STORY-TELLING IS OUR BUSINESS

Each brand has at least one story to tell; we are here to help you tell it in the most compelling way.

WELCOME TO OUR STORY

Learn more about us

We started out courageous, broadminded, hardworking and fiercely independent. This market kept us inventive, flexible and fast on our feet. We are a relatively small group of like-minded, but hugely different, communication professionals with a common objective: to seamlessly merge all the communication disciplines, techniques and tools available to us today, in order to best tell a brand’s story.

We create content and use classic PR practices, top-notch creative, the latest digital techniques, events, traditional and new media to deliver it to its destination:  the right audience each time, every time.

Established in 2004, our agency is wise for its years. This is mainly because our managing partners have spent roughly 20 years each, learning all there is to learn about this business, working from various positions in a number of agencies, before creating Out of the Box.

You will see a lot of our managing partners if you choose to work with us; they like to remain involved, working closely with the account teams, getting their hands dirty, not missing out on the fun. Speaking of which, winning awards for our work has been great, satisfying, fun.

Over the years we have collected a number of Ermis Awards, the awards organized by the Hellenic Association of Communication Agencies, in various categories.

As of March 2015, we are the Athens office of PROI Worldwide, the largest global network of independently-owned PR and marketing agencies. We are also the Greek office of MTI Νetwork, the world’s leading crisis media response network for the shipping industry.

We would love to meet you in person and talk more about ourselves.

SATISFY YOUR CURIOSITY

See the brands and organizations we have worked with

We know you’re curious to find out who our clients are. We’d be too. So here, in alphabetical order, are some of the brands whose stories we’ve told over the past 13 years.

ALTER EGO | THE AMERICAN COLLEGE IN GREECE | ANATOLIA COLLEGE | ANNA PAPADIMITRIOU TSATSOU (Vice-Governor of the Region of Attica) | ATCOM | ATHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT | AVENUE SHOPPING MALL | BALI RICE | BMW | COINTREAU | CONTINENTAL AIRLINES | CONVERSE ALL STAR | CATRICE | DE MASTERBLENDERS (BRAVO, DOUWE EGBERTS) | DEREE | DILMAH | ELGEKA (MELISTO) | EMPORIKI BANK | EUROLIFE ERB | ESSENCE | THE FAMOUS GROUSE | FUTURE LIBRARY | GROUPAMA | HELIOSPHERA | HERBALIFE | IAB GREECE | INTELEN | L’OREAL (KIEHL’S) | MAZDA | THE MACALLAN | MICROSOFT HELLAS | MoM (THALASSA PROJECT) | NEA ODOS | NINE LIVES GREECE | NUANCE | OPTIMA (Epirus, Dirollo, Adoro, Kerrygold) | PRAKTIKER | RECKITT BENCKISER | RENAULT-DACIA | UNIFY | SELLAS CLINICALS | SPANOPOULOS GROUP | STELLA ARTOIS | SUPERLEAGUE | WHITE STONE RESIDENCES | WINMASTERS

UNDERSTAND OUR APPROACH

See what we do and how we did it for these brands

First we listen carefully. We ask questions. Then we do desk-research, leaving no stone unturned. We put together the team we believe is best suited to each project or client. We talk, argue, throw ideas around, pick our brains and those of our specialist consultants and generally ignore recipes.

We have selected a few case studies that showcase our approach. These are not necessarily our largest clients or projects; they were chosen because they represent work we are proud of. These cases are about strategy and deliverables that successfully met their respective communication objectives. About stories told in a compelling way.

CASE

01

SCHOLL – INTRODUCING SCHOLL LIGHT LEGS TO THE MEDIA

1. THE CHALLENGE

We had to make a fashion statement about tights with a “medical” USP signed by a brand with a traditionally “medical” image -LIGHT LEGS by SCHOLL- and create publicity surrounding their launch in Greece.

