August 4, 2011 |
TEN PR GURUS YOU SHOULD MEET: FROM THE VAULT (WINTER 2010)
DANIEL MARKS: DIRECTOR AND PARTNER, THE COMMUNICATIONS STORE
SOOOO, ANY UNMITIGATED DISASTERS?
“A fashion moment in 1992 wearing a John Richmond Destroy purple denim jacket with leather tattooed sleeves, bright yellow jeans and knee-high biker boots. Yes, it was on purpose.” The things people will say for an attention grabbing headline? But since he’s talking…
“My first toe dipped in the waters of fashion was courtesy of my mum and my aunt, who loved clothes. My formative fashion years started with their penchant for 1980s power dressing. As a teenager, I wanted to be editor-in-chief of Vogue…
“I got started in PR courtesy of my friend Lin, who helped me get a work-experience placement at Vogue. My father said to me he thought I should take a year out to learn a proper job, such as accountancy or dentistry. His lifelong dream is to have a dentist in the family.
“I started organising fashion shows for charity at university and Anna Harvey at Vogue recommended I try PR. I had no idea what PR was. She introduced me to Aurelia Cecil, who employed me at her PR agency and taught me the first important lessons of my career. I always tell my team that being a PR is like being a waiter in a restaurant. A great PR experience is all about fantastic, classic service – getting the talent of your client to the table of the media – on time and piping hot. I am going to steal a mantra from my business partner Julietta who founded TCS, ‘No bullshit PR.’
“My career highs have to include working with Donatella Versace and the Versace brand for the past 17 years, working with Natalie Massenet and the team at Net-a-porter and becoming a partner at The Communications Store eight years ago. However, my greatest achievement would have to be helping to build The Communications Store alongside my business partners Tom Konig Oppenheimer and Julietta Dexter and together creating a team of amazing PR professionals. My proudest moment, though, was attending the opening of a breast cancer treatment centre designed by my partner of 14 years, Paul.
“I don’t think I am a pushover, but Paul tells me he thinks my employees think I am tough. I hope I am fair and a little soft around the edges. I have experienced moments in the past when my confidence was totally undermined professionally and so I try to bring out the best in people, balanced with having very high standards. I am not afraid of hard work and I like people who feel the same way. And, yes, I do insist on high heels for the women in my life at all times.”
www.thecommunicationsstore.co.uk
by Natalie Dembinska
Photograph by Maria Ziegelboek – www.mariaziegelboek.com
