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Manulife Investments wins Best New Initiative and marketing honour at 2007 Canadian Investment Awards
TORONTO - Manulife Investments has won two 2007 Canadian Investment Awards related to the launch of IncomePlus, the first-of-its-kind product that helps Canadians manage their retirement savings. IncomePlus, launched in October 2006, was named Best New Initiative at the 13th Annual Canadian Investment Awards announced this evening in Toronto. Manulife Investments also won the Canadian Investment Marketing Award for the launch of IncomePlus, plus was a finalist in the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) Investor Education Award for its work on profiling the "Retirement Risk Zone".
"IncomePlus has been our most successful product launch here in Canada
and reflects the overall collaboration within Manulife, particularly since we
acquired John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. in the United States in 2004,"
said Roy Firth, Executive Vice President, Canadian Individual Wealth
Management, Manulife Financial.
"Canadian investors benefit from knowing that this is a very popular and
well-regarded product in the U.S., plus it offers them a unique approach to
protecting and managing their hard-earned savings at a key point in their
lives." IncomePlus, launched in October 2006, represented the introduction of
a new product and an entire new category in the Canadian financial services
market: the Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit (GMWB). Since the launch in
Canada, Manulife has also piloted various versions in other countries where it
operates in Asia.
IncomePlus, a complete story
"The launch posed some unique challenges given that the product was new
to the Canadian market," Mr. Firth said. "We needed to tell a complete story,
from creating awareness of risk and potential pitfalls for those heading into
retirement, plus how the product provides a unique solution to those needs."
In less than 10 months, IncomePlus generated more than $2 billion in
sales and remains a leading product innovation in the Canadian marketplace
aimed to assist Canadians to prepare and protect their retirement savings. In
October this year, Manulife enhanced the product to include guaranteed income
for life at no additional cost.
Among its various tools, Manulife Investments launched a broad media,
marketing and educational campaign, including an IncomePlus Boomer video, a
broad consumer advertising portfolio and an in-house-published magazine called
Solut!ons, distributed to advisors and their clients across Canada. A special
edition of Solut!ons was recently inserted in newspapers across Canada.
Also, a new website at www.manulifeincomeplus.ca was developed to focus
on the entire product, education and marketing campaign to support IncomePlus.
The awards were among those presented to fund companies and other
financial firms honoured in 50 categories at an awards gala held this evening
in Toronto. The Canadian Investment Awards recognize leading investment
products and firms illustrating an enduring commitment to excellence within
the Canadian financial services industry. For a complete list of awards
categories, please visit their website at www.investmentawards.com
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Quark Announces Q3 Performance Driven By New Product Innovation
Two Major Product Releases Increase Quark's Presence in the Enterprise
Market;
Updates to QuarkXPress, Preview of QuarkConnects Further Enhance Desktop
Market Position
DENVER - Quark Inc. announced continued momentum across its business in the third quarter of 2007, driven by new product launches in the Desktop and Enterprise markets, new clients and partnerships, and other key benchmarks.
"Our third quarter performance demonstrates the strong progress that we
are making toward delivering on Quark's strategic plan for expanding in the
Enterprise market and continuing our commitment to high quality and customer
service in the Desktop market," said Ray Schiavone, president and CEO, Quark.
"We are making the investments needed to further extend our leadership and
position ourselves for long-term growth, and I am excited about the
opportunities ahead."
Major New Products, Upgrades and Initiatives
Quark began the third quarter with the release of QuarkXPress Server 7.2,
the latest update to Quark's dynamic publishing technology. QuarkXPress Server
combines the typography and graphic support of QuarkXPress with server-based
performance to enable on-demand advertising automation, catalog production,
Web-to-print, and one-to-one marketing. Quark introduced new XML capabilities
to ease system integration and enable users to repurpose content created in
QuarkXPress into other publishing or Web environments.
Further expanding its presence and capabilities in the Enterprise market,
Quark ended the quarter on a high note with the launch of Quark Publishing
System (QPS) 7, the next generation of the world's leading collaborative
workflow system. Designed with a new open, standards-based architecture, QPS 7
integrates seamlessly with existing business systems and complimentary
publishing solutions - simplifying the editorial, creative and production
processes for publishers and corporations with demanding workflows.
Quark continued its commitment to delivering the industry's leading
professional design software in the third quarter with new features and
enhancements to QuarkXPress 7. The QuarkXPress 7.3 updater addressed the most
frequently reported issues identified by QuarkXPress 7 users and added new
localized user interfaces in European Portuguese, Finnish, Croatian,
Hungarian, and Russian -- increasing the number of languages supported by
QuarkXPress 7 to 18.
Quark also announced in the third quarter that Quark Print Collection,
the company's comprehensive set of prepress and imposition tools, now supports
Adobe Acrobat 8. The enhanced Quark Print Collection offers publishers and
output providers advanced features that enable the imposition of native
QuarkXPress layouts or PDF files quickly, simply and accurately.
At Graph Expo in September, Quark invited output providers and industry
stakeholders to provide feedback on QuarkConnects, a new technology concept
that will connect printers to QuarkXPress 7 users. Currently in development,
QuarkConnects will link output providers that are members of QuarkAlliance(TM)
with designers using QuarkXPress 7 to help them expand their current and
potential printing business opportunities, and to provide designers with
direct access to first-rate print services.
New and Expanded Client and Partner Relationships
In the third quarter of 2007, Quark developed and expanded relationships
with clients across the Desktop and Enterprise markets. Examples of Desktop
clients worldwide that purchased, upgraded or renewed licenses during the
quarter include: Crain Communications, Parce que le ciel est blu, Savannah
College of Art & Design and University of Lincoln. Examples of Enterprise
clients worldwide that purchased, upgraded or renewed licenses during the
quarter include: Ad Giants, BurdaYukom, Chicago magazine, l'agence Textuel,
and Univers Workplace Benefits.
In addition, Quark developed new partnerships with system integrators and
developers including Heiler (Germany), Connect3 (United States), and Codeware
(Germany).
Expansion with New Silicon Valley Office
In the third quarter, Quark opened a new office in Santa Clara,
California, to expand support for its sales, customer service and product
development teams. Establishing a presence in Silicon Valley enables Quark to
attract top talent to develop and deliver the industry's most cutting-edge
publishing technology to customers worldwide. The office is the latest
addition to Quark's global presence, which includes new teams in the Latin
American, Asian, Eastern European, Benelux and Russian markets.
Awards and Recognition
Quark was honored in the third quarter with a prestigious Macworld (UK)
Award for Quark Interactive Designer, its innovative software for creating
Adobe Flash (SWF) content with QuarkXPress 7. Quark Interactive Designer was
named best creative Web software by the judges, who stated that it makes
QuarkXPress a more rounded cross-media authoring tool and enables designers to
build lively Flash presentations.
In addition, market research firm Frost & Sullivan named Quark to its
"Hot Company Watchlist" for the company's performance in the world dynamic
publishing market. In its first study on dynamic publishing, Frost & Sullivan
identified Quark as a market leader and positioned for further growth, driven
by its strategy for new product and features development, and strong channel
partner relationships.
New Leadership Team Member
Quark made a new appointment to its executive team in the third quarter.
Mark Benfer joined Quark as senior vice president of sales for North America,
responsible for leading the company's direct and channel sales activities
across North America and driving key growth initiatives in the desktop and
enterprise markets. Benfer has spent over two decades in technology sales,
including global experience in building and managing sales teams with
market-leading companies.
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Creative Work More Demanding, Say Most Advertising and Marketing Execs
TORONTO - Achieving a successful creative career is more complicated than in years past, a new survey suggests. Eighty-five per cent of advertising and marketing executives polled said their profession is more demanding now than it was 10 years ago. When asked to describe their greatest professional challenges, almost one in three (32 per cent) cited balancing work and family obligations. Staying current on industry trends and technologies was the second most popular response, provided by 28 per cent of those polled.
The survey was developed by The Creative Group, a specialized staffing
service providing marketing, advertising, creative and web professionals on a
project basis. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes
250 telephone interviews - 125 with advertising executives and 125 with senior
marketing executives.
