Hamburg, June 16th 2005 - "Double the business" - SHARP Electronics Europe CEO Hans Kleis set a clear signal with his announcement at CeBIT 2005 that the Japanese group intended to double its sales in Europe by the end of the 2007 financial year. While some prestigious competitors are suffering from dwindling profits and have failed to develop product innovations, SHARP is reporting one record year after another. A story worth being told, thought the management in the European headquarters in Hamburg and requested a pitch for an independent European corporate PR account. The winner was the communication agency FAKTOR 3, also based in Hamburg. The CeBIT announcement from Hans Kleis reported throughout Europe marked the start of a communication campaign that will have its highlight this year at the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin.

FAKTOR 3 has supported the product and corporate PR of SHARP in Germany with two teams, as well as the European PR for the independently acting divisional company SHARP Microelectronics Europe from January 2001. "FAKTOR 3 certainly had a competitive advantage that shouldn't be underestimated. The company's in-depth knowledge acquired over the years was finally the crucial consideration when awarding the contract," explains Andrea Weigert, head of Corporate Communications, SHARP Electronics Europe. "In addition to the daily media work, we've learnt to appreciate FAKTOR 3 above all as a strategic partner. This is something that is indispensable particularly in communication with top European business media."

With the SHARP Europe budget, FAKTOR 3 is continuing to expand its expertise in the consumer electronics area. The currently published rankings of PR Report show FAKTOR 3 as the front-runner in this field in Germany.

Photos:
Sharp logo
Hans Kleis, CEO of all European Sharp trading branches
Volker Martens, executive board member of FAKTOR 3 AG

Contact:
Volker Martens
Tel.: +49 40 679446-0
Fax: +49 40 679446-11
E-Mail: v.martens@faktor3.de