Dragons Abreast is a national organisation supporting breast cancer survivors who paddle dragon boats for fitness, fun and to promote breast cancer awareness.

Later this year, thousands of spirited dragon boat paddlers – all international and local breast cancer survivors – will gather in Caloundra between 28th-30th September. More than 2,000 paddlers and 60 international teams will be joined by hoards of supporters at Australia’s largest ever dragon boat regatta on stunning Lake Kawana. ‘Abreast in Australia’ will celebrate life and promote friendship, courage and resilience, at a weekend of activities, festivities and fun.

Five years ago, Connecting Images first worked with Dragons Abreast when our client ASSA ABLOY (the world’s leading provider of door opening solutions) and it flagship brand Lockwood sponsored Dragons Abreast to compete at the ASSA ABLOY Henley on Todd dry river-bed boat regatta in Alice Springs. CI’s role was to generate publicity for this madcap event and for ASSA ABLOY, through its support of Dragons Abreast. Now we are thrilled to have the opportunity to promote the ‘Abreast in Australia’ event for Dragons Abreast.

So if you want to be assured of a great time and are on the Sunshine Coast on the last weekend in September, you know where to go! It would be great to see you there. Donations can be made on the Dragons Abreast website.

Long-time client Ken Burgin (Director of Profitable Hospitality), the Restaurant and Catering Australia team and the CI team have just returned from the fourth annual ‘New Trends Study Tour’ to Chicago and Las Vegas.

Organised once more by Connecting Images, our largest ever group (37) of enthusiastic hospitality business owners, managers, marketers and chefs came along to experience hospitality American-style. Word has spread and the event is clearly a ‘must-do’ on the hospitality calendar.

Organising an 11-day, value-packed educational tour program of behind-the-scenes visits to leading Chicago hospitality venues, as well as to the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show – one of the world’s largest foodservice trade shows – is no easy task. And that’s before you mention coordinating flights, accommodation and transport to boot. But it’s all just a day in the life of Connecting Images, and the end results are extremely rewarding.

Hospitality people certainly enjoy a good time, but more importantly, those on the Profitable Hospitality tour are innovative, progressive, open to new concepts and definitely trendsetters.They know the value of visiting new places, seeing new things and speaking to international experts one on one – all opportunities that would otherwise not be available to them if they travelled independently.

They also enjoy the unique opportunity to share experiences with a diverse range of operators from back home in Oz! Our group bonded instantly, and despite a packed itinerary, information overload, and considerable sleep deprivation, the feedback we have received has been phenomenal.

Whilst opinions on many things differed, one thing we all agreed on… nobody does coffee like the Australians!

Australia’s premier fundamental analysis research and investment house and long-time Connecting Images client, Lincoln, launched a concentrated Australian share managed fund to retail investors this month

Ideally suited to investors who don’t have the time or inclination to invest directly themselves or those looking to add diversification to their direct share portfolio, the Lincoln Retail Australian Share Fund portfolio selection is based on the commercially and academically proven fundamental sharemarket analysis methodology developed by retired Melbourne University academic and former Olympian Dr Merv Lincoln.

Tim Lincoln, managing director, who succeeded his father in 1996, says Lincoln’s unique approach identifies the best investment opportunities across the ASX while weeding out potential disasters.

“The chosen stocks are identified as having unrivalled growth potential and superior financial health,” Tim says. “With a minimum investment of $20,000, astute investors can have exposure to 30 to 50 of Australia’s most financially healthy companies.”

The wholesale version of the Lincoln Australian Share Fund (LASF) delivered a gross return of nearly 37.6 per cent for the 12 months to 31 May 2007, boding extremely well for investors in the retail fund. The new fund’s investment portfolio will be based on the same selection criteria.

Media Management for Connecting Images has managed Lincoln’s public relations campaign since 2003, building strong media relationships for Lincoln’s first retail product, premium share investing Stock Doctor® investment software, and establishing the Lincoln team as a valuable resource for reliable information and insightful comment. As a result, Lincoln enjoys a big reputation, much media respect and sustained media coverage.

Regular contributions to all the major print media – including The Bulletin, Smart Investor, Money and the various national daily paper financial inserts – and recent appearances on Lateline Business for his expert opinion, are all in a days work for Tim Lincoln.

The Connecting Images team is excited by the opportunity to now spread the good news about the Lincoln Fund to time poor investors looking for exposure to Australia’s financially healthiest companies.

For more information or to see a selection of recent media coverage click here.

