CONCUSSION AWARDED DISTRICT TEN ADDY GOLD

Concussion High Impact Communications has won thirteen District ADDY Awards to be presented at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) District Ten awards presentation in Houston, Texas, on Friday, April 24, announced Allen Wallach, CEO/partner at Concussion.

“It’s a war for eyeballs out there and our creative is being recognized and remembered,” said Andrew Yañez, chief creative officer/partner at Concussion.  “Our work consistently stacks up against the biggest agencies around.”

District Ten of the AAF includes chapters in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.  Each chapter in these states hosts an ADDY competition at the local level.  Both Gold and Silver ADDY recipients are eligible to compete in the District level competition. Gold ADDY recipients at the District level are automatically forwarded on to compete in the AAF’s national ADDY competition.

Of the 21 Gold ADDYs and 21 Silver ADDYs Concussion earned in the Fort Worth competition, 22 entries moved on to compete at the District Ten level.  On the District level, Concussion was awarded two Gold ADDYs for an email blast and a micro site done on behalf of Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino; two Silver ADDYs for a website developed for Hillwood Residential and a self-promotion collateral piece for Cockrell Printing; and nine Bronze ADDYs for a multimedia campaign, self-promotion collateral piece, elements of a photo campaign, color newspaper ads and a publication cover for Texas Christian University athletics; a logo for Matador Marketing Group and a direct marketing piece for Chesapeake Energy.

Concussion’s award-winning work recognized with District Ten Gold ADDYs will now take the next step in the AAF’s ADDY competition.   The email blast and micro site developed for Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino will compete against Gold ADDY winners from 200 member advertising clubs located in 15 districts spanning the nation.

“We don’t deal with your traditional advertising methods,” said Douglas Cox, interactive director at Concussion.  “We provide clients with the two-way communication needed to be successful in today’s environment.  Whether it’s developing a dynamic website or executing social media methods, we know what we’re doing and we make these technologies work to our client’s advantage.  It’s a complete bonus that our efforts achieve Gold.”  

National ADDY winners will be announced during a special awards presentation hosted by the AAF on Saturday, July 6, 2009, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

 

The Hondo Group Launches Updated Web Site

The Hondo Group, a full service marketing communications agency, is utilizing the latest Web technology to enhance visitors’ experiences at www.HondoGroup.com. Highlights of the new Web site include a showcase of the company’s print, design, and branding work, and information on new interactive and green marketing services.

The new re-branded Web site is designed to be more accessible with significant information on The Hondo Group’s latest news and updates. The site was designed to be W3C compliant and built for multiple platforms and devices using XHTML and CSS.

The Web site offers information on Hondo’s digital marketing services including Web site design and hosting, online public relations, blogging, podcasting, video optimization and mobile media. Also featured on the site is The Hondo Group’s green marketing and sustainable business strategies. The green marketing services section displays a teaser for Hondo’s upcoming CO2 Management System, which implements a recommended action plan for companies to “go green,” manages completion over time, and provides real actionable suggestions and money-saving results.

“Hondo’s new Web site showcases our services, people, and work,” said Lynn Balinas, president of the Hondo Group. “We continue to innovate and improve our products and services, and it is a natural next step to take our own Web site to the standards we set for our clients.”  

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications company, is dedicated to providing clients with new strategic branding processes and procedures, and new products and technologies. The company represents clients in a variety of areas including agriculture, real estate, professional services, technology, healthcare, life sciences and green marketing and sustainable business strategies. As a full service agency, The Hondo Group helps clients close the marketing loop between great products and satisfied consumers. For more information, please visit www.hondogroup.com.

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AAF-Fort Worth to honor Lynne Swihart with Silver Medal at April meeting

Join us for the
Awards Luncheon
April 15, 2009
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

WHERE
Joe T. Garcia's
"La Puertita"
2201 N Commerce St
Fort Worth, TX 76106




FEE
• Executive Member - Included with Dues
• Professional or member of another AAF Club $20.00
• Non Member $35.00
• Student $15.00

RSVP by April 13, 2009. For tickets and information, go to the website, or email us at: aaf.fortworth@gmail.com

Newly Designed Website Honors Fort Worth's Fallen Heroes

A brand new website for the Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial (www.cfwfallenheroes.org) went live this week, the Balcom Agency announced Thursday.
 
The redesigned site honors the 95 police officers, firefighters and marshals who have lost their lives in the line of duty since the city of Fort Worth’s beginning. A memorial for the fallen heroes is under construction in Trinity Park along West 7th Avenue and will be dedicated Friday morning, June 5.
 
The Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial will honor three deputy marshals, 55 police officers and 37 firefighters, and it is designed with the flexibility to continue honoring individuals killed in the line of duty in the future.
 
The site allows friends and family members to write tributes to the fallen officers and firefighters and profiles each of them in a searchable database. The Balcom Agency designed the site and is also providing public relations services to the Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial project.
 
"There's a need to pay tribute to the officers and firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice to help keep our community safe,” said the agency’s president, Stuart Balcom.  “The Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial will be that place of honor, and we hope the website we've designed will help make the entire community more aware of the everyday risks involved in protecting us all."
 
About the Balcom Agency

Founded in 1993, the Balcom Agency provides its clients with comprehensive advertising, public relations and marketing solutions to various business challenges. The agency’s roster also includes such local, regional and national clients as Justin Boots, Justin Original Workboots, Tony Lama, Texas Health Resources, Southwest Bank, Alcon Laboratories, Neeley School of Business at TCU, Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, REAL School Gardens, Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial, and Samsill. Visit www.balcomagency.com to learn more.
 

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If You Can't Give Money, Give Your Time

Members and friends of the American Advertising Federation-Fort Worth volunteered at the Tarrant Area Food Bank with the mission of addressing a need and making a positive difference in the community.  Volunteers worked to prepare non-perishable foods for distribution to a network of partner agencies in Fort Worth and 13 surrounding counties.      

“During a time when so many are faced with new challenges due to economic circumstances, we have to do what we can to help,” said Mike Roundtree, president of AAF-Fort Worth.  “There’s not many who have the money our non-profits need, but all of us have time and we should be generous.”

As a civic organization, AAF-Fort Worth takes on various volunteer projects in the Fort Worth area.  If you are interested in requesting volunteers from AAF-Fort Worth or joining one of our volunteer projects, please e-mail us at aaf.fortworth@gmail.com.

For more information on the Tarrant Area Food Bank, visit www.tafb.org.

Legislative News To You

House Oversight Committee Approves Tobacco Advertising Restrictions Bill
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has approved a bill that would transfer authority of tobacco advertising from the Federal Trade Commission to the Food and Drug Administration. H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking and Tobacco Control Act, would also direct the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to publish an interim rule enacting unprecedented advertising restrictions, including requiring many tobacco ads to be black text on a white background, mandating a government-dictated "brief statement" (in addition to the current surgeon general's warning), and banning all outdoor advertising for tobacco products within 1,000 feet of any elementary or secondary school or playground.
Introduced by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the proposal has already been approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee and will next be considered by the full House, possibly as early as next week.
AAF National’s press release regarding the bill can be found here.

California Digital Billboard Moratorium Passes Assembly Committee
The California Assembly Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would impose a two-year moratorium on the construction of digital billboards of the conversion of standard billboards to digital in the state. Introduced by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, Assembly Bill 109 has now been referred to the Assembly's Governmental Organization Committee. Digital billboards are considered an important asset for emergency and public safety communication. They generate jobs and revenue, and there are no documented safety issues with their implementation.


DTC Advertising Ban Introduced in Wisconsin Legislation
Wisconsin Representative Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing, has introduced a bill prohibiting direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs in the state. Assembly Bill 56 would not apply to ads that are broadcast or mailed from outside the state. The text of the bill accuses DTC advertising of undermining the efforts of the Wisconsin government to protect the health and welfare of its citizens.

Opponents to the bill believe that the proposal violates the First Amendment protection for commercial speech. They cite that consumers benefit from DTC advertising, which studies show encourages patients to seek information from health care providers. They also feel that local businesses would suffer, as advertising efforts would simply shift to neighboring states.

For additional legislative news, email us at aaf.fortworth@gmail.com.

Blanchard Schaefer Earns Texas Public Relations Association Best of Texas Award

Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations, a full-service integrated strategic marketing services firm, took home the top honor in the news writing category at the Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA) Best of Texas Awards.  The agency was honored with a Best of Texas Silver Award for its campaign to promote ATC Logistics & Electronics’ vanpool initiative.
 
“This is a great honor to be recognized in a state-wide competition of this stature,” said Ken Schaefer, principal at Blanchard Schaefer. “While the goal is to produce results for our clients, it is great to be recognized in this way among our peers.”
 
