Cowan & Company Wins Four IABC/Toronto Ovation Awards!

...recognized for media relations, special events and social responsibility campaigns with L'Oréal Paris and Kraft Canada...

TORONTO – May 6, 2010 – Cowan & Company Communications Inc. (C&C), a boutique PR firm for first-class brands, has been awarded four Ovation Awards of Merit by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC/Toronto).

"On behalf of our clients we are thrilled to accept these awards as they recognize our collaborative strategy, innovation, and tactical excellence in developing campaigns that generate extraordinary results," said Cathy Cowan, President of C&C.

C&C and L'Oréal Paris were awarded two Ovation Awards of Merit in "Media Relations with a budget $50 - $100K" and "Special Events with a budget up to $50K" for their work on the L'Oréal Paris Masterclass in Haircare and Haircolour campaign. This educational, fun and experiential media relations campaign was created to launch new L'Oréal Paris Excellence to-Go haircolour and Ever Pure haircare products and increase the brand's overall hair-related media coverage. The highlight of the campaign was the media launch event that gave media the opportunity to get 'hands on' with the products and apply the haircolour on mannequin heads giving them first hand experience with the category and products. The campaign successfully inspired media resulting in 40 media hits and 42 million+ impressions in 2009 - making L'Oréal Paris the #1 mentioned brand in Canadian magazine hair editorial in 2009 according to TNS.

C&C, Kraft Canada and Food Banks Canada were awarded two Ovation Awards of Merit in "Media Relations with a budget up to $50K" and "Social Responsibility" for their work on Kraft Hunger Challenge 2009. A national annual fundraiser to support Canadian food banks in its fifth year, the Kraft Hunger Challenge required a revitalized strategy to maximize support for Canada's hungry in the difficult economic times of 2009. To streamline implementation requirements for food banks to increase their participation and add a more powerful news-hook for media, the timing of the Kraft Hunger Challenge was moved to June and National Hunger Awareness Day was adopted as the theme. To promote the campaign and the cause, a range of themed template materials were developed for food banks' use and supported with national communications initiatives. These new strategies resulted in participation of 40 per cent more food banks, 98 media hits and $590,000 in donations.

About Cowan & Company
Cowan & Company Communications Inc. (C&C) is a boutique communications firm for first-class brands. Established in 2002, the firm offers a full array of PR services specializing in media relations, collateral development, event management and promotions. C&C clients include L'Oréal Paris, Kraft Canada, Casey's Grill • Bar, Prime Pubs, Bier Markt, East Side Mario's and the Pedorthic Association of Canada. Cowan & Company was named "Small PR Agency of the Year" in 2007 and 2008 by IABC/Toronto. For more information visit www.cowanandcompany.net.

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Media Contact:
Margaret Batuszkin/Cathy Cowan
Cowan & Company
416-462-8773 ext. 22
margaret@cowanandcompany.net