Markowitz Communications

We are a Pittsburgh based public relations firm, and we help publicize new businesses and events in the area. Our philosophy is simple: we promote our clients as much as possible, while minimizing their expenditures. We take a personal approach to marketing and public relations. We offer a variety of services, from general public relations to crisis communications, media relations to social media, and much more! www.markowitzcommunications.com

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It’s a bird... It’s a plane.... It’s a giant pickle!

At last year’s pickle festival in downtown Pittsburgh, otherwise known as Picklesburgh, tens of thousands of selfies were taken in front of the giant pickle balloon and showed up all over social media. This year, the festival will be an even bigger dill than last year’s! It will include more pickles, longer hours, a larger demo tent, and a “Li’l Gherkins” activity area. 

The festival will take place on July 15th and 16th. In the meantime, here are some pickle facts to hype you up:

1. Pickles were among the first products Henry Heinz ever sold back in the nineteenth century, even before ketchup

2. Henry Heinz used be known as the “pickle king”

3. Americans consume 26 billion pickles a year, which equals 9 pounds of pickles per person.

4. In the year 1900, Heinz put up a large electric sign with a total of 1,200 lights illuminating a 40-foot long green pickle, with the company’s original slogan underneath. I think it’s safe to say he would love the pickle balloon!

For more information about Picklesburgh, visit http://www.picklesburgh.com/

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The Best Fireworks at the Best Location!

EQT Three Rivers Regatta proudly presents Celebrate America with EQT Flashes of Freedom Fireworks in Point State Park this Fourth of July.

International award winning Pyrotecnico never fails to amaze, with stunning fireworks choreographed to music. The display is recognized as one of the top ten displays in the country!

There will be live music performed all day, including the Warriors Rock Concert with headliner Gary Racan and the Studio E Band at 8 p.m. It will be no typical performance, as the band will combine their music with recorded interviews from veterans.

At 5:30 pm, the Ft. Pitt Museum will host a special reading of the Declaration of Independence. There will also be Kids Zone activities, food vendors, and a military exhibition throughout the day. Don’t miss the fun!

For more information, visit www.CelebrateAmericaPGH.com

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Tickets to TORUK - The First Flight in Pittsburgh | CONSOL Energy Center | Cirque du Soleil

Buy tickets to TORUK - The First Flight in Pittsburgh at CONSOL Energy Center. The new show from Cirque du Soleil is inspired by James Cameron's Avatar. The Official Site!

We’re so excited for opening night tomorrow! Don’t forget to buy tickets!

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Reawakening!

Hello all! I know this page has been asleep for a while. From now on, I (a new intern) will be posting the Markowitz team’s best PR advice and reporting all the exciting things that go on here.

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It’s Pittsburgh VS. St. Louis to Support Boys & Girls Club of Western PA

We all know Steelers fans are the best, so why not prove it again! Even though you may live in a different city, we still know you’re all about the Black and Gold! Pittsburgh Steelers bars are found all over the country, and we want you to help us score a touchdown for the Boys Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania. The drive to the Heinz Red Zone has begun with the “Give Kids a Winning Chance” Campaign and Challenge Kickoff.  Join Pittsburgh’s Monroeville Mall and Coca-Cola to help drive donations of new or gently used sports equipment to benefit local Boys & Girls clubs.  The challenge:  Collect more sports equipment than the Chesterfield Mall in St. Louis, Missouri. It’s a battle for the ages.

  Time and space may separate us, but Steelers fans always find a way to score! During the entire month of September, Monroeville Mall is collecting new and/or gently used sports equipment to distribute to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Allegheny County. Black and Gold fans from all around the country can donate by sending equipment to:

Monroeville Mall

Attention Stacey Keaton

Mall Office Complex, Suite 200

Monroeville, PA 15146

*​Before you send your donation off, we are asking you to Facebook, Tweet, or Instagram your donation by using #pitstlchallenge #mallvsmall

  In an effort to generate excitement and ultimately drive more donations, the management team at the Burgh’s Monroeville Mall has initiated a challenge to their colleagues at Chesterfield Mall in St. Louis to see which CBL mall is able to collect more sports equipment for the Boys & Girls Clubs in its region by the end of September.

  That’s Right! We’re challenging the same city that won a mere one Super Bowl compared to “The City of Champions” with 6 Lombardi Trophies.

  The winning team will receive "a year of bragging rights" and hearty congratulations. The losing mall's management team will have to wear a sports jersey of the other mall's choice for a full week. The Chesterfield Mall’s manager is going to look amazing in his/her Steelers hat and jersey N’at!

