With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching we wanted to help you plan the perfect day with your sweetie.

If your valentine has a sweet tooth, Edible Arrangements and The Hershey Company have the answer. Edible Arrangements is offering a delicious twist to the traditional gift of a dozen roses - their Berry Chocolate Roses. Your valentine can enjoy the beauty and the taste! Treat your guy to an early Valentine’s Day and Super Bowl treat with the Hail Berry arrangement.

Planning date night, but looking to save as well? Visit your local redbox kiosk and pick up a romantic comedy to fit the mood of the holiday (or an action film to help you forget)! Rentals cost $1 a night (plus tax) - find the nearest redbox location here.

For the valentine with a classy taste, Laphroaig Single Islay Malt Scotch offers a bold 18 Year Old whisky. The 18-year aging process results in a Scotch bright gold in color enhanced by soft, sweet and spicy Islay peat smoke that greets you when you first open the bottle. This is a gift that is sure to be remembered.

And don’t forget - February is also Heart Health Month and National Chocolate Month. Look to Hershey’s Extra Dark Chocolate for a treat rich in flavanol antioxidants. Hershey’s Extra Dark is the only chocolate to receive the Best Life Treat Seal of Approval from fitness and health expert Bob Greene. Recent studies have also supported dark chocolate’s heart-health benefits - enjoy today!

I was doing a little research the other day when I came across an interesting Nielsen article, ”Innovation Creates Opportunities for CPG Growth.”

Here’s the paragraph that caught my attention:

Winning Brands Will Innovate and Differentiate
Sales of store brands have grown by $12 billion (up 17%) vs. two years ago as shoppers focus on value. As the economy improves, value is still important, but smart marketers are differentiating brands through innovation—with new products, new flavors, new packaging and with marketing/media campaigns with a heavy emphasis on social media to build rapid awareness and product trial.

Here’s why:

In recessionary times, it seems that many brands want to play it safe- and understandably so. Craving stability seems only natural during uncertain periods when a brand, more than ever, wants to ensure success or at the very least, survival. This article is a great reminder that as we see signs of economic improvement, innovation becomes more important than ever.

So what am I getting at? As PR professionals, we should constantly remind ourselves to think in terms of opportunity. If we invest in a little optimism and a lot of innovation in new media campaigns, I think we could be tremendously successful in growing brand awareness. Product trial programs may be especially helpful in building brand loyalty as consumer spending (hopefully) increases.

It might be just another “glass is half-full” scenario, but I think it’s a point worth continual consideration.

This week, JSH&A supported a nationwide media relations campaign encouraging consumers to purchase their favorite brands in a new snackable form. The Hershey Company teamed up with Ashlee Simpson-Wentz to promote the launch of the Pieces Candies line in a celebrity kick-off event at the NYC Hershey’s Store on January 27, 2010. Simpson-Wentz rose to fame through the success of her debut song “Pieces of Me” in 2004. Most recently known for her role on The CW’s “Melrose Place,” she continues to steal the spotlight with her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart in the musical “Chicago.” To build excitement for this week’s event and further engage consumers, the team naturally took to social media.

Simpson-Wentz tweeted about the event through her Twitter handle: @AshSimpsonWentz. Her more than 2 million followers were treated to information at the event and learned how to score free Pieces Candies. Program highlights were also shared across several Facebook pages, including the Hershey’s page, Reese’s page and newly created Pieces Candies page.

The Pieces Wrapper Reward Program invites consumers across the country to exchange a full-size Reese’s® Peanut Butter Cup, York® Peppermint Pattie, Almond Joy® Candy Bar or Hershey®’s Special Dark® Dark Chocolate Bar wrapper for a coupon good towards a free bag of the corresponding Pieces Candies flavor. The two-week promotion runs now through February 10, 2010, or up to the first 25,000 coupons redeemed, and is hosted on www.PiecesCandies.com.

To redeem your FREE bag of Pieces Candies, simply:

• 1) Collect a Wrapper

Save one wrapper (including the UPC symbol) from your favorite full-size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, York Peppermint Pattie, Almond Joy Candy Bar or Hershey’s Special Dark Dark Chocolate Bar.

• 2) Fill Out Form

Print and complete the registration form available at here.

• 3) Mail Form and Wrapper

Mail the completed registration form and candy wrapper (including the UPC symbol) to the address provided. Envelopes must be postmarked by February 10, 2010 and received by February 26, 2010. See the Offer Terms for more information here.  

Pictured here with Ashlee: Jim Kokoris, President; Ashley Papanikolas, Senior Account Executive; Jen Podkasik, Account Supervisor and Katie Lundstrom, Assistant Account Executive

Stay informed on all the latest Hershey news by becoming a fan of these Facebook pages: Hershey’s page, Reese’s page, and Pieces Candies page. Don’t forget to check in with Ashlee at @AshSimpsonWentz and find the latest Pieces Candies news here!