Hosting events is one of Spa PR’s favourite and most valuable activities to do for our clients, whether it is launching new products or creating fun workshops to align with brand messaging. As every PR agency knows, events are fundamental to creating meaningful relationships between brands, journalists and influencers. With COVID-19 halting the opportunity to do any face-to-face events, we have adapted to the world of virtual meet ups and eventing, to ensure we’re still creating those meaningful moments and strengthening existing relationships for our clients.
Following a hugely successful virtual manicure workshop launching Swiss Cosmetics brand Mavala’s Christmas nail polish collection ‘Twist & Shine’, we kicked off 2021 by hosting another online event for the brand to introduce its lesser-known skincare lines to key press and influencers. Taking place on the evening of Monday 18th January, Spa PR hosted a ‘Blue Monday Virtual Facial’ organised for bloggers and press to invigorate the skin and encourage that new year glow. Held on what has been coined ‘Blue Monday’ and notably one of the saddest days of the year, we seized the opportunity to allow Mavala to cheer up guests and take the day off with a six-step facial that can be done from home.
The event guestlist comprised of 21 guests including six key press titles across the beauty and wellbeing sectors, including Heat, Closer, Grazia, and Bella Magazine. Also in attendance were 15 influencers who create regular social media content dedicated to skincare, beauty and makeup. Ahead of the event, guests were sent a selection of Mavala products, suitable for all skin types, and carefully selected by its in-house expert Lynn Gray, who guided the facial and educated guests on the products themselves on the evening of the event. We also organised for Instagram must have facial tools, Gua shas, to be included in the pack alongside branded Mavala headbands and cotton pads for guests to use post event. The products and tools combined gave guests the perfect set for detoxifying skin after the Christmas break, and encouraged healthy skincare habits to take into 2021.
On the evening of the event, guests were invited to turn on their cameras, not only to create a more interactive atmosphere, but also to reiterate Mavala’s real skin mantra, using natural, quality ingredients to elevate skin appearance. Attendees were taken through some of Mavala’s bestselling skincare lines, including Clean & Comfort, Skin Vitality and Aqua Plus. Guests could be seen following the facial and using the Gua sha tools, as well as commentating throughout the event using the chat option on Zoom. There was also an opportunity for a Q&A with Lynn post facial, which allowed guests to discover more about techniques and other ranges.
The event garnered a buzz of activity on the MavalaUK Instagram channel, with guests posting selfies of themselves in their head bands, videos using the Gua sha tools, as well as toolkit unboxings ahead of the event. Credit to the amazing products selected and used for the event, social media coverage continued for days after the workshop with guests reporting back touchably smooth, glowing skin.
Lucy Gregory, beauty writer at COVER Media said “Thank you so much for the event, that was so lovely and informative. My skin is usually super sensitive, but it feels AMAZING after the Baby Skin mask”
Skin positivity blogger and influencer Daisy Welch from clearskinandgym said “Thanks for such a fab event! Loved it so much your products are amazing”.
Jasmine Stewart from Jasminetalksbeauty said “Thanks so much for the event, I look forward to trying the products a bit more, and for the introduction to them as I hadn’t even realised before it that Mavala did skincare!”
Whilst we’re looking forward to being able to host face-to face events again in the future, the virtual reality of client eventing has allowed us to utilise guests time and adapt to their home spaces to create enjoyable, memorable events that have the same impact.