  Pittsburgh fans can help make a difference in the lives of the children who find support, safety, and encouragement at their local Boys & Girls club. Every year, millions of children at the more than 4,100 clubs throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, find a safe place for fun, friendship, and youth development programs. 

  To celebrate Pittsburgh’s victory against St. Louis and your support, Monroeville Mall will host a special “Day of Play” on Saturday, September 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Steeler Bar that sends in the most equipment will be recognized at the event and we will make sure you see it!

  Hey Steelers fans! It's time to put your "Game Face" on and make St. Louis feel the "blues" at the end of September.

  Show our future athletes you are helping to make their dreams come true. Let the games begin Steelers Nation!

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Where Oh Where Will the Markowitz Team Be in September?

Our September is looking a little crazy, but nothing the Markowitz team can't handle! Here is where we will be in September - hope you'll join us! 

Kelly Strayhorn Theater presents Carmen and Geoffrey September 10th at 7:00 pm. This event is free and open to the public! KDKA-TV's Lynne Hayes Freeland will guide viewers through an evening of history and dance. Registration is required. 

Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti (HAS) presents the First Annual $5K Rum: A Rum-Tasting Party September 11th from 6 pm - 9 pm at Maggie's Rum Distillery. That's right, you heard us correctly! Help HAS cross the $5K finish line. This event is $50 per person ($25-tax deductible). MUST BE AT LEAST 21 TO ATTEND.

Kelly Strayhorn Theater presents Carmen de Lavallade "As I Remember It" September 12th-13th at 8:00 pm. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend the evening with the dance icon herself. This event is $25 for general admission, $20 for 15206 Residents, $15 for students/artists, and $10 for groups of 10+.

AIA Pittsburgh presents the 2014 Design Exhibition Opening featured on the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Gallery Crawl September 26th from 5:30 pm -10:30 pm. Everyone deserves good design, including you! Admission is free and open to the public.

Make sure you follow us for updates. We don't want to leave without you!

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Cirque du Soleil: Varekai - It's Almost Here!

We are gearing up and rehearsing our role – Cirque du Soleil’s VAREKAI will be in Erie, PA this August and your Markowitz Team is spearheading the PR for the show!

Varekai is a brilliant touring show about an enchanted forest and the whimsical creatures that inhabit it.  The Cirque performers take the audience on an unforgettable journey that is sure to mesmerize spectators of all ages.

We had a great time in Erie not long ago promoting the show at a media day with some of the performers.  Reporters, bloggers and TV stations came to the Erie Art Museum to catch a sneak peek of some of the incredible acts.  This is the first time Cirque du Soleil will be performing in Erie and they will not disappoint!

Be sure to buy your tickets to Varekai before they are all sold out!  Varekai will be showing at the Erie Insurance Arena from August 13 to August 17.  This is a show you cannot miss!  Purchase your tickets through Cirque du Soleil’s website.

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As an added bonus, follow this link to preview some of Varekai’s music!

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PR 102: Unique Promotions

In the communications line of work, firms are always coming up with new, exciting, and engaging ways to make their company and clients stand out.  Here at Markowitz Communications, we believe in thinking outside the box to make our unique clients stand out among the rest.  (As the boss always says: “Whatever they teach you in school, do the opposite.”)

As a small, intimate firm, the MC team enjoys collaborating with each other to create and invent new ways to promote our clients.  Let’s take a look back into the Markowitz Communications Vault to see some of the one-of-a-kind events we came up with.

  Cirque du Soleil’s “Varekai” Cast serves Primanti Brothers Customers

It’s not every day that a world-class acrobat is serving you at a Pittsburgh classic.  In March 2014, some of the performers from Cirque du Soleil’s “Varekai” made a pit stop at the Primanti Bros. location in the Strip District to add some spice to Pittsburgh’s favorite sandwich shop.  The restaurant is a local landmark in the great Steel City, so what better way to promote an upcoming Cirque performance than featuring them at a Primanti Bros. lunch hour?  With a few phone calls to our media friends, soon local TV station and newspaper reporters were at the restaurant snapping photos and taking in the spectacle.  Not only was the event a success, but it also reminded Pittsburghers around town of the upcoming Cirque performance.