Advertising and marketing executives were asked, "Do you think a career
in advertising or marketing is more or less demanding compared to 10 years
ago?" Their responses:
Much more demanding ........................................ 53%
Somewhat more demanding .................................... 32%
Neither more nor less demanding ............................ 10%
Somewhat less demanding .................................... 2%
Much less demanding ........................................ 2%
Don't know ................................................. 1%
----
100%
Advertising and marketing executives were also asked, "What would you say
is your greatest career challenge?" Their responses:
Balancing work and personal obligations..................... 32%
Staying current on industry trends or technologies ......... 28%
Keeping motivated/inspired on the job....................... 16%
Measuring the success of your team.......................... 15%
Don't know/other............................................ 9%
----
100%
"The media environment has become more fragmented, and advertising and
marketing executives must be able to use a broader array of tools - from
social media to branded entertainment - to reach target audiences," said Dave
Willmer, executive director of The Creative Group. "This is an industry with a
constant learning curve, and staying relevant means being adaptable."
Willmer added that technology may contribute to the challenge many face
when balancing personal and professional obligations. "There's a greater
expectation that people will be accessible around the clock," he said. "While
it's useful to be able to check in from just about anywhere using cell phones
and PDAs, these devices can make it difficult to disconnect and unwind."
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CakeMail Offers a Taste of the Future in Email Marketing
Launch of a new platform that is white label, multilingual and extendable by third parties
MONTREAL - The Code Kitchen, a Montreal-based startup, announces the launch of CakeMailTM, an on-demand email marketing platform with a unique combination of features. CakeMail is a true white label that is 100% customizable, while its multilingual interface makes it readily accessible to markets worldwide. Moreover, the platform is open and extendable by third parties.
Rather than market the tool directly to end users, CakeMail provides a white label platform that resellers, such as marketing agencies and Web design firms, can rebrand as their own and offer to their customers in any language using their own domain name.
CakeMail's platform is open and extendable. Its interface code is publicly available, which means it can accommodate third-party skins, translations, and plug-ins that connect to other applications.
"We're doing for email newsletter platforms what Facebook(TM) has done for social networks: opening things up and allowing third parties to add new functions that will benefit everyone," explains Francois Lane, founder and CEO of The Code Kitchen.
CakeMail has been beta tested by some of The Code Kitchen's customers, including Francois Poulin, President of Ogilvy 2B Interactive: "With the new CakeMail platform, we can now offer our clients a tool with cutting-edge technology, at a cost that trumps CakeMail's competition."
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Voice on the Go(R) Wins Best Evolution Application and Rookie of the Year at 2007 Handango Champion Awards
TORONTO - Voice on the Go Inc., provider of mobile voice solutions, today announced that Voice on the Go(R) was awarded Best Evolution Application and Rookie of the Year. Nominated by Handango customers and judged by a selection of industry experts and members of the media, Voice on the Go was honored with the awards at the Handango Champion Awards special event during the Handango Seventh Annual Partner Summit.
Voice on the Go voice-enables email and other content allowing anyone to
use their voice to gain hands-free and eyes-free access to their email,
calendars, contacts and other content, from any cell phone, BlackBerry(R)
smartphone, or other Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) - safely while driving,
or at any other time. With Voice on the Go, subscribers can conveniently dial
in and use their voice to listen to, compose, reply, and delete their email,
access their calendar, search contacts by name or company and place calls.
Voice on the Go is also a valuable tool for visually impaired and physically
disabled individuals.
Voice on the Go will demonstrate the service in Booth No. 1048 at CTIA
Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2007, the largest and only wireless data event
in the industry that covers all aspects of wireless for the business and
consumer, taking place October 23 - 25th in San Francisco, CA.
"Mobile subscribers visit Handango for the latest innovative tools and
applications to enhance their mobile experience," said Simon Arnison,
president and chief executive officer of Voice on the Go. "People will always
want to stay connected to their email, so our objective is to make it as safe,
easy, and convenient as possible. With the growing focus on safety and
legislation banning cell phones and prohibiting text messaging while driving,
we are ecstatic that Handango customers have chosen Voice on the Go to safely
and legally use their mobile device by voice in the car while driving -
anytime, anywhere."
"Handango congratulates the winners of the 2007 Handango Champion awards!
We could not maintain our current level of success without the hard work and
creativity from partners such as Voice on the Go, which we honored with our
exclusive Rookie of the Year award," said Monica Hamilton, Vice President of
Content at Handango. "Their product, Voice on the Go, has been recognized as a
favorite among customers and industry experts, and we are pleased to name it
our Best Evolution Application."
Voice on the Go is available through Handango for $5.99/month, and can be
purchased at www.handango.com.
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Manulife Financial wins five best-of-show awards for Canadian communications
WATERLOO - Manulife Financial's Canadian Division has been honoured with five best-of-show awards in the annual Insurance & Financial Communicators Association (IFCA) competitions held earlier this month in Dallas, Texas.
Manulife's Canadian Division took home five best-of-show honours, plus
seven other mentions for its marketing communications to individual and group
clients and advisors across Canada.
The IFCA brings together 700 communicators from more than 225 life and
health insurance companies from across North America.
"The quality of marketing communications from our company is consistently
excellent and we're honoured by this recognition for work by our Canadian
Division," said Paul Rooney, president and CEO of Manulife Canada. "Among keys
to effective sales support for our advisors and maintaining our reputation in
the marketplace are clear and consistent communications and this recognizes a
broad and high level of achievement."
IncomePlus wins
Central to several of the awards was a broad-based marketing campaign to
support the launch of IncomePlus, Canada's first guaranteed minimum withdrawal
benefit product launched in Canada a year ago. In less than 10 months,
IncomePlus generated more than $2 billion in sales and remains a leading
product innovation in the Canadian marketplace aimed to assist Canadians to
prepare and protect their retirement savings.
Manulife Investments received best-of-show honors for its IncomePlus
Boomer video and another for its combined ad campaign to support the product.
Manulife Investments magazine called Solut!ons, distributed to advisors and
their clients across Canada, plus an integrated advisor support program known
as WealthStyles, also won best in show recognition. Manulife Group Savings and
Retirement Services also received a best-in-show award for a total rewards kit
that explained benefits for a corporate client.
In the United States, Manulife's John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
and its businesses also received a number of awards for its consumer and
advisor communications.
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AVAD Enters Distribution Agreement with Encore! Home Entertainment
America 's Leading Distributor of Custom Home Electronics Adds Theater Seating Manufacturer to Roster of Best Brands
Van Nuys, Calif. - AVAD LLC, America's leading distributor of custom home electronics. AVAD LLC, America's leading distributor of custom home electronics, announced that the company has entered into a distribution agreement with Encore! Home Entertainment, a leading manufacturer of home theater seating, entertainment centers and TV stands. This partnership will enhance the distribution of Encore's products within the custom installation market and further broaden AVAD's already vast product assortment and commitment to carrying the best brands to benefit its dealers.
According to Bob Gartland, president of AVAD, Encore! was selected as its national theater seating partner based on the quality and value of its products. This was enhanced by a container direct cross-dock program which allows AVAD the ability to offer extremely competitive pricing to its dealers. Gartland stated: "In our search for a national theater seating partner, AVAD evaluated several potential companies and product offerings. When we realized the level of innovative engineering and design that Encore!'s products employ, plus the advantage of the container direct pricing program we could develop, it became clear that Encore! was the best brand for us."
"I had noticed that many of Encore!'s dealers were AVAD customers, and those customers held AVAD in high esteem," said Rich Serlin, vice president of sales and marketing at APA Marketing, the parent company of Encore! Home Entertainment. "I also found that there was a significant, important segment of the CE community served by AVAD that we were not set up to service. After receiving repeated suggestions from these customers to talk to AVAD, I contacted them, and needless to say, I was very excited that AVAD selected Encore! as its theater seating partner."
AVAD will act as more than Encore!'s distributor, however. By partnering with AVAD, Encore! has access to its network of over 9,000 dealers. AVAD will also provide the brand's dealers with the best and most frequent training, technical and application support, as well as next day delivery for more responsive customer service, improved turns and higher profits.
Effective immediately, AVAD will distribute one of Encore!'s better luxury home theater seats, specially designed and built for AVAD, at all 37 locations. Its modular design, quality construction and moderate price point make it a great choice for consumers. It provides great comfort, premium top grain leather in the seating areas and the flexibility of creating a custom layout to fit within any size room.
In Brief: Release Summary
AVAD has selected Encore! Home Entertainment as the company's national theater seating partner.
AVAD selected Encore! based on the quality and extraordinary value of their products, enhanced by a container direct cross-dock program which allows several AVAD distribution centers to split container direct purchases.
Effective immediately, AVAD will distribute one of Encore!'s better luxury home theater seats, specially designed and built for AVAD, at all 37 locations.
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Book launch event by the man who saved the Energizer Bunny
TORONTO - Ted Matthews convinced Energizer not to kill the Bunny. He led the charge to bring back "The Three Stripes" at adidas. But it's still not about the logo.
