Mission Viejo-based Integrity Public Relations Inc. has expanded its services in a bid to lure more work from smaller clients.
The public relations shop started a division called Small Time PR, a Web-based press release writing and distribution service for small businesses that may not want to pay for a full-service agency.
In the “competitive business landscape that we’re in, small companies are finding it increasingly difficult to rise above the noise,” said Ken Hagihara, chief executive of Small Time.
Public relations campaigns are “effective” but “can also be very costly,” he said.
Small Time PR will target companies that don’t have big budgets for marketing, Hagihara said.
The shop will work with clients on drafting, revising and finalizing press releases of some 500 words in about two days for $250.
Releases of more than 600 words are about $650.
Clients have to pay more to have the releases distributed to journalists and others. Fees start at $199.
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Vans displays: going for consistent, cleaner look |
Blue C Expands
Newport Beach-based Blue C Advertising has expanded its offices and is looking for workers after bringing in more business.
The advertising shop, formerly known as Blue C Communications, said it took on another 2,500 square feet of office space in Newport Beach. It already had two other offices there.
The move comes after Blue C brought in several accounts, including Avia running shoes from Aliso Viejo’s American Sporting Goods Corp. and Corona-based Hansen Natural Corp.’s Monster Energy drink.
The 10-year-old shop also recently wrapped up work for Santa Ana-based Wahoo’s Fish Taco.
Ad shops are under a lot of pressure to show results, Creative Director Jeff Bentley said.
“Clients’ budgets have tightened” and timelines have decreased, he said.
Companies want “the highest level of creative the first time around,” Bentley said.
Blue C said it expects to hire workers this year in the account services and creative departments.
More Vans
I recently wrote about moves that Cypress-based Vans Inc. is making to revamp marketing and store displays.
I’ve since gotten more details.
Remodeled stores have a “much cleaner, consistent look,” said Chris Overholser, who heads public relations at Vans. “Most of our stores were built over a 30-year period or so. There were great inconsistencies in layout and visuals.”
Vans, owned by North Carolina’s VF Corp., plans to remodel about 90 of its stores this year.
Last year, the company revamped about 30, including one at the Irvine Spectrum Center.
The company, which has about 175 stores, skate parks and outlets, started the push two years ago.
Overholser said displays now showcase more shoes and clothes.
“We’re also incorporating historical displays with artifacts that speak to the history of our brand and the athletes we’ve supported,” Overholser said. “We actually have displays with shoes and skateboards ridden by (athletes) Steve Caballero and Geoff Rowley.”
Health Focus
Irvine-based Maricich Brand Communi-cations revamped its Web site and branding campaign to lure more healthcare clients.
The marketing shop said it plans to focus its efforts on healthcare and safety-related clients. In the past, it had also done work for clients in the entertainment and financial industries.
Mark Maricich, the company’s chief executive, said the shop’s “core expertise has always been in marketing health and safety-related products and services.”
And having a narrower focus should help the shop “attract top creative and strategic talent,” Maricich said.
Bits and Pieces:
Irvine-based Morgan Marketing and Public Relations built a kitchen at its headquarters to help with food industry clients. The shop said the kitchen gives chefs a place to train and try recipes, and for clients to brainstorm strategies. Morgan Marketing’s clients include San Clemente’s Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Pasadena’s Wetzel’s Pretzels LLC The Orange County Ad Awards is set for Saturday at 6 p.m. at 7 Degrees in Laguna Beach Irvine-based RiechesBaird advertising shop promoted creative directors Tim Price and Ewan Pidgeon to vice presidents. The two have worked together for the past six years leading the creative department and will continue that role Von Zipper, part of Irvine’s Billabong USA, is on the hunt for a marketing manager.
