World’s Finest Cutlery chooses Charleston, S.C.-based firm for Consultative Marketing Partnership

CHARLESTON, S.C., August 12, 2009 – CUTCO Corporation, the largest manufacturer and marketer of high-quality kitchen cutlery and accessories in the United States and Canada, has chosen Rawle Murdy to be its strategic marketing partner. 

Rawle Murdy will provide a range of marketing and communications services to help CUTCO strengthen further sales growth opportunities going forward.

“Rare is it that we find a partner that understands our unique business model, listens and thinks strategically, and connects with us culturally,” said James E. Stitt, CUTCO Corporation CEO and chairman. “We found all of this in Rawle Murdy and are excited they’ve joined our team to help CUTCO continue to lead in today’s marketplace.”

Rawle Murdy will work closely with CUTCO, as well as KA-BAR, the legendary producer of sporting, military, and utility knives.

“We have a true passion for the CUTCO brand,” said David L. Rawle, Rawle Murdy chairman and founder.  “This is a highly successful company, the leader in its field, with a superior product, made in America and guaranteed forever.  Now that’s a winner!”

About CUTCO: Celebrating its 60th anniversary, CUTCO is the largest manufacturer and marketer of high-quality kitchen cutlery and accessories in the United States and Canada. Sharpness, durability, efficiency and comfort are keys to CUTCO’s reputation. All CUTCO products are marketed directly to consumers and are backed by the company’s “Forever Guarantee,” which ensures that CUTCO’s cutlery stays within families for generations. CUTCO is a proud supporter of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement. For more information about CUTCO, call toll free (800) 828-0448 or visit http://www.cutco.com/.

Rawle Murdy was recently awarded a national Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Silver Anvil Award during the organization’s annual awards banquet. The Silver Anvil Awards recognize the highest level of public relations performance in the industry. The Charleston, S.C. firm’s work was selected from a pool of 900 entries including submissions by top international firms Ketchum, Fleishman-Hillard Inc. and Edelman. Rawle Murdy was the only firm honored in South Carolina, and one of a handful honored in the Southeast.

Rawle Murdy was selected for a Silver Anvil in the category of Community Relations Campaigns and Issues Management for a Business, for its marketing campaign on behalf of the Charleston Animal Society. Creating a mock presidential race between Spike the Dog and Biscuit the Cat to help rebrand the nonprofit and launch its new state-of-the-art center earned Rawle Murdy’s first Silver Anvil for a community relations campaign.

“We’re thrilled to be a recipient in the 2009 Silver Anvil Awards, which are widely thought of as the Oscars of the PR industry,” said Melissa K. Flynn, APR, vice president, director of brand and reputation management at Rawle Murdy. “Being honored alongside international firms and major brands reinforces that we continue to provide strategic, results-driven public relations work for our clients.”

The PRSA Silver Anvil Awards recognize the country’s most innovative and effective public relations campaigns. Rawle Murdy was also a Silver Anvil recipient in 2004.

Continuing the firm’s legacy of recognition by its peers, Rawle Murdy was recently presented with two prestigious Mercury Awards and an Award of Merit from the South Carolina chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (SCPRSA). Including this year’s wins, the firm has received a total of six statewide awards from SCPRSA in the past three years.

The agency was honored in the Crisis Communication/Issues Management category for its work with Wild Dunes Resort, the Integrated Communications category for the Charleston Animal Society’s popular “Spike vs. Biscuit” campaign, and Brand Reputation/Management category for Cheeseburger in Paradise’s “Save the Music” campaign. The Charleston Animal Society campaign has also been named as a finalist for a 2009 national PRSA Silver Anvil Award in the Community Relations Campaigns category.

Rawle Murdy has been selected as a 2009 national Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Silver Anvil Award finalist in two categories—Community Relations Campaigns and Issues Management for a Business. The Anvil competition annually recognizes the highest level of public relations performance in the industry.

To secure a finalist position, of which there are only three in each of 16 categories—Rawle Murdy beat out more than 900 entries from international firms like Ketchum, Fleishman-Hillard Inc. and Edelman.

“Silver Anvils are the Oscars of the PR industry,” said Melissa K. Flynn, APR, vice president and public relations director at Rawle Murdy. “To be chosen as a finalist for not one but two campaigns is thrilling and a testament to the strategic, results-driven public relations work we strive to produce every day.”

 Creating a mock presidential race between Spike the Dog and Biscuit the Cat to rebrand the Charleston Animal Society earned Rawle Murdy’s first Anvil Award consideration for Community Relations Campaigns. The second finalist spot for Issues Management for a Business was earned for Rawle Murdy’s extensive issues management work on MeadWestvaco’s East Edisto project.

The PRSA Silver Anvil Awards recognize the country’s most innovative and effective public relations campaigns. Rawle Murdy was also a Silver Anvil recipient in 2004.

Melissa Flynn, APR, vice president and public relations director for Rawle Murdy, has been chosen as one of a select group of PR practitioners to judge the national Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) 2009 Silver Anvil Award Competition-the highest awards offered within the industry, recognizing the country’s most innovative and effective public relations campaigns.

Flynn, who is also President-Elect for the South Carolina Chapter of PRSA, was one of only a handful of APR-accredited public relations professionals chosen to judge the prestigious national industry awards on March 13 in NY. According to James Roop, APR/Fellow PRSA and 2009 Chair of the Awards Committee, judges are selected based on their experience and expertise in the field of public relations.

“Silver Anvils are the highest awards given in our field,” said Flynn. “Being chosen to judge some of our industry’s best PR work is an honor for Rawle Murdy and for me personally.”

Rawle Murdy, under Flynn’s leadership, was a Silver Anvil recipient in 2004.