Dr. Giuseppe De'Longhi and Melanie Rego at the Kenwood Canada launch

So naturally, royal treatment was in order to launch Kenwood’s heritage kitchen appliance company as it was the company’s first true foray into North America.

From hosting a brand induction weekend in Paris with Chefs, to conceptualizing a high-voltage event bringing to life the Britishness of the brand, we made our mark, achieving accolades from our client, the media and industry at large.

But for me, it was the kudos personally delivered by our guest of honor, Dr. Giuseppe De’Longhi, Chairman and second-generation family founder of De’Longhi International, parent company of Kenwood that crowned the night.

Pictured here: my hubby, Dr. Jean Eid cherishing our winter and Canadian snow

Sure it’s winter. But is anyone actually suffering from the winter blahs? Does the term still ring true when we’re nearly approaching the halfway mark for the season but it really doesn’t feel like it?  I’m concerned about what to expect for summer. What am I going to wear?

If an increasingly long, mild climate becomes the norm for Canada then our apparel retailers are going to have re-think old buying strategies and marketing that focused on seasons we no longer have. Creating a ‘need to buy’ will become more challenging when clothing can be worn pretty much year round. The competition will heighten as brands try that much harder to create a ‘want to buy’. Well, I’ve never said this before but for the love of retail, hooray!  There’s a snowstorm in the forecast. Blah, blah, blah.  Happy New Year everyone.

Iron Chef Cat Cora and Melanie Rego, President, elevator communications

Meeting Iron Chef Cat Cora was an incredible honour. She was in town last week to attend the launch of her new line of cookware, taking time to meet Canadian media that we’d arranged for her. Sophisticated and down-to-earth, this Southern Belle can whip up a gourmet meal, travel the world and back while raising four boys, as fast as she can put back a shot of ouzo. Now that’s a cooool Cat.

This year, I’m proud to celebrate ten incredible years of business. Special thanks to my team who have dedicated their time, energy and talent to help make elevator a great place to work, and to our impressive roster of clients who have empowered us to take on their businesses and build their brands as we grow our own business.

Looking back, these 10 moments are tops:

Melanie Rego, Founder elevator communications

1 – hiring my first full-time employee who is now my Partner and VP, Lori Cooper

2 – hiring my VP Jennifer Thompson

3 – Wednesday night dinners with Mum and Dad after they did my books – bet they’re glad those days are over!

4 – travelling to Nunavut for a PR launch conceptualized by us

5- being invited by the American Marketing Association to present our award-winning integrated marketing communications campaign concept as a case study

6 – realizing that we can have a cleaning service daily – don’t ask – it’s great

7 – hiring a male Director – and he’s still here

8 – working with US-based clients – I ♥ NY!

9 – winning a Gold (achieving communications excellence) for a Digital PR Campaign the very first year ‘digital’ was recognized as a discipline of PR

10 – enjoying going to work every day for the last ten years

Thank you elevator communications inc. It has truly been a blast, and here’s to the next decade!