Trades Supermarket Appoints Punch Communications to Handle Integrated PR

LONDON, February 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The shopping comparison website for tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts, fronted by celebrity DIY and gardening guru, Tommy Walsh, has appointed PR Company (http://www.punchcomms.com/pr-company.html) Punch Communications to handle its Integrated Search and PR (http://www.punchcomms.com/seo-pr.html) and social media relations.

As part of the campaign activity, Punch will be officially launching the site to the construction and DIY trade media, national dailies and consumer titles and influential bloggers. A concurrent SEO campaign will run alongside the PR activity and Punch will be managing the brand's social media.

As the UK faces its toughest recession since the 1930s, Trades Supermarket launches at a welcome time for savvy tradespeople and consumers who want to find the best deals on tools and materials. For consumers who don't share the same skills as tradespeople, but want to 'have a go' - a section on the site called 'Tommy's Trade Secrets' contains a portfolio of video diaries by Tommy and his friends undertaking DIY tasks. The footage provides helpful hints and tips and advises upon the necessary material and tool requirements.

Tommy's Deals is another section on the site, this time dedicated to bestsellers and deals of the week and is categorised by handtools, powertools, workwear and materials.

In addition to listing the products of the UK's larger and more well-known merchants including B&Q, Screwfix and Wickes, smaller independents and niche operators are also on the site, providing an important balance of materials, tools and prices, from brands such as Makita and Ryobi.

Commenting on the appointment, Steven Kemp, Director of Trades Supermarket, said: "When looking for an agency we wanted to appoint a team who not only had a good understanding of ecommerce, Online PR ( http://www.punchcomms.com/Digital-Public-Relations.html) and SEO, but one that could act as an extension of our team. With Punch we have found that invaluable mix of expertise and personality."

Georgina Dunkley, Account Director at Punch Communications, added: "This is an exciting time to be working with Trades Supermarket as we launch the brand to market. It is a very forward thinking and astute business which was borne out of the need to provide tradespeople and DIYers with good value tools and materials. The credibility and expertise of Tommy Walsh also makes the site an interesting proposition to the media, merchants and consumers."

Georgina Dunkley, +44(0)1858-411-600, georgina.dunkley@punchcomms.com