InterCommunications Inc., a brand consulting company that specializes in the real estate and hospitality industries, recently published a coffee table book, “Imaging Places”—a 288-page portfolio of projects the Newport Beach firm has taken on over its 30 years in business.
“The reason I decided to do this book is that sometimes people don’t give a lot of credibility to companies who are in a place like Orange County,” InterComm President and Creative Director Toni Alexander said. “It’s bizarre to me. If you are from Los Angeles, you’re kind of big deal, but if you are from behind the Orange Curtain, you’re not.”
The book is a compelling photographic journey that spans five continents and 25 countries, showcasing InterComm’s work at destination spots such as Hawaii’s Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, the St. Petersburg Club in Russia, and Taghazout, Morocco’s first five-star resort.
InterComm’s 2013 revenue was $6 million, and Alexander said it will close the year with $7 million.
Xbox Promo
Mazda North American Operations in Irvine is using the Xbox to promote its 2016 Mazda MX-5 roadster.
It set up a livery design contest for the 1994 Mazda MX-5 model currently featured in the Forza Horizon 2 game. Livery refers to auto racing-style body design.
Two finalists will take a trip to the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, for the final design showdown.
The winning design will be offered as an option with the Forza Horizon 2 game to all Xbox One and Xbox 360 users, and the creator will walk away with a bounty of goodies, including an audio music system.
“In addition to shining the spotlight on the 2016 Mazda MX-5 through the partnership, we also wanted to give Forza fans a way to engage and pick up some cool prizes and see their work featured in the game,” Mazda Vice President of Marketing Russell Wager said in a news release.
Mazda, which spent $272 million on marketing in 2013, signed on as the official automobile sponsor of SXSW in October. The value of the top-level “Super Sponsor” deal is estimated at $500,000 per year for a three-year sponsorship.
Helping the Helpers
HKA Inc. Marketing Communications in Tustin marked its 30th anniversary by donating a year of public relations and marketing communications services to a Huntington Beach-based nonprofit group.
Build Future devotes its efforts to ending youth homelessness. It was selected from a pool of eight finalists during a nine-week Locally PRoud competition.
“HKA created Locally PRoud with the basic notion that a 30-year celebration of the agency would be so much more rewarding and consistent with our history if we also found a way to celebrate the good work of others in the community,” HKA founder and President Hilary Kaye said in a statement.
HKA employs 12, and its roster of clients includes First American Trust, Haskell & White LLP and NuVascular Technologies Inc.
Bits & Pieces
Three necklaces from Lugano Diamonds & Jewelry Inc. in Newport Beach made it into The Robb Report’s “Ultimate Gift Guide.” The magazine, recently purchased by Cleveland Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert for an estimated $60 million, targets an ultra-wealthy audience with stories about high-end fashion, destination travel, and luxury items, such as cars, watches, yachts and private jets. … The Newport Beach Restaurant Association launched a “Seize the Dish” marketing campaign to promote Newport Beach Restaurant Week, which takes place from Jan. 19 through Feb. 1. The campaign will include a TV spot and street banners and will cost about $50,000. … First Foundation Inc. in Irvine hired Tyler Resh as its director of marketing and strategy.
