Ubiquity Broadcasting Corp., a multimedia company based in Irvine, acquired two online advertising tools from Think Design Media Inc., also in Irvine.
The Social Mashup is a series of application programming interfaces that enable businesses to manage their social media presences. It aggregates all of a company’s social media feeds into a single wall on its website and allows businesses to add “share this” buttons from major social networks and to track the shared content. Data gathered when customers log in using their social media accounts—such as name, age, gender, interests and activities—can help the company customize its offerings.
“With this acquisition, we are creating an unparalleled offering which will enable our customers to maximize their return on their online presence and investments,” said Chris Carmichael, chief executive for Ubiquity, in a news release.
Ubiquity also acquired IPTV, which allows marketers to add advertising and other layered content to Web videos, thus creating new revenue streams.
The financial details of the deal weren’t disclosed. Ubiquity is traded on the Nasdaq exchange with a market value of about $843 million.
Helping the Helpers
The Orange County Food Bank helps feed some 12% of county residents who are struggling to make ends meet.
But over the weekend of Oct. 11-13, local advertising professionals took care of the nonprofit organization in the best way they knew how—by giving it a much-needed facelift.
Forge54, a marketing event put on by Torrey Tayenaka of the Sparkhouse video production studio in Newport Beach, brought together 47 volunteers who put in 2,583 hours to create a brand-new marketing campaign for the food bank.
“It’s amazing,” said Mark Lowry, an executive director of the Garden Grove-based organization. “The group in a very short time described us in ways that we always perceived ourselves but never had the words to express that or the skills to communicate it to the general public. We heard that the value of the service they provided us was $161,000 … which a charity like ours could never afford.”
The 54-hour effort kicked off at noon on Friday and wrapped up Sunday evening with a project presentation to food bank officials. Volunteers, many of whom are young professionals just getting their feet wet in the marketing field, worked in teams tackling various aspects of the marketing campaign.
They produced a branding message, logos, social media and public relations campaigns; revamped the food bank’s website; and created a two-minute promotional video. They also designed a mobile application that will enable the nonprofit to easily connect with volunteers and donors.
Mentors from local ad shops stopped by the Sparkhouse on Saturday to provide feedback to the team, which worked round-the-clock to meet the deadline.
“We had people here who, out of the 54 hours, maybe went home to shower, [or] stepped out to get a coffee, but they were here the whole time, and they really cared,” Tayenaka said.
Bits and Pieces
Jan DeLyser, vice president of marketing for the Irvine, Calif.-based California Avocado Commission, received the California Avocado Society’s Award of Honor. DeLyser “hasn’t just left a mark on our industry; she is a big reason why we are all still here,” Chris Ambuul, grower and California Avocado Society president, said in a news release … Pablo Buffagni, Huntington Beach-based Grupo Gallegos’ chief creative officer, will be a jury president at El Ojo de Iberoamérica, a competition that honors the best of the Latin-American advertising industry. Buffagni will oversee content and sports categories, said. … Hurley International LLC is hosting the SIMA Boot Camp P.M. at its headquarters in Costa Mesa. The Surf Industry Manufacturing Association event, scheduled for Oct. 22, will feature a presentation by Douglas Van Praet, executive vice president at ad agency Deutsh LA, which created the latest ads for Taco Bell Corp. in Irvine … Troy Powell left his position as MX (motocross) marketing senior manager at Volcom Inc. in Costa Mesa to join ONE Industries Corp., the San Diego-based maker of motocross and mountain bike equipment, as its new director of marketing … Sunshine Makers Inc., a Huntington Beach-based manufacturer of cleaning products, will sponsor the Simple Green US Open of Handball. The tournament will be Oct. 24-27 in Fountain Valley.
