News for and by Ad Agencies from the world of Advertising, Marketing, Branding and Design

Indiana State University business students create marketing initiative

Wed, 30 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

A recent event, called "Sycamores Gone Wild", was held by Indiana State business students with the goal of promoting local businesses to the university's students. Attracting more than 175 students, the marketing campaign was a collaboration between the Sycamore Business Advisors and the college newspaper, the Indiana Statesman.

Indiana State University reports that the process started with business students developing a solid marketing plan, including newspaper advertising and social media such as Facebook and Twitter. The event highlighted not only local restaurants and businesses, but the Statesman as well. Discounts and coupons were offered, as well as free food and giveaways, the article states.

"Sycamores Gone Wild" is the first time that the Sycamore Business Advisors have worked with the Statesman. In the past, the organization has offered consulting services for the newspaper. Art Sherwood, co-creator of the campaign and the professor overseeing the project, said students were able to gain hands-on experience working with the paper, as it is a real business.

"We're able to put students into the situations where they're making real decisions in real-time, and we're able to coach that," Sherwood said.

Sycamore Business Advisors is comprised of senior level business students at Indiana State University. According to its website, its goal is to aid small to midsize businesses through the development and management processes.

Columbus area businesses showcased in city marketing initiative

Tue, 29 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Businesses in central Ohio have been marketing their services and goods independently in the past, but thanks to a new campaign, the city of Columbus and the surrounding areas have a distinct branding.

The Columbus Partnership has launched a marketing program aimed at promoting the region's businesses, writes Alex Fischer, president of the organization, in The Dublin Villager. The campaign started when several organizations wanted to develop a strategy to make Columbus stand out among other cities throughout the nation. And so, the ColmbUS idea was born, which aims to advertise the city's importance in the marketplace as America's 15th-largest city, says Fischer.

Fischer states that the campaign has already produced results. Columbus' mayor, Michael Coleman, will be launching a new branding effort for the city, which includes using the ColumbUS program for the local police, fire and parks and recreation departments.

Fischer states that the goal of the initiative is to attract more business and tourism, which can lead to increased revenue, employment and investment opportunities for the city and its citizens.

The Columbus Partnership is a non-profit organization made up of 43 CEO's from the area's businesses and institutions, according to their website. Their aim is to develop economic growth in Columbus and surrounding areas.

Wheeling Nailers hockey expanding marketing efforts

Fri, 25 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The Wheeling Nailers hockey team is under new ownership by the Hockey Club of Ohio Valley, and with the new change comes increased marketing efforts to promote the team and organization.

The Intelligencer reports that new initiatives will include advertising in new areas, such as the Ohio cities of Steubenville, Zanesville and Cambridge.

"There will be a lot more marketing from billboards to TV commercials to radio," said Craig Bommer, vice president of business operations. "Across the board we're looking to improve everything."

Bommer said ticket sales and sponsorships are increasing, which he thinks is due to the new local ownership.

The Hockey Club of Ohio Valley is a conglomerate of the Regional Economic Development (RED) Partnership and the Wheeling Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA). According to the RED website, the acquisition of the hockey team by the Hockey Club was preceded by three months of negotiations. The group was the only one who made a bid for the team, and made the purchase with money WAHA had collected for construction of a new hockey arena.

"When it came to our attention that there were no more private bidders for this team, we were going to lose this sheet of ice," said Tim Roberts, WAHA president.

RED will oversee financial management while WAHA will handle hockey operations, says the website.

Coca-Cola marketing lower calorie Sprite and Fanta in summer months

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Beverage giant Coca-Cola will begin to market its new, lower-calorie Sprite and Fanta in the Louisville, Detroit, Memphis and Atlanta regions this summer. The soft drinks, called "Sprite Select" and "Fanta Select", will have only 70 calories per can, in contrast to the 140 calories regular Sprite contains and 160 calories for Fanta.