The news-writing category focused on a news story, or press release, for external media.  The vanpool press release garnered extensive DFW-market broadcast and print media coverage with WFAA-Ch. 8., KTVT-Ch. 11 and the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
 
Blanchard Schaefer was the only agency in Tarrant County to win a TPRA award this year.  The award stems from logistics account work, which is one of the agency’s core specialties.  The initiative was also related to social and environmental responsibility, which is an emerging area of expertise for Blanchard Schaefer.
 
The TPRA, founded in 1954 and Texas’ only statewide public relations organization, conducts the annual competition among public relations practitioners in corporate and agency settings.  For more information about the TPRA, visit www.trpa.com.
 
About Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations
Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations, an award-winning strategic marketing services firm, offers a full array of advertising and public relations expertise and services with a focus in the healthcare, supply chain and logistics, health and beauty, multi-location/franchise, and technology verticals. Its client-tailored strategic marketing services include proficiency and innovation in research, identity/collateral development, branding, creative, media placement, news generation/dissemination, media relations and trade show and speaking engagement coordination. Based in Arlington, Texas, Blanchard Schaefer serves clients across the United States. For more information, visit www.bsapr.com.

DFW AMA ANNOUNCES THE 2009 BEYOND BORDERS GLOBAL MARKETING SUMMIT PRESENTED BY GFK CUSTOM RESEARCH NORTH AMERICA

The DFW American Marketing Association (DFW AMA) will be hosting the fourth annual Beyond Borders Global Marketing Summit. Beyond Borders is the premiere global marketing event in the DFW area delivering world class presentations by prominent leaders with extensive international marketing expertise.

GfK Custom Research North America, a full service market research firm combining global resources with the local insights needed to design, execute and deliver the most appropriate research and actionable outcomes, is this year’s presenting sponsor.

Never has the symbiotic relationship of our global markets been more apparent.  The global economic landscape has shifted and international marketers must drastically adjust their strategies and initiatives accordingly in order to effectively navigate this new landscape and remain profitable.  Beyond Borders 2009 will focus on how to successfully market in this global economic revolution. 

This full day Summit will also provide unique opportunities to network and mingle with senior marketing professionals from various industries and organizations.  Exciting sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available for those companies who wish to increase their exposure to this global audience. 

“As competition for global markets intensifies, it becomes increasingly important for marketers to find new and innovative ways to target customers around the world.  GfK is proud to be a presenting sponsor of the 2009 Beyond Borders Global Marketing Summit,” says Mike Kassab, Senior Vice President GfK Custom Research North America.

 

When:  Wednesday April 15, 2009 

Where:  Plano Conference Center                 

Registration:  www.dfwama.com

Seating for this Summit will be limited, please register early. 

About the DFW AMA:

The DFW American Marketing Association (AMA) is the number one source for marketers in the Dallas /Fort Worth Metroplex. With an impressive 700+ professional members and host to more than 50 informative and educational events annually, it is the ninth fastest growing chapter and the tenth largest in the nation. Recent keynote speakers include: Mary Kay, Frito-Lay, Texas Instruments, American Airlines, Xerox, JC Penney and La Quinta Hotels and Inns.  For more information, go to: www.dfwama.com.

About the AMA:

The American Marketing Association (AMA) is the largest professional association for marketers with more than 38,000 members worldwide in every area of marketing. For over six decades, the AMA has been the leading source for information, knowledge sharing and professional development for marketing professionals. To learn more about the AMA, go to: www.marketingpower.com.

 

About GfK Custom Research North America:

Headquartered in New York, GfK Custom Research North America is part of the GfK Group. With home offices in Nuremberg, Germany, the GfK Group is fourth largest market research organization in the world. Its activities cover three business sectors: Custom Research, Retail and Technology and Media. With 115 companies covering over 100 countries, GfK Group has approximately 10,000 employees (as of September 30, 2008), 80% of which are based outside Germany.  For more information, visit www.gfkamerica.com

Back to the Basics: Using Research and Creativity to Promote a Brand More Effectively in the Competitive Marketplace

New communications technologies have dramatically changed the advertising landscape.  And while most consumers have adapted by modifying their media behaviors, the basics of effective messaging have not changed.  The time-proven theories of good promotional communications continue to provide a solid foundations for effective message strategies. 

Join us to learn how to create promotional messages that effectively communicate a brand's strength, clearly differentiate the brand from competitors and cut through the clutter of the crowded marketplace.

