February 2012 Company Profile
Level 2 Audio

provided by:  Mark Reiter

Check out this definition of the term “recording studio” from dictionary.com – recording studio – noun – studio where tapes and records are recorded.

Really?

Is it 1955? Doc, did the flux capacitor malfunction again?

Honestly, I own and operate a state-of-the-art recording studio (Level 2 Audio in Perrysburg), but I haven’t used a tape for more than 15 years, and … records?

Here’s a more current definition of what I do. Level 2 Audio – I provide digital audio production and location sound recording for radio and TV commercials and video programs … and I’ve been doing it since … well … since the days of tapes and records – 1986 to be exact.

Level 2 Audio, founded in 2004, was created to serve the Toledo area advertising and production communities. Even though audio for radio and TV ads are the mainstay of the business, I always find that there are services people don’t know I provide; such as voice talent casting, language translations, recording and editing music for performers, ADR/Looping (replacing voices on a video or film) or audio sweetening (beefing up music or effects to help tell a story) to name a few.

I realized early that clients needed to feel confident in bringing a Fortune 500 CEO, mayor, or company marketing professionals into a comfortable, professional yet creative environment. And that’s the balance I’ve tried to achieve at Level 2 Audio. Building solid relationships through professional customer service and fair pricing is what sets us apart from other studios.

So, if you’re still not certain what a recording does (Or, if you work for dictionary.com), take a look at the Level 2 website at level2audio.com. You’ll find a description of what goes on behind the scenes before, during and after a professional audio project. If you have any questions, please give me a call. I’d love to chat with you about how I can help with your next production.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Mark Reiter
1090 W. South Boundary, Suite 450
Perrysburg, OH  43551
419.873.1794

www.level2audio.com


January 2012 Company Profile
PromoHits
provided by:  Melinda Bowden

Tchotchkes…freebies…giveaways…and the latest from our country’s President….swag. When you are a promotional products company you hear all kinds of different names for the products you sell. What many people don’t realize about our products is that they are so much more than something to just giveaway free. Promotional products are another tool in your advertising and branding arsenal.

PromoHits combines time tested promotional techniques while incorporating the latest innovative trends of today. Unlike other forms of advertising, promotional marketing offers measurable results. Through tangible “calls to action” and trackable delivery systems, the strategic use of advertising specialties can accurately measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. PromoHits brings real return on investment for your budget.

Since 2000, we have provided our customers with results driven programs and promotions. We partner with your marketing department or advertising agency to generate more sales, attain and retain customer base, increase employee productivity/loyalty and reinforce your corporate brand.

We are a certified woman-owned business with WBENC. PromoHits is also a member of Promotional Products Association International (PPAI). Owner Melinda Bowden has achieved the industry’s Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS) designation. PromoHits also offers an online points-based incentive and recognition portfolio. We provide a range of services and support to maximize your channel sales incentives, customer loyalty programs and employee recognition and reward programs. Industry-leading technology solutions combine best-in-class administrative functionality with a reward catalog that is unprecedented in the industry. There are millions of merchandise reward options as well as a travel store to book hotels, airline tickets and cruises and an event tickets store with options including collegiate and professional sporting events, theatre, Las Vegas shows, NASCAR and national musical concerts.

419-358-0700
www.promohitsltd.com

December 2011 Company Profile
Fresh Products, LLC
Provided by: Chrissy Arvin

For over 40 years, Fresh Products has been manufacturing industrial odor control products for both domestic and international customers.  Bob Brown joined Fresh Products in the ’70s and was a key role as the company grew and developed over the years.  In 1988, Bob’s son, Doug Brown, joined the team and is now the president and highly involved in new product development with numerous patents granted.

Over the years, Fresh Products has been looking out for the environment and has focused on developing more environmentally friendly products.  We created an entire product line that are biodegradable, can easily be recycled and are packaged in 100% recycled corrugate.  Our clients like having the option to private label the products and packaging and have a variety of fragrances with great performance to choose from to fit their environment.

This past summer, Fresh Products re-designed all of their liquids product sleeves giving them a Fresh new look.  We recently participated in a large tradeshow for the industry and introduced a new line of products that have removable date indicators to remind the customers when to replace the product.  Fresh Products strives to be a leader in the industry and continues to set trends.

Fresh Products’ Mission is to manufacture and distribute superior commercial deodorizing products and solutions via distribution throughout the world.

We have a team that is dedicated to customer satisfaction and product performance.  For more information, please check out our website: www.freshproducts.com or ‘Like’ us on Facebook.

Contact Information:
Fresh Products
4010 South Ave., Toledo, OH 43615
419.531.9741
www.freshproducts.com

November 2011 Company Profile
Hart Associates
provided by:  Mike Bell

Hart Launches New Brand Identity; Deepens Client Service Investments

Hart Associates has launched a new brand identity as part of a phased approach to expanding its range of client services. The integrated marketing communications firm has introduced a fresh visual identity and logo as well as a reinvented web site, www.hartinc.com, which provides a comprehensive view of its people, work and capabilities.

