New Company.. PR help please

[funkyhand]

Hello Everyone
Potted history. I am a sole trader, my company, Funky Hand, has been up an running for just over 4 months. I design card making backing papers on CD-Rom, currently I have three CD's available and I sell them on my own website, in an Ebay shop and I have two small craft websites that are stocking them. I am showing at a large, trade only, Craft show at the NEC next Feb.
I need some advice about PR. I am proud of my products and the feedback I have had from customers is very positive. I want to maximise any opportunities that I could have for getting my products infront of customers and retailers alike. I am considering contacting a PR company to help me into the craft trade mags etc. I have a pretty interesting (I think) back story to the company start up as I was a manager for an IT company who had never crafted before, got diagnoised with MS, lost my job, discovered card making and here I am now 18 months or so on with a fledgling craft design company.
I have no understanding of PR or what it can do for my company. Can anyone in the know give me advice about how to decide who would be best to help me? Oh, I am based in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
I really appreciate any comments or advice anyone can give.
Anice

 

andy at 10yetis is a member here, he will tell you what to do, is very helpful and wont push you into doing anything you dont want to do

 

[ltw]

1st of all well done for turnign a negative into a positive situation! I had the same trouble myself and eventually just read up about how to write a press release and did so. it has been accepted by a number of mags and it means I can keep costs down and do as much PR as I want!

 

[gayle tomlinson]

Hi Anice,
I am also based in the North East - Wallsend. I am a former industrial reporter with the Evening Chronicle. I set up my own pr consultancy in July and I am currently undertaking pr for Thompsons Solicitors, the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund and Sunderland arc.

I may be able to help you generate pr regionally and beyond.
Please send me an email and we can perhaps discuss this further.
Regards
Gayle

 

[etechsupport]

Reading seo blogs can help you a lot, My favourite seo blogs are;

http://www.seomoz.org/
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/
http://www.searchenginejournal.com/?cat=9
http://blog.eukhost.com/category/seo-tutorials/