Plastic surgery has been good for Newport Beach-based Professional Image Inc.
The public relations agency grew its business by about 25% in the past year working with doctors and medical companies, said Dayna Graveline, senior media specialist for the public relations agency.
Professional Image, which hired a few workers to handle new accounts, does public relations, publicity, educational seminars and event planning, Graveline said.
Clients include E! Entertainment’s “Dr. 90210,” ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” and Discovery Health’s “Plastic Surgery: Before and After,” Graveline said.
The outlook for plastic surgery “is pretty good, and not just for this year, but coming years too,” Graveline said.
Professional Image is promoting five surgical training courses for doctors and has been tapped to promote eight planned for next year, Graveline said.
The agency’s founder, Angela O’Mara, is getting ready to come out with books and Web sites that teach plastic surgeons and their staff how to promote their practices.
Medical Billings
LehmanMillet in Newport Beach continues to build its medical marketing business.
The Boston-based shop recently brought on Michael Ouimette to lead its account planning department. Ouimette had been senior vice president of client services at Irvine-based Pacific Communications, which also focuses on healthcare marketing.
Bruce Lehman, chief executive of LehmanMillet, said the company’s Orange County office is “experiencing tremendous growth, particularly in the cardiovascular, dermatology and aesthetics areas.”
Last year, the company made a push in OC by buying smaller Newport Beach-based Blvdwest, which became known as LehmanMillet West.
The 27-year-old company had eyed the area for some time to serve clients on this side of the Rocky Mountains. Clients include Bausch & Lomb Inc. and Quest Diagnostics Inc.
Production Boost
Irvine-based ChopShop has a new client.
The post-production shop is set to create a promotional video for Irvine-based Boost Mobile LLC, the prepaid arm of Sprint Nextel Corp. The piece is set to feature young people using Boost phones as well as footage from Boost-backed sports events, ChopShop principal Ken Anderson said.
The shop was picked for the project because of its “extensive experience” with other youth programming such as action sports shows including “10 Count,” Anderson said.
In other news, ChopShop worked with Costa Mesa’s Honest Mechanics on a promotional DVD for Santa Monica-based Fatburger Corp. that’s aimed at potential investors in the restaurant chain.
Honest Mechanics also handles Fatburger’s signs and other marketing.
Dedica Details
Last week, I mentioned Irvine-based Dedica Group opened a New York office. I’ve since gotten more details.
The shop started out with three workers at the new digs and plans to hire more, a representative said.
Dedica plans to go after more East Coast business. So far, the shop works with Coca-Cola Co.’s food service and hospitality division, among others.
Locally, Dedica continues to expand its Irvine office.
In the past year, the shop brought on three people to help handle work for Robeks Smoothies and Harrah’s Casinos, among others.
Dedica has 15 workers here.
Fashion Shows a Go
Foothill Ranch-based Wet Seal Inc. called off fashion shows for its Arden B. chain as the company restructured in recent years.
The show is back on.
Eric Beder, analyst at Brean Murry Carret & Co, said Wet Seal recently held a fashion show highlighting Arden B.’s clothes,something that “has not been held for a long time.”
It’s a good sign.
“The presence of selected investment community members and press at the show is a concrete example, in our view, that Arden B. management believes it is on the right track,” Beder said in a recent report.
Wet Seal has spent the past few years revamping its Wet Seal and Arden B. divisions, including hiring workers and tweaking marketing and store displays.
Arden B. got a new president, Greg Gernette, earlier this year, and in “less than six months (he) has materially improved the division’s buying network and designers,” Beder said.
The biggest changes won’t play out until the spring, Beder said.
Bits and Pieces:
Young & Rubicam Brands in Irvine recently hired Miles Turpin to lead its team for Irvine-based Land Rover North America. Turpin previously worked at Omnicom Group Inc.’s Energy BBDO and Publicis Groupe SA’s Saatchi & Saatchi Irvine-based El Pollo Loco Inc. is pushing grilled chicken nachos in a marketing campaign. The work includes 30-second TV commercials airing in some West Coast markets, and marketing materials at restaurants, such as roof banners and window signs.
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