Brock Wagner arrived casual, his aloha shirt laid way back. He spoke about guerrilla-marketing St Arnold beer as anticipated below. In the energy-packed crowd, though, what caught my eye and ear were the small, blue-covered tubes placed by each place-setting by Colin Hageney of sponsor Bullpen Marketing.
As you can see – this secret photo carefully taken for me by Bullpen CD Suzi Senna – each of these tubes advertises the upcoming AMA Crystal Awards. But when I picked one up and idly asked about it, one of my table-mates said, “Oh! ChapStick!”
I replied that I didn’t think this tube was actually ChapStick – one of America’s best-planted brands. Then someone else (Kerri Ryan, I think, of Kryanoutloud Marketing) pointed us all in the right direction: “Lip balm.”
Later, one of the luncheon program presenters drew the crowd’s attention to the promotional item, calling it…ChapStick.
Now part of Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, the ChapStick brand is 100 this year. Its website offers a shallow look at the product’s history – a visitor from outer space would be hard-pressed to figure out why ChapStick is so widely used and well-known. But we know, don’t we? A simple, always-useful product that’s as close as our pocket or purse, with a consistent trade dress that today’s company continues even through a gazillion product line extensions.
Then there’s Colin’s lip balm with its own purpose-designed label. For him, it is a extremely effective brand vehicle: “Be the name on everybody’s lips,” as he says on the Bullpen blog. I suspect that, as long as users think its ChapStick, everyone will be happy. The product and the brand are effectively the same.
My tube is kiwi-strawberry flavor. Thanks to everyone for the great luncheon program – a nooner filled with beer and lip balm. BTW, I’m Richard Laurence Baron, AMAHouston volunteer and principal of Signalwrite Marketing.
Events, Sponsors, Volunteers / by
Richard Laurence Baron
There’s a special place in heaven for sponsors. Yes – the Healthcare SIG collected around 75 people for the extra-special “Outside-the-box Healthcare Marketing” seminar on Friday morning. Combined with the three top-grade speakers – Partha Krishnamurthy, Cara Zorzi and Steve McKee – there was a lot of energy and even laughter in the room…for more than three hours. The volunteers all were volunteery, the Houston Technology Center folks were great.
I’m going to drop more names, though, because a SIG seminar is fueled by more than elbow grease, bagels and coffee. (Okay – not altogether an attractive metaphorical collection.)
The sponsors Friday are supportive and involved. In no particular order, special sunny Sunday appreciation goes to Alleen Mitchener and Ana Rodarte of Gelb Consulting. Julie Laguarta and HALO/Lee Wayne. The people of Inn at the Ballpark.
There’s Karen Kershner and Communications Plus. Emily Bernard, Erin Lehr and Jen Pearsall of Pierpont. Susan Saurage-Altenloh and Richard Cisneros and Saurage Marketing Research. Randy Rigdon of Signature Media Group. Winnie Hart and The H Agency.
Author Unknown (not a SIG sponsor) said, “Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don’t unravel.” Thanks again to all our sponsors for keeping us raveled. BTW, I’m Richard Laurence Baron, AMAHouston volunteer and principal of Signalwrite Marketing.
Events, Sponsors, Volunteers / by
Richard Laurence Baron
Freeman+Leonard is one of AMA Houston’s newest Corporate Sponsors. Because of their support, we’ve been able to continue our popular luncheon series of high-profile speakers and topics, and most recently, a Mobile Marketing event hosted by our Interactive Marketing SIG.
We wanted to take a few minutes and get to know them a little better…
If you had to describe your company in three words, what would those be?
On-demand marketing talent.
What makes your company different?
Our management team has run major account teams at big agencies so we have first-hand experience in assembling and managing talent teams to meet clients marketing solutions.
What’s one marketing tip you’d like to share with us?
Sharpen your digital media and marketing knowledge and skills. Traditional media, even in the business to business environment, is losing power and the world is becoming increasingly more digital, social and mobile. Marketers who can’t keep up and bring thought leadership will find their value in the organization increasingly diminished.
Tell us a little about Freeman+Leonard:
Freeman+Leonard has been in business for over 15 years, doing business under the ArtSquad name. Our core business has always been providing area company’s and agencies with primarily creative talent on demand. Last year, after researching the needs of corporate clients and seeing the dramatic changes taking place in both mass and digital media and the challenges clients and agencies were having keeping up with the pace of change, we decided to rebrand as Freeman+Leonard, expanding our on demand talent solutions beyond the creative area to encompass senior level marketing and communications talent as well.
Freeman+Leonard now offers a complete suite of on demand, top-level marketing, communications and creative talent…everything from strategy and planning through the executional functions like copywriting, art direction and design and project management. Our footprint in Houston, Dallas and Austin and beyond have allowed us to build a pool of thousands of registered associates that have worked for literally every company in the U.S., for every major agency in every area of marketing, communication and creative. We very literally have the resources to do it all for a client or agency.
We’re responding to clients asking for complete team solutions, such as outsourcing entire departments or functions like marketing process and systems assessment and implementation, external communications plan development and execution, advertising, experiential, digital content and social media planning and management…even the outsourcing an entire marketing department.
Our approach provides clients with the personnel bandwidth to get marketing, communications and creative work done without adding headcount, staying under their cost containment targets.
How can our members can connect with you:
scone@freemandleonard.com or our web site www.freemanleonard.com. People can also reach us via Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
How long have you been an AMA Houston member?
One year
Why do you feel it’s important to be a sponsor for AMA Houston?
We know that corporate decision makers attend AMA events and although we have a concerted outbound marketing effort, we know the importance of building a brand and keeping top-of-mind awareness so that clients of think of us first when they have a need.
Thanks Freeman+Leonard for your support. We’ll see you at the February luncheon featuring the Houston Rockets. 
Sponsors / by
Robin Tooms