As rapid change takes hold of the advertising and marketing industries, Hart recognizes that, to grow as a valued client partner, it must change, too. Hart constantly is refining the techniques it uses to help organizations connect with customers and consumers on a deeper, more relevant level, as a means of achieving stellar business results.

“It is critical for marketers to change as fast as the industry does in order to remain competitive,” said Mike Hart, president and CEO. “With increasingly empowered consumers, the digital universe at their fingertips and the advent of new technologies, the way advertising is created, consumed and measured literally is being transformed.”

Hart’s brand identity will continue to evolve in the coming months as it deepens its investment in client services such as digital and social media marketing, research and analytics and specialized communication services designed for senior executives.

“The visible changes to Hart’s identity are just the first stage of what’s to come,” said Marc Paulenich, the agency’s chief operating officer and vice president of strategy. “The client loyalty Hart enjoys today will grow even stronger as we help our partners integrate additional cutting-edge capabilities into their marketing mix.”

Contact information:
Hart Associates
1915 Indian Wood Circle
Maumee, OH 43537
www.hartinc.com
419.893.9600



October 2011 Company Profile
Sociably Cindy

provided by:  Cindy Ursell

In today’s world of ever changing technology, businesses must adapt to stay ahead. Included in this new technology is the wide world of Social Networking.

Sociably Cindy began with a desire to help local small business owners stay connected with their customers, after they have walked out of the store. Social Networking has given consumers a powerful voice, and business owners need to not only hear what is being said, but to interact.

Services provided include daily maintenance of social networking profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, etc.), blog writing, and email newsletters. Also utilizing QR codes and ‘managed marketing’ to connect your social networking marketing with other print advertisings.

Social networking training, both in one-to-one settings or in groups is available. Trainings are available for Facebook, Linked In and Twitter, and are available for a novice or more experienced user. The trainings are meant to encourage a profile that is compliant with employers Social Networking policy, as well as assist in their sales and brand awareness.

Cyber Bullying is affecting area teens every day, but many parents are still not sure if and how their young people are being affected. Parents, school leaders or community groups interested in learning more about Cyber Bullying and how to monitor it have a resource in Sociably Cindy.

Be where the people are, and where they’re searching for you. Here to help you stay ‘Sociably Connected’… Sociably Cindy

Cindy Ursell
Owner, Sociably Cindy
419.318.2083
Cindy@SociablyCindy.com

September 2011 Company Profile
Adams Street Publishing
provided by:  Collette Jacobs

Reaching over 270,000 readers each month with five publications – Toledo City Paper, Toledo Parent News, Ann Arbor Family, Ann Arbor’s Current magazine and Findlay Family – Adams Street Publishing Co. has been building a community of readers for almost 20 years. These publications reach a highly educated, influential audience of individuals who are informed participants in the community around them – a psychographic highly sought after by advertisers with important messages to deliver.

A family affair from the beginning, Collette Jacobs began publishing Toledo Area Parent in 1992 out of a spare bedroom in her home. With a staff of two part time working moms,the challenge of putting out the free monthly publication equaled the challenge of raising a two-year old and a newborn. The paper was a rousing success filling a need for families throughout the area for helpful parenting advice while providing a forum for exchange between local businesses/service providers and information hungry young families.

In 1997, we saw the need for a true alternative weekly in the area, and the Toledo City Paper was born. With the additional title came a move to the company’s current office location on the corner of Adams and 12th in downtown. The paper rapidly became an area “go to” source for arts, entertainment and news commentary, consistently offering up informative coverage of local politics, food, arts & entertainment and other things our Toledoans wouldn’t read about from any other source. We’ve developed a strong connection with our community, sponsoring events, hosting shows and remaining an integral part of what makes Toledo great.

Our Annual Best of Toledo awards, chosen by our readers, are a badge of honor for local businesses and personalities.

In recent years, we’ve grown further, expanding into the Findlay and Ann Arbor Markets. Ann Arbor Family and Findlay Area Family boast the same consistent quality as Toledo Area Parent, but contain local information for their home cities. We acquired Ann Arbor’s monthly arts and entertainment magazine, Current, four years ago. Current has been in Ann Arbor for over twenty years is filled with news and events, provided by a dedicated and professional group of writers who know their city like a friend.

contact us:
Adams Street Publishing
Phone:  419.244.9859
www.adamsstreetpublishing.com

August 2011 Company Profile
Perich Advertising + Design
provided by:  Craig Hagenbuch

Surprise Toledo.

