Rants from the Brand Coach: brand management

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Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and website development firm with a focus on community and economic development.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Focused on Excellence

Avoid mediocrity and overconfidence

By: Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Having lived through several economic cycles, I’ve seen more than a few recessions and recoveries. I’ve also seen companies succeed or fail because of the ability or inability to manage the shifts. It has always amazed me to watch how business owners respond to times of feast and famine.

During tough times, just as in the business startup period, business owners will do just about anything for a client. They pull out all the stops, providing excellent service and delivering well above customer expectations. Then, when the economy improves and business is good, owners often forget the importance of excellence and become complacent and arrogant, often killing their golden goose.

In the marketing and public relations business, history is littered with the dry white bones of agencies that were once darlings of the industry. They often forgot what caused their success and then died a painful and embarrassing death.

I remember one agency that was launched by four bright young men who had outstanding backgrounds and buckets of talent and creativity. They worked hard, dazzled their clients, and grew their agency into a company where people wanted to work and with which companies wanted to do business. The company began attracting larger clients and cash poured in. Cha-ching!

A series of painful mistakes

But then, something changed. The four owners forgot their humble beginnings. They became proud and arrogant, making dumb moves that clients and employees seriously disliked.

One of the first things that got noticed was that the owners were unavailable. Scheduling a meeting or phone conversation with them was nearly impossible. They were just too busy for such things.

Then, in an effort to grow revenues and maximize their very valuable time, they dramatically raised prices and installed software to track every billable minute. When a client called, the clock was started and charges were tallied.

A painful ending

Over time, many of the agency’s original and smaller clients vanished, along with much of its best talent. A handful of larger clients remained and the company was seriously vulnerable. One day, the firm’s largest client announced that it was leaving, going to another agency. Ironically, the new agency was a small boutique firm, owned by a group of hungry owners who would do anything for their clients. In short order, this once proud company lost its luster and suffered an agonizing and sad demise. Jobs were lost, homes were lost, and many people were hurt.

Last week, I was in a community, visiting with economic developers, elected officials, and community stakeholders, listening to their passion for economic growth. With a somewhat high unemployment rate, these people are willing to do whatever it takes for jobs and investment. They told me stories of the extremes to which they go to attract and court employers. Their “whatever it takes” approach is encouraging to see. Whether a project will bring ten jobs or hundreds makes no difference. These people will tear down any barriers to make the deal happen. Period.

My promise

At Brand Acceleration, we’ve been blessed with great success. In just a few years, we’ve grown into a leading marketing, public relations, and website development firm by remaining passionately focused on providing excellent service in one industry – economic development. My promise is that we will never forget who brought us to this point.

Our wonderful clients have entrusted us with a very important place on their teams. A role we will never take for granted. They see us as more than just a vendor. They understand that we are part of the team and will do whatever it takes to help them succeed.

I also know that if it were not for our team of brand strategists, researchers, writers, designers, programmers, videographers, and expert vendors, we could never deliver such a high level of excellence.

And, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our valued allies. We can’t do everything and proudly rely on friends to provide such services as community assessment, workforce development, site consulting, business retention and expansion counsel, lead generation, GIS services, fundraising, and countless others. We know we always have friends who can work alongside us to serve the needs of our clients.

As we move into the New Year, my promise to our clients, staff, allies, and the economic development industry is to provide excellent service and fare pricing. We will always live up to our promises and will never let you down. I know we play an important part and promise to remain focused on your success.

Thank you very much,

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana:

Office: 317.536.6255

Cell: 317.523.7380

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Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and website development firm with a focus on community and economic development.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

5 Steps to a Great Community Logo

Remember that You are not the audience

By: Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

If you've ever been involved in the process of developing a community logo, then you know it can be a challenging experience. I've been through it many times and I can tell you it's never easy. It's a very important exercise and it really shouldn't be easy. It's too important.

First, I think it's important to clarify the difference between a logo and a brand. Your logo is not your brand.

