Emma Saba, Virgo’s Creative Director was thrilled with the two silvers awarded in the “Elements of Advertising” category.

“This campaign used a humourous play on a medical theme to push a number of recession busting offers and prescriptions for savings. The style of animation was essential to convey the necessary visual tone. The two winning ads were a part of campaign that was very well received by the public at large. That in itself is very exciting! The fact that the CAF is now bestowing this honour on our work is really the icing on the cake!”

The win, honouring creative excellence, was well received by Claridges’ developers Mike and Pip Challis who commented, “We are thrilled that our brochure won an award and we are so pleased with the Virgo team for their amazing translation of the Claridges brand into this fantastic sales piece.”

Claridges Brochure

Working with the Challises, Virgo created an eye-catching campaign using metallic silver as the primary colour and utilizing a series of ten images  to tell the story that reflects the lifestyle living at Claridges offers, with a particular focus on the outdoor activities Barbados is famous for.

“An ADDY is one of advertising’s highest tributes, and we’re truly thrilled to receive this award,” said Stephanie von Oppen-Taylor, Managing Director of Virgo Communications.

“Building strong, identifiable brands is our agency’s greatest strength. The fact that our first work for Claridges has been recognized in this manner is gratifying, and bodes well for the future of the Claridges’ brand. It is also gratifying to see that our work on advertising within the real estate market continues to achieve results from all angles.”

The successful "Crane Diary" multipage print spread

Barbados-based advertising agency, Virgo Communications was awarded a Silver ADDY award for its print creative for The Crane, one of Barbados’ premier residential resorts.  The brief from client was to create an 8-page advertorial that would emotionally connect with consumers, while delivering a call to action for property sales.  Virgo successfully executed the concept “Diary”, which interwove first person journal entries from a family vacationing at The Crane, with descriptors of the resort’s key services and amenities.

“Winning this award is such an honour,” says Ayanna Victorin, Account Manager at Virgo. “ A big thank you to our clients Paul Doyle, Annmarie Thompson, and Kim Goddard for the opportunity to work with such a first class product, and with such a fantastic group of people. And of course, it’s always great to deliver award winning creative on a first attempt!”

Foreground - Susan Mahon, 3rd from Left: Sara Odle & Stephanie von Oppen-Taylor - Virgo Communications; Roslyn Watson & Israel Mallett - UWI Marketing Students; and Ralph "Bizzy" Williams of Williams Industries

Virgo Communications is part of the vanguard in the new image of Barbados’ clarion cry for Green Responsibility, the Future Centre Trust (FCT), the communications agency, headed by award-winning Stephanie Von Oppen, has revamped the website of the Trust into a more accessible database. Click here for full story.

The awarded website is for The Great House, a lovely restaurant in Cap Estate, St. Lucia known for its spectacular views of the ocean. According to Ayanna Victorin, the Account Manager at Virgo Communications who oversaw the project, “The restaurant is a sophisticated blend of modern and traditional, and we wanted the website to reflect that combination. We believe this was achieved and are thrilled to have the quality of our work acknowledged.”

Emma Saba, Virgo’s Creative Director said, “I am very proud of the team. Our Interactive/Web department has now been recognised each and every year since we added the department, and continues to go from strength to strength. Our clients have really benefited from working with a team that understands the bigger picture in terms of their overall brands.”

The Great House website home page

From left: British High Commissioner - Paul Brummell and Virgo Communications Assistant Account Executive - Jason Applewhite

The British High Commission teamed up with The Future Centre Trust to officially launch Green Business Barbados at the residence of the British High Commissioner, Paul Brummel. The British High Commission in conjunction with the Future Centre Trust kicked off the event with a lovely reception. The event, which officially signalled the establishment of the Green Business Barbados program, outlined the Future Centre’s objective to stimulate awareness amongst the local business community and encourage organizations and individuals to become more environmentally responsible.

Virgo Communications, designers of the Green Business Barbados logo, was in on the festivities and had the opportunity to mingle and network with some with some of the individuals who played an important role in getting this program up off the ground and running, including the High Commissioner himself (pictured above).  Highlights of the night were The High Commissioner’s speech and official welcome to the guests, and a presentation  made by Nicole Garofano – Chief Administrator of The Future Centre Trust. Lani Edghill – Project Manager of the Green Business Barbados project also made a brief speech to those in attendance and expressed her deep gratitude to the High Commission’s contribution and support of their initiative.  Fun indeed!!!

Ryan Browne (2nd from right) with some of Virgo team

Having been an integral part of Virgo’s creative team for the past 4 years on Feb 12, 2010 Virgo Communications has said ‘goodbye’ to Ryan Browne – one of their original staff members and very talented graphic designers.

After working with New York based company Artnet, the world’s leading fine art web developer, Ryan has spent the last 4 years with Virgo Communications designing for countless C&W/LIME campaigns including the hugely successful Cable & Wireless “Men in Green” and  BlackBerry campaigns. He was also the lead creative on accounts such as Gildan and Lion Castle.

