Arnold & Havas Media, Gear Communications Awarded HOTSHOT® Creative, Media & PR Duties

BOSTON, Nov. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Global creative agency Arnold Worldwide and Havas Media have been awarded the creative and media responsibilities for Flex Innovation's HOTSHOT®, effective immediately. The two agencies, both part of the Havas Boston Village, will provide an integrated creative and media approach that has proved successful for multiple shared clients. Gear Communications will handle the brand's public relations efforts.

Arnold and Havas Media are tasked with providing breakthrough, consumer insight-driven work. Responsibilities include brand strategy, creative development, and media planning and buying.

"It was impressive to see the Arnold and Havas Media Village team demonstrate such a strong understanding of the business and present powerful creative and media ideas that showed real insight into our consumers.  We were equally impressed with the creative approach and high potential ideas from the team at Gear Communications," said Elizabeth Jackson, HOTSHOT's Vice President of Marketing. "We're confident the strategic depth, fresh media perspective and insight driven creative will lead to disruptive work that raises brand awareness and drives sales growth for HOTSHOT."

HOTSHOT, invented by Rod MacKinnon, a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist and endurance athlete, is the first scientifically proven formula to prevent and treat muscle cramps. HOTSHOT was launched in 2016 on TeamHOTSHOT.com and at select retailers in Boston, Boulder, and Los Angeles.

"We're really excited to be partnering with HOTSHOT. The brand is poised for tremendous growth in the performance category," said Arnold Worldwide Global CEO Pam Hamlin. "Arnold and Havas Media are well positioned through the Village model to develop a modern integrated creative and media solution to help HOTSHOT realize their ambitions and increase the brand's visibility among athletes."

"The Gear team jumped at the opportunity to develop a one-of-a-kind, impactful PR campaign that will elevate the HOTSHOT brand, and highlight what truly makes the company a disrupter in the sports beverage category," said Jen Gear, President, Gear Communications. "We are thrilled HOTSHOT shared our vision, and look forward to bringing our concept to life."

The first creative work from the two agencies will be in market in early 2018.

About HOTSHOT

Invented by Rod MacKinnon, a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist and endurance athlete, HOTSHOTtm is the sports shot with a kick that is scientifically proven to prevent and treat muscle cramps. A scientific breakthrough in sports nutrition, HOTSHOT is a kick-ass proprietary formulation of organic ingredients that boosts Neuro Muscular Performance ? how an athlete's nerves and muscles work together in an optimal way. MacKinnon and Harvard neurobiology professor Bruce Bean spent several years calibrating this precise formulation of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) activator ingredients that stimulate TRP ion channels in the mouth, esophagus and stomach that directly influence and regulate nerve function. Translation? HOTSHOT stops muscle cramps where they start ? at the nerve ? allowing athletes to push harder, train longer and finish stronger. HOTSHOT is a non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Certified Organic product that is NSF Certified for Sport®. To learn more, visit TeamHOTSHOT.com. HOTSHOT is a product of Flex Innovation Group LLC, a division of Flex Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: FLKS).

ABOUT ARNOLD WORLDWIDE

Arnold Worldwide is a global creative agency delivering services across all communication touch points ? advertising, digital, promotions, direct, design and branded content. We are proud to represent a diverse portfolio of clients including Allergan, Angie's List, CenturyLink, Fidelity Investments, The Hershey Company, Huntington Bank, Jack Daniel's, Jergens, John Frieda, National Association of Realtors, Ocean Spray, Progressive, PUR, Sanofi, Sutter Health, and many other great brands. The agency is a global micro-network that is part of the Havas Group.

ABOUT HAVAS MEDIA

Havas Media is the main media brand of Havas Media Group and was named Adweek's U.S. Media Agency of the Year in 2017.

Our mission is to unite brands and people through meaningful connections and drive business success. We service clients through a portfolio of specialist teams that span media, strategy, international management, digital, mobile, social media, experiential, entertainment and sport. Our simplified and integrated structure has allowed us to build one of the most integrated, agile and responsive global teams in the industry.

ABOUT GEAR COMMUNICATIONS

Gear Communications is a full-service public relations and marketing agency, helping businesses market high-end consumer products and services. Our expertise includes a wide array of product categories in the beauty, health and wellness; housewares, and cannabis industries. We harness the power of word-of-mouth marketing and social media, generating buzz and shaping public opinion of your brand with creative, grassroots initiatives. We've proven the power of public relations to generate recognition for ? and sales of ? our clients' products.

Contact:
Jorge Rodriguez
[email protected]

SOURCE Arnold Worldwide