A brand is an emotional thing. For a community, it is the feeling someone has when he or she hears, sees, or thinks about the community. For example, when you hear the name "Orlando" you probably think about Disneyworld, SeaWorld, or other touristy things the area offers. That immediate feeling or expectation is Orlando's brand.

A logo is meant to be a visual representation of the brand. It's a brand stimulus, but it is not the brand. In other words, when someone sees the logo, that person should experience the same feeling when he or she hears the name. Like Pavlov's famous dogs, our dog, Gracie, salivates at the sight of McDonald's arches. She knows she's going to get a four-pack of Chicken McNuggets

When embarking on a mission to develop a new logo for your area, there are a few things you should consider:

1. Have realistic expectations

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is expecting too much of your logo. Don't try to make it a visual representation of everything you offer. Can a logo really tell your story of workforce, education, quality of life, a business friendly environment, and great transportation assets? No. Can you imagine what Nike's logo would look like if they expected it to show a shoe, shirt, hat, and every other product the company sells?

Keep your logo simple, clean, and professional. How you represent your community in ads, websites, and your face-to face activities will build an image, anchored by a great logo.

2. Hire a professional designer

Simply owning design software does not a designer make. Stay away from those lo-price online logo design services and from the likes of your printer. True design professionals are highly skilled and educated in the art and science of logo development. This is too important to trust to whoever offers the lowest price. Do it right or don't bother.

3. Remember that you are not the audience

Since the real audience for economic developers is made up of site consultants, c-suite executives, and real estate brokers, to name just a few, doesn't it make sense to design for them? Don't get caught up in selecting a logo concept that appeals to you, your board, or your marketing committee. They will likely have a say in the final selection, but the audience should be your first consideration.

4. Don't copy other logos

How many logos have you seen that look remarkably like another one? It's not uncommon at all when someone just loves another company or community logo to copy, or borrow, visual elements. Why would you ever spend good money to present a logo that will make the viewer think of someplace else? Plus, it's illegal and just plain wrong.

5. Keep it simple

Whatever you do, keep your logo simple, clean, and easy to reproduce. Very fine lines, quirky fonts, challenging colors, and highly-detailed graphics will create serious reproduction challenges.

When reviewing concepts, look at them as very large (banners and signs) and very small (business cards) sizes to see how they look.

Another important thing to remember is that like a great website, a beautifully-designed logo is a waste of money if you fail to support it with a well-funded and well-thought-out marketing communications program.

Getting a new logo is a very important decision, one that should not be taken lightly. Find a company or person that understands your brand and your audience. It's about much more than design. It's a marketing decision that will be part of your organization for years.

Do you have suggestions to add to my list? Feel free to chime in.

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis: 317.536.6255

Fax: 317.222.1425

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

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Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and website development firm with a focus on community and economic development.

Monday, July 15, 2013

The Community Branding Debate Continues

The Community Branding Debate Continues
Just what is an economic developer to do?

It seems that on every social media discussion these days, there is an article about community branding. What is a brand? Is it worth investing in a branding effort? What is the return on investment?

Back in the days of open-range cattle grazing, it was essential for ranchers brand their cattle with a hot iron in order to identify their cattle during a roundup where many ranches were represented. Over the years, and through care and meticulous breeding, some of the ranches established reputations for producing the best beef cattle. Buyers knew that certain ranches (brands) produced better steaks than others.

Just as beef cattle buyers knew one brand from another, they also knew that cattle without a brand were questionable. They had no idea who the real owner was or the quality of the beef they were buying. As a result, it was difficult to sell an unmarked steer. Non-branded steers brought a much lower price at auction.

What is a brand?

Even in the early days of cattle branding, it was common knowledge that the brand was much more than a mark on the hide of a steer; it carried with it the promise of the rancher and the trust of the buyer. It represented a sense of quality and dependability. Some brands were known for their outstanding attributes while others carried a stigma of poor quality. As you can see, your logo, or mark, is not your brand, but a visual reminder of the promise that comes with it.