2. HOW WE WORKED

We organized a media/bloggers’ event that was based on the concept of a catwalk where the guests would themselves participate choosing outfits and combining them with the new tights. We chose two strategic partners: a fashion label that would provide the outfits and endorse Light Legs as a fashion accessory and a presenter who, herself, spends most of her day on her feet as the presenter of a TV show appropriately called Still Standing!

3. MEASURING THE OUTCOME

The client was very happy with the turnout at the event; the majority of the people on our guest-list showed up and happily participated in the catwalk, posting live stories on their social media. All major fashion media and blogs were represented and coverage was immediate and positive.

CASE

02

SPANOPOULOS GROUP – MANAGING A MAJOR OIL SPILL CLEAN-UP OPERATION

1. THE CHALLENGE

In the aftermath of a major oil spill off the coast of Attica near Athens, we were cold-called by the company hired for the clean-up to manage their communications. The oil spill was an extremely complex affair that dominated the news from the very first moment it occurred and created a huge outcry by local communities affected by it; we had to think on our feet and act exceptionally fast.

2. HOW WE MANAGED

In the first few hours after becoming involved, our efforts centered on 4 points:

  • We chose a spokesperson who we speed-trained in media response.
  • We agreed on a communication strategy based on concrete, single-minded arguments, regarding the facts and the technical aspects of the operation.
  • We decided not to become involved in political and business arguments that had no bearing on the project/company and could harm its reputation.
  • We focused on achieving our proportion of share-of-voice in an exceedingly turbulent media landscape

In the following days we monitored and evaluated tons of publicity; wrote statements and white papers, answered questions, arranged interviews with key media, made sure our client’s role was clear and explaining the clean-up process as it evolved.

3. THE OUTCOME

In four weeks there were almost 500 references to our client in online and offline media. The vast majority were marked as positive. The company’s press releases and statements that were unwaveringly based on facts and data were exceptionally well received by the media and influenced their coverage. Even in the incident of fake news (about the owner being arrested) our denial statement’s coverage was much more extensive that the original, inaccurate piece.
All in all, our client received the share-of-voice he deserved and we were shortlisted for Best PR Campaign in Issues & Crisis at ICCO Awards 2017!

CASE

03

ESSENCE - TEENAGERS’ FAVOURITE COSMETICS TAKE GREECE BY STORM

1. THE CHALLENGE

To maximize awareness for the arrival in Greece of a brand of cosmetics addressed primarily to girls aged 12+ with a global marketing policy of zero advertising.

2. HOW WE WORKED

Making the most of the generous supply of sample products provided by essence we established a constant stream of communication with beauty editors and bloggers, taking into account their different profiles and needs, providing them with products to test and review. At the same time we established a direct line of communication with consumers via the brand’s Greek Facebook page whose amazing growth is 100% organic.

3. MEASURING THE OUTCOME

In just over 2 years essence has become a love-brand among teenage girls and is considered cool, safe and high-tech. The brand’s Facebook page has 29K likes, a phenomenal community that has grown organically. But essence has also become a favorite of beauty editors and bloggers: 120+ clippings from magazines, 140+ mentions in websites, 500+ reviews/presentations in blogs and 200+ videos on YouTube prove that our strategy is working!

The publicity generated for essence in this country places Greece in 5th place in terms of S.O.V in the media, with the brand present in 86 countries!

CASE

04

AS MILISOUME - A COMMUNITY CREATED TO RAISE AWARENESS REGARDING PRIVATE INSURANCE

1. THE CHALLENGE

We were asked to participate in the creation of the first “non-media publishing” website powered by an insurance company – Eurolife ERB – www.as-milisoume.gr . Its long-term objective is to raise awareness about the benefits of private insurance in the Greek market and our mandate was to produce engaging content that would trigger discussions on the website and in social media.

2. HOW WE WORKED

We managed a hand-picked team of writers/journalists who created content –general and insurance-themed- that fit the website’s 4 sections. We proposed subjects/titles and wrote, edited and illustrated the articles. We were also involved in the overall content strategy and writing for collaterals such as newsletters, e-books, social media posts and community management.