As this continent's manufacturing base continues to be decimated, Brands
are more important than ever to the survival of North American business. But
the word "Brand" is widely misunderstood - as Ted makes vividly clear in his
already-acclaimed new book, Brand: It Ain't the Logo(*) ((*)It's what people
think of you(TM)).
Egged on by business schools and the ad industry, most senior executives
equate their Brand with their logo or advertising tactics - and as a result,
they delegate the Brand to their marketing department. They've never been
taught that in fact, "a Brand is what people think of you," that it is
therefore all-encompassing in its importance, and that it must be owned by the
CEO - the only person in the organization that can make delivering it
everyone's responsibility.
Along with co-authors Greg De Koker and Andris Pone, Ted will be hosting
an expected 300 business leaders, clients and Brand representatives at the
Book Launch next Tuesday. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Five
dollars from each book sold at the event will be donated to Street Kids
International.
Ted Matthews is Brand Coach and Founding Partner of Instinct Brand Equity
Coaches. Learn more about Ted and the launch of Brand: It Ain't the Logo(*)
((*)It's what people think of you(TM)) - and the acclaim it has already
received - at www.instinctbrandequity.com
WHEN:
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
5:30 - 8:00pm (Ted Matthews' 15-minute presentation at 6:30).
Interviews with Ted to take place after the presentation.
WHERE:
Steam Whistle Brewing
The Roundhouse
255 Bremner Blvd., Toronto
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Marketing Communications Firm Names New Web Designer
Guelph – GJA Communications is pleased to announce the addition of Jordan Jocius to its creative team.
Jordan will join the GJA Communications lineup of creative talent as a Web Designer and he will also be part of the new business team.
Jordan’s previous experience in the world of marketing and advertising includes his role as a Flash Developer at GJP Advertising – one of Canada’s leading independent agencies with offices in Toronto, Cincinnati and San Francisco. At GJP, Jordan worked extensively on the launch of Canadian Tire Financial Services’ new mortgage microsite. He has also worked on e-newsletters, web banners and movie trailers for companies such as XM Satellite Radio, Cincinnati Bell, Vex Hard Lemonade and others.
Now in its 30th year of business, GJA Communications is a full-service marketing communications firm based in Guelph, Ontario.
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Make the juice worth the squeeze!
How to sell through business writing.
By Dr. Julie Miller
The idea of selling often conjures up images of a used-car salesperson in a
shiny suit, slicked back hair pumping your hand with an overly eager smile.
That image may loop continuously through your mind when asked to present to
the senior team. "But," you say, "I'm not into selling, that's why I took
this job!" Au contraire, today all occupations require some form of selling.
Whether it is a promotion, an idea, a process, or a product - you are
selling!
Consider this scenario. Your company is considering "streamlining" your
department. Translated: Some folks must leave. Management tasks you with
presenting ideas on how to address this issue. Or does this one sound
familiar? The senior team wants the 30,000-foot view of your current project
along with recommendations and a timeline for the roll out.
What to do? Answer: Persuade, convince and guide them towards the desired
action you want. In other words, sell to them. As you create a sales letter,
deliver a
PowerPoint deck or send an e-mail, these tips can help you think through the
best approach for your desired results.
1. The Reader Reigns Supreme. If ever there is a time to get into the
readers' head, it occurs when you need to convince them to your point of
view. Perhaps you are garnering support for your cause and trying to get the
gang on board. Or, you are writing an RFP explaining why you deserve the
contract. Maybe you need to write sales copy for your product or service. In
each of these instances, the reader reigns supreme.
The reader's position in the company will determine your approach and your
word choice. For senior management types, keep technical language to a
minimum and emphasize market potential of the product or service. Include
different approaches as well as costs and results. Alternatively, when
presenting to those outside your field, simple, short explanations along
with concrete examples seem to go over well. Stories and anecdotes also
work. Try to avoid too much theory as eyes begin to glaze over.
2. Everyone Wins. Rather than the old win-lose sales paradigm, construct
your topic around the idea that both sides win, thus leading to mutually
rewarding results. Using the scenario example above, if you can sell to the
team that eliminating jobs is not the answer, but rather building a plan for
increased efficiencies will gain more market share, they will sit up and
listen. Both sides win. Your team keeps their jobs; the company makes more
money.
3. It's All About Perception. You have heard it before - benefits sell, not
features. However, benefits alone remain meaningless unless they appeal to
the reader. It is how they perceive the value. Ask yourself: What will my
reader/audience gain by approving my idea, buying our product or signing up
for our services? What direct value will they realize? What they gain must
outweigh any costs, considerations, "yes, buts," or "howevers."
Your word choice should focus on creating benefits your reader values. Guide
your reader to conclude that what you are presenting or offering is worth
the time, the money and the resources to make it happen. For example, when
you write, "I am sending this e-mail because our department needs new
computers," you will probably not get the desired result you want. However,
by focusing on the perceived benefits and writing, "If you purchase new
computers, our department projects double the productivity," you will see
heightened interest and heads nodding in agreement! Of course, support and
data are important to make your case.
4. Don't Dance with Me. Overworking a topic will gain you few friends.
Quickly tell your reader what is in it for them. Help them understand why it
is fair and equally beneficial. Then, guide them to their own conclusion. As
a rule of thumb, if you are pitching your idea/product using a PowerPoint
deck, dedicate no more than seven minutes to your topic. In an e-mail, 300
words remains the outside limit.
5. Sharp and Shiny Sentences Sing. If you think you work at warp speed,
remember so do your readers! Wordy, disorganized, vague, or
slow-to-get-to-the-point documents gain few allies. Writing crisply will
make your message stand out. That means no wasted words. Pay attention to
over usage of these words: of, which and that. Too many weakens your
writing. If your readers have to wade through worn and weary sentences
filled with jargon and acronyms, you ask too much. If they have to reread
your writing to make sense of it, you are on thin ice. If they work too hard
to read those long, drawn-out sentences, they will quit.
6. Style Counts! Here is a simple strategy you can use to immediately create
more interest and style in your writing. Vary your sentence structure. With
39 different ways to construct a sentence, you have no excuse for falling
into the old subject-verb-object trap. By varying the pattern of your
sentences, you keep your readers alert. You don't want your writing sounding
like the messages on an ATM. For example, this standard style has a familiar
ring: The third quarter profits exceeded expectations. However, if you make
the sentence into a question: How much did the third-quarter profits exceed
expectations? Or use a quotation: The chairman of the board gleefully
announced, "The third-quarter profits exceeded my expectations!" you would
move towards more interesting, more robust writing.
By using these tips to sell and sell well, you will start noticing some
exciting changes in your writing. Just imagine getting that promotion,
making that sale, having your project approved, and funded! So, to coin an
old phrase, the pen is mightier than the sword and you are now armed and
dangerous!
About the Author:
Dr. Julie Miller, founder of Business Writing That Counts, is a national
consultant and trainer who helps professionals reduce their writing time
while still producing powerful documents. She and her team work with
executives who want to hone their writing skills and professionals who want
to advance their careers. Some of her clients are: Microsoft, Washington
Mutual Bank, Verizon Wireless, and Cisco Systems. For more information,
please call 425-485-3221, or visit http://www.businesswritingthatcounts.com.
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First report on its "Purchased in Quebec" program - Wal-Mart announces purchases of $1.75 billion in goods from 1,669 Quebec companies
Ontario Chamber of Commerce should get the same report from Ontario Walmarts
MONTREAL - At the first Green Fair for Quebec suppliers offering organic, ecological or fair trade products, held jointly by Wal-Mart and the Fédération des chambres de Commerce du Québec, Wal-Mart released its first report on its "Purchased in Quebec" program, which came into effect in June, 2006. The company also confirmed its commitment to sustainability through a program which aims to reduce waste produced by its Canadian stores by 65% and greenhouse gases by 25% over the next five years.
"Achat-Québec" a success
"Our "Achat-Québec" program had two key objectives," said Mario Pilozzi,
president of Wal-Mart Canada at the Green Fair organized in Montreal. "It
aimed to ensure that Wal-Mart purchase more goods from Quebec suppliers and to
encourage our clients to buy Quebec products. We also wanted to reinforce the
business relationship we established upon our arrival in Quebec with the
thousands of suppliers here. We can now state without a doubt that the
achievement of these objectives is well underway."
