KCRW in Santa Monica has no problem connecting with people over the airwaves, but the public radio station needed help capturing listeners’ attention on the screen.
The member station of National Public Radio teamed with design and development agency Vincit’s Irvine outpost to relaunch its mobile app last month for iOS and Android.
The agency, whose Irvine operation opened in 2016, specializes in developing mobile apps, software for businesses, and e-commerce platforms. It acquired Irvine-based digital agency Xtopoly last year for an undisclosed sum. Vincit’s parent company is Finland-based Vincit Group PLC and has more than 400 employees.
Vincit rebuilt the app to give users more control, while modernizing features, such as giving users the ability to pause live radio or to save music and podcasts to a custom feed.
It put a special focus on music because that’s “at the core of KCRW’s identity,” according to Vincit.
The station is known for its music shows and cultural news.
Fans can connect their Apple Music or Spotify accounts to KCRW’s mobile app and listen to the station’s curated playlists or individual songs without having to leave the app.
Director of Digital Operations Juan Bonigno said it looks forward to working on more mobile apps with Vincit.
“Vincit is a partner by all definition,” he said in a statement. “They did more than just engineer our apps, but also guide us through the process while being flexible, solid communicators, exceptional engineers and just fun people.”
One for All
Irvine-based apparel company Z Supply LLC launched the “Everyday Everyone” campaign to celebrate the diversity of world cultures while helping to fight human trafficking.
The initiative kicked off two weeks ago, and the brand created limited-edition tees in partnership with nonprofit group The Exodus Road, a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based organization that performs rescues, works with police to free trafficking victims.
The slogan is embroidered near the neckline of the short-sleeved white T-shirt. It launched on Z Supply’s website last week at $40, and 100% of profits will be donated to The Exodus Road. The label said it will also donate $5 for every image posted on social media promoting the tee.
Z Supply Marketing Director Beatrice Rosu said it wanted “to celebrate and highlight the diversity of people’s stories.
“Everyone has something to share and I think that vulnerability is powerful,” Rosu said in a statement. “But we also want this campaign to stand for something—something big, something worth talking about. It was surprising to learn how many people, even in our company, were unaware of the magnitude and scope of human trafficking around the world.”
The Exodus Road said it’s helped law enforcement rescue more than 900 men, women and children, resulting in 400 arrests. It works primarily in Southeast Asia, India and the Americas.
Z Supply has an estimated 60 employees and $50 million in annual revenue, according to the Business Journal’s list of OC’s largest apparel companies.
Medical Win
Digital and social media marketing agency Smarty Social Media was named social media agency of record for Pleasanton-based Solta Medical.
The Santa Ana-based agency will be responsible for driving social marketing and influencer campaigns for Solta’s aesthetic medical device brands, which include Thermage, Clear and Brilliant, Fraxel and Vaserlipo.
Smarty Social Media founder Jami Eidsvold said there’s “no higher compliment than to hear from a former client in a new role that wants to form a new and exciting partnership with your team.”
Smarty said it will revamp the company’s social media accounts and leverage organic and paid strategies with influencers.
Founded in 2013, the agency reported about $5 million in revenue last year, up 71% year-over-year. Clients include Neodyne Biosciences Inc., Restylane Silk, Panorama and CoolSculpting by Zeltiq.
Bits & Pieces
Hyundai Motor America luxury brand Genesis Executive Director and General Manager Erwin Raphael was added to the Executive Leadership Council last month. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to increasing the number of African-American executives in C-Suites and is comprised of current and former chief executives. The 25-year automotive veteran took over the U.S. operations of Hyundai’s Genesis in 2016. … Irvine-based e-commerce tech group ConversionPoint Technologies Inc. named Tom Furukawa chief product officer. He’ll be responsible for overseeing product development and product enhancements. Furukawa previously led the product technology and marketing teams at Irvine-based ad tech firm Ad Exchange Group.