3. THE OUTCOME


In its first 2 years the website achieved:

  • Over 10K unique visitors/month – very satisfactory page/visitor and duration of stay indices that we looked to improve.
  • Considered by the market as an innovative brand-building tool – won a DIME award in the Non-Media Publishing category.
  • Eurolife considers it a CSR initiative and it is a source of pride to its internal audience.

CASE

05

OPTIMA SA – RAISING THE PROFILE OF A LEADING DAIRY PRODUCTS COMPANY

1. THE CHALLENGE

To help a by default introverted company, the leading cheese producer and distributor in Greece, now also a major exporter, increase their share-of-voice in the Greek media and blogosphere.

2. HOW WE WORK

Our publicity strategy included developing key messages for both the corporate brand –Optima- and for five consumer brands –Epirus, Dirollo, Adoro, Kerrygold and Optima Pastry- mapping the media available to us and scouting for the best publicity opportunities per medium.  We “married” messages to media using an approach that combined press releases to a more selective approach and continue to do so today.

3. HOW WE HAVE SUCCEEDED

Going on four years later the client’s share-of-voice has increased by 4%; one in four published stories about cheese in the Greek media is about Optima or one of its brands.

The majority of these stories, an average over 1,000 per year, is positive publicity for the company and its products.

CASE

06

ACT.now - RUNNING AN EFFECTIVE INTERNATIONAL PRESS OFFICE

1. THE CHALLENGE

Vienna-based Act.NOW is one of Europe’s most significant NGOs dedicated to the refugee issue. We were asked to organize and run the Press Office of the 2ndInternational Mayors’ Conference that took place in Athens.

2. HOW WE WORKED

After devising a complete, cross-checked database of Greek journalists and foreign correspondents from major international media, our job was to ensure their presence and maximum coverage of the conference by making sure they had all the material they needed: key messages adapted into Greek as they developed, one-on-one interviews, access to background data etc.

3. WHY WE ARE PROUD

 Other than the fact that we managed to have excellent media representation at the conference (only days after the coup d’état in Turkey that was rightfully in the limelight) we also achieved high-end publicity in the top two Greek publications and on prime-time TV, as well as extensive coverage online in Greek and European media and social media.

APPRECIATE OUR HONESTY

Find out what makes us stand out

If we need more time, we won’t be afraid to ask. If we are ready before the deadline, we’ll come to you sooner. If the budget is too small, we’ll make sure you know. If you are giving us too much, you will be warned. Wherever possible we will help you save money. If an idea you have doesn’t work, we won’t pamper your ego. If it’s great, we’ll be the first to say so. If something cannot be done, we won’t pretend it can.

There is reasoning behind this quirky -by industry standards- behaviour: we are not after clients, we are looking for long-term partnerships. These can only be based on honesty, mutual understanding and respect. For one another, for our respective businesses, people and time.

MEET
THE TEAM

Dimitris Roulias

Astrophysicist, sports aficionado, theater and opera lover, Managing Partner

From IBM to OgilvyOne and finally to OUT OF THE BOX, from corporate to digital, he feels equally comfortable wearing a suit or a polo shirt and dealing with political communication or being in the field handling a pollution crisis. Passionate about Panathinaikos, a regular at Filion café in Kolonaki, he is always online with news, projects, colleagues and clients, even when on his beloved island of Tinos.

Marina Leonidhopoulos

Linguist, blogger, cat-lover, amateur photographer, Managing Partner

Copywriter, Creative Director, PR professional, two times founder of a PR agency – almost 30 years in the communication industry, every one of them as exciting and challenging as the one before.
“From advertising to public relations, from small local outfits to global networks, from local start-ups to global clients, from offline to online, from the world to the web, so much experienced, so much learnt and yet there is always more”.

Melina Dimitriou

Marketing major, horsewoman, camper, theater goer, Account Director

Editors and bloggers love her, clients worship her. Melina, the perfectionist, occasionally burns the midnight oil but she somehow always finds the time to take Horodin for a canter and at the weekend she can be found camping on a deserted beach in summer, or exploring some foreign city in the winter.

FIND OUT MORE

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