Since 1987, we’ve been surprising people.  Big brand after big brand such as GM, Dell, Netflix, Carhartt, JBL and others have been surprised that some little advertising/design firm in Ann Arbor can think big, strategize big, work big, literally fill a room with thought and ideas and “what ifs”, solve big problems, service them like a big agency but still move quickly like the not-so-big agency we are.  Oddly enough, smaller brands like us for the exact same reasons.  Many of us have been here at Perich for more than a decade – unusually long for this industry-but only after we found out what it was like in a big shop.  Being not-so-big also forces us to be extremely resourceful, both with our own time and money, and with our clients’ time and money.  We’re excited to be part of the Advertising Club of Toledo.  We’d love the chance to surprise you.  To see our work, visit www.perich.com or contact our Toledo guy Craig Hagenbuch @ 419-290-3043 for more information.

July 2011 Company Profile
The Valentine Theatre
provided by: Matt Lentz

The Toledo Cultural Arts Center, The Valentine Theatre, is a non-profit organization, producing and providing cultural and performing arts experiences for diverse audiences of all ages, to enhance the quality of the cultural and economic life of the City of Toledo, Lucas County, Northwestern Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

The Valentine Theatre is a 116-year-old 901-seat facility operated by the Toledo Cultural Arts Center, Inc. After a 21-year effort by the Board of Trustees and the community, the $28 million renovation was unveiled on October 9, 1999. Since the Gala re-opening, more than 800,000 people have attended 1000 international, national and area presentations, weddings and events at The Valentine. In our nearly 13 years of operation, the theatre has been used by more than 50 community groups including the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Opera, Toledo Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Toledo, Toledo Jazz Society, Masterworks Chorale, University of Toledo, Central Catholic High School, St. John’s High School and many others.

The Valentine Theatre in its own presentation series has brought the widest variety of culturally and ethnically diverse attractions including Grigorovich Ballet, The Boys Choir of Harlem, Earl Klugh, Momix, Ramsey Lewis, Tango Buenos Aires, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The National Ballet of Bahia, Brazil, “On Golden Pond,” “Grease,” “Ain’t Misbehavin,” “CABARET” and many others.

For further information, call Matt Lentz at 419-242-3490.

June 2011 Company Profile
West Printing Company is Hip

by:  Steve Robison

Hot trends in the printing industry rarely change the way we do business with our clientele.

In most cases our clients want expert advice, creative solutions and consistent, dependable service. West Printing is a nimble provider of just those things.

Smart Print Professionals have long recognized that the Printing industry is more than making copies or putting ink on paper. Printing is a communication medium and as such much thought should go in to what you say in your printed communication.

Steve Robison, the owner of West Printing Company provides the knowledge and experience to bridge the gap between a client’s concept and end user results whether the resultant product is digital or analog.

The Company earned the first dollar online in 1998 and as such has been an early adopter of web marketing and search marketing methods. The goal in most cases is to help the client make more money. Impressive results have kept pace in the down economy.

Clients have come to West Printing from as far away as Austria. So the power of selling locally while marketing globally is real. You never know who is looking for exactly what service you provide.

West Printing uses both print and web media channels to assist clients in promoting their business. Sometimes print collateral is unnecessary. The Company offers clients an array of web services.

Every successful business has a cadre of professionals they rely upon. An attorney, banker, insurance agent are typical players. West Printing seeks to fulfill the role of marketing communications and solution provider.

contact:

Steve Robison
Print & Web Media Marketing Specialist
327 12th Street, Toledo, OH 43604
Phone:  419.246.0857
steve@toledoprinter.com

www.ToledoPrinter.com

May  2011 Company Profile
2 Scale
provided by:  Dan Skilliter

As an experiential branding company, 2-Scale brings life to products and services for our clients through a team of talented designers working with graphic and construction departments. Our branded process results in the creation of visual displays that encapsulate the vision of our client’s brands. But we don’t stop there. We can provide inventory management, shipping and warehousing. You can see 2-Scale work exhibited everywhere from trade shows to corporate lobbies to museums.

2-Scale operates out of a 25,000 square foot facility in Holland. Since 1988, our commitment to excellence and results has fostered strong, long-lasting partner relationships with Fortune 500 companies and thousands of small businesses. Our creative staff has a reputation for putting excitement into two and three dimensional communications.

Ultimately, when you peel back the layers, our passion is creating simple, yet powerful brand experiences that convey what our clients believe in and, more importantly, how they are unique, in a way that matters to their clients. Through more than 23 years of innovation and creativity, we continue to provide exceptional branding solutions and service to our growing list of client partners.

We invite you to stop by our facility at 7710 Hill Ave in Holland to see what’s new in visual branding.

April 2011 Company Profile
Sunshine
written by: Carolyn Miller

For six decades, the people working at Sunshine have made it a goal to give people with disabilities a voice in a world where these people can often be voiceless.

Sunshine’s mission is to create community among people with developmental disabilities, their families, friends and staff. We do this by offering services that enable all of us to build relationships that enhance our lives through mutual caring and growth.