Chantal Glenisson, vice-president of operations for Eastern Canada for
Wal-Mart Canada, indicated that, "Since the launch of this program, Wal-Mart
has increased its payments to Quebec-based companies by $230 million. Over 319
new participants have been added to the list of Quebec suppliers, for a total
of 1,669 companies as of August, 2007."
Wal-Mart's supplier tour began in Montreal and Quebec City in 2005 and
continued in regions throughout Quebec, notably in St-Georges-de-Beauce,
Magog-Orford, at the Carrefour Manufacturier in Drummondville, in
Ste-Agathe-des-Monts and in Rivière-du-Loup last June at the "Rendez-vous
Acadie-Québec". Close to 1,000 companies expressing their interest were
contacted over the course of the year.
Commitment to sustainability
Pointing out that this Green Fair is an important step in the mutual
commitment by Wal-Mart and its suppliers to sustainable products, Mr. Pilozzi
recalled that the objectives in waste reduction and greenhouse gas reduction
that Wal-Mart and its stores are striving to achieve are part of a fundamental
business approach: "For us, the sustainability of the environment isn't an
isolated initiative, but rather an integral part of our operations. We firmly
believe that sustainability must become the pillar of our day-to-day work."
Two years ago, Wal-Mart developed an action plan for environmental
excellence in its operations. Over the long term, this plan aims at zero waste
production, the use of 100% renewable energy and offering consumers ecological
products. As part of this plan, waste in Canada will be reduced this year by
at least 87 million kg and Co2 gases by about 20,000 tonnes.
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White Spot Wins Prestigious BCAMA "Marketer of the Year" Award
Legendary restaurant receives top honour for brand revitalization
VANCOUVER - The BC Chapter of the American Marketing Association (BCAMA) has named White Spot winner of the coveted "Marketer of the Year" award for 2007. The legendary restaurant chain is being recognized for successfully revitalizing its 80-year-old brand and turning it into a contemporary market leader.
"Marketer of the Year"-the BCAMA's prestigious honour-is presented
annually for the most outstanding integrated marketing strategy in the
province. White Spot was unanimously selected for its strategic approach to
gaining market share and attracting a new, younger "core" market, while at the
same time preserving the essence of the brand that has made the restaurant so
popular for so long.
"The BCAMA is proud to be honouring White Spot with the 2007 Marketer of
the Year Award. It was a unanimous decision to recognize the tremendous work
White Spot has accomplished in successfully rebranding themselves. Through
their "Fresh Thinking. Fresh Cooking." campaign, they have strategically
increased store sales and customer visits, while strengthening their
heritage-type brand. We are excited to be working with White Spot and look
forward to sharing in their celebration as this year's annual Marketer of the
Year," says Evangeline Englezos, past president and chair of the MOY Judging
Committee.
Chiyoko Kakino, White Spot Vice President of Marketing and Menu
Development says, "It is a wonderful acknowledgement to win this award. We
have worked very hard and are extremely proud of our efforts to take the White
Spot brand to a new and much higher level. Every aspect of the organization
has been committed to delivering on the marketing promise."
White Spot's dramatic changes to re-energize, reposition and re-establish
its brand started six years ago with restaurant renovations, menu updates and
a renewed focus on guest experience. To better reflect these changes, White
Spot worked with agencies of record Wasserman + Partners Advertising and
Traction Creative Communications to launch a new brand identity and shortly
thereafter an aggressive province-wide marketing and public relations campaign
that communicated White Spot's new image and improved guest experience. The
campaign, which included television, radio, newspaper and integrated in-store
point-of-sale materials, was unique in its approach because it focused on the
"heart of the house"-the kitchen-and used renowned local Chefs as credible
third party endorsers.
"As a result of this campaign, people's perception of White Spot has
changed. They now see White Spot as a contemporary restaurant that offers
fresh, high quality dishes. In addition, top of mind, unaided awareness and
our frequency of visitation have increased substantially. Overall, it is
impressive to see the increased pride and momentum that has developed in each
restaurant to support our `Passion For Food' messaging," adds Kakino.
The BCAMA will present the award to White Spot at the 37th Annual
Marketer of the Year Gala at the Westin Bayshore Resort and Marina on
September 26, 2007. For event details and ticket information please visit
www.bcama.com.
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PUNCH CHOOSES WATERLOO REGION NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO RECEIVE FREE CREATIVE SERVICES
Cambridge, ON. — 13 Waterloo Region non-profit organizations will be the beneficiaries of free advertising and marketing services provided by Punch Integrated Communications Inc. in its second annual CreateAThon®. The 24-hour work-around-the-clock effort will begin Thursday, September 27th at 8am.
Organizations selected as CreateAThon clients this year include: Kids `n' Dad Shared Support, Community Living Ontario, rare Research Charitable Reserve, Volunteer Action Centre of K-W, HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre, Social Planning Council of K-W, Nutrition for Learning, K-W Musical Productions, K-W Chamber Orchestra, Grand River Chapter IAAP, Planned Lifetime Networks, Supportive Housing of Waterloo, and Grand River All Breed Rescue.
Punch received an overwhelming number of applications from non-profit agencies across the Waterloo Region. They expect to produce between 35 and 40 projects for the organizations selected with an estimated market value of more than $100,000.
“The first CreateAthon event we hosted last year was such a heartfelt fulfilling event that helped so many different causes, we just had to continue the legacy,” says Jen Pescod, Human Resource Manager. “All the groups who applied do such great work for so many people. I wish we could help them all.”
Punch would like to thank the following local vendors for their donations and support: Thompson Printing, Memory Tree Productions, Fertnig Photography, Xerox, and Starbucks.
To date, 40 agencies have joined the CreateAthon network, benefiting 833 nonprofit organizations with 1,809 projects valued at $7 million across North America and Canada.
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Why Your Business Needs Both TV and Internet Ads to Survive
By Peter Koeppel
Today, television and the Internet are merging, at least when it comes to
advertising and reaching potential customers. No longer are customers using
only one medium to learn about new products and services. Rather, customers
appreciate and expect companies to take a multi-media advertising approach
when selling products and building brand awareness. As such, smart marketers
are using the synergy created from the convergence of television and
Internet marketing to capture the lion's share of the marketplace.
For example, many television networks are now selling TV and online ads as
part of a marketing package. That is, when you purchase a television ad you
can also purchase online advertising, such as a video ads, on a network's
website. The TV networks realize that a company's online presence is
becoming increasingly important, and networks are trying to create better
online content to combine with their TV packages.
Taking the merging of the two mediums a step further, NBC is developing a
tool called Total Audience Measurement for advertisers, which examines the
amount of time viewers spend with NBC programming, both online and on TV.
This tool will help advertisers better understand how the two marketing
mediums work together and how much the online portion of a company's
advertising impacts their bottom line.
So why is this multi-media approach gaining so much attention? Consider the
facts:
· The Weather Channel did a study and found that ad recall was 23% higher
when people saw a commercial on both TV and the web, versus when they saw
the commercial on TV alone.
· Additional studies reveal that anywhere from 15 to over 70% of customers
make their purchase via the web when they're offered an 800 number and a
website in a television ad.
· TV networks have found that people who are surfing the web are more
attentive than people watching TV. In fact, web video commercials increased
viewer attention rates by 53%, viewer awareness by 52%, and brand
consideration by 27% over traditional TV spots, according to Millward
Brown's CTV-1 Study
The bottom line is that if you're not using both television and online ads
to reach customers, you're missing a huge share of potential revenue. To
help you successfully integrate your television and online presence, use the
following suggestions to guide your marketing efforts.
· Use your existing TV spots to drive people online.
If you watch any television channel, you can see that many programs direct
viewers to the web. The website will then give viewers additional
information about the show, interviews with cast members and/or producers,
or even clips from upcoming episodes. Programs such as Fox's 24 and MTV's
The Hills are well-known for this approach. According to the Scripps
Networks, 80-90% of their online audiences have watched the network's TV
channels within a week. So there's a lot of interplay between the two
mediums and it's a good idea to run a customized version your TV ad on the
network's website too.
Realize that you can use this same concept with your company's TV ads. Make
sure all your television advertising includes a website mention and perhaps
even web-only specials that people can receive. Use your site to offer
people more information about your product or service, coupons, testimonials
from real-life customers, and even some interactive features such as blogs
or message boards where customers can get involved. When HGTV.com started
using their site for customer involvement, they saw a 70% increase in ad
revenue. There's no reason you couldn't achieve similar increases in sales
on your site employing some of these ideas.
· If you're a web-only business, use TV ads to give your online presence a
boost.