Virgo threw a small going-away party for Ryan who is moving from Barbados on to a new adventure in the United Kingdom. We wish him much success in his endeavors and all the best for his life ahead!

Limegrove Wins at Addys 09

The 2009 Caribbean Advertising Federation judging was recently held in St. Thomas, U.S.Virgin Islands to recognize creative excellence from the Caribbean region. Limegrove.com and the Limegrove electronic sales kit both brought home silver awards from the increasingly competitive interactive categories in which they competed.

Launched in December 2008, limegrove.com designed and developed by Virgo Communications, Inc., provides users information on the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre which will offer patrons a merge of retail mixed with luxury living. The dual functionality of the site allows users the opportunity to explore what will be available at the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre as well as The Grove Residences.

Located in the heart of Holetown, many of the world’s designer brands will be opening retail stores in Limegrove’s sophisticated luxury retail shopping environment, while the adjacent residences will offer the finest in contemporary Caribbean living. According to Emma Saba, Creative Director at Virgo, “Our goal was to create an experience that reflects the calibre of international brands that will have a presence at Limegrove, such as Cartier, Agent Provocateur, Jo Malone, Hugo Boss, M.A.C. and numerous others”. She continued, “Like many others, I am looking forward to Limegrove opening; it is going to be great to have this level of choice and selection available to us and visitors here in Barbados”.

Jennifer MacPherson, Marketing Manager for Altman Real Estate Group, commented, “It’s great that our Limegrove website and electronic sales kit were recognized. Limegrove.com is still in its informational stage; once the Lifestyle centre opens the site will grow and become more interactive and mirror the activity on the ground.” The site has already attracted users from more than 24 countries spending an average of nine minutes on the site.

About Limegrove
The Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, as well as the first eight of 54 Residences which include a mix of apartments, penthouses and townhouses, are presently under construction. The Lifestyle Centre is scheduled to open for Winter, 2010.
About Virgo Communications, Inc.
Virgo Communications is a full service marketing communication and advertising agency with a diverse portfolio. Areas of expertise include brand development, interactive, creative production, collateral, logo design, research and media planning and buying.

Contact Info:
Jennifer MacPherson
Altman Real Estate
Tel: 246 432 0840
Email: jennifer.macpherson@aaaltman.com

Emma Saba
Virgo Communications
Tel: 246 424 1936
Email: esaba@virgocomm.com

Big win at ADDYS 09

Virgo Communications, Inc. is once again celebrating multiple gold and silver wins at the 2009 Caribbean Advertising Federation ADDY Awards. The agency continues to distinguish itself in its industry with consistent award-winning creative for a diverse portfolio across multiple platforms.

Over the years Virgo has won awards for many of its clients for television, radio, jingles, website design, animation special effects, cinematography, color photography and mixed media campaigns.  This year proves no different as the annual ceremony recognized the creatively dynamic agency with a Gold ADDY Award for Sound for its work on the prestigious development, The Deckhouses, at the world class Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman.  Virgo also took home two silver ADDY Awards in this category for its work on Bmobile’s “Summer’s Hotter than Ever” campaign and Harrisons’ “Christmas 2008” campaign.

Virgo was also a big winner in the Website/Online category, a rapidly growing area in the agency, receiving awards for clients LIAT and Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, the Caribbean’s first residential and retail lifestyle centre.  Awards were earned for the web development and design of LIAT’s “Valentine’s 50% Off” flash banner, www.limegrove.com and the Limegrove E-sales kit.  Virgo also received an award in the Sales/Catalogue category for the Altman Real Estate Guide 2009.

Stephanie von Oppen-Taylor, Managing Director, remarked, “Virgo continues to demonstrate its consistent creativity and effective execution of integrated communication tactics through the wide diversity of awards won this year.   To have been recognised across so many different categories and for so many different clients throughout the region is extremely gratifying, and is affirmation of the breadth and depth of Virgo’s core competencies.”

This year’s award winning list also includes TVC animation for Bmobile’s Eastern Caribbean campaign “Back to school in style”, the audio visual sales presentation for “The Deckhouses in-room video”, the brochure for The Deckhouses, a press – fractional for LIAT’s “I Want” Valentine’s ad campaign and radio for Waterhall Polo Club’s “London Pub”.

Virgo’s ADDY accomplishments continue to grow each year as its ability to produce memorable and innovative brand conscious work is being celebrated and recognised throughout the region and abroad.

About Virgo Communications, Inc.
With a mission to build strong relationships to build strong business, Virgo Communications, Inc., an award winning advertising company that excels in advertising, public relations, corporate branding, web design and development is shaking up the advertising industry with their superior creative work locally and regionally and internationally.

About the Caribbean Advertising Federation
The Caribbean Advertising Federation is the first non-American member of the American Advertising Federation and is part of the 4th District of Florida and the Caribbean.  The mission of the ADDY Awards competition is to recognize and reward creative excellence in the art of advertising.

Contact Info:

Emma Saba
Virgo Communications
Tel: 246 424 1936
Email: esaba@virgocomm.com