The Ledger reports that the beverages are being made with natural sweeteners Truvia, which comes from a plant, and erythritol, a sugar alcohol. These will be mixed together with sugar and offer less calories without losing the taste.

Coca-Cola offered lower-calorie drinks about 11 years ago, but due to poor sales, "C2" was taken off shelves, according to The Ledger. The company has decided to try again with their new products, but it might take up to a year to see if the drinks have any success, says John Sicher, publisher of Beverage Digest.

Coca-Cola is among several companies launching fewer calorie drinks. PepsiCo released Pepsi Next in March, and is seeing great success, reports Forbes. Also, Dr Pepper Snapple Group has experienced strong growth with its new Dr Pepper TEN. However, Coca-Cola differs with its naturally sweetened products, as Pepsi Next contains both high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners, says Forbes.

Indy Speedway selling ad space along famous track for first time

Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

For the first time in its 103-year history, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is selling advertising space along the walls of its track. This new strategy has been initiated to generate more revenue for the Speedway, according to The Associated Press.

Two companies, Shell Oil Co. and Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka, have already put their billboards in place along turns three and four of the track. Jeff Belskus, Speedway CEO, says that the income from selling the space will bring in a significant increase in revenue for the racetrack.

"We're running a business," Belskus says. "And we're going to continue to look for creative ways to generate revenue. There's a lot of inventory here that we can brand."

However, Belskus states, only companies that are already working with the IndyCar Series will get the chance to advertise within the raceway.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was established in 1909 and is the world's largest spectator sporting facility, according to its website. Each year the Speedway hosts three racing series: Brickyard 400 (NASCAR), Indianapolis 500 Mile Race (IndyCar) and Red Bull Indianapolis GP (MotoGP World Championship).

FBI, Clear Channel Outdoor partner on anti-industrial espionage campaign

Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The FBI is working together with Clear Channel Outdoor on an advertising campaign aimed at informing the public about the dangers of industrial espionage. The campaign is targeting large cities where the threat can be a problem: Columbus, Ohio, New York City, Boston and San Francisco, among others.

The program is being launched to prevent the theft of and spying on industrial trade secrets, which can cause major damage to the nation's businesses and costs nearly $13 billion per year, states Clear Channel.

Clear Channel Outdoor provides outside advertising opportunities. Methods being used to advertise the risks of theft will include digital billboards, street furniture displays and transit area advertisements. The ads will educate the public on the dangers and risks associated with trade espionage and instruct them on how to report any problems. The campaign will run in the chosen cities for the upcoming week and a half.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus was chosen because of its high volume of research and development companies specializing in high-technology. The newspaper reported in 2010 a local chemical company was hacked by culprits in China for its valuable chemical information.

Cincinnati-based Phillips Edison & Company unveils new marketing campaign

Mon, 21 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

A real-estate company specializing in retail centers has launched their new national marketing campaign. The program, called "Customer Connections." aims to build relationships in the communities where the firm's shopping centers are located.

Phillips Edison & Company, headquartered in Cincinnati, owns more than 220 properties throughout the country and specializes in buying low-performing retail centers in order to redevelop them into high-value resources.

The marketing initiative will use social media, surveys and planned community events to connect with customers. Facebook will be a big tool, says vice president of operations Colleen Johnson, as almost 50 percent of customers use social media based on a survey the company conducted.

"Our goal is to build a foundation that will help us reach the maximum number of potential customers as even more shoppers become social media users," Johnson states.

Phillips Edison & Company will offer monthly sweepstakes on their Facebook page, and update it regularly with news and photos from their various shopping centers.

The marketing campaign is in the initial stages at the moment and has been launched in only a few cities: Cincinnati, Tucson, Arizona, and Rochester, New York. It will spread to other markets later in the year.

Lexington-based Fazoli's sees new sales record after marketing campaign

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Fazoli's, an Italian restaurant franchise headquartered in Lexington, reported record sales again for April due to a marketing campaign launched earlier in the month.