* Fund returns are calculated gross of management fees, ongoing fees and expenses and assume dividends are reinvested and that no tax is deducted.

Australia’s premier fundamental analysis research and investment house and long-time Connecting Images client, Lincoln, launched a concentrated Australian share managed fund to retail investors this month

Ideally suited to investors who don’t have the time or inclination to invest directly themselves or those looking to add diversification to their direct share portfolio, the Lincoln Retail Australian Share Fund portfolio selection is based on the commercially and academically proven fundamental sharemarket analysis methodology developed by retired Melbourne University academic and former Olympian Dr Merv Lincoln.

Tim Lincoln, managing director, who succeeded his father in 1996, says Lincoln’s unique approach identifies the best investment opportunities across the ASX while weeding out potential disasters.

“The chosen stocks are identified as having unrivalled growth potential and superior financial health,” Tim says. “With a minimum investment of $20,000, astute investors can have exposure to 30 to 50 of Australia’s most financially healthy companies.”

The wholesale version of the Lincoln Australian Share Fund (LASF) delivered a gross return of nearly 37.6 per cent for the 12 months to 31 May 2007, boding extremely well for investors in the retail fund. The new fund’s investment portfolio will be based on the same selection criteria.

Media Management for Connecting Images has managed Lincoln’s public relations campaign since 2003, building strong media relationships for Lincoln’s first retail product, premium share investing Stock Doctor® investment software, and establishing the Lincoln team as a valuable resource for reliable information and insightful comment. As a result, Lincoln enjoys a big reputation, much media respect and sustained media coverage.

Regular contributions to all the major print media – including The Bulletin, Smart Investor, Money and the various national daily paper financial inserts – and recent appearances on Lateline Business for his expert opinion, are all in a days work for Tim Lincoln.

The Connecting Images team is excited by the opportunity to now spread the good news about the Lincoln Fund to time poor investors looking for exposure to Australia’s financially healthiest companies.

For more information or to see a selection of recent media coverage click here.

* Fund returns are calculated gross of management fees, ongoing fees and expenses and assume dividends are reinvested and that no tax is deducted.

The massive increase in online communication in recent years has seen technological advances designed to satisfy the demand for instant gratification. Providing online access to…almost everything…is now the expectation.

A 2006 survey by Streaming Media found that video content now accounts for 60% of internet traffic and, according to Accenture’s 2006 global digital home survey, 44% of those aged under 24 prefer watching video on the internet rather than on the TV.

Enter Vividas, a specialist global video streaming provider who has recently signed Connecting Images as its Australian PR and marketing partner. Vividas supplies high quality full screen video to almost any computer, at the click of a mouse, without the need to download additional software. “Online video won’t replace television for some time to come. However, people are expecting more and more to view what they want, when they want to, online, rather than being dictated to by traditional distribution methods,” said Dave Winter, COO of Vividas, Australia.

Promotional online video:

Whilst the online community is inundated with videos of various size, dubious quality and often viewed through small grainy windows on computer screens, Vividas technology presents the most basic of corporate content in an impactful and highly engaging medium.

By delivering full screen vision in almost DVD quality, on demand to a global audience, Vividas video streaming allows companies to get their message across to their customers, their staff and the world in a most exceptional way.

Two very effective campaigns using Vividas streaming include:

Carlton Draught’s ‘Flashbeer’ ad

The Fosters Group used Vividas technology to pre-release a TV commercial for Carlton Draught, ‘Flashbeer’, over the internet. The ‘Flashbeer’ viral achieved 714,304 viewings across 153 countries in the first two weeks and it continues to get hits. It certainly pleased the Fosters Group.

Spiderman 3 trailer

Sony Pictures’ Spiderman 3 trailer is exhilarating viewed full screen, thanks to Vividas’ streaming technology.

Pay per view for live events and entertainment:

Vividas also provides product to a global audience via a pay per view model. Vividas’ efficient delivery system and ability to protect content means that the television and movie industries can generate more revenue by accessing untapped markets. The audience can watch live-streamed events or movies on demand, when and how they want to, in the comfort of their own home or office. Vividas can even control which global regions have access to the content.

Connecting Images is managing a pay per view online lead generation campaign for Vividas, which has involved building a database of more than 1,500 potential customers, designing and writing the copy for initial email contact, writing the script for follow up telemarketing activity and finally measuring the results. This campaign has just commenced but a 40% open rate on the first email distribution is looking good, and providing invaluable market intelligence!