Why all the discussion about community branding?

I often get calls from economic developers wanting “a new brand.” While I know they are usually talking about a new logo, I have to be mindful of the fact that a new logo has to be the visual representative of the community’s reputation (brand), which already exists. Our job, as marketing communications professionals, is to discover the true meaning behind a community’s brand and then craft images and messages that will effectively communicate a positive and believable message.

Lately, there has been considerable discussion in the economic development industry about the practice of brand development or “rebranding”, a term I seriously dislike. Just as altering the mark on the back side of a scrawny steer won’t turn it into a prime beef steer, a new logo or slogan on a community web site won’t make it a desirable place to do business or raise a family. One of my former employers said it best when he’d say “You can’t shine sh*t.” A dysfunctional community with crumbling streets and lousy schools cannot be fixed with the simple application of a shiny new logo. Site selectors are smart professionals who will see right through such bull (pun intended).

Brand discovery

The first, and probably most important, step toward a successful branding effort is to find out what your brand presently represents. I’m not talking about what you and everyone else in town thinks. I’m talking about what outsiders think, as well. If site selectors, real estate professionals, and c-suite executives disagree with what you and your local constituents believe, then your messaging effort is doomed to fail.

By collecting the opinions of outsiders, you might find that your community’s reputation (brand) is completely different than you thought. For example, someone from New York City might believe that the entire State of Illinois is just like Chicago, just as he or she might assume that everyone in Florida lives by the beach, sipping orange juice. It’s also entirely possible that your community is completely unknown to outsiders, meaning it has no brand at all. This could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it.

Rolling the dice on a new brand

A few years ago, Las Vegas, Nevada, known for gaming, show girls, and a long history of organized crime, attempted to change its image by promoting the city as a family-friendly place to visit. It ran ads including images of smiling children and roller coasters. The problem was that no one believed that about Vegas. After a valiant effort, the campaign was scrapped for the more appropriate “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” campaign. Here’s their latest ad. The lesson they learned was You’ve gotta be who you are.

Change takes time and money

I’ve seen community leaders pay dearly for a new logo and a few street signs, just to discover later that nothing about the area’s reputation has changed in the slightest. Most of these branding efforts fall short of the real work that is required. The problem, often, is that they don’t commit the time and budget required to affect real change. Companies like Nike, Geico, McDonalds, and Walmart ate household names because they invest in media campaigns and repeatedly tell their stories. A community that fails to tell its story to carefully-selected audiences is doomed to remain unknown. A new logo without ongoing marketing communications support is nothing more than expensive art.

What’s a community to do?

Community branding is tricky business. My best advice is to approach the idea of a branding effort very carefully. Don’t fall for the suggestion that a new logo will perform miracles. It won’t. Before moving forward with such an investment in time and money, consider the value of a longer-term, holistic approach; one that you will support with a promotional effort to tell your story.

If you don’t fully understand what a branding campaign will do for your community, slow down and ask a lot of questions. If you’d like to know more, please feel free to contact me. I’ll gladly give you the questions, and my answers.

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences below.

Have a great week,

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

jim@brandaccel.com

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

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

8 Simple Rules to Selecting a Marketing Firm

8 Simple Rules to Selecting a
Marketing Firm

Don’t be fooled by shiny objects

While attending the recent spring conference for the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), my friend, and a member of the Brand Acceleration Board of Advisors, Cecilia Harry suggested I develop a checklist that clients could use to best select a marketing communications firm. I love checklists and thought hers was a great idea.

As you might expect, we receive numerous RFPs for our services. Sadly, many are so poorly written that we often can’t figure out just what the prospect wants. We try to be understanding of the fact that RFPs are often written by procurement agents or other non-marketing individuals. So, at Cecilia’s urging, here are a few key considerations that might help:

1. Find a Marketer

A true branding, marketing communications, and public relations partner will think holistically about your needs. Rather than just focusing on tactics such as web sites, brochures, or logos, they will conduct a review of your needs, your audiences, and expectations.