"This was the best year-over-year April performance in the company's history, and it sets up Fazoli's for a great spring and summer," stated Fazoli president and CEO Carl Howard.

Franchises had same-store sales growth of 10.9 percent in April, reported Howard, and they had a 4.2 percent increase over last year at the same time. Howard said restaurant customers are responding well to the marketing initiatives that have been implemented.

The campaign, called "A Whole New Fazoli's," included changes to the look and table service, such as using real plates and silverware, as well as a new menu and both television and online advertisements. Fazoli's employees, especially cashiers, were also trained on the restaurant's food preparation and hospitality methods. The marketing strategies are still being phased into all of Fazoli's stores and markets.

Fazoli's, founded in Lexington in 1988, is the nation's largest Italian quick-service restaurant, with 230 locations throughout 26 states.

Indianapolis looking to attract tourists in continued summer marketing campaign

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The city of Indianapolis is continuing a four-year summer marketing campaign in the Midwest in order to push tourism for warmer months in the Central Indiana region.

The Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association is targeting five big cities throughout the Midwest: Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Champaign, Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky. Marketing strategies used in the campaign include 30-second television commercials and radio ads, sponsor messages and online advertising.

The ICVA is collaborating with various attractions in the area to drive more tourism, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and the NCAA Hall of Champions.

The association has also been working with Indiana-based marketing agency Strategic Marketing & Research for the past four years in their summer tourism campaigns. Launched this week, the fourth consecutive campaign will cost $1.2 million and will highlight the city of Indianapolis as a whole in each advertisement, something that differs from previous years where only one local attraction was featured in each ad.

"This summer, Indy is the star, with visits to partner attractions woven into the messaging. We're a fun, friendly, affordable destination with a surprise around every turn for families and friends to discover," said Chris Gahl, ICVA's vice president of marketing and communications.

Marketing expert speaking at Louisville's Medical Legal Symposium

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

This year's Medical Legal Symposium in Louisville, Kentucky, will feature Joshua Elder, marketing guru and founder of Idea Box Media, among other speakers. At the second annual symposium on Thursday, May 17, Elder will speak to businesses about further developing their marketing strategies in order to help them grow and promote their services.

Some of the marketing methods that Elder will discuss include internet marketing, web solutions and generating leads, as well as how to use social media to help businesses reach out to target audiences. He will also focus on driving more traffic to websites along with generating a stronger online presence.

Medical practices and other companies can use online content as a marketing tool, since it boosts their chances of being included in search engine results and also offers valuable information to consumers.

The event will also feature speakers on insurance, claims software and ethics as it relates to medicine. It offers networking opportunities for those in the medical field, as well.

The Medical Legal Symposium will be held at the Hyatt at 320 West Jefferson St.

Smart Start marketing workshop aims to help businesses

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center, together with the Hammond INnovation Center, is holding their next Smart Start Workshop this Thursday, May 17, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. The workshop is called "DIY Design" and will feature the president of VIA Marketing, Julie Olthoff.

According to the Times of Northwest Indiana, Olthoff will be speaking about what businesses should look for when determining what works best for them in their marketing initiatives and strategies, from strong design to efficient copywriting. The Times also said that Olthoff will offer helpful advice on working with professional marketing services as well as knowing how to work with agencies in order to develop effective cost strategies.

The Hammond INnovation Center is a technology business incubator which works with technology-based startups to aid them in their development and progress. The Northwest Indiana SBDC, which is part of the greater Indiana Small Business Development Center, offers resources, advice and workshops to both already existing businesses and new startups in the area.

The "DIY Design" workshop will be held at the Hammond INnovation Center, located at 5208 Hohman Ave.

Cleveland based firm to direct marketing for Nottingham Spirk

Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Nottingham Spirk, a business innovation company located in Cleveland, OH, has chosen another Cleveland based firm to direct its marketing campaigns and initiatives.