With all the technology available today, being a web-only business is not
just feasible, it can also be extremely profitable. However, web-only
businesses that do web-only advertising need to realize that TV is the
biggest mass medium and has a proven ability to drive people to the web. So
don't ignore television and think it's not applicable to your web-only
business. For example, eHarmony.com, the online dating site, is a web-based
business and initially did web-only advertising. When they added TV
commercials to their advertising mix, its been reported that they grew
rapidly from approximately $10 million to an estimated $100 million in
revenue. So while online ads are certainly effective for online businesses,
remember to use the power of television to grow your web-based business even
more.
· Buy online keywords that match your television advertising.
Since people watching television may not be 100% focused on your ad, you
need to make it easy for them to find you later. So even though you may
offer a website address and phone number in your TV commercial, don't expect
viewers to always write them down or remember them. However, chances are
they will remember the name of your product, or at least a close variation
of the product's name. Therefore, when you buy keywords for your online
presence, be sure you purchase not only the name of your product and
company, but also variations of your product's name that not-so-focused
consumers can type into a search engine to locate your site. This is one
example of how the combination of TV advertising and keyword search works
together to improve results.
· Customize your message to suit the medium.
Web video advertising needs to be shorter than the typical TV ad. In
general, plan your online commercial to be 15 seconds in length. TV
commercials typically are anywhere from 15-60 seconds in length, even longer
with a direct response spot. If your online commercial is a pre-roll ad that
runs before the video segment people are downloading, realize that viewers
don't want to watch a long ad. So in this instance, shorter is better.
However, if it's a freestanding online ad that's not connected to a video,
then you can use a longer format. Many companies who use infomercials, which
are typically about 28 minutes in length, shorten it to a 2-minute segment
on the web. If possible, have the spokesperson who appears in your TV spot
also appear in your web advertising, so there's a tie in between the two
mediums.
· Take advantage of web-based TV.
Some TV networks are now creating their own webisodes. These are
television-like shows that appear on the web only. For example,
FoodNetwork.com in preparing to roll out a web-based show called Cocktails.
During each webisode, advertisers will have the opportunity to present ads
that thematically tie in with the videos the viewers are watching. As the
networks attempt to capture some of the ad dollars that are switching over
to the Internet, you'll likely see more websites with relevant content that
engage viewers.
In addition, there's also an emergence of TV networks that are developing
on the Internet. One of the forerunners in this medium is Joost, which
offers TV programming online. Some of the programming is original, while the
rest is from networks like MTV. Since many big name advertisers are
realizing that audiences are migrating over to the web, they are committing
advertising dollars to online networks like Joost, in order to capture new
audiences.
Another TV network called Ripe TV is taking multi-media advertising to the
extreme. Not only do they have traditional television and online ads, but
they also have TVs shows online, downloadable podcasts, video on demand, and
content people can download onto their mobile phone. It's an entire network
that has developed on the web and has components that cross over into other
mediums. Getting your advertising on just a few of these options will
certainly increase your company's presence.
The Future of Advertising is Now
Companies that are relying solely on one advertising medium are missing the mark. It takes a combination of television and Internet advertising to make a true impact on today's consumers. So leverage your marketing dollars by using the synergy of TV and online ads. When you do, your company's brand recognition will grow, and so will your bottom line results.
About the Author:
Peter Koeppel is founder and president of Koeppel Direct, a leader in direct
response television (DRTV), online, print and radio media buying. Peter is a
Wharton MBA, with over 25 years of marketing and advertising experience.
Koeppel has helped Fortune 1000 businesses; small businesses and
entrepreneurs develop direct marketing campaigns to increase profits. For
more information on his company, please visit: http://www.koeppeldirect.com
or call: 972-732-6110.
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DEF MINI Records - MINI launches music label at www.defminirecords.com.
WHITBY and MUNICH - MINI has launched its own music label, DEF MINI Records. For months, bands auditioned, songs were developed and videos produced until finally, the virtual record label was introduced at www.defminirecords.com.
Artists include, boy band "N'CAP" and their love song "So many stars";
Wayne Trapper from the country band "RUNFLAT"; "MC MASSIVE & the Reinforced
Body Crew" and their track "Solid as a rock"; and alternative band "THE DISC
BRAKES" with their smash hit "Save me." These tracks will be exclusively
available for downloading from www.defminirecords.com.
At www.defminirecords.com, visitors can watch and download music videos
and interviews. Fans can even sing along with the karaoke version or download
the songs as ring tones.
The record label is a unique way for MINI to reach new audiences with a
fun and entertaining medium. The concept was developed in association with
agencies .start and Interone Worldwide. DEF MINI Records is headed by Terence
Trust as CEO.
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Canadian distributors can’t rely on trade-marks to stop ‘grey marketing’ by competitors
GUELPH - In a recent decision released by the Supreme Court, Kraft Canada Inc. lost in its attempt to stop a competitor from importing chocolate bars into Canada on the grounds that the wrappers infringed its exclusive copyright license. The decision highlights the limited legal means available in Canada to prevent the ‘grey marketing’ of products by unauthorized distributors where the products themselves are not protected as intellectual property.
Grey marketing, also known as parallel importation, is the practice of importing products into Canada by someone other than the authorized distributors. In its July 26, 2007 decision, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled 7-2 that Euro Excellence Inc. can continue to sell chocolates imported into Canada in their original wrappers even though they feature logos in which Kraft Canada Inc. has the exclusive license for Canada. If the product itself had been protected by copyright, like a book or DVD instead of a chocolate bar, such importation would have been prohibited.
“The message to Canadian distributors is clear – you can’t rely solely on trade-marks to protect your exclusive right to sell a product in Canada”, explained Miller Thomson Intellectual Property lawyer and Trade-mark agent Michele Ballagh. “Its important to ensure that the licensor has strong contractual provisions in place to prevent its foreign distributors from supplying your competitors in Canada and that they will be enforced. Otherwise, what are you paying for as the ‘exclusive’ Canadian distributor?”
The decision overturned the rulings of two lower court decisions which found that Euro Excellence did violate copyright in the logos appearing on the chocolate bar wrappers for Toblerone and Cote d’Or chocolates.
In the past, authorized distributors have attempted to use trade-mark infringement claims to stop parallel importation by their local competitors. However, these claims have met with limited success since the products in question are not counterfeit. Here, Kraft Canada Inc. made the somewhat novel argument that parallel importation amounts to copyright infringement. Although unsuccessful in Canada, such claims have been asserted in other countries with some success.
While parallel importation is clearly vexatious to trade-mark owners who want to control the distribution chain, it is not clearly unlawful from a trade-mark perspective. On the other hand, if the products themselves are protected by copyright or patents, it is a very different story – parallel importation is clearly unlawful. According to Ms. Ballagh, it is therefore important to understand the limits of the intellectual property rights involved before entering into a distribution agreement to ensure that you obtain appropriate protection for your exclusive rights.
Ms. Ballagh is available for interviews and can be reached at the Miller Thomson LLP Guelph office or mballagh@millerthomson.com Parallel importation was common 20 years ago, as a result of a strong Canadian dollar. It may become more common due to the continued rise of the Canadian dollar.
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UV Protective Clothing: Educate Yourself Before Buying
OTTAWA - A Competition Bureau inspection of ultraviolet (UV) protective clothing found that most --- but not all -- UV protective garments live up to their stated levels of protection. The Competition Bureau encourages consumers to read product labels carefully and to educate themselves about the information they provide.
"The Bureau's inspections help ensure that Canadians get what they pay for when buying UV protective clothing," said Andrea Rosen, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Competition. "The Bureau will continue to educate companies and to monitor labelled products and claims in the Canadian marketplace to promote compliance by industry and to ensure a fair and competitive marketplace."
The Bureau conducted inspections at retail stores, manufacturers and distributors across Canada. These inspections revealed that the tags on the great majority of garments were accurate and truthful about the UV protection offered. Throughout this project, the Bureau also worked to educate companies about claims that could be false and misleading under the Textile Labelling Act.
The inspections identified one company from Oakville, Ontario, which sells clothing under the Sunveil Sunwear label, that had tagged all of its garments as providing considerably more UV protection than they actually did. The company took immediate action and removed all UV protection claims from its tags and corporate Web site.