H. Jeff Warr, Ph.D., is vice president and director of research services at Zachry Associates, a full-service marketing communications and research firm that conducts research and serves as a strategy consultant for a variety of clients, including Michelin, AARP, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Rolls-Royce, The American Cancer Society, Texas Tech University, Jeppesen, and Aviall.  He has a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, and has 25 years university teaching experience in advertising, marketing and research methodology.  Dr. Warr served for eight years as professor and head of the advertising program at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.  More recently, he served as the head of the advertising program and director of the graduate program in digital media at Abilene Christian University.

WHEN:

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

11:45 am - 1 pm

WHERE:

Joe T. Garcia's

"La Puertita"

2201 N Commerce St

Fort Worth, TX 76106

COST:

Executive Member - Included in Dues

Non Member - $35

Professional or member of another AAF Club - $20

Student - $15

RSVP:

RSVP for this event by March 16, 2009.  Check your e-mail for your invitation from AAF-FW President Mike Roundtree and registration/RSVP details.

 

P&G Lawyer Calls Upon Ad Industry to Work at Defending Self-Regulation

At ANA Conference, Majoras Says It's Time to Back Up Rhetoric With Facts

 

By Rupal Parekh 



Published: March 10, 2009

 

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- A top lawyer for Procter & Gamble called upon industry executives to work harder than ever to defend self-regulation of the ad business at a gathering of top advertisers today.

 

Speaking about the tough economic environment and increased government involvement in business affairs, Deborah Platt Majoras, VP-general counsel at P&G, said the ad business has to tout that it has been responsible and doesn't need additional oversight.

 

The current business environment -- one in which market failures have prompted government bailouts and heightened government oversight -- is leading to a more skeptical outlook from policymakers about self-regulation. '

 

"The road ahead is not going to be easy, but we are not helpless," said Ms. Majoras, who, prior to joining P&G served as chairman of the Federal Trade Commission from 2004 to 2008. "The industry has been far more responsible than we get credit for. It's time that we backed up rhetoric with facts," she said.

 

An optimistic start
Ms. Majoras, the keynote speaker at the Association of National Advertisers' Advertising Law and Business Affairs Conference, kicked off the conference on an optimistic note this morning. As is the case with most events these days, attendance for the two-day affair in New York is down. Nearly 150 executives registered for the conference this year, a 25% drop-off from the 200 or so who registered in 2008, organizers said.

 

Ms. Majoras expressed confidence that the FTC, under new leadership in Jon Leibowitz, is willing to give self-regulation a chance. At the same time, the ball is in the industry's court, she said. Advertisers shouldn't wait for mandates to be handed down from regulators, but rather take it upon themselves to be more responsible.

 

Among other things, everyone must step up efforts to advertise at a high level of effectiveness, only make claims that can be substantiated, and ensure protection of consumers' privacy. Advertisers should be thinking about making disclosures about their marketing practices, regardless of whether or not the FTC requires them.

 

"We can't foster trust with consumers now if they feel like they've been had," Ms. Majoras said. The online space is one in which advertisers must be particularly cautious -- and transparent -- because consumers feel a unique sense of ownership over the internet.

Making the case
Ms. Majoras, referencing Rance Crain's recent column in Ad Age, "Self-Regulation Shouldn't Be Advertising's Best-Kept Secret," stressed that steadfast believers in self-regulation must be prepared to "make the case," and should think about ways to better articulate and get the message out there.

 

She also reiterated a few talking points for the audience, including that the ad industry's system of regulation is flexible, prompt and responsive; it benefits from the accumulated judgment of industry experts; there is an inherent buy-in for the system, which makes it effective; and the cost burden falls upon industry participants rather than taxpayers.

FORT WORTH ADVERTISING INDUSTRY REWARDED FOR ITS CONFESSIONS

Agencies Receive Forgiveness And New Hardware For The Trophy Case

Fort Worth’s advertising elite gathered at The Ashton Depot February 28, 2009, to celebrate the 2008 ADDY® Gala and awards show.

The Best of Show honor for the 2008 ADDY® Awards went to Balcom Agency for a patient education game called, “Oh My! Pink Eye!,” developed for Fort Worth-based pharmaceutical company, Alcon. Pictured below is the Balcom team celebrating with the coveted crystal trophy.

As Best of Show, Balcom will assume the role of campaign creator for the 2009® Addy Awards. Concussion Advertising and Public Relations handled the previous two years’ creative. Balcom was among four Fort Worth advertising and public relations firms to clean up at the awards show of the American Advertising Federation of Fort Worth.

