As soon as you arrive at the website of this public relations company you know they're aiming to be…read morea bit more fun and funky than some of their more traditional peers. Love or hate the in-your-face website design, it's nonetheless eye-catching and far removed from the corporate look and feel of most Cardiff-based PR agencies. However, just like their rivals they work with clients who want to enter new markets, raise funds, launch new products, or simply raise their profile, offering PR consultancy and media relations campaigns, business communications, consumer communications, marketing, design, and new media services such as blogs, podcasts, webcasts and viral marketing. I found it hard to discover what experience they have, though - or which clients they have worked with, and the results they have achieved for them. There's lots of talk about what they can do for clients, but when I've chosen PR agencies to work with in the past it's been their portfolio and results that have persuaded me to work with them - rather than persuasive website copy.

Blanket Communications has gone for a kind of retro look and feel with its brand, and describes…read moreitself as a 'boutique' communications company - yet still provides the full range of services from PR to print, advertising to design, and copywriting to online provision. Their team is made up of PR people, editors, marketing specialists, designers, web experts and print experts. They have quite a few smaller clients, including several independent Cardiff restaurants, featured in their portfolio, including the very well respected Mint and Mustard (see separate review of that!), its sister Indian eatery Chai Street, plus Lebanese and Moroccan restaurant Mezza Luna. They were also chosen to launch the Cardiff branch of the Yo! Sushi chain. Outside of the food industry, they have worked with South Wales Police to create an anti-burglary campaign, and created an award-winning waste awareness campaign for Cardiff schools called The Really Rubbish Campaign. Although this company doesn't have as broad a range of clients covered in its online portfolio as some of its local competitors, I like their clean, waffle-free website copy which comes across as very honest, and their funky design comes across as forward-thinking.

Cambrensis Communications Ltd is another shop fronted PR company in the Pontcanna area, just a…read morestones throw away from Effective Communication. I find this interesting. A lot of the businesses in this area, from the butchers and deli's to the cafes and hair stylists, see a lot of the 'who's who' in Cardiff (as well as a few interlopers: apparently Will Young is known to hang out in Café Brava when he's in Pontcanna visiting a friend), and so it seems that these companies have gravitated to where they need to be. There's quite a few new businesses in the area who have clearly opted to position themselves so that they can capitalise on the standing of the area, but not so Cambrensis Communications Ltd. This family business, that has now grown into an 'extended family' scenario, have been operative for many years. Their founder has had 40years in the PR industry alone. A progressive company, that has had to adapt and grow more flexible due to the ever changing financial and media conditions that present new challenges on an increasingly frequent basis, Cambrensis Communications Ltd continues to flourish. Offering a comprehensive suite of services that include; creating PR campaigns, media relations, media training, TV and radio production including corporate video and DVD production, as well as a broad ranging event management service that even includes wedding planning, launches, and conferences Cambrensis Communications Ltd is a bilingual company and consequently handles several accounts where Welsh speaking is a must.

Good Relations Wales has a team of eight and a conventional, 'corporate' brand identity. Founded…read moreback in 1989, it's not one of Cardiff's 'funky', new-fangled PR agencies but rather one of the more well-established, traditional PR companies. They've been involved in some high profile campaigns for the likes of Cardiff Bus (introducing the 'bendy bus' to the city), NHS Wales, Digital UK (helping Wales make the switchover to digital TV), Hugh James, and Learndirect, amongst other well known organisations. With their no-nonsense strapline -"Better communications. Better results." - they seem like a professional, straightforward company with a very experienced team that includes former journalists, a former Welsh MP, plus PR experts and marketing specialists.

A small but award winning Cardiff public relations firm. Warwick Emanuel has a small team of nine,…read morebut they're widely regarded as experts in their field and have a number of high profile clients. The firm specialises in utilities and energy, but they also have clients such as Job Match Wales (so they've been very busy in this recession). More recently they've started making corporate films, which team member Stephen Thomas is heavily involved in. These films are highly professional, and don't appear at all naff like so many corporate films. The staff are young, friendly, and energetic and if you're in need of a Public Relations firm, you won't have any disappointments when it comes to Warwick Emanuel.

Brighter Comms are a savvy team of creative communicators. Dedicated to their craft and clients,…read morethey are award winning for this very reason. Sara and her team are tactical with a real passion for PR and digital communications, delivering results time and time again.

From the owner: We help you achieve your most ambitious goals through brighter communication…read more We create brighter PR strategies for business development. Our dazzling social skills help you become social superstars. Our brighter digital strategies help you shine online. Our tailored training shares our knowledge and experience.

This digital marketing company offers a pretty comprehensive service to companies looking for web…read moresite design and management, 2D and 3D animation, illustration, marketing strategies, brand development, video production, graphic design and print, CD and DVD authoring, photography, PR and even search engine optimisation. That's quite a list, and may leave some worried that they can't possibly deliver it all to a high quality. Yet looking at the broad skills of their team, and the resulting portfolio, it seems they can. Big names such as ITV, BBC, BP and Microsfot are amongst their client list, and their portfolio is impressive, with video presentations showing some of their work with CNN, Crystal, Transcanada and others. Very slick.

Atticus is an inventive, creative, strategic digital design agency that works with boutique…read moreindependents and global companies. Their team of dedicated, experienced professionals can fix it for you whether in print, motion graphics, video production, multimedia, web design or 3D animation. They have worked within the film and media industry for many years. They like to get up close and personal with their clients, which include Abbey Road Studios, BP, BBC, CNN, ITV, Microsoft, Pinewood Studios, and the Welsh Assembly. They are pretty darn good at delivering on time and on budget too. If I were you, I'd use them for all things 3-D. Design Capabilities: Exhibitions, Graphics, Branding, CDROM, Multimedia, Photography, Web, Web E-Commerce, Web CMS, Web Bespoke

Ordered, Paid and it was delivered all within a few days. Can't go wrong really…read more The only thing that was a pain is that the website shows stock photos that haven't been printed, but thats minor. Overall they were brilliant!

From the owner: The best in custom printed and embroidered workwear, sportswear and clothing. With over 25 years'…read moreexperience in delivering quality and affordable personalized garments to both businesses and individuals in Cardiff, South Wales and beyond.