Sunshine serves more than 1,000 people in northwest Ohio.  The goal: to provide every last person in this group with quality care and enriching life experiences.  To achieve this goal, we have a broad range of programs and services that will meet the needs of each and every person we serve.  We want to support these people in making contributions that the outside community will see.

Sunshine’s main campus offers gardens and a greenhouse, a scenic boardwalk that winds through the woods, artistic expression at Sunshine Studios with applied art and ceramics, swimming, animal care, recycling and horseback riding.  Many of these activities allow for active employment for the people we serve. We have supported employment programs that make it possible for people with disabilities to make their own income and become an integral part of the workforce.

In other words, the world’s best kept secret lies just inside our doors.  People with developmental disabilities have so much to offer this world, and it is our job at Sunshine to help these people contribute in meaningful ways.

For more information, call 419.865.0251, visit www.sunshine.org or e-mail Carolyn Miller at cmiller@sunshine.org.  Sunshine is also on Facebook.  Check out our page by searching for Sunshine Inc. of Northwest Ohio.  You can also stop and visit our main campus at 7223 Maumee Western Road in Maumee.

March 2011 Company Profile
Impressions Media Group
written by:  Julie Walker

Impressions Media Group provides a cost-effective media service that is committed to the long term growth and success of our clients.  IMG specializes in thoughtful strategy applied to planning and buying all forms of media in a variety of markets including local, regional, national and international venues.

Our media plans are grounded on research to develop the most effective strategy that is tailored to our client’s needs and budget. We consistently monitor current market conditions and opportunities, which allows us to select the best media tactics specifically based on the clients goals. Our client’s budgets are spent thoughtfully and we strongly believe in the art of negotiating well.

IMG believes in building strong professional relationships with media vendors. These relationships enable us to negotiate the best rates while maintaining the integrity of our buys. And, we work hard to enhance a campaign with a variety of media buying strategies and marketing value-added services.

Clients can be assured that IMG will continually analyze and track campaign performance. We carefully monitor schedules to ensure they run as negotiated and are adjusted as needed.

Let our 27 years of experience work for you. Contact us to supplement your current media buying efforts, or to handle your next media project from beginning to end. We know we’ll make a good impression on you!

If you would like more information, please contact Julie Walker at 419.277.7702 or jwalker@bex.net

February 2011 Company Profile
FLS Marketing
written by:  Molly Luetke Datson

We get it.
We get it done.

FLS helps clients strengthen and protect reputations, drive sales, and build public awareness and support. We apply the time and experience needed to understand each assignment from the inside out. The result: strategic solutions driven by creative ideas that demand attention.

FLS specializes in critical issue response, campaign planning, branding, marketing, public relations and consumer advertising.

Founded in 1984, as Funk Luetke & Associates, FLS Marketing has grown to one of the most respected public relations and marketing services firms in the Great Lakes region on a strong foundation of client satisfaction and project performance.

Over the years, our clients have ranged from Fortune 500 companies, universities and public school districts, top-performing not-for-profit groups, regional health care systems, professional services firms and elected officials.

We begin each project with the clear understanding that every organization is unique and every problem presents a different set of challenges. The FLS account and creative teams collaborate to pinpoint the best approach to deliver vision, passion and clarity.

Our proven tactics are drawn from more than 26 years as a full-service marketing, public relations and advertising firm. Our broad-based experience is carefully combined with the latest strategies to break through the clutter and strengthen each client’s position.

Contact Information:
405 Madison Ave., Ste. 1550
Toledo, OH 43604
419.241.1244
www.flsmarketing.com





January 2011 Company Profile
Toledo & Signature Harley-Davidson
written by:  Sara Shiels

Toledo Harley-Davidson on Central Avenue and Signature Harley-Davidson in Perrysburg are where you’re number one! We constantly put our best foot forward and give 110% to be just what you are looking for; from a great selection of new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles and all of the parts and apparel that go with it, to service that keeps you in top shape and on the road. We also strive to be number one in the community by giving back and supporting local charities and organizations.

You don’t need to own a Harley to be a part of the community and culture that is prevalent at Toledo and Signature H-D. Join us for one of our many events that are all about bringing people together for a good cause like our annual parking lot concerts at Toledo H-D or the Biker Bash at Signature H-D. These events, plus a number of rides we do throughout the season are to benefit local charities. We also support many local events with charitable contributions to help them raise funds at their events. We’ve worked with Mom’s House, the Sickle Cell Foundation of Northwest Ohio and Planned Pethood just to name a few.

Looking for the Harley of your dreams? Toledo H-D and Signature H-D have an incredible selection of new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles to set you up with the bike you are looking for. We also accept trades of all makes and models and provide great financing options to make your dreams become a reality. Our MotorClothes and Parts & Accessories departments are here to make sure you have all of the gear and parts you need, with a staff trained to fit you and your bike properly. Our service department provides the best for your ride from our technicians that are PHD Certified by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. These departments all come together to form two great dealerships striving to make you feel like you are number one and a part of the Harley-Davidson community!

