Irvine-based RiechesBaird Inc. continues to bring in work.
The advertising and business consulting shop is busy working on marketing for two new clients, Optivus Technology Inc. in Loma Linda and Atlanta-based law firm Fisher & Phillips LLP.
RiechesBaird is doing branding and marketing campaigns for Optivus and Fisher & Phillips and its 16 offices, which focus on employment law.
The work comes on the heels of another win: Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group, which RiechesBaird nabbed in October.
Last year, the firm created a business strategy division, which it said has helped it lure more work.
RiechesBaird, which had $57.3 million in capitalized billings in 2005, revamped its logo and got new building signs that play up the services, including brand development and integrated marketing.
Help Wanted
Mission Viejo-based 360 Business Consulting likely will be on the hunt for two workers in 2007.
President Ron Zayas said if the marketing shop’s growth continues, it will look to hire a marketing strategist and project manager in the new year.
The company has layered in experienced workers, which helps it satisfy clients and lure new ones, he said.
“As we grow, that is something that definitely will not change and is a main driver of our hiring decisions,” Zayas said.
In the past year, 360 Business Consulting grew its staff to handle new work, including adding a director of client services and chief financial officer.
Zayas said most of the shop’s growth next year is expected to come from search engine work, marketing strategy development and messaging.
PR Pickups
Irvine-based Madison Alexander PR Inc. picked up several accounts without a formal review.
The public relations shop was hired by Serus Corp. in Mountain View, Spyrus in San Jose, Irvine-based Primal Solutions Inc., Cordiant Communications in New Jersey and Minnesota’s Shavlik Technologies, according to founder Dan Chmielewski.
Madision Alexander will handle a range of work, including public relations, analyst and investor relations and marketing communications.
The shop taps a pool of four freelancers, Chmielewski said.
Online Push
Foothill Ranch-based Wet Seal Inc. ramped up its Internet marketing as part of its ongoing turnaround.
The move is “paying off,” the company said in a recent statement.
Wet Seal’s Internet sales in the quarter ended Oct. 28 were up $2.5 million versus the year-ago period. The company didn’t disclose what chunk Internet sales were of its $143.3 million in revenue for the period.
The company overhauled its sites for young women’s clothing stores Wet Seal and Arden B. and tried to lure shoppers with glamorous images of girls in new clothes and with shipping discounts.
Wet Seal’s selling expenses, which include advertising and Internet processing costs, were up $4.1 million in the third quarter to $46.1 million, due in part to higher Internet production costs from higher Internet sales, the company said.
Apparel PR
Vermani Collezioni, an Italian women’s clothing designer, hired Newport Beach-based PRestige Public Relations to spread the word about its move to Irvine.
The maker of upscale knitwear, coats and other clothing said it tapped the Newport Beach-based public relations firm for publicity, including working with the media and sending out postcards to customers.
Vermani recently moved to Irvine to be closer to Orange County’s apparel hub and the port of Long Beach.
President Justin Farahan said Vermani also plans to send out “seasonal lookbooks,” which highlight new clothes.
The company also recently targeted 13,000 homes in OC with a mailer promoting a recent warehouse sale of its clothes.
In other news, PRestige picked up another new client: Knitwit, an Irvine-based maker of cashmere sweaters.
The shop said it will handle business and product press relations for the new brand, which launched last year.
The cashmere sweaters sell for $115 to $288 at a range of boutiques, including Fred Segal and Lisa Kline. Celebrities also have been spotted in the garb, including Paris Hilton, Mischa Barton and Cameron Diaz.
Julie Leffler, a former public relations executive at Costa Mesa-based Hurley International Inc., started PRestige in September and has since picked up a handful of clients.
Bits and Pieces:
Tustin-based advertising shop Brainsaw is on the hunt for two workers, a designer/production artist and copywriter Lake Forest-based shoemaker Sole Technology Inc. is hoping to lure shoppers who want to design their own skate shoes. The company, known for its etnies skateboard shoes and other brands, is letting customers personalize shoes designed by pro skateboarder Ryan Sheckler. They can go online at www.etnies.com/me and pick colors, patterns and other designs.