The Bureau urges consumers to learn about the claims made on UV protective clothing and how to decide what level of protection they need. Here are a few helpful tips:
Clothing specially made to block out UV light should be labelled with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating. A rating of UPF 15 is the lowest level of protection that is labelled on UV protective clothing. This is rated to block 93.3 per cent of the sun's rays;
Consumers should assess the prices of garments with different levels of UV protection. It may be that the higher priced garment offers only minimally more protection. For example, clothing labelled UPF 30 blocks 96.7 per cent of the sun's rays while clothing labelled UPF 50 blocks 98 per cent;
All clothing provides some protection from ultraviolet light. Denim, for example, provides excellent UV protection but is not normally labelled UV protective;
Consumers should also look closely at products with claims such as "all-day protection," "no sun screen required" and "blocks all UV light or rays." These claims have little meaning, since no fabric offers 100 per cent protection from UV light.
For more information about what to look for when purchasing UV protective clothing, please see: Guidance on UV Protective Clothing.
In the course of its examination, the Bureau also identified more than 200,000 garment labels bearing no dealer identification and others bearing improper fibre disclosure or incomplete dealer identification. The dealers have since dealt with the identified problems to the Bureau's satisfaction by correcting the labels in a timely manner.
Labels have two main purposes: to identify the fibre content of the garment and to enable consumers to contact the dealer regarding any concerns about the garment. Label information helps consumers make better-informed purchasing decisions. For more information on dealer identification and fibre content, please see: Guidance on the Labelling of Textiles.
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ST. LOUIS BAR AND GRILL IS REBRANDED AND REJUVENATED
Toronto & Waterloo - St. Louis Bar and Grill no longer stands in the wings as they undergo an extensive rebranding effort. The latest portfolio includes a revamped interior and exterior store design by Mayhew.
Paired with an innovative marketing campaign including an interactive website and provincewide signage and on-going public relations support by theadlibgroup, St. Louis Bar and Grill will be on everyoneâ s mind and in everyone' s stomach. " Now with over twenty locations across Ontario, it was important to revisit our brand and update our look and messaging for the expanding franchise," said Brent Poulton, President of St. Louis Bar and Grill. " The result is Devilishly Good." St. Louis Bar and Grill operates 22 locations in Southern Ontario.
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Virtual Causeway once again selected as one of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies
PROFIT Magazine recognizes Virtual Causeway’s 1298% growth over five years in 19th annual PROFIT 100 Ranking
Waterloo Region – Virtual Causeway has been named one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies in PROFIT magazine’s June 2007 issue. A leading outsource provider of integrated sales and marketing services, Virtual Causeway’s revenue increased by 1,298% during the five-year review period – exceptional results that secured the company 44th place in the 19th annual PROFIT 100 ranking. Virtual Causeway had previously been a member of the Profit Hot 50 ranking in 2005. “We are honored to be included among such a successful group of entrepreneurs,” says Rick Endrulat, President of Virtual Causeway. “Our continued growth, support from local organizations and focus of our employees has made it possible for us to receive another award from PROFIT Magazine.”
Ranking Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies by five-year revenue growth, the PROFIT 100
profiles the country’s most successful growth companies. Published in the June issue of PROFIT
and online at PROFITguide.com, the PROFIT 100 is Canada’s largest annual celebration of
entrepreneurial achievement.
Ian Portsmouth, Editor of PROFIT magazine, notes, “PROFIT 100 companies are the new heroes
of Canadian business, creating jobs at home and products used around the world. They’ve
accomplished this by building great employee teams, exploiting export markets and rapidly
responding to the customer’s fast-changing needs.”
While Virtual Causeway’s business is global in nature, its “growth, innovation and diversity are
part of the fabric of the community known as Canada’s Technology Triangle,” explains John
Tennant, CEO of CTT Inc. “Virtual Causeway is an excellent example of a firm that continues to
grow and thrive in the Waterloo Region’s entrepreneurial environment. Its innovative approach to
providing market-driven solutions and quality research is key to its success. Canada’s
Technology Triangle Inc is proud to have originally assisted Virtual Causeway with establishing in
Waterloo.”
Iain Klugman, President and CEO of Communitech: Waterloo Region Technology Association,
expresses similar sentiments: "We're very pleased one of our own has been named to the
PROFIT 100 this year. Virtual Causeway keeps winning high praise in the tech community and
we're very proud to count them among our own."
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CAA Partners With Universal Music Canada For Savings On Recorded Music Purchases
The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and Universal Music Canada announced a “harmonious” partnership that, as of June 4, will provide CAA members with discounts on music CDs, DVDs and downloads at an exclusive online store at www.caa.ca/music.
Members will be able to mail order CDs or DVDs and save “up to” 25 per cent off the retail price; or download tunes for 10 per cent off regularly priced downloads (89 cents per song, $8.99 for a complete album).
Universal Music Canada will be CAA’s first music partner joining the Show Your Card & Save Program that allows members to “turn up the volume on immediate, everyday savings with the convenience of 24/7 on-line access.”
To kick off the partnership, Universal Music Canada is offering all CAA members the exclusive opportunity to win the experience of a lifetime: front row tickets, airfare, and two nights accommodation at the Best Western Calgary Centre Inn to see Bon Jovi live at the Calgary Stampede on July 11, 2007.
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Canada's Oldest Property and Casualty Insurer Launches New Logo
CAMBRIDGE - Gore Mutual is pleased to announce a new logo as part of their new corporate brand strategy. The strategy's goal is to highlight the company's identity as a strong Canadian mutual company as well as build awareness of their commitment to the professional advice delivered by independent insurance brokers.
"It was time to update our logo and raise the profile of our brand," said
Kevin McNeil, President and CEO of Gore Mutual.
"We worked closely with our employees and broker partners to identify how
our logo could better reflect the company we are today and our vision for the
future," added Sara McLennan, Director of Marketing and Product Innovation.
Remaining true to their roots, the new logo continues to display the
eternal flame banded within a "G", while offering an important new addition.
Emerging from the flame is a stylized maple leaf that represents the company's
proud Canadian history. Gore Mutual plays an important role as a Canadian
mutual company, in an industry that has seen an increase in competition from
foreign stock insurance companies selling directly to consumers.
"We are proud of our heritage," said McNeil. "We have been looking after
families and businesses for 168 years. Our clients want to deal with a company
that offers a stable, long term solution. We also understand the importance of
an unbiased insurance advocate who works for the client, not the insurance
company. That is why we work exclusively with independent brokers."
Gore Mutual's position is captured in their corporate tagline - "By
Canadians for Canadians since 1839".
The new image is also reflected in the Gore Mutual Foundation logo. One
of the core values of Gore Mutual is a commitment to our community. Through
the Gore Mutual Foundation they support and improve the communities where Gore
Mutual's clients live and work. In 2006, the Foundation supported over 125
community based charities.
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New Brand Aims to Inspire Everyone to Embrace the Olympic Spirit - and Make2012 'Everyone's Games'
- New Brand and Vision Revealed for London 2012 Olympic Games and
Paralympic Games
LONDON - The new brand and vision for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games was launched in London this morning by Sebastian Coe and a team of London 2012 ambassadors.
The new Olympic emblem is based on the number 2012 - the year of the
Games - and includes the Olympic Rings, one of the world's most recognised
brands, and the word 'London' - the world's most diverse city. The same 2012
image, with the Paralympic agitos, symbolises the Paralympic Games.
The powerful, modern emblem symbolises the dynamic Olympic spirit and its
inspirational ability to reach out to people all over the world.
"London 2012 will be Everyone's Games, everyone's 2012. This is the
vision at the very heart of our brand. It will define the venues we build and
the Games we hold and act as a reminder of our promise to use the Olympic
spirit to inspire everyone and reach out to young people around the world. It
is an invitation to take part and be involved," said London 2012 Chairman,
Sebastian Coe.
"We will host a Games where everyone is invited to join in because they
are inspired by the Games to either take part in the many sports, cultural,
educational and community events leading up to 2012 or they will be inspired
to achieve personal goals," he added.
London 2012 will encourage active participation involving people in a
whole range of Games activities from community activities and volunteering to
sporting and cultural events. It will inspire young people and connect them to
sport by putting the inspirational values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
on the school curriculum. London 2012 will be a Games for a connected world
making the most of exciting new technology to get people closer to the action
they want to see, when, where and how they want to experience it.
The new emblem is dynamic, modern and flexible reflecting a brand savvy
world where people, especially young people, no longer relate to static logos
but respond to a dynamic brand that works with new technology and across
traditional and new media networks.
It will become London 2012's visual icon, instantly recognisable amongst
all age groups, all around the world. It will establish the character and
identity of the London 2012 Games and what the Games will symbolise nationally
and internationally.
For the first time for a Host City, the new emblems for the 2012 Olympic
Games and Paralympic Games are based on the same core shape, reflecting
London's commitment to hosting a truly integrated Paralympic Games.