Or maybe you just want a taste of the open road? Signature Harley-Davidson is your stop for Authorized Harley-Davidson rentals. With daily, weekend, weekly or even monthly rentals available, you can treat yourself to a genuine motorcycling experience any time you’d like.

How about learning how to ride? If you want to experience the thrill of riding a Harley stop in to either of our dealerships for a spin on Jumpstart. We’ll let you fire up a Harley right in our showroom, no endorsement or experience needed. You’ll get to start the engine, shift through the gears and experience the excitement you can only get on a Harley. Or call or stop by Toledo Harley-Davidson to get information on the Rider’s Edge program. This 4-day program provides a proven blend of classroom instruction and range riding that will leave you confident and ready for the road. When you complete and pass the class you’ll receive an MSF Rider Course Completion Card that could exempt you from the written and/or riding portion of the motorcycle license test. Skilled rider courses are also available for those with experience and are looking to hone their riding skills.

It is with a positive approach to business and the community that both Toledo and Signature Harley-Davidson were recently honored with the Top 100 Award from Dealernews. Stop in soon to see what we’re all about!

Toledo Harley-Davidson, 7960 W. Central Ave, Toledo, OH
www.toledohd.com

Signature Harley-Davidson, 1176 Professional Dr, Perrysburg, OH
www.signaturehd.com

December 2010 Company Profile
Communica

November 2010 Company Profile
The Blade

In 1835, Andrew Jackson was president, much of the country was unexplored wilderness, the U.S. government had no debt, a Civil War seemed unthinkable, and two villages located at the western tip of Lake Erie were on the verge of merging into one city: Toledo. The residents that had settled in these parts were struggling to build a home amidst the difficulties and diseases of living in a Black Swamp. They were farmers, trappers and traders. They had dug in and intended to stay. And not just stay, but prosper. A newspaper was one of their early requirements. It would be their symbol of permanence; a voice shouting their needs and opinions to state governments and national leaders. They called it “The Toledo Blade”—a journalistic sword that would “break before it will bend.”

In December of 2010, that publication—now simply called The Blade—will celebrate its 175th year of continuous operation. No other locally owned business has been here longer. The Blade was one of the first newspapers established west of the Alleghenies, and it is one of very few left in the country that has survived the Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and more than one stock market crash and economic crisis—not to mention, the ups and downs of the newspaper industry in general.

Even before there was a Toledo, there was a Blade. The newspaper and the city came into being within months of each other. In fact, the paper was founded to help ensure that the two villages of Vistula and Port Lawrence would be incorporated into one municipality. The fledgling publication would follow that fight with a second battle to make Toledo part of Ohio, not Michigan. Its primary mission was and would always be to promote the region’s interests.

The two families that have been the paper’s principal owners for most of its existence—the Lockes from 1865 to 1926 and the Blocks from 1926 to the present day—have provided information and leadership to area residents, and have been staunch generous supporters of organizations that helped improve the community’s quality of life. It was The Blade that first brought national news to Toledo via telegraph. It was a Blade editor, Jesup W. Scott, who donated the land for what would become the University of Toledo. Blade owner David Ross Locke would help establish the area’s first natural gas utility. The Blade would be instrumental in bringing the first art exhibit to Toledo. It encouraged Edmund Drummond Libbey to invest in development of the Toledo Museum of Art, and it held a fundraising drive to raise funds for the building’s construction. Blade owner Robinson Locke was directly responsible for bringing nationally acclaimed actors to this city, including Sarah Bernhardt and Lillian Russell. A hundred years later, The Blade would campaign to save the Valentine Theatre from a wrecking ball. And it was editorials in The Blade that would lead to the building of a water sewage treatment plant, the opening of a St. Lawrence Seaway, and fluoridation of area drinking water. Blade owner Paul Block, Jr. would fight for the founding of the Medical College of Ohio. Other members of the Block family and Blade editors would help bring about the creation of a local airport, the construction of a convention center, and much, much more.

More importantly, The Blade continues its community support to this very day, and is positioned to continue that mission into the future. In an era when pundits claim no one reads the paper, more than eight out of ten area adults rely on The Blade. Across the country, newspaper circulation fell an average of 8.74% since September 2010—including at powerhouses like The New York Times, USA Today and Chicago Tribune. But The Blade saw its readership climb 6.30%. That makes it #1 in Ohio and #5 in the nation for percentage of market leadership. Its readership covers fourteen counties in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Its website, toledoblade.com, launched in 1997, is the region’s most viewed online media source for news. Together, the two entities reach over 81 percent of the market.

In addition, The Blade has been honored with countless awards for its investigative reporting and photojournalism, including a Pulitzer Prize for its investigative series, Tiger Force, in 2004, and Pulitzer Prize finalist nomination for its coverage of the “Coingate” scandal in 2006.