Question to ask: How would you go about developing in integrated marketing plan for my company or community? If he or she hesitates, indicating confusion or a lack of understanding, say good-bye.

2. Seek out a Brand Expert

A true brand expert understands that a brand is not your logo, color, or slogan. These are merely brand stimuli. Your brand is your reputation or promise. For example, when you walk into a McDonald’s or Starbuck’s, you know exactly what to expect. The promise is just that. As long as the company meets or exceeds that promise, the brand is safe.

If, on the other hand, a company has a horrible brand, often as a result of poor quality or service, a new logo will not save it. It will just be a lousy company with a new logo.

Question to ask: What is a brand and what will you do to help us enhance ours? A brand expert will talk about what I’ve just mentioned. The minute he or she starts talking about your logo, or the need for a new one, it’s time to cut and run.

3. Hire a Specialist

If you want an effective marketing effort, you’ll need a partner who already understands your industry and will not require an education in order to be able to help you. Simply using a firm because it has worked with others clients in your industry is no way to select a marcom (marketing communications) firm.

Question to ask: What do (insert audience such as site selectors, buildings administrators, etc.) want to see in our web site, brochures, videos, etc.? If they are unable to quickly and clearly answer that question, move on to the next candidate company.

4. Hire a Web Marketing Expert

When a prospect visits your web site, he or she has very high expectations. For economic developers, the site selection consultant and real estate broker have very specific pages and information they want to see. A trailing spouse has a different list. For AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) professionals, buildings administrators at higher education or K-12 schools, for example, are looking for something equally specific.

Question to ask: What are the three most important pages my prospects want to see on my web site? Which pages will they visit first, then second, then third? A web marketing expert who specializes in your industry will know the answers. A “web designer” won’t have a clue.

5. Copywriting is Critical

Who’s going to write the copy for your new web site, brochure, ad, or video? Often, the vendor expects you to do this yourself. If that’s the case, run away….fast! Even though you or someone on your staff may be a “pretty good” writer, copywriting is too important to accept “pretty good.” Professional copywriters are wordsmiths who know how to romance readers, painting a verbal picture and moving them to make contact. For web sites, for example, a great writer is a master at writing for search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo, which could mean the difference between a top five and a top thirty-five search ranking.

Question to ask a web writer: How have Google’s Panda and Penguin updates changed the way you write for a web site? Uhhh…Panda….Penguin???? So long.

6. Find a Real Design Professional

Just because someone knows the basics of using design software such as InDesign, Illustrator, or PhotoShop, does not make that person a designer. Referring to yourself as a “web designer” does not make you a designer. Trained and highly skilled designers understand the art and science of using beautiful design to enhance a brand and lead the viewer to action. “Pretty” is not good enough.

Ask this question: Where did you get your design degree? A great answer would be a highly-respected design school such as School of Art Institute of Chicago, Herron School of Art, Southern Crescent Technical College, or the University of North Carolina. Answers such as “I’m self-taught,” or “I have no formal training” should send you running.

7. Great Web Programmers are Difficult to Find

What makes a great web programmer? First, you must understand that programming is a rapidly-changing industry. When you consider the relatively recent advent of web apps, social media shifts, mobile devices, QR codes, and augmented reality, the pressure is constantly on programmers to stay on top of the latest and greatest new thing.

Just within the last couple of years, we’ve seen a huge shift to Responsive Mobile web sites. This means that all web pages are built in multiple sizes and formats, assuring that they are appropriately sized and structured for a visitor’s computer, tablet, and smartphone. Check out this site on various devices.

Ask this question: How have you utilized Responsive Mobile formatting? Show me examples.

