2005: Coordinated and presented the World Orchid Conference BID for 2011 in Dijon
• 2006: Words@thewaterfront Book Festival
• 2007: 300th anniversary Dinner at the Staart Van Paardeberg
• 2007:Cape Orchid Society's 50th anniversary Show and Lecture series
• 2007: Publicity for the World Association of Newspapers Congress held in Cape Town with 1600 editors and publishers
• 2007 and 2008: Reception for UK agency Pelham PR at the Castle
• 2008: Climate Change Conference for Fynbos Foundation (July 21 to 24)

HIPPO retainer clients:

• Swartland Winery
• Cape Quarter
• Modjaji publishing
• Africa Genome Education Institute (includes the Fynbos Foundation and Economic Justice Initiative)

Ongoing relationships: Independent News and Media, Personal Finance, Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Pelham PR (UK), Constantia Waldorf School, Fine Music Radio 101.3, Anthony Smook wines, Voor Paardeberg Wine ward, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Celebrate Life Festival, EES Siyaka, Sea Point CID and others.

HIPPO is committed to offering the best service and delivery and no request is too small. The consultancy out-sources to like-minded smaller organizations whose reputation matches their own and looks for Black empowerment companies to work with.

Beryl Eichenberger believes that whatever you do in life must be approached with Passion and this is reflected in her ongoing relationships with her clients.

Past clients include: British American Tobacco, Global Philanthropists Group - USA, Synergos - USA, Firelight Foundation - USA, Solomon Gallery in Ireland, Wellington Guild of Fine Wines, UCT Chemical Engineering Department, Des and Dawn Lindberg, Sunny Stout Rostron, Tanya Jovanovski, Child of Afrika Gallery,The Culinary Academy, St Luke's Hospice, V&A Waterfront, and Appletiser, Cape Orchid Society.