For area residents who want to stay informed, The Blade is the preferred choice over every other local print publication, radio station, and television news program in this market. For retailers and business owners who need effective advertising, it’s the number one local news source for reaching any gender, any age, and any demographic.

The Blade’s latest product, eBlade, is the electronic edition of the paper. As the area news medium of tomorrow, eBlade provides all the features and benefits of the printed Blade but is environmentally friendly, searchable, can be archived for future use, and literally goes anywhere active modern readers want. It is quite literally a news “vehicle” that can be accessed anywhere at any time by desktop computer, laptop, notebook, cell phone or other mobile device. Turn the pages with a mouse, and see the same stories, photos and information as in a printed Blade, but in an environmentally friendly format. Then save eBlade to a computer for future reference if needed. No clutter. No recycling. The paper without the paper.

The Blade has been serving the Greater Toledo area with dedication and integrity from the city’s very beginning, and it is committed to that mission for many decades to come. For Blade employees and owners who have one eye on the past and a foothold in the future, one hundred and seventy five years is just a good healthy start.

SOURCE: 2009 Media Audit; March 2009 Audit Bureau of Circulations

October 2010 Company Profile
The Image Group

Give-aways, trinkets and trash, logo’d stuff, all names that have been given to the products we provide to our clients. Sometimes it’s painful to hear how people talk about our business, but I guess it’s like they say, “it doesn’t matter what they say about you, as long as they’re talking about you”, and people are talking about promotional products.

If you stop to think about how often you come across a promotional product during the normal day, you’ll have a better understanding of how important this communication medium has become. The golf items provided at the company outing, the t-shirts everyone wears on vacation, the pen that’s sitting in front of you as you read this, and the coffee mug on your desk that probably needs to be washed, are all providing continual reinforcement of someone’s message.

As much as these items are a part of all of our days, promotional products are often the last things considered when an advertising or marketing campaign is developed. Product positioning, communication strategies, product roll-out, branding, and viewer impressions are all important elements to a successful campaign, but none of these elements can succeed on their own and must be incorporated into a well conceived overall strategy.

Promotional products are the medium that keeps on working long after all the other communication tools have gone home for the day. With an average cost per impression of only $.004, these tools keep your message in front of the audience, continually reinforcing the intended message.

Like any tool, promotional products need to be used effectively to maximize their benefit. Poor item selection, inappropriate price point, ineffective delivery method, or any other issue that detracts from the message will negatively impact the execution of your marketing effort. So, it’s not just about price, it’s not a commodity, and it’s not about having a brother-law in the business that should dictate who your promotional product supplier should be. Just like every other element in a marketing strategy, you need to find a partner who provides experience, professionalism, creativity, and service.

The Image Group has been part of the local advertising community since 1981. With our roots in award manufacturing, the company has grown to become the largest provider of promotional products headquartered in Northwest Ohio. In addition to this market we also have sales offices in, Cleveland, Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Fort Wayne.

Today we provide our clients with a wide range of services that include product selection and design, in-house silk screening, embroidery, award manufacturing, warehousing, fulfillment, web development and support, and data management. We’re proud to be partnering with the leading companies in Northwest Ohio and throughout the US, providing our expertise to their overall sales and marketing strategies. Whether it’s the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, The Jamie Farr LPGA Tournament, or the t-shirt you wear to the grocery store on Saturday morning, The Image Group had a hand in it.

We’ve grown based on the needs of our clients and the continual focus on our vision statement;

“Our vision is to be seen and remembered as being the best at everything we do – as a company, and as individuals – whatever it takes”.

September 2010 Company Profile
PWG Marketing/Patrick Giammarco

When it comes to small business marketing, Patrick Giammarco has a real interest and desire to help business owners.

Born and raised in the Cleveland area, Patrick realized early on that many small businesses are overwhelmed by marketing. As a college student, Patrick worked as an intern for his grandfather’s plumbing supply business. It bothered Patrick to see his grandfather struggling to market his business. “I saw the frustration that he had,” says Patrick. “Ultimately, he didn’t know what made him different from everyone else who did what he did, so he ended up competing on price.” “I see it all the time—people get into business because they make a great product or provide a much needed service, but they’re not necessarily comfortable with marketing.”

Affected by what his grandfather had experienced, Patrick oriented his education and career toward marketing. While earning his MBA and gaining valuable corporate branding and marketing experience with Libbey, Calphalon, Microsoft and The University of Toledo, his desire to help small business owners with their marketing efforts never waned. In 2006, he discovered the Duct Tape Marketing System—a unique, turnkey small business marketing system created by award-winning author and blogger John Jantsch. It appealed to Patrick immediately because of its main principle: to simplify marketing for small businesses.

Empowered by the DTM system, Patrick launched a small business venture of his own in 2008, PWG Marketing, which offers coaching services to small businesses in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Patrick is careful to distinguish between what consultants do and what a marketing coach does. “As a Duct Tape coach I work as a coach-consultant hybrid. I provide advice and expertise when needed, accountability and strategy when stuck and proven tactics to help owners systematically build their business.”

