Bringing joy to Jay: How Brandlifi helps StereoNET’s editor streamline his day
As UK & European Editor of StereoNET, Jay Garrett is a journalist at the sharp end of audio news. From high-end two-channel hi-fi to home cinema, in-car entertainment and head-fi, his role demands constant awareness of new product launches, breaking news and time-critical announcements - often across multiple time zones.
Like many editors, a large proportion of news lands via press inboxes or direct emails from PRs and brands Jay has built relationships with over many years. On top of that, he’s actively monitoring breaking stories to ensure StereoNET stays ahead of the curve.
That mix of reactive and proactive journalism can be powerful, but it can also be overwhelming - which is where Brandlifi steps in to help.
Jay first heard about Brandlifi through its founders, Chelsea Hinton and Liz Wilkinson, long before the platform formally launched. “I’ve known Chelsea and Liz for a while and have always liked their approach,” he says. “I even remember the seeds of the idea that became Brandlifi coming up during a chat. I was so happy when I got my official invitation email.”
When he began using the platform, his first impression was that it had clearly been built by people who understand the realities of both journalism and PR.
“It was clear the founders have plenty of experience dealing with press and brands,” Jay explains. “They’re aware of just how time-poor everyone is and how time-critical things can be. The site is easy to navigate, and everything is clearly signposted.”
A One-Stop Shop for Press Content
What quickly stood out to Jay was how Brandlifi replaced a messy, unreliable system many journalists still rely on.
“For years, I’ve relied on flagging emails to return to - with varying levels of success,” he says. “There are times when it’s practically impossible to keep up with all the mailshots.”
Brandlifi changed that by giving him a centralised asset hub where everything lives. “With Brandlifi, I can see everything in one place and search for specific brands. Joyous!”
Compared to traditional email-based PR outreach, the difference was immediate. Jay points out that emailed press releases are easily lost, filtered to junk, or rendered useless by broken, locked or missing asset links. Fixing those issues often means extra back-and-forth emails – something Jay simply doesn’t have the time for.
Brandlifi removes that friction by keeping assets accessible, current and centralised.
Best in Show
The platform has also proved its value on the show floor. “Brandlifi has been invaluable during the Bristol Hi-Fi Show and High End Munich shows,” Jay notes.
So much so, in fact, that StereoNET’s own shows in Australia, Singapore and the UK are now looking to use Brandlifi’s Press Office services - a strong endorsement from a global team who live and breathe event coverage.
Planning Ahead with Embargoes
For an international editorial team, embargoed news can make or break a smooth workflow. Jay highlights how Brandlifi’s embargo features reduce stress and improve planning.
“Getting news early under embargo makes planning and workflow so much less stressful,” he explains. “One of us can publish breaking news, while another schedules embargoed pieces in a much more relaxed way - especially handy when covering multiple time zones.”
Enhancing, Not Replacing, PR Relationships
Perhaps most importantly, Jay is clear that Brandlifi isn’t about cutting PRs out of the equation.
“If you’ve not tried Brandlifi because you value your relationships with trusted PRs, Brandlifi isn’t here to replace them,” he says. “I’m still in regular contact with my ‘ride or dies’ - they’re the ones with direct links to brands for everything else I need.”
Instead, Brandlifi acts as a powerful additional resource that makes everyone’s job easier.
“Give Brandlifi a whirl,” Jay concludes. “I reckon you’ll love it.”