Blog - Peridot Group

Is Your Crisis Communication Coronavirus Ready?

March 10, 2020 Kristi Arndt Peridot Group crisis communication,internal communication,reputation management

The seemingly never-ending news about Covid-19 (coronavirus) is now impacting our daily lives. Even if your company or organization doesn’t have a current crisis communication plan, there are still immediate steps that you can take to prepare your business for the challenges ahead as this crisis continues to unfold.

Define Key Audiences and Prioritize How to Effectively Communicate with Them

Decide who you need to communicate with, what they need to know and the best way to reach out to them. Here are some key audiences to consider and the kind of information that may be important to share with them:

Employees/Customers/Vendors:

What steps is the company taking to protect them?
What processes or procedures are changing to minimize potential exposure and how does this impact their interaction?
How is the company empowering them to protect themselves and others? (sick leave, work from home, virtual meetings/conferences)
As the situation changes, where can they get the most updated information on the situation and your organization’s response?

Consider the Various Communication Vehicles

After you decide who you need to communicate with and what they need to know, determine the best way to reach out to them. Keep in mind, there may be multiple ways to make the information available. In times of crisis, the rule is to reach out to each audience in the way(s) they are used to hearing from you. Here are some to consider:

Email
Letter/memo
Text
Website/Intranet
Social Media post
Poster/posted signs
Meeting/conversation
Telephone call
Crisis line
Videotaped message
Recorded audio message
Bulletin board
Electronic reader board
Newsletter/eNewsletter

Don’t Let a Crisis Damage Your Corporate Image

If you need help with messaging for Covid-19 or any other crisis that could damage your business and its reputation, please reach out. I’m happy to set up a time to talk about how my team can help.

When it comes to crisis communication, Peridot Group has decades of experience. We have a team of former journalists who now work on behalf of clients. Our team has led communication through SARS, bird flu, Zika virus, seasonal influenza and now Covid-19/coronavirus.

Our crisis communication services are second to none. We’d love to put them to work for you.

Kristi Arndt, karndt@peridotgroup.net

Finnegans Taproom Offers Tasty Beer and Good Vibes in Downtown Minneapolis

August 22, 2019 Kristi Arndt Food & Drink, Just for Fun hospitality,reputation management,travel

The Minnesota brewery scene is not only known for being robust, it is has a reputation for giving back to the community-in a big way. Perhaps no brewery embodies this more than Finnegans, which donates 100 percent of their profits back to feeding the hungry. In fact, they claim to be the first beer company in the world to donate 100 percent of its profits to charity.

Expanded Beer Selection Applauded

For years Finnegans served a limited number of beer styles. That has changed. After opening its new downtown Minneapolis taproom in 2018, the brewery has grown its footprint with a 6,000 sq. ft. taproom (adjacent to a 4,000 sq. ft. dog-friendly patio) and expanded its beer selection. On my recent visit, there were 16 beers available at the taproom.

My sampler included the following:

Cluster Truck: An American IPA with an ABV of 6.5 percent.
Crimson Howler: A red IPA aged in bourbon barrels, coming in at a relatively low 7.3 ABV (at least for barrel-aged).
Aronia: An American wild ale aged on Aronia berries. Offers a tart flavor and an ABV of 6.7 percent.
Tile Factory: A mosaic IPA coming in at 7.0 percent ABV.

My beer palate has been leaning toward barrel-aged brews of late, even during the hot, humid days of summer—and my visit to Finnegans was no exception. After the tasting samples, my top beer choice was the Crimson Howler. The Tile Factory was a fantastic second.

The taproom has a limited menu served by the Tavola Italian Kitchen + Bar housed in the Elliot Park Hotel next door. The Irish Ploughman’s Platter was pretty darn good, with meats, cheese and hard-boiled eggs. Although I didn’t taste them, the Potato Kegs Tots looked very tempting! Food from local restaurants is also welcome at Finnegans.

Tastes Good; Feels Good

According to its website, Finnegans’ brews are currently distributed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa. With a mission statement of, “Turning beer into food,” the brewery has food shelf partners that correspond with each territory: The Food Group (Minnesota, Hunger Task Force Free & Local (Wisconsin), Great Plains Food Bank (North Dakota), Feeding South Dakota and Food Bank of Iowa.

Finnegans has come a long way in recent years. Their ongoing commitment to give back has surpassed the $1 million mark. The tastes good, feels good vibe lives on!

Abbreviation Key:

IPA: India Pale Ale
ABV: Alcohol By Volume

The patio at Finnegans is a quiet, relaxing oasis in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. And during my most recent visit, it served as a sanctuary amidst endless driving and walking obstacles caused by the season of road construction.

Finnegans Beer Tasters (l to r): Crimson Howler barrel-aged red IPA, Aronia America wild ale, Cluster Truck American IPA and Tile Factory mosaic IPA.

Please forgive the selfie. I visited the taproom as part of a happy hour event. I was thrilled to win one of the prizes—my snazzy new Finnegans hat!

Photo gallery: 2019 Powerboat races in Forest Lake, Minn.

August 11, 2019 Kristi Arndt Just for Fun, Peridot Group Forest Lake,photography,Powerboat races 2019,special events

Powerboat 666 gets a steadying hand prior to the starting flag during races in Forest Lake.

A crowd favorite and one of the winners–Jonah Gilbertson–readies for his race in Forest Lake.