As a coach, Patrick adheres to the mantra of simplification. He acknowledges that there are a number of marketing options out there, many of which involve the web, such as social media, blogs, and search engine optimization. His role as a coach is to eliminate the confusion by holding small businesses accountable and helping to systematize their marketing. “Small businesses tend not to have a marketing process. Rather, they operate with a ‘marketing idea of the week’ mindset and most do not have a systematic approach to marketing. Having a system is the solution,” he says.

He is particularly excited to offer his expert coaching services in the greater Toledo area. “I love it here,” he says. Sure, Toledo has seen its share of tough times, but the entrepreneurial spirit is still very strong.” As a marketing coach, Patrick is committed to helping owners turn that entrepreneurial spirit into successful businesses.

Join Patrick at his session #2 AdWORKS breakout session on October 15 where he’ll be giving his popular Four Marketing Pillars that Matter Most in the New Economy presentation. Download a complimentary copy of the 7 Steps to Small Business Marketing Success report at www.pwgmarketing.com or call Patrick at 419-329-4256.

August 2010 Company Profile
RGB Productions

RGB Productions, Inc. is a full service multimedia production company.  With 30 years of experience, we help our clients accurately capture their vision and express it clearly for all to see.  We offer high definition and standard definition field production, non-linear editing suites, DVD Authoring, DVD & CD duplication and replication, multimedia event equipment rental, and a host of other services as well.

From a 15 second commercial to a one hour documentary, RGB Productions, Inc. has the experience to take any project from concept to completion.  Our commercial clients include The Andersons, and we have just recently completed regional commercials for Owens Corning.  We are also proud to have had an original documentary about the Kentucky Derby aired nationally on HDnet.  For those high end projects, we can shoot in RED with nationally known Directors of Photography.

After a project is complete, RGB can help “get it out there”.

Whether it’s for commercial broadcast or streaming video, we have the equipment and expertise to give you any format you need.  We offer DVD and CD authoring services for video, music and multimedia projects.  Need copies?  Our DVD and CD duplication and replication services can handle any size job, big or small.  We even have USB flash drives available.  We are also pleased to offer format transfer services for the old tape formats like VHS and Hi 8, and we can take those old home movie reels and transfer them to DVD.

Make those big events seem even bigger using our multimedia event services.  Put your video, powerpoint presentation or live camera on the big screen with our projector and screen rentals.  We have experienced, knowledgeable technicians to help with every aspect of your show.

***********************
June 2010 Company Profile
Temple Development Company
written by:  Michael Temple

Michael Temple is an independent consultant, speaker, and author in the Internet and direct marketing industry.  He is owner of Temple Development Company.  His consulting practice focuses on one thing; generating more customers and getting them to buy as much as possible from you.  He has spent over a decade learning how to motivate people to take action.  When people take action businesses make sales, generate profits and grow.  The Internet is one of the greatest achievements for business in the history of the modern world, but there is more to the story than amazing technology or a “cool” web site.

Michael’s solutions focus on blending marketing, technology and psychology into powerful solutions for businesses.  He finds ways to develop new customers, open new markets, and sell more products and services and make more money for his clients than anyone else.

Internet marketing, copywriting, email marketing, and smart use of technology and psychology that has motivated people for hundreds of years are the tools of his trade.  Using these tools he creates award winning web sites, lead generation campaigns, effective and measurable marketing strategies.  He calls this entire process Spinning The Web Into Gold.

Michael has over a decade of experience in the Internet and direct marketing industries.  He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Toledo with concentrations in marketing and information systems.  His undergraduate degrees were in finance and a economics.  He is a part time professor at U.T. teaching Internet marketing and direct marketing as well as running his consulting practice.  He lives in Sylvania, Ohio with his wife Christina and has two children Christopher and Marianna.

May 2010 Company Profile
in-house communications
written by:  Kathy Jex

People often ask me, “Just what do you do anyway?” and I usually reply with a smile that my unofficial company slogan is “Almost Anything For A Buck”! That’s my tongue-in-cheek description of my business since I am a freelancer and benefit from a long list of professional experiences. In-House Communications is the name of my business, reflecting not only the location of my office but the fact that I sometimes subcontract for agencies. In my long career, I have worked as a designer and script writer in a creative shop and then as the Marketing and Advertising Coordinator at a major hospital. Since going out on my own, I have had the pleasure of working on a variety of things for a variety of clients, so it’s not always easy to give a simple answer to the question of what I do.