8. What’s your Hourly Rate?

This is a question we hear often. The challenge is that we don’t have an hourly rate. Here’s why. Let’s say Joe has an hourly rate of $60 and Mary charges $100. Which is the better deal? Let’s assume that Joe needs thirty hours to complete a project while Mary does the same work in twelve. Now, which is the better deal? Someone’s hourly rate may not tell the whole story. It doesn’t tell the quality of work you should expect (or, maybe it does), the amount of time the work will require, or what the final bill will be. At Brand Acceleration, we offer our clients a “not to exceed” proposal. As long as the scope of work remains the same, they know what to expect on the invoice. We think this is important to know. Regarding price, it’s not our goal to be the cheapest. We simply want to be the best.

Question to ask: What will this project cost? If the response is a random calculation of estimated hours, it may be time to move on.

Finding and hiring an industry-specific branding, marketing communications and public relations firm is serious business. It should not to be taken lightly or done on the cheap. Once you’ve found the right person or team, you should expect a partner who will offer intelligent and well-founded counsel that will grow your brand and generate results. When you consider that landing a project can mean millions of dollars to your company or community, it’s too important to trust to a novice or low-price leader.

By the way, please feel free to call me for the answers to each of the questions. I’ll gladly share.

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences below.

Have a great week,

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

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

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

Friday, April 19, 2013

Good Economic News 4-23-13

Good Economic News

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

In Bay City, Michigan, Gulf Shore Investments, LLC will develop a new multi-use community, creating 30 new jobs.

In Aiken County, South Carolina, Owens Corning, a maker of glass fiber and composite materials, will expand and add a new warehouse facility. Congrats to Brand Acceleration client, Will Williams with the Economic Development Partnership of Aiken and Edgefield Counties.

In Jefferson Parrish, Louisiana, Incitec Pivot, Dyno Noble, and Cornerstone Chemical will open a new ammonia production facility and hire 65 employees.

In Hancock County, Indiana, auto parts maker Spectra Premium Industry, Inc. will expand and add 50 employees. Congrats to Brand Acceleration client, economic developer Skip Kuker.

Aircraft builder Boeing will expand its operation in Charleston, South Carolina, creating 2,000 jobs.

Food retailer Pita Pit will expand and add 800 employees companywide.

In Laurens County, South Carolina, aluminum casting company Alupress AG will establish a manufacturing facility, creating 57 new jobs.

In McMinn County, Tennessee, auto supplier HP Pelzer Automotive Systems will locate a new facility and hire 200 people.

Nishikawa Cooper, LLC, a maker of products for the auto industry, will expand in Bremen, Indiana, creating 34 jobs.

Sunny Z Foods, a maker of pre-packaged instant meals, will open a new facility in Saluda County, South Carolina, creating 150 new jobs.

In Elkhart, Indiana, RV producer Grand Design RV, LLC will open its headquarters and create 500 new jobs.

Kay Manufacturing Company, a provider of machining services, will expand in St. Joseph, Michigan, creating 80 jobs.

Tractor maker Kubota Corporation has opened a new manufacturing facility in Jefferson, Georgia where it will add 200 employees.

In Georgetown, Kentucky, auto maker Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky will begin building Lexus ES350 automobiles, creating 750 jobs.

General Electric will build an oil and gas research center in Oklahoma, creating 125 jobs.

Drew Industries, Inc., a maker of components for the RV industry, will open its headquarters in Elkhart County, Indiana and will hire 800 people.

Repair services franchise company Mr. Handyman will expand and hire 400 people companywide.

In Dillon County, South Carolina, tool retailer Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc. will expand and add 200 employees.

Imperium Health Management, an information management provider to the healthcare industry, will establish its headquarters in Louisville, KKentucky, creating 40 jobs.

The Entrepreneur Source will expand and add 300 employees companywide.

In Dale County, Alabama, Commercial Jet, Inc. will open an aircraft maintenance facility, creating hundreds if jobs.

Koch Foods will expand its poultry processing operation in Hamilton, Georgia, adding 750 employees.

Disaster recover company Servpro will expand its headquarters in Gallatin, Tennessee, creating 90 new jobs.

