Sunday, November 18, 2012

Boring Turkey, Again?

Boring Turkey, Again?
Save room for the old and the new

Last week, our family had the annual discussion about which dishes should be on our Thanksgiving menu. “We always have the same old things. We need to change it up a bit,” one person said. “But, I really like the traditional dishes,” someone else said.

The marketing communications industry faces a similar discussion. On one side of the argument, some people believe such tactics as web, social media, blogs, webinars, e-magazines (such as Rants from the Brand Coach), and e-discussion groups are the only way to go. As a marketer, you must produce powerful content which is interesting, entertaining, and educational, helping the audiences do their job.

On the other side, you have traditionalists who believe tactics such as direct mail, e-mail, phone calls, and media advertising are the best approach. Sadly, there are those who believe these “old” forms of marcom are outdated, old fashion, and useless. They’re wrong!

Just like the Thanksgiving dinner, there’s room for the old and the new. Smart marketers understand how a well thought out program includes a balanced approach, reaching audiences in multiple ways. Just because direct mail isn’t as cool or doesn’t command the buzz of social media doesn’t mean it won’t work. At Brand Acceleration, our team analyses audiences to determine just the right mix of old and new in order to generate results for our clients.

So, whether your Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey and baked beans or tofurkey and vegan stuffing, just remember that life offers vast choices, all of which are great. Marketing techniques vary just as widely. In the right combination, they are all delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving. Eat up!

Jim Walton
CEO
Brand Acceleration, Inc.
Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations
Indianapolis: 317.536.6255
Charlotte: 704:230:0394
Atlanta: 404.474.7980
Fax: 317.222.1425
Cell: 317.523.7380


Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

Good Economic News 11-20-12

Good Economic News

Here's just part of the good economic news to cross my desk over the past three weeks.

In Caldwell County, North Carolina, wood millwork manufacturer Woodgrain Millwork, Inc. will locate a new facility, creating 170 jobs.

Hitachi Powdered Metals, Ltd.will expand its operation in Greensburg, Indiana, creating 60 new jobs.

Benteler Steel, a maker of steel tubes, will open a new facility in The Port of Caddo-Bossier, Louisiana, creating 675 new jobs.

In St. Ansgar, Iowa, Grain Millers, Inc., a supplier to the food industry, will expand and create 10 new jobs.

In Birmingham, Alabama, Revere Control Systems has added 12 employees since July and has openings for more.

Steag Energy Services, a provider of environmental consulting and manufacturing services, will expand in Cleveland County, North Carolina, creating 29 new jobs.

Unicar Products Group, a maker of auto components, will expand in Wyoming, Michigan, adding 150 employees.

In Dekalb County, Indiana, auto parts supplier TRIN, Inc. will expand and create 75 jobs.

In Woodbury County, Iowa, fertilizer maker CF Industries will expand and create 100 new jobs.

W. Lee Flowers, a wholesale grocery company, will expand its operation in Florence County, South Carolina, creating 15 jobs.

In Pineville, Louisiana, Procter & Gamble will consolidate a detergent-powder operation and hire 50 people.

In Washington, Indiana, MacAllister Machinery Company, a distributor of Caterpillar products, will expand and create 61 jobs.

International Component Repair, a maker of aerospace products, and IHI of Japan will open a new facility in Villa Rica, Georgia, creating 25 new jobs.

In Donaldson, Louisiana, fertilizer maker CF Industries will expand and hire 93 people.

The Armored Group, a maker of armored vehicles, will expand its operation in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, creating 240 new jobs.

In Madisonville, Kentucky, Berry Plastics, a maker of injection-molded plastic products, will expand and create 400 jobs.

In Batesville and Newark, Arkansas, Peco Foods, a poultry processor, will expand and create 300 new jobs.

Kalo Foods, LLC, a gluten-free bakery, will open a new facility in Rockingham County, North Carolina, creating 21 jobs.

In Johnston, Iowa, seed producer DuPont Pioneer will expand and create 100 jobs.

In Chicago, Illinois, biopharmaceutical company Durata Therapeutics will open its headquarters and hire 100 people.

Express Software & Services, LLC, an information technology and software provider, will expand its operation in Indianapolis, Indiana, creating 33 jobs.

Truck bed fabricator Conley Fabrication will expand in Wood County, WV, hiring 10 people.

Nachurs Alpine Solutions, a maker of fertilizer, will expand its operation in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, creating 16 jobs.

In Livonia, Michigan, rivot maker Henrob Corporation will expand and create 152 jobs.

Luxury hardware and accessories producer Portals Hardware will relocate to Kansas City, Missouri, creating 16 jobs.

In Gaston County, North Carolina, auto equipment supplier Otto Nussbaum GmbH & Co. KG will open a new facility, creating 83 jobs. Congrats to Donny Hicks and the team at Gaston County Economic Development Corporation, a Brand Acceleration client.

In Huntington County, Indiana, compression molding maker Continental Structural Plastics, Inc. will expand and add 50 employees.

United Parcel Service (UPS) recently opened a new distribution center in Norcross, Georgia, creating 1,000 jobs.

Indigo Biosystems, Inc., a software provider, will expand its operation in Indianapolis, Indiana, creating 63 jobs.

Summit Polymers, a maker of auto components, will expand its business in Portage, Sturgis, and Vicksburg, Michigan, adding 70 employees.

Underground mine equipment business Walker Machinery will expand its business in Kanawha County, West Virginia, creating 38 jobs.

In Greenville, South Carolina, data backup service provider Servosity will expand and add 30 employees.

Celanese Corporation, a technology and materials company, will expand its operation in Giles County, Virginia, creating 22 new jobs.

Total Jobs Announcements: 4,239

Jim Walton
CEO
Brand Acceleration, Inc.
Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations
Indianapolis, Indiana: 317.536.6255
Fax: 317.222.1425
Charlotte, North Carolina: 704.230.0394
Atlanta, Georgia: 404.474.7980
Cell: 317.523.7380