Getting water ready and ready for speed.

One of the starting lineups during the 2019 powerboat races in Forest Lake.

Catch me if you can! The 2019 powerboat races in Forest Lake.

Number 95 speeding past during the 2019 powerboat races in Forest Lake.

Powerboat #32 catchin’ some air during the 2019 races in Forest Lake.

Thrills and (Luckily) No Spills During the 2019 Forest Lake Powerboat Races

August 11, 2019 Kristi Arndt Just for Fun, Peridot Group Forest Lake,photography,Powerboat races 2019,special events

The 2019 powerboat races in Forest Lake, Minn., provided hours of entertainment for fans gathered on shore and in boats safely situated just beyond the racing course.

The different classes of boats raced across the water at speeds up to 135 mph. From the entry-level GT Pro to the adrenaline-inducing SST classes (Super Sport Tunnel), drivers provided an afternoon of high-speed competition to the delight of spectators.

The annual event is one of a handful of races in Minnesota and Wisconsin organized by the Twin Cities Powerboat Association.

Click here to watch a brief video.

Tips for Dressing for a Television Interview

July 31, 2019 Kristi Arndt Peridot Group Media Interviews,Media Relations

Have you agreed to a television interview (live or pre-taped)? Here are some tips to look your best and present a professional image:

• Simple is key.

• Wear solid colors that aren’t too loud; stripes and plaids should stay at home.

• Dress comfortably but conservatively and professionally.

• Don’t over-accessorize. Avoid large jewelry or dangly accessories.

• Less is more when it comes to makeup and hair.

• Stand during the interview, if possible, with legs slightly spread to balance your weight with your arms at your sides.

• If sitting, avoid swiveling in a chair.

• Talk to the reporter, not to the camera. If no reporter, talk to the photographer operating the camera.

• Think about your body language. If you cross your arms, you look defensive.

• Don’t overuse your hands or arms to make gestures.

• Don’t rock or sway.

• Except when doing a cooking demonstration, try not to hold anything in your hands. You don’t want to start tapping a pen or shuffling papers. If conducting a demonstration, be sure to keep it moving. For cooking segments, use clear dishes if possible, so viewers can see the ingredients.

CBD can help relieve holiday stress for pets

November 28, 2018 Kristi Arndt Peridot Group CBD,holidays,Media Relations,pets,Smart Hemp

The holidays can be stressful–and that stress can include your pets. Smart Hemp CBD offers a wide selection of premium-quality Cannibidiol (CBD) hemp oil products that can help relieve symptoms such as anxiety, loss of appetite and aggressive behavior and make the holidays less stressful for pets and pet owners. These products are specifically formulated for pets, veterinarian approved and sourced from carefully screened suppliers that use only the highest-quality ingredients.

Read about it in the news release below.

Relieve Pets Holiday Stress With CBD

Scholarship America celebrates 60 years of making students’ dreams possible

November 15, 2018 Kristi Arndt Peridot Group Media Relations,Scholarship America

Congratulations to Minnesota’s own Scholarship America! The nation’s largest non-profit, private-sector scholarship organization is celebrating 60 years of making college possible for millions of students. During those 60 years the organization has distributed more than $4 billion in scholarships to more than 2.4 million students. See the attached news release to learn more about the contributions this organization has made during the past 60 years.

Scholarship America Celebrates 60 Years

New Hemp Oil Products Formulated Especially for Pets

November 9, 2018 Kristi Arndt Peridot Group CBD,Hemp Oil,Media Relations

Smart Hemp CBD is introducing a new line of premium-quality hemp oil products specifically formulated for pets. Developed under the direction of a veterinarian, these products can provide everyday healthful benefits and help relieve specific symptoms such as: anxiety, loss of appetite, aggressive behavior, allergies, inflammation, seizures and arthritis. The products are available online at MySmartHempCBD.com. Read the news release below and coverage in American Veterinarian.

Smart Hemp CBD Debuts Hemp Oil Products for Pets | American-Veterinarian

Burning Brothers Brewing: A Tasty Gluten-Free Experience St. Paul, Minn.

June 28, 2018 Kristi Arndt Food & Drink Burning Brothers,gluten free,St. Paul

A visit to Burning Brothers Brewing in St. Paul, Minn.

Just paid my first visit to Burning Brothers in St. Paul, Minn. Their motto, “Don’t Fear the Beer,” is indicative of their gluten-free approach to beer-making.

According to their website, “We believe the only way to brew great gluten-free beer is to make it in a dedicated gluten-free facility. This means our beer is crafted using completely gluten-free grains, never containing wheat, barley or rye. We don’t use special filters, enzymes or other gluten-free gimmicks. Instead, we brew great-tasting beers that you KNOW are truly gluten-free.”

Continue reading Burning Brothers Brewing: A Tasty Gluten-Free Experience St. Paul, Minn.

A new rewards redemption concept

June 28, 2018 Kristi Arndt Peridot Group cryptocurrency,Media Relations,Persuade Loyalty

We recently worked with Persuade Loyalty to launch their new CryptoRewards Exchange, a new rewards redemption concept that enables its clients to offer customers a choice of preferred cryptocurrencies as a redemption reward. As younger generations join the ranks of frequent business and leisure travelers, they are looking for loyalty programs which offer more relevant and meaningful rewards than those that incentivized their parents and grandparents.

Continue reading A new rewards redemption concept