>For those college students who think that if they want a career in advertising they have to move to Chicago or New York… you are wrong! We, meaning Cleveland, finally have the stats to prove Cleveland has a strong marketing-communications industry.

According to this article by The Plain Dealer, our industry employs more than 39,000 people in Northeast Ohio! You’ll be shocked by the other stats as our industry is larger than any other industry in Cleveland. Yes, it out-ranks manufacturing, transportation, etc.

Thanks to Dick Clough and the Northeast Ohio Communication Advocates (NOCA) along with The Plain Dealer for conducting the research!

For more local advertising information, check out American Advertising Federation-Cleveland’s new website: www.aafcleveland.com.

~ Michelle Hirsh, Felber & Felber Marketing

>Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a great time watching the super bowl, and congratulations to Steelers fans. Since I am working for a marketing firm we thought it would be fun to get the younger generation’s opinion on the commercials. My favorite commercial is the one with the two Potato Heads driving…

Mrs. Potato Head is talking and talking about how Mr. Potato Head needs to slow down and pay attention to the road. Mr. Potato Head swerves out of the way to avoid a herd of sheep. This causes Mrs. Potato Head’s mouth falls off, leaving her not being able to talk; so she takes off her calm eyes and puts on her angry eyes!

This commercial demonstrated how Bridgestone tires work when you need them the most. This commercial is one of the ones that I will remember for a while because of the humor, real-life scenario and the use of a childhood toy. Good work Bridgestone!

Missed the commercial? Watch and rate all of them at USA Today’s Ad Meter.

~ Tali, intern at Felber & Felber Marketing

>So as we gear up for Super Bowl Sunday, the buzz is all about PETA – you know, the “People for Ethical Treatment of Animals” organization who last year started debuting racy magazine ads. Well I think they’ve outdone themselves. According to this article on clevelandleader.com you can read all about the controversy and if you really want to, you can view the commercial that will never air – at least in its current state.

For now, I don’t think the People Ethically treated their vegetables.

More to come on Super Bowl, or “Commercial Bowl” Sunday as I call it.

~ Michelle Hirsh, Felber & Felber Marketing

>I want to wish all of our readers a very Happy & Prosperous 2009. It is with great anticipation that we say goodbye to 2008, especially the last few months, and hello to 2009. We have so many changes on the horizon so let us all stand together to rebuild our country and individual lives.

Best of luck in the new year.

Bruce Felber

>
Last week I conducted a seminar for the Industrial Round Table of the Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce. Our theme was ‘We refuse to participate in the recession – how about you?’ I partnered with Jim McClintock a sales training coach with The Training Center in Chagrin Falls. We both spoke about the sales and marketing process and how important that the sales and marketing departments always talk with each other. Jim presented on why the sales process is more important in tough economic times and how to get more closure while increasing value. I spoke on the need to keep your marketing efforts strong and ways marketing can assist and create new and better sales leads. The industrial manufacturing sector of the economy is still strong especially in the B to B arena. The reaction from participants echoed this thought as well.

Here is a comment I received after the presentation:

Bruce,

Thanks for the presentation you and Jim made at the Industrial Roundtable last week. The information presented gave me a different perspective on the recession. It’s easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom of the recession but the idea that we shouldn’t accept that attitude and instead continue to make sales calls made sense. I also thought the idea that we had to be prepared for a longer sales process made sense. I think we sometimes get discouraged if the sales don’t close in the amount of time to which we are accustomed. But I know I deliberate more when I spend any money now. The direct marketing campaigns were also very interesting. With the sales environment becoming more competitive we do have to find a way to stand out from the crowd. The examples you showed did exactly that for your customers. The typical marketing materials that have been used in the past won’t accomplish that. All-in-all the presentation gave me a new perspective on how to approach the recession and survive.

I also enjoyed the discussion afterwards about other topics that would be helpful to the industrial companies. I think the group came up with some good ideas. It also made me realize that we’re all facing the same issues. I’m looking forward to future roundtables.

Thanks,

Joe Snee
HR Generalist
Deluxe Corporation

My advice for 2009 is to not look back at 2008, but keep forging ahead for the future is waiting for those who will grab those opportunities.

Happy and more prosperous New Year.

Bruce Felber