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A few weeks ago we welcomed a new Sugar on board - Shaneel Anjum joined our Toronto office as our new Digital Marketing Manager. To mark the occasion, we decided to give her a little extra work to do: she took over our Instagram for an evening to answer our followers’ burning marketing and social media questions. We thought it would be a shame to let all her wisdom disappear forever into cyberspace, so we’ve rounded up her answers for you here!

We’re living at an interesting intersection in the PR world right now: on the one hand, more and more brands are awakening to their social responsibilities, especially when it comes to environmental and sustainability practices. On the other hand, with the rise of influencer culture, PR firms like us are being mandated to send out more and more mailers so as to create “unboxing” moments that are aesthetic and keep our brands top of mind - not to mention the extra waste that comes with throwing as many events as we all do. Some other easy ways to reduce waste: use linens instead of paper napkins and tablecloths, have florists pick up floral arrangements to reuse after events, and use sustainable mailers when sending out packages to media and influencers. Small modifications in your office – like having proper recycling and compost bins, using a French Press or filter coffee machine rather than pods, carpooling to events, and doing team-wide #meatlessmondays – can all have a big impact on reducing your office’s carbon footprint over time!

The stats speak for themselves: according to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 1 in 5 Canadians will experience mental health issues this year, with that number climbing to 50% of the population experiencing a mental health illness or crisis by the age of 40. While there is no one cause, and everyone’s mental health journey is as unique as they are, it’s important to acknowledge that your environment has a huge impact on how you feel day-to-day. The concept of self-care has all but become synonymous with treating yourself to (often pricey) indulgences like a spa day, aromatherapy candles, or face masks. But at its root, self-care is an important practice that doesn’t have to cost money, and that we should all be doing every day.

Is it just us, or did January seem like it was never going to end? Thankfully, we had good reads, strong coffee, and plenty of Emergen-C to get us through those cold, sniffly, dreary days. Here are our favourite articles of the last month, touching on industry trends and what’s going in the world of social - from Kobe to those Instagram roulette filters.