“It’s an honor to work with Nottingham Spirk, a legacy in the world of vertical innovation," said Laura Sheridan, president of the chosen marketing agency, Viva La Brand. "Evolving the brand to gain international exposure is an enormous opportunity that we're thrilled to be a part of."

A firm specializing in business innovation which develops patented products for various industry leading companies, Nottingham Spirk takes these products from research to design to testing in order to provide efficient and practical service. The company has developed tens of billions in sales and has a state-of-the-art Innovation Center, but because of the fact that Nottingham Spirk is relatively unknown to Fortune 500 companies, they decided to look for an agency's help.

Vikki Nowak, strategic program director of Nottingham Spirk, said that their main goal in further developing its marketing strategies was to get a clearer picture of how their clients viewed them and how they can take this information to determine what makes them stand out and how they can improve their services.

Indiana launches marketing campaign to draw in business

Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Indiana is looking to grow the number of businesses statewide by introducing its marketing campaign and website, 100reasonsindiana.com. The website, created by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, lists 100 reasons as to why businesses should move to the Hoosier state.

According to the Evansville Courier & Press, state officials said the list provides facts and figures pertaining to business and Indiana's quality of life and industries, which include agriculture, manufacturing, life sciences and logistics.

Dan Hasler, Indiana's secretary of commerce and chief executive officer of the IEDC, told the newspaper that each time he looks at the list he continues to learn new things about the state.

"We lead the nation in duck production, have a legacy of NASA astronauts and Indiana is home to two Golf Digest Top 100 public courses," Hasler said. "And this list barely scratches the surface of what Indiana has to offer."

State facts cover a broad range of topics, from commuting, where the state average is faster than the national average by 2.4 minutes, to the automobile industry, in which Indiana's motor vehicle sector is the second largest in the country and produces $8.9 billion worth of goods.

Federal aid expands farmers markets consumer base

Fri, 11 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Food producers that sell their wares at local farmers markets in Ohio will now be able to advertise to and do business with a greater number of people. The Toledo Blade reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is distributing $4 million across the country in order to increase the number of marketplaces that accept food stamps as payment from approximately 1,500 to roughly 5,500.

More than $161,300 is earmarked for Ohio, which will help offset the costs of accepting stamps from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). At the moment, more than 50 locations take SNAP, the newspaper reports, and at the Toledo Farmers Market alone, beneficiaries have increased their spending from 2007's rate of $1,500 to hit $50,000 last year.

That market was the first in Ohio to grant low-income shoppers the chance to buy locally grown, fresh produce with their SNAP benefits. A marketing program designed to pull in more SNAP customers "doubles shoppers' purchasing power up to $20 per market visit," the news outlet explains. The "double-up bucks" initiative succeeded in adding 1,000 more customers in 2011.

The state also runs a program to help farmers and WIC participants. The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program gives recipients $15 worth of coupons to spend at farmers markets on select times.

Ohio gamblers win loyalty points in new marketing push

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Cleveland's first casino, Horseshoe, is getting ready to open its doors and is hoping loyalty programs and other marketing efforts will bring in the crowds it needs.

The Morning Journal reports that Rock Ohio Caesars spent more than $350 million to develop the project, established in the former location of department store Higbee's. The casino does not espouse the usual neon and flashing lights and instead tries to adopt a classic, understated image, the newspaper notes.

In addition, the casino has developed partnerships with several local hotels, offering customers the opportunity to apply their stays at The Ritz-Carlton, The Marriott at Key Center and The Renaissance to the Total Rewards incentive program.

The Plain Dealer reports that the loyalty program will work to draw in more customers by offering discounts, hotel stays and free food. Additionally, the casino will be offering new events and other attractions to boost business.

"We are talking with our marketing department about what other things can we create that don't already exist," Marcus Glover, general manager of the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, told the newspaper. "We are talking about creating a few of our own festivals."