French/West/Vaughan (FWV), one of the nation’s largest independently-owned public relations, advertising and digital marketing agencies, announced it has been retained by the groundbreaking ticketing platform FlipTix for national and event-specific public relations support.
Based in Newport Beach, Calf., FlipTix provides a platform, including a mobile and web app, that lets ticketholders who leave an event early “Flip” (sell) the remaining time on their ticket to a buyer outside the venue.
Using FlipTix, ticketholders who exit prior to the end of an event simply provide notice through the app that they have left the venue, and fans outside are notified that a Flip is available. Prices are based on the amount of time remaining (and other variables). Sellers receive remuneration in the form of cash, credit, merchandise or gift cards. Buyers get a digital ticket delivered to their phone and then either pick up their activated wristband from a designated FlipTix location or use the digital ticket for entry.
FWV will direct media relations efforts for FlipTix, starting by announcing its partnership with the upcoming BUKU Music + Art Project, March 22-23 in New Orleans. Headline performers this year include Lana Del Ray and A$AP Rocky with support from acts like Dog Blood (Skrillex and Boys Noize), Playboi Carti and Dashboard Confessional. FlipTix is the exclusive provider of Flips for BUKU and the event’s exclusive sponsor for non-primary ticketing, making it the only ticketing company to be listed as an official partner.
Launched in 2018 and with 16 global patent applications on file, FlipTix is led by co-founder and CEO Jaime Siegel who spent 16 years as VP of Intellectual Property for Sony, and co-founder President/COO Brian Siegel who previously led a number of Sony’s U.S. business operations and Lenovo’s North American Consumer Sales efforts. The company plans additional partnership announcements in the weeks ahead.
“Jaime and Brian have developed one of the most innovative solutions in the ticketing industry,” said FWV Chairman & CEO, Rick French. “They have also done an extraordinary job on the partner development side, so we’re very excited to work with the FlipTix team to tell their story.”
Ranked among the nation’s 15 largest PR firms overall (2018 O’Dwyer’s Ranking of Top U.S. PR Firms), FWV has captured 15 National Agency of the Year honors over the past two decades. The agency employs 113 public relations, public affairs, social media, advertising and digital marketing experts between its Raleigh, N.C. headquarters and New York City, Los Angeles and Tampa offices.