  Fatburger’s Berger and Frye Mixer

 When the West Coast burger sensation Fatburger decided to expand its restaurant chain into Pittsburgh, it relied on Markowitz Communications to help make its grand opening a smash hit.  With the variety of food options that Pittsburgh has to offer, the MC team had to ask itself – how can we make this grand opening different from the rest?  To stir up some attention about the new burger joint, the MC team invited the Berger family, and the Frye family, and the Relis(h) family, and all other burger-and-fry-kind-of people to a mixer at the new Pittsburgh Fatburger.  To make it even more interesting we invited Pittsburgh’s own Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward.  What we expected to be a small gathering of Pittsburgh families enjoying some free Fatburger food ended up being a great party.  Those families then told their friends about Fatburger, who told their friends, and so on.  By the time Pittsburgh’s Fatburger location was ready to open its doors, there was a line out the door waiting to be let in.  To this day, the Fatburger franchise occasionally uses the Berger and Frye Mixer as a way to promote new stores.

  When it comes to promoting a unique client, the marketing and public relations have to be just as unique.  We value thinking outside the box and working as a team to come up with new and exciting ideas.  Communications as a field is always changing and it requires firms like Markowitz Communications to always be brainstorming about innovative publicity techniques.  It may be a lot of hard work, but we make it look easy and have fun doing it!

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The Markowitz Way: 10 Rules to Keep Everyone Happy on July 4th

Everyone has some type of July 4th schtick whether it’s hosting a cookout, attending someone else’s cookout because you don’t feel like doing the work, going swimming with the kiddos or the relatives who came in from Ohio, or taking advantage of the deals so that you can buy dads father’s day gift for next year before your mother does. What often goes unnoticed is that while everyone’s celebrates in their own way, we share very similar July 4th experiences. Below you’ll find 10 rules that Markowitz Communications lives by in order to keep everyone happy on July 4th. 10. With everyone celebrating in tight quarters, just go with the flow to keep everyone happy. If your grandma tells you that your clothes are not appropriate for the occasion, just change them without arguing. If you think your grilling skills are better than Saul’s, don’t let him know that. Rule of thumb: just nod your head and say okay to everything. 9. Don’t be that person that holds out and doesn’t eat until cookout time. It is socially acceptable to consume as many hot dogs, hamburgers, and fruit kabobs as you wish. You are only permitted to 2 servings of Linda’s famous potato salad or else get on the waiting list. 8. Don’t be afraid to try new foods at the cook out you attend, but hey - everyone puts their own spin on things, right? Also, use your best judgment on refrigerated foods that have been sitting out in the sun for long time, or else you won’t be making it to the fireworks after. 7. It may be obvious, but please just wear some type of red or blue apparel, and no, your white socks or underwear does not count. Be festive and represent ‘Merica (the hip way of saying America). If you don’t, you’ll being hearing from your grandma who thinks she is Alice from the Brady Bunch. 6. For those of you who are fair skinned, today is the one day you cannot let the sun keep you hidden. Go to the pool and participate in the festivities that your community pool offers. Socialize with the guests and who knows, you may get an invite to a cookout. Disclaimer: You must still wear your sunscreen. SPF 50 is recommended. 5. If you are hosting a cookout, make sure there is an American Flag somewhere in sight and if you are attending someone’s cookout, it doesn’t hurt to bring one along just to be safe. You’ll look like the hero for remembering the purpose of the holiday. 4. Fireworks are a must. Grab some friends and attend a fireworks display. This time is allotted for you to relax as the fireworks bring the night sky to life. It’s also socially acceptable to go with your parents, so don’t think you are re-inventing the cool factor by bringing them along. 3. Call 2 to 3 people; either a family member or friend and make sure they have some place to go for the holiday. This gives you a chance to possibly rekindle an old flame, but more importantly to make someone feel appreciated and welcomed in your plans. An act of kindness can go a long way. By the way, Linda and Saul count as the first two. 2. Forget about the July 4th deals and focus on the meals with your family and friends. Whether it’s for the patio furniture that you are purchasing for next summer’s use or your must have tennis shoes that you’ll wear to work off your calorie filled weekend, the holiday deals can wait. Take this weekend to enjoy those around you and celebrate these moments that you are grateful enough to have. 1. We know it’s the day where we celebrate our independence from Great Britain, but that doesn’t mean you can drink for each round of fireworks that goes off. From all of us at Markowitz Communications, please drink responsibly this weekend and remind those around you to do the same.

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Classic Car Show

The excitement never stops!  Join us at the Classic Car Show on Sunday, June 29 at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.  The day includes tours of the Trib Total Media Trolley Display and trolley rides as well as children’s activities and food vendors.  The museum is open from 10am-5pm.