Concussion received a total of 63 ADDYs – the most presented to any agency – including 21 gold, 21 silver and 21 bronze awards. The agency also received the Best of Show Award for its television broadcast campaign done for Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino. Concussion also was recognized for its outstanding creative work done for the 2007 ADDY® Awards themed, “Dominate The Competition.”

GCG received the second-highest number of awards, taking home 36 ADDYs in total – 5 gold, 16 silver and 15 bronze.

Algo+Rhythm received the Best of Show Award in the print category for a campaign created for Ellington Fans, in addition to 34 ADDYs – 14 gold, 13 silver and seven bronze.

Balcom Agency also won the Best of Show Award in the interactive category for a Web site created for Real School Gardens, and 23 ADDYs – 9 gold, five silver and nine bronze.

In total, the four agencies took home an unprecedented 156 of the 194 ADDYs present at the event. The contest drew 735 entries. Gold ADDY winners will now compete in the Tenth District ADDYs on April 24 in Houston. Winners at the district level will move on to the National ADDYs in June in Washington, D.C.

In addition to agency awards, 35 student ADDY awards were given out to students displaying outstanding creative work from Texas Christian University, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of North Texas and Westwood College.

The American Advertising Federation of Fort Worth, formerly known as the Advertising Club of Fort Worth, exists to elevate the ethical standards and practices of advertising and foster the development of more effective advertising methods. It is Fort Worth’s oldest continuously operating community service organization, founded by the legendary Amon G. Carter in 190X. Visit the AAF-FW website at www.adclubfw.org.

Fort Worth ad agency fuses beauty with functionality in design of new website, iMapWeather.com™

User-friendly website merges weather information and social content into Google map display

A Fort Worth advertising agency is raising the bar for website design and innovation with the launch of iMapWeather.com™, a new website that marries social networking with state-of-the-art weather information.
 
Balcom Agency, a leading creative services agency in the Southwest, designed the website using Google Maps, user-friendly navigation tools, global weather detection and forecasting technology, and social media features such as photo- and video-sharing.
 
Launching later this month, the website promises to be an entirely new way to experience the weather. Users will be able to connect with ­-- and through -– the weather by posting and sharing photo, videos, events, and Twitter-like text bursts, all localized inside the iMap.
 
“What makes iMapWeather revolutionary is the merging of geographic map technology, weather conditions and social media into one beautiful map display,” said Brian Blankenship, Balcom’s interactive creative director. “This has never been done.”
 
The Balcom Agency partnered with Weather Decision Technologies Inc. (WDT), a global leader in providing unique weather content and forecasting services, in a joint venture to create iMapWeather.com.
 
“iMapWeather is a completely new online phenomenon—a website that marries social networking with real-time weather data,” said Stuart Balcom, president of the Balcom Agency. “It’s a whole new way of accessing and sharing vital weather information for millions of people.”
 
Added Mike Eilts, president of WDT, “We are excited to partner with one of the United States’ leading creative services agencies to provide extremely accurate, global weather information directly to consumers as a terrific interactive weather map experience.”
 
iMapWeather’s design offers users the easiest, most enjoyable way to get weather conditions, view radar and satellite images, and see real-time lightning strikes.  iMapWeather deploys a proprietary Flash application integrated with Google Maps API. It provides Doppler Radar, satellite imagery and the most sophisticated forecasting available anywhere.
 
Users share their content by sending it via e-mail from a computer or mobile device. Social media content will be displayed based on an algorithm that includes newness, popularity (views) and ranking.
 
The iMapWeather embed code can easily be copied and pasted onto any website. As such, iMapWeather.com™ is serving as a hub for a larger network of iMaps hosted by individuals and organizations on their websites, from ABC4 in Salt Lake City, Utah to SailingWorld.com, a magazine of the Bonnier Group.
 

About iMapWeather

iMapWeather is the easiest and most attractive and user-friendly way to get weather forecasts and current conditions, view radar and satellite images, and contribute and enjoy user-generated content like videos and photos. It will be the first website and widget (embeddable Flash application) to marry social networking with the weather.
 
iMapWeather is a joint venture between Balcom Agency, the leading creative services agency in Fort Worth, Texas, and Weather Decision Technologies, a global leader in providing state-of-the-science weather detection and forecasting systems and services based in Norman, Oklahoma.
 
Visit iMapWeather.com™ to experience the weather in a whole new way.