Balcom Agency Wins Coveted Bronze Anvil Award, Earning National Recognition from Leading Public Relations Professional Organization

New York, NY - June 7, 2010 — Balcom Agency of Fort Worth, Texas received a coveted 2010 Bronze Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for superior performance in the design and execution of an individual tactic within a broader public relations program. Winners of the award were recognized during the 2010 Silver Anvil Awards Evening, held June 3 at the Equitable Tower in New York City.

Balcom received the Bronze Anvil Award in the Media Relations-Consumer Products category for its "Launching a Better Hand Sanitizer" campaign. In September 2009, Healthpoint Ltd., a specialty pharmaceutical company, hired Balcom Agency for creative and public relations services surrounding the launch of its first consumer product, Ultracept Antiseptic Handwash (since renamed OutLast Long-Lasting Hand Sanitizer). 

With a launch deadline of Nov. 13, 2009 set by the client, the Balcom team quickly created an integrated strategic plan encompassing public relations, online and search advertising, website development and a creative platform. Balcom's media relations efforts exposed an estimated 5.88 million people across the U.S. to Ultracept™ Antiseptic Handwash in the first six weeks of its launch through TV, print and online news coverage stemming from a behind the scenes media tour. Due to publicity alone, 440 orders were placed in the first 24 hours.

"With this honor, Balcom Agency has demonstrated that our growing PR division is exceptional in what matters most -- delivering results for our clients," said Stuart Balcom, the agency's president. "We're pleased we had the opportunity to work with Healthpoint in its venture into the consumer market."

The Bronze Anvil Award was created by PRSA in 1969 to recognize outstanding public relations tactics — the individual items or components that contribute to the success of an overall program or campaign. Bronze Anvil Awards are possible in 65 categories and subcategories, including Media Relations, Newsletters, Web Sites, Feature Stories, Press/Media Kits, Podcasts, Word-of-Mouth and Blogs.

“The Bronze Anvil Award continues to celebrate where the real action is in the public relations industry and where real practitioner expertise, creativity and communication effectiveness shine the brightest,” said Tanya Morah, APR, 2010 Bronze Anvil chair and associate professor of communications at Wilberforce University. “Be it arranging satellite media tours or organizing unique events, the Bronze Anvil Award is about the nuts-and-bolts, or tactics, of an exceptional public relations plan or campaign.”

Entries are judged by teams of PRSA members — and others who have specific category expertise — across the country. Only one Bronze Anvil Award and up to two Bronze Anvil Awards of Commendation may be earned in each category or subcategory. No Bronze Anvil is awarded in those categories where the judges feel the entries do not rise to standards set forth for the award by PRSA.

About Balcom Agency

Innovation meets inspiration every day at the Balcom Agency. Founded in 1993, the agency’s core services include branding, marketing communications, interactive, social media, public relations, and media planning.

Balcom makes great things happen for a roster of local, regional and national clients, including: Justin Boots, Tony Lama Boots, Alcon Laboratories, the Neeley School of Business at TCU, Norman Regional Health System, Weather Decision Technologies, Southwest Bank, Healthpoint Ltd. and the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council. Find Balcom on Facebook or Twitter to see what’s next. 

About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

With more than 31,000 members, PRSA is the largest organization of public relations professionals and students. PRSA is comprised of 111 local Chapters organized into 10 geographic Districts; 16 Professional Interest Sections that focus on issues, trends and research relevant to specialized practice areas, such as technology, health care, financial communications, entertainment and sports, and travel tourism; and the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which has more than 300 Chapters at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. PRSA is headquartered in New York.