Commenting on this milestone event, London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe
commented:
"The Olympic Games and Paralympic Games are the greatest sporting event
on earth - but they are about more than sport. When Baron Pierre de Coubertin
founded the modern Games he saw sport as an integral part of education,
culture and the values of life, and this is still true today. Our Games in
2012 are for everyone who wants to engage in sport, and in life. Our vision is
for everyone to be inspired by the Olympic spirit.
The Games are a competition to find the best athletes in the world - the
Olympic spirit is about all of us finding the best in ourselves. London 2012
will be Everyone's Games. There will be more opportunities than ever before to
participate, be inspired by and be part of 2012. Our new emblem is an
invitation for people everywhere to participate, and make this a Games for the
whole nation"
The launch of the new brand took place at The Roundhouse in Camden, North
London. The new London 2012 film, 'Everyone's 2012' was screened for the first
time, highlighting how the Games are already capturing the imagination of
people around the country, inspiring them to make positive changes in their
lives on the road to 2012. The film was released simultaneously on the
internet to thousands of bloggers who signed up to a blog-based online 'tease'
campaign.
The new emblem will be the symbol of a nationwide 'pledge' campaign,
developing the 'Everyone's Games' theme, to be launched during the London 2012
Summer Roadshow, which starts on 15th June in Greenwich, London, and will
visit every nation and region throughout the UK in a ten week tour.
The 'pledge' campaign will encourage people to use the inspiration of the
Games to make a positive change to their lives and challenge themselves, or
others, to be inspired by the Olympic spirit.
The inspirational nature of the Games was endorsed by sporting and
political leaders. Messages from the Prime Minister, Opposition leader David
Cameron, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, Olympics
Minister Tessa Jowell, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and IOC President
Jacque Rogge and IPC President Sir Philip Craven were aired at the launch,
alongside footage capturing the excitement and enthusiasm of the British
public, celebrating their hopes for their personal dreams, inspired by London
2012.
The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, commented:
"We want London 2012 not just to be about elite sporting success. When
people see the new brand, we want them to be inspired to make a positive
change in their life. London 2012 will be a great sporting summer but will
also allow Britain to showcase itself to the world."
IOC President Jacque Rogge commented:
"This is a truly innovative brand logo that graphically captures the
essence of the London 2012 Olympic Games - namely to inspire young people
around the world through sport and the Olympic values. Each edition of the
Olympic Games brings its own flavour and touch to what is now well over a
century of modern Olympic history; the brand launched today by London 2012 is,
I believe, an early indication of the dynamism, modernity and inclusiveness
with which London 2012 will leave its Olympic mark."
IPC President, Sir Philip Craven commented:
"The new emblem for London 2012 is youthful and exciting. The Paralympic
Games and the Olympic Games will have the same generic image. This is a first
in the history of the Games and the Paralympic movement enjoys being connected
with firsts"
The new London 2012 brand was designed by Wolff Ollins. The design brief
was for an emblem that represented the four key 'brand pillars' of access,
participation, stimulation and inspiration, culminating in the brand vision of
'Everyone's Games'."
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell commented:
"This is an iconic brand that sums up what London 2012 is all about - an
inclusive, welcoming and diverse Games that involves the whole country. It
takes our values to the world beyond our shores, acting both as an invitation
and an inspiration. This is not just a marketing logo, but a symbol that will
become familiar, instantly recognisable and associated with our Games in so
many ways during the next five years."
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone commented:
'The new Olympic brand draws on what London has become - the world's most
forward looking and international city. That message of welcome and diversity
was one of the main reasons for London's success in winning the Games. We
offer the world the same exciting message that in 2012 every athlete, and
every visitor, will feel at home in our city. London has the unique privilege
and thrill of staging the Olympics but we want everyone in the world to also
feel that that they are participating in their games.'
Chairman of the British Olympic Association, Colin Moynihan commented:
"Standing alongside the Team GB logo, the new London 2012 brand
represents the passion, inspiration and achievement which encapsulate
Britain's Olympic Ambition. Together, I have no doubt that they will inspire
those athletes who are aiming to compete as part of Team GB at the London 2012
Olympic Games, and capture the imagination of generations of future
Olympians."
The new London 2012 brand has been approved by the International Olympic
Committee.
The emblem will be available in four colours - pink, blue, green and
orange.
It replaces London's `Candidate City' logo which was established in
November 2003.
The unique new emblem already enjoys legal protection, offering London
2012 and its sponsors protection from copying and ambush marketing.
Visit the website at http://www.london2012.com.
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IBM's Printing Systems Division Becomes InfoPrint Solutions Company
Billion-Dollar Joint Venture Poised for Growth With Investments in R&D
and Professional Services
BOULDER, COLO., June 4 /CNW/ - InfoPrint Solutions Company (IPS), the joint venture printing company announced earlier this year by IBM and Ricoh, has begun operations with 1,200 employees around the world.
The company was formerly IBM's Printing Systems Division. With the
closing of the agreement, Ricoh now owns 51 percent of the joint venture and
will progressively acquire the remaining 49 percent over the next three years
as the joint venture becomes a fully owned subsidiary.
InfoPrint Solutions Company has operations in Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru,
Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the U.S., and has plans to
expand to other countries in the third quarter of this year, subject to the
completion of local information and consultation processes.
The joint venture, based on IBM's printing operations which generated
approximately $1 billion of revenue in 2006, will continue to benefit from
access to IBM's powerful worldwide distribution and sales network. IBM client
teams, business partners and dealers will continue to offer InfoPrint printing
and output solutions, and InfoPrint Solutions Company will be IBM's preferred
global print solutions provider. The InfoPrint product brand and IBM's
extensive printer development capabilities are also part of the joint venture.
IBM will provide maintenance services to InfoPrint Solutions Company for
one year under a services agreement, after which more than 1,000 IBM printer
maintenance specialists may join the new company, subject to local business
conditions and completion of local information and consultation processes.
"With this launch, we have created a billion-dollar enterprise with the
backing of two undisputed industry leaders, IBM and Ricoh. Together, we will
drive the next generation of innovation in output solutions," said Tony
Romero, CEO and President, InfoPrint Solutions Company. "Our plans for the
joint venture include greater investment in research and development,
enhancing our professional services capabilities, and increasing the size of
our sales and support organization. Our intense focus on strategic output
management means our current and future customers will benefit from a new
level of products, services, and solutions built to address their business
needs."
InfoPrint Solutions Company, launching with 40 years experience in the
printing industry and more than 20 years of joint innovation and development
between IBM and Ricoh, offers output solutions for general office, industrial,
enterprise and commercial printing environments for customers of all sizes -
from small businesses to large enterprises. The investment from Ricoh will
increase the company's portfolio with new product and solutions offerings in
both the production and general office markets.
"Today is an historic moment both for IBM and Ricoh and more importantly,
an industry first. The creation of InfoPrint Solutions Company brings together
the best of two industry leaders, and greatly enhances the Ricoh portfolio of
offerings," said Norio Tanaka, Corporate Senior Vice President of the
Production Printing Business Group at Ricoh Company Ltd. "This unique
combination puts IPS ahead of its competitors and positions the company to
lead the market by focusing on the goal of creating true operating
efficiencies and value for customers."
Since the initial agreement in January 2007, new and existing customers
have demonstrated their commitment to the joint venture across industries.
Today, InfoPrint Solutions Company also announced a major customer engagement
with 21st Century Insurance Group, a leading insurance company based in the
U.S.
Said Jim Chalker, Director of IT at 21st Century Insurance Group:
"Working with a company that has the entrepreneurial drive of a start-up yet
the support and global backing of two market leaders has meant great things
for us as a customer. InfoPrint Solutions Company is helping us reduce output
costs and increase efficiency, meaning we can pass these savings on to our own
most important asset - our customers."
"From an industry perspective, we believe that this alliance is built on
a long-standing relationship between these two partners and it will create
great market opportunities for InfoPrint Solutions Company as it continues to
provide leading-edge output solutions for customers," said Charlie Pesko,
President, InfoTrends, Inc., the industry analyst firm. "The marketing power
of both Ricoh and IBM puts the joint venture in a very healthy competitive
position."
IBM received $725 million in cash at the closing. The cash received was
consideration for the initial 51 percent acquisition of the joint venture by
Ricoh as well as a prepayment for the remaining 49 percent to be acquired and
certain royalties and services to be provided by IBM to InfoPrint Solutions
Company. Final consideration for this transaction will be determined at the
end of the three-year period based upon the participation in the profits and
losses recorded by the equity partners. As a result of the transaction, IBM
expects to record a second quarter pre-tax gain of approximately $80 million
and a total pre-tax gain of approximately $250 million over the three-year
period. Both gain amounts are pending final valuation of the agreements signed
with the joint venture as well as final determination of transaction-related
expenses. Further details will be included in IBM's second quarter earnings
report and Form 10-Q filing.