SMF, Inc., a metal facbrication company, will establish a new facility in Anderson County, South Carolina, creating 146 jobs.

Borusan Mannesmann, a maker of steel pipe, will open a new facility in Baytown, Texas, creating 250 jobs.

In Wake County, North Carolina, Ipreo Holdings, a provider of market intelegence and data services, will establish operations and create 250 jobs.

Computer maker IBM will open a technology center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, creating 800 jobs.

Auto parts maker Rassini Brakes, LLC will open a new facility in Mt. Morris, Michigan and hire 55 people.

Trinity Frozen Foods, a maker of food products, will open a new operation in Robeson County, North Carolina, creating 149 jobs.

In Salisbury, North Carolina, apparel maker Gildan Activewear, Inc. will open a new operation, expanding its employment to 200 people. Congrats to economic developer Robert Van Geons.

McLaughlin Body Company, a maker of operator protection systems, will open a new facility in Anderson County, South Carolina, creating 250 jobs.

Healthcare facility operator Workout Anytime will expand and add 150 employees companywide.

In Carmel, Indiana, Mainstreet Property Group, LLC, a developer of senior housing and care properties, will expand and create 25 jobs.

In Lenexa, Kansas, Crown Equipment, a materials handling company, has opened a branch and will create 60 jobs.

IEH Laboratories & Consulting group, a food industry service provider , will establish an operation in Scottsville, Kentucky, creating six jobs.

Plastics extrusion company Omega Plastics will expand its headquarters in Clinton, Tennessee and add 80 employees.

In Battle Creek, Michigan, auto parts maker Bleistahl North America LP will open a new facility and hire 58 new employees.

Windham Professionals business centers will expand at two locations in Tennessee and add 245 employees.

Metal Panels, Inc., a maker of metal roofing products, will open a new manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Kansas, creating 23 jobs.

In Columbus County, North Carolina, Ply Gem Industries, a maker of building products, will expand and add 145 employees.

Total Jobs Announcements: 10,513+

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

LinkedIn

Twitter

FaceBook

Google+

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

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Good Economic News 3-30-13

Good Economic News

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

In Geismar, Louisiana, chemical maker Huntsman Corporation will expand and create 397 jobs.

In Muncie, Indiana, Delaware Dynamics, LLC, a provider of die casting services, will expand and add 13 employees. Congrats to economic developer Terry Murphy.

Macco Organiques, a maker of chlorides, will open a new facility in Paducah, Kentucky, creating 40 new jobs.

Aircraft builder Boeing will consolidate flight training services in Miami, Florida, creating 787 jobs.

NAPA Auto Parts will hire 700 people companywide.

In Hamilton, Georgia, poultry producer Koch Foods will expand and add 750 employees.

In Macon County, North Carolina, metal manufacturer Franklin Tubular Products, Inc. will locate a new facility and create 121 jobs.

In Monroe, Michigan, auto parts maker Hanwha L&C Alabama LLC will expand and create 70 jobs.

Standard Register, a business services provider, will locate a new operation in Jeffersonville, Indiana, creating 360 jobs.

In Marion County, South Carolina, Essex Holdings, Inc., a global resource company, will open a facility and hire 215 people.

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology will expand its training facility and add 185 employees.

In Madison County, Indiana, truck body maker Warner Bodies, Inc. will expand and add 150 employees.

Martinrea Jonesville, a metal forming company, will open a new facility in North Adams, Michigan, creating 122 jobs.

Metal Shark Boats, a maker of watercraft, will expand in Jeanerette, Louisiana, creating 200 jobs.

Outokumpo Stainless Bar, a metal fabrication company, will expand in Chester County, South Carolina, adding 20 employees.

In New Albany, Indiana, jewelry producer Ronaldo Designer Jewelry, Inc., will open a new plant and hire 80 employees.

Kovatch Mobile Equipment, a maker of water hauling tanks, will expand in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, creating 100 new jobs.

Restaurant Hurricane Grill and Wings will expand and add 420 employees.