For the past few years, I have mainly been copywriting. The list includes web site copy, brochures, press releases, scripts for TV, radio and presentations, newsletter articles, newspaper articles and just about anything you can think of that requires the written word. I also coordinate special events, work on strategic plans for my clients, do a little simple graphic design (I did design my logo) and am comfortable with producing, directing and interviewing for electronic media. Health care continues to be a specialty, as I have worked with many physicians and other health care providers on marketing and practice management materials. And years of volunteer work with local non-profit agencies have given me a unique talent for understanding their special needs for marketing and promotion. My clients include small businesses, but I also work with agencies, enjoying the creative feedback and teamwork that only an agency can provide. So the next time you need something written, produced or planned, think about all the services you can have In-House and give me a call.

Kathy Jex
inhouse.comm@att.net
419-537-9004

April 2010 Company Profile
Off Contact Productions

Off Contact Is On Target for Area Clients

You’ve seen their work. It cruises past you on the way to work most mornings, and hangs over your head as you walk Toledo’s downtown streets. They are Off Contact Productions (OCP), a locally based supplier of marketing graphics and inks, and their work is getting around. It’s wrapped top to bottom on Tarta buses and it banners light posts as part of an Arts Commission of Greater Toledo Earth Day project. In fact, you might say it has been a banner year for the company overall.

Off Contact was founded by brothers James and Allen Schall in 1999 as a print for service provider, and quickly grew to be the go-to source for high quality graphics and specialty inks for prominent clients and area attractions around the region. The company has been producing the vibrant signage at Fifth Third Field from the stadium’s opening day, and scored again when it was tapped to provide the graphics at the newly launched Lucas County Arena.

In 2003, Off Contact expanded its services, launching Budget Wraps, a division dedicated to producing whole-vehicle exterior graphics for transit companies. After seven years of decorating Tarta’s vehicles with the creative designs produced by area art students, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority selected Off Contact to sell its transit advertising as well. The contract was awarded following a review of bids from area vendors, and included an agreement by Off Contact to return a significant percentage of each advertising sale to the mass transit company.

“This is a feel-good give-back to the community,” states OCP president James Schall. “We’re proud to partner with a company that provides such a vital service to area residents, and even prouder to help subsidize TARTA’s operating budget. It’s good for TARTA. Good for riders. Good for the local economy.”

“The work we produce is attention-getting and often fun,” CEO Allen Schall adds. “But when it comes to delivering results, we are all business.”

Off Contact is located at 4756 Bancroft in Toledo, Ohio. For more information, contact them toll free at 877.OCP.9727 or visit them online at www.offcontact.com.

March 2010 Company Profile
Mail Works!

As northwest Ohio’s largest direct mail solutions provider, Mail Works’ commitment to excellence is paramount.  With over 30 years of postal knowledge and mailing expertise, Mail Works brings exceptional breadth and depth of experience to its clients.  Mail Works is a full service letter shop with a highly knowledgeable staff, state of the art equipment and the capacity to help you effectively grow your business and measure the results!  From demographic modeling, customer profiling, and consumer lists, to specialized fulfillment and the largest automated runs, Mail Works is truly a seamless extension of your organization’s marketing department.

Using list management services and data collection, Mail Works focuses on your marketing efforts through variable offers or requests within the same mail programs you are currently using.  Mail Works can handle any type or size mailing from 200 to 2 million pieces.

February 2010 Company Profile
H.O.T. Printing & Graphics

H.O.T. & Shapiros compile rich history, look to the future…

In 1976, Inez Shapiro started House of Type in a spare room in her south Toledo home with one typesetting machine. At the age of 54 she sold and delivered jobs during the day, then did the typesetting and keylining at night. Not long after, she moved her growing business and half dozen employees to a small office on Airport Highway. Within a couple years, House of Type, with its signature orange color logo, became the largest typographer in northwest Ohio.

Around the same time, her son Norman, a college student, bought his first used printing press for $50 and H.O.T. Printing was born. As the business grew and sons, Greg & Myron joined the H.O.T. team, it became necessary to move again, into an 11,000 square foot building on Erie Street in downtown Toledo where the team swelled to 30+ employees working three shifts. In 1984 House of Type transitioned into a service bureau with the acquisition of their first Mac Plus and postscript imagesetter and became H.O.T. Graphic Services.

Over the next 20 years the Shapiros purchased a string of smaller competitors as well as Envelope Mart, a wholesale to the trade supplier producing 2 million envelopes a day and shipping all over the country. Meanwhile, H.O.T. morphed once again into H.O.T. Printing & Graphics, becoming a major player on the commercial printing scene in northwest Ohio. From business cards to annual reports, businesses depended on H.O.T, for quality and consistency on their projects.

It wasn’t long before H.O.T. outgrew their downtown location and joined their “brother” company, Envelope Mart on their current Northwood, Ohio campus. Always keeping a watchful eye on current industry trends, the Shapiros are again taking H.O.T. to the next level expanding into new technologies with next-generation digital printing, direct mail, E-marketing, variable data personalization campaigns and online storefronts.

H.O.T. and the Shapiro family consider it an honor and priviledge to have served the advertising and creative community for more than 34 years, and look forward to continuing that long tradition.

www.h-o-tgraphics.com