"The creation of InfoPrint Solutions Company grows out of IBM's long and
successful relationship with Ricoh and our belief in its ability to grow this
business," said Nicholas M. Donofrio, IBM executive vice president, Innovation
and Technology. "Our customers and partners will continue to receive the best
solutions and technology from IPS and our former Printing Systems Division
employees join a company focused on innovation and leadership in the printing
industry."
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The Cap Crew" Make Mushrooms Appealing to Tweens
Conestoga College Advertising Students Win Big in Mushroom Character Development
KITCHENER - Mushrooms Canada and Conestoga's Advertising Program have done it again. After last year's success with the creation of the association's new logo and tagline, Mushrooms Canada challenged the students to create mushroom characters. The result was a win for eight of the program's students; Jennifer Bregman, Brendan Waller, Amanda Moore, Tarah Mcfarlane, Amy Lienhart, Quinn Battersby, Jessica Warren, and Danielle Beaumont.
The Character development was presented to the students as a scholarship opportunity to see who could design the most appealing characters and who could develop the best plan to implement them. As a result, Jennifer Bregman and Brendan Waller took home first place in both categories with their characters, "The Cap Crew". Honoured with a $950 scholarship, the two are delighted to have created characters that will be part of an already strong Ontario mushroom promotional campaign. Mushrooms Canada also donated $2000.00 to Conestoga College for the Advertising Program, in hopes that it will continue to put talented individuals out into the community.
"Last year our Advertising students had the valuable opportunity to demonstrate their Creative skills in the development of a Corporate Identity Program for Mushrooms Canada" says Joe Romer, Advertising Program Coordinator. "This year their Strategic, Creative and Marketing skills were put to the test in the development and implementation of a marketing plan to a younger target market. The "Cap Crew" is a fun, fresh approach that was the result of intensive research and market analysis. I can't thank Mushrooms Canada enough for giving our students the opportunity to showcase their skills. It's this "hands on" approach that prepares them so well for careers in the Advertising industry."
The Advertising program at Conestoga College is in its seventh year of operation and has been a great success with graduates now working in large corporations such as Research In Motion and growing associations such as Mushrooms Canada.
Mushrooms Canada rebranded itself last year from The Canadian Mushroom Growers' Association. It launched a province wide campaign to increase awareness of Ontario grown mushrooms, their uses, flavours, and many health benefits. Watch for "The Cap Crew" to be launched this Fall.
"Funding for this project has been granted through the Canada-Ontario Research and Development Program, as funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs"
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Popular Mechanics chooses JacPac for its 2007 Editor's Choice Award for Innovation & Design national hardware show
WATERLOO - JacPac CO2 Power System was awarded Popular Mechanics' Editor's Choice Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in new product design and innovation at the National Hardware Show in Orlando, Florida on May 8, 2007.
The award highlights "the most useful and innovative new products for your tool box."
JacPac's: break-through technology uses easy-to-carry CO2 canisters as its pneumatic power source. Popular Mechanics' editors recognized that with JacPac, common air-powered handtools are now free from reliance on the heavy, noisy conventional air compressors.
The JacPac CO2 power system was developed by Supplierpipeline Inc. of Waterloo, Ontario. Supplierpipeline is Canada's number one manufacturer of climbing products (ladders) in Canada, which are marketed under the Lite brands. Supplierpipeline is also an emerging player in the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) power tool market with the introduction of the JacPac line in 2006.
Awarded "Top 10 Tool Innovation" by Workbench Magazine
JacPac has already garnered another major award when it was named one of the Top 10 Tool Innovations for 2007 by Workbench magazine in March. jacpac logo 2007
Workbench, a popular publication targeting the rapidly growing do-it-yourself market, said, "...with the advent of the JacPac CO2 the inevitable extinction of the hammer maybe at hand." Workbench Top 10 Tool Innovations 2007.
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THE RISKIEST JOB IN CORPORATE AMERICA? - Hint: It’s Not What You Think
DENVER, CO — When it comes to job security, the top marketing job in corporate America is a dangerous position. The average tenure of a Chief Marketing Officer at Fortune companies is 23 months, according to leading worldwide executive search firm Spencer Stuart. That is far shorter than the average tenure for Chief Executive Officers -- 54 months.
Trouble in the ranks of corporate marketing affects the best and brightest companies. A marketing campaign at Wal-Mart early last year was meant to get more upscale shoppers into the store. It did not work, and heads rolled.
Wal-Mart is far from alone in experiencing turmoil and turnover in marketing. Volkswagen, Sears, Hewlett-Packard, and Taco Bell – all have either recently filled, or are trying to fill their top marketing spots. What is the primary problem in marketing? According to David Minter, partner with Denver-based marketing firm Minter + Reid, the root of the problem is a lack of reliable marketing tools and processes.
He and Mike Reid are co-authors of Lightning in a Bottle: The Proven System to Create New Ideas and Products That Work, of which billionaire entrepreneur H. Wayne Huizenga noted, “David Minter and Mike Reid have developed a model with the potential to create immediate value for your company or organization.”
“There are proven systems for other business functions like manufacturing and accounting,” Minter said, “and as a result, products come off assembly lines defect-free, and accounting reports are accurate. But when it comes to corporate marketing, quality is the exception - not the norm. Nine out of ten new products that marketers develop fail. The result is a revolving door for senior marketing executives.”
Mike Reid, also partner with Minter + Reid, added, “Until marketing folks adopt better tools, I’m afraid this trend is going to continue. The irony is that better marketing tools and processes are available. Senior marketing people that seek out better ways to solve marketing problems are having tremendous success – our executive marketing clients stay with their current position two or three times longer than the industry norm.”
Minter added, “We studied marketing success and failure for three decades before writing Lightning in a Bottle. The solutions we discovered are not fancy or complicated – they just work.”
David Minter and Michael Reid have 50 years combined experience as senior marketers and market researchers, helping some of the fastest growing brands in America. They are authors of a new book about developing new products and new marketing campaigns titled Lightning in a Bottle: The Proven System to Create New Ideas and Products that Work, available at bookstores everywhere and online at amazon.com and bn.com. For further information on the book, click Book Information. For further information about Minter + Reid, visit www.minterandreid.com.
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THEADLIBGROUP WINS SIX FRANKIE AWARDS AT THE 2007 CANADIAN FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
Toronto – On Monday, April 30th at the 2007 Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) Conference in Montreal, theadlibgroup was awarded six prestigious Frankie Awards. The ?Frankies? are awarded annually to companies who produce outstanding advertising and marketing for a Canadian franchise organization.
Gold Frankie Awards included the St. Louis Bar and Grill Outdoor Campaign that featured billboard advertising in close proximity to each of St. Louis? 20 locations and reflected the new, edgy Devilishly Good branding and attitude. The Lunch Lady Direct Mail Campaign was the second adlib project to receive gold. The campaign consisted of a brown paper lunch bag with the words ?Who says there?s no free lunch?? printed on the front. Inside was an enticing offer for a hot lunch service for elementary schools. The third gold was awarded to the Shoeless Joe?s Tradeshow Booth – an inviting and interactive display that included cut-out figures perfect for picture taking.
Silver Frankie Awards included theadlibgroup?s Pool Noodle Campaign that saw franchisors receive a 6-foot pool noodle emblazoned with the web address poolnoodle.ca. The site featured a video of ?Guy: The Pool Noodle Hunter? and a link to adlib?s web site. Two other Silver Awards went to St. Louis Bar and Grill Tradeshow Booth and Baskin-Robbins Direct Mail Campaign.
We're honored to be recognized by the CFA,? says Toni Abramson, vice-president of theadlibgroup. ?Being awarded six Frankies is a further demonstration of our commitment to deliver results-producing marketing for our clients.?
Last year theadlibgroup participated in the Frankie Awards for the first time and received a silver award for their single entry, the Shoeless Joe?s Food Drive Campaign.
theadlibgroup is a full service agency providing clients in Canada and the U.S. with high-impact, results-oriented marketing communications. theadlibgroup is the proud recipient of twelve Summit Awards for Creative Excellence in marketing, ten HSMAI Awards, seven Frankie Awards and a Canadian Special Events Award for "Best Media Event".
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