Peer Foods Group, Inc., a distributor of Food Products, will locate a new facility in Hancock County, Indiana, creating 80 jobs. Congrats to economic developer Skip Kuker.

In Richland County, South Carolina, Foil and Film packaging maker Constantia Hueck Foils will expand and add 15 employees.

In Grenada, Mississippi, sawmill operator Fly Timber will expand and create 30 new jobs.

In Kingsport, Tennessee, food maker Leclerc Foods will expand and create 40 new jobs.

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, a provider of hospitality products and services, will expand and create 69 jobs in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

XPO Logistics, a freight services provider, will expand its operation in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, adding 287 employees. Congrats to economic developer Jeff Edge.

Boyd Property Preservation, LLC will expand and create 104 new jobs in Whitfield County, Georgia and 300 in the State of Georgia.

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, consumer products maker Newell Rubbermaid will open a new facility, adding 100 employees.

In Robertson County, Tennessee, ProPack, a provider of fulfillment and freight forwarding services, will open a new facility and hire 22 people. Congratulations to Brand Acceleration client Robertson County Economic Development. Great job, Margot!

Multicraft International, a maker of auto parts, will expand in Pelahatchie, Mississippi, creating 30 jobs.

Insurance and benefits company MetLife, Inc. will create 2,600 new jobs in Charlotte and Cary, North Carolina.

In Rush and Tipton Counties, Indiana, seed producer DuPont Pioneer will expand and create 41 jobs. Congrats to Brand Acceleration clients Tipton County Economic Development Organization and Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation.

Green Flash Brewing Company, a craft beer producer, will open a new brewing facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia, adding 41 employees.

ICE Recycling LLC, a recycling services provider, will expand in Florence County, South Carolina, creating 15 jobs.

Lockheed Martin will invest in a facility to make tanks for liquefied natural gas in New Orleans, Louisiana, creating 166 jobs.

Sears Home Services will add 500 employees companywide.

In Halifax County, North Carolina, lumber producer Meherrin River Forest Products, will locate a new operation and hire 40 people.

In Vermillion, South Dakota, software developer Eagle Creek Software Services will open a new operation and hire 1,000 people.

In Stafford County, Virginia, food maker Greencore Group plc will expand and add 350 employees.

80/20 Inc., a maker of aluminum products, will expand its operation in Whitley County, Indiana, creating 97 jobs.

In Frankfort County, Kentucky, Hayashi Telempu North America, a maker of auto parts, will open a new facility and hire 103 people.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Lyons Consulting Group, an e-commerce company, will open an office and hire 30 employees.

In Vance, Alabama, auto maker Mercedes-Benze Alabama will open a facility and create 500 jobs.

Global Green Lighting, a maker of lighting products, will open an assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, creating 250 jobs.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, Celadon Trucking Services, Inc., a freight services provider, will open a driver training school and hire 500 employees.

In the cities of Holland and Walker, Michigan, Challenge Manufacturing Company, a maker of metal products, will expand and add 180 employees.

TITLE Boxing Club will add 2,500 employees companywide.

OFS Brands, a furniture and logistics company, will expand in Guilford County, North Carolina, adding 188 employees.

In Dodge County, Georgia, heat treating company Aremac Heat Treating LLC will locate a new facility and hire 60 people.

In Pulaski County, Virginia, vegetable producer Red Sun Farms will expand and add 250 employees.

Detroit Thermal Systems, LLC, a climate control business, will open in Romulus, Michigan, creating 300 jobs.

True Communications will expand and add 120 employees companywide.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, IBM will create a new technology center and hire 800 people.

Otto Environmental Systems, Inc., a plastics maker, will expand in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, creating 32 new jobs.

TeleTech Holdings, Inc., a customer service provider, will expand in Paducah, Kentucky and hire 450 people.

In Augusta County, Virginia, dairy manufacturer Shamrock Farms will open a new facility and create 60 jobs.

Total Jobs Announcements: 16,876

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

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