T & O; Celebrates With Fantastic Sams; MZ Goes Italian
NCG Porter Novelli has landed three new clients, the juiciest of which Linda Martin, senior vice president and general manager of the Irvine office, says she can’t talk about.
About two months ago, NCG started handling public affairs for San Diego-based Sempra Energy, parent of San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co. The utility is not as financially strapped as counterparts Pacific Gas & Electric and Edison International’s Southern California Edison. But Sempra faces many of the same challenges, including a poor public image.
Martin said her lips are sealed about exactly what NCG plans to do for Sempra. Martin also said public affairs involves issues management, outreach and public opinion.
“A lot of public affairs clients, because of the nature of their business, don’t disclose a whole lot of what they’re up to,” Martin said. “I can’t really talk about it. I’m sorry.”
Among the things Sempra is facing is public reaction to a proposed rate hike for San Diego Gas and Electric customers,including 100,000 in South County,pending approval by the Public Utilities Commission.
Like the other utilities, SDG & E; also will have to deal with rolling blackouts expected this summer. Plus, there’s customer anxiety about whether a running balance on SDG & E; bills for what the utility pays for power and what it charges someday will be passed on.
For companies such as Sempra, Martin said it’s important that NCG do research and be ready for the next step.
“You want to be able to understand what’s likely to happen next so you’re prepared and ahead of the curve,” Martin said.
In other business, NCG has landed Dave & Buster’s Inc.’s national media relations program and work for The Mills Corp. Martin had overseen the Dave & Buster’s and Mills’ Block at Orange accounts while at Laguna Hills-based Laer Pearce & Associates.
NCG now is the West Coast agency for Mills, handling public relations for the Block as well as Ontario Mills.
“Everyone knows us as public affairs, but this gives a real foothold into the consumer side of the business too,” Martin said. “We’d love to work for more restaurants and retailers. This gives us the opportunity to expand that side of the business.”
Terms of the deals weren’t disclosed.
Despite a tough retail climate, Martin said both clients are “holding their own.” According to Martin, the Block at Orange had a 17% to 24% year-to-year increase in visitors in April and Dave & Buster’s businesses was steady compared with last year.
In the Kitchen
Santa Ana-based L.A. Italian Kitchen Management Inc., which operates food court restaurants in the Western U.S., recently tapped MZ Public Relations & Marketing Inc., Newport Beach, for media relations. Terms weren’t disclosed.
L.A. Italian Kitchen recently unveiled a new restaurant in The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas (its first outside of California) and an 800-square-foot store in Lakewood Center. They are part of the company’s overall plan to add 26 new locations by 2003. Eight are expected to roll out this year, with stores planned for Northern California as well as other Western states.
In other news, L.A. Italian Kitchen recently teamed with restaurateur and cookbook author Piero Selvaggio to expand its offerings.
Cut and Dry
Irvine-based T & O; Group launched a new national campaign for longtime client Fantastic Sams, a unit of Anaheim-based Opal Concepts Inc. The work, including print ads, in-store collateral and television spots, highlights Fantastic Sams’ 25th anniversary. The size of the project was not disclosed.
The first installment of the campaign appeared in the May 2001 edition of People magazine that featured its “Fifty Most Beautiful People” list. Television spots began this month.
Bits and Pieces:
Costa Mesa-based Rodheim Marketing is knee-deep in work for new client Human Options, a nonprofit organization that provides a range of services for battered women, including an emergency shelter, transitional housing and counseling. The nonprofit is celebrating its 20th anniversary P11creative (formerly Piazzo Inc.) design firm in Santa Ana Heights has received an award for a Web site it created for client Regis Homes called “The Regis Collection at Victoria Grove.” Kudos was given at the 13th Annual Laurel Awards, a building industry event … Teen heartthrob JoJo Wright, KIIS-FM radio personality and actor, recently heated things up at South Coast Plaza and Glendale Galleria Mall with promises of Wango Tango tickets. The star was hosted by juniors’ retailer Wet Seal Inc. of Foothill Ranch and gave away 80 tickets to KIIS-FM’s Wango Tango concert, which was held over the weekend at Dodger Stadium. The big draws were Britney Spears, Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera The Roxburgh Agency Inc., Costa Mesa, is developing a marketing campaign for San Miguel Ranch, a new masterplanned community in Chula Vista co-developed by Trimark Pacific Homes and Newland Communities. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Roxburgh is set to handle advertising, Web design and publicity, among other services, for the 2,590-acre community, which is scheduled to open in early 2002.