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Mr. McFeely's Parade of Trolleys

We’re so thrilled to be promoting Mr. McFeely’s Parade of Trolleys at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum!  Who doesn’t love Mr. Rogers?  Swing by for the parade on Saturday, June 28, 2014.  There are three opportunities to catch the trolley parade at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm!

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PR 101: Pick up the Phone First

When I walked into Saul’s office to start the first day of my internship (a month ago) I had no idea what to expect - I had all these thoughts running through my head- what would my first project be, would I have to continually nod and pretend that I understood every word that came out of this crazy little PR guys mouth, or would I…wait for it…have to pick up the phone and call a client, who to me, was a complete stranger. As a 22 year old recent graduate of Allegheny College where I majored in Communications, I’ve always prided myself on being an outgoing woman who can carry on a conversation with just about anyone, apparently even when I was still in diapers. It seems as if my generation just doesn’t like phones…when it comes to actually picking up the phone and calling someone that is; we have no problem texting someone to get the responses that we need and we can justify it as easy and convenient. At Markowitz Communications, I cannot stress enough how important it is to pick up the phone and call the client, have an actual conversation with them, get to know each other so that you can forge a relationship with each other. I have learned that when you are calling with the intended purpose of just getting the answers you want, you never know how many doors can open just because you decided to call rather than text or email. I believe, and so does Markowitz Communications, that a phone call allows for the client to truly understand who you are and what you represent in order to build a relationship with the people you are working with. On the screen you remain a bunch of letters and symbols, but over the phone you become a person and more importantly, you come to life, and that is the job of a well-respected PR firm, to bring your clients and their companies to life. Next time you are sitting in your office and your boss, who looks slightly flustered, asks you to contact someone, don’t contemplate, just pick up the phone and show the person(s) on the other end that you, as a representative of the firm, are the real deal and most importantly that you truly care about them. It will also impress your boss and possibly lighten his headache. Disclaimer: When in doubt, make the phone call and then follow up with an email.

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Recap of the PGH Arts Fest 2014 - Still More to Come!

As a cloudless and sunny afternoon graced the Pittsburgh skyline, the Markowitz team had the pleasure of promoting the opening of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival downtown. 

Thousands of native Pittsburghers and visitors flocked to the Point State Park to soak up the rays, browse the impressive art displays, and listen to some great bands.

Lucky for us, numerous media outlets also came to check out the Arts Fest.  The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (client) and the Markowitz Team couldn’t have been happier to have so much press coverage on a special day celebrating Pittsburgh’s talented artists.

Along with fine art and great music, the Arts Fest hosts a variety of food vendors to meet your every need.  Pierogies, burgers, gyros, and more – it’s hard not to try all of it (even the disgustingly delicious Fried Oreos).

If you haven’t had time to check out the Arts Fest, do not fear!  The Festival continues well into the weekend with more art, more food and more headlining acts.  The festival comes to a close with a concert Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. featuring the uber-talented 20-year-old from England, Jake Bugg.

This event is one you cannot miss.  Thanks to our friends from the Cultural Trust for employing Markowitz Communications for your event!  We had a blast!

-          The Markowitz Communications Team

Look at all that press!  Your MC public relations team is hard at work!

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More seniors staying in the labor market, data shows

Have you seen our feature in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette yet?  It's a story you cannot miss!

Meet Linda Hoye, one of the newest members of Markowitz Communications.  We are so happy to have her working with us in our Lawrenceville office.

Check out the article and share it with your friends!

Welcome aboard, Linda!

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The Big Game Ad Report Card | Adweek

A fairly uneventful Super Bowl has come and gone, and the same can be said for many of the ads that aired last night. What do you think? Which ads tickled your funny bone? Which ones left a bad aftertaste?  Our Top Pick: Radio Shack' s "The Phone Call"

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South Hills Village To Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Makeover - CBS Pittsburgh

New Year? New digs! South Hills Village Mall will be opening new stores, including a Forever 21, in addition to undergoing a multi-million dollar makeover this year. 

Congrats to our friends at South Hills Village Mall!

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Want to look extra special for a night out? Need a place to get your bridal party's hair and makeup done for your wedding? Just looking to treat yourself to some "me" time? Stop by Styleout - the first "blow dry bar" and one-stop beauty shop in the Pittsburgh area. Reporter JoAnne Harrop and photographer Stephanie Strasburg dropped by the newest retailer at Ross Park Mall this morning (and wished they could have stuck around to get their hair did). You can read more about this new salon in tomorrow's edition of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.