Sunday, May 31, 2009

Attending NHBSR Conference Mon, June 1st-Looking forward to facilitating interesting discussions w/Socially Responsible NH Thought Leaders!

Friday, May 29, 2009

Friday, May 22, 2009

Inspired by the Food Network TV Show “Iron Chef,” three teams of marketing and industry pros were tasked to come up with a complete marketing package for this year’s Iron Design Competion. This year's mystery client: a line of high fashion designs comprised of…road kill. And, they only had one hour to do it.

NHCC President Chris Conroy & Heartwood Media CEO, said the club is always trying to include more presentations to involve the audience. “The Iron Design competition is inspiring & educational. Those attending can walk around & observe competing teams collaborate and work together.”

This year’s Top Secret Product was pretty hard to keep under wraps, according to Print Savvy CEO Lisa Landry, who hosts the competition every year. “We really tried to kick it up a notch this year.” said Landry. “We really brainstormed to come up with something that 100% unique & not already in the marketplace,” she added.

Indeed, the “Flapper” dress sporting faux suede & a variety of faux beaver tails flopping around was a sight to behold. Ptjer Fashions included the “Fawn Over Me” little hot-pant number was a crowd pleaser, & the “La Pew” gown was an example of elegance, as much as one can get wearing skunk stripes. “We really had a good time with creating the costumes, as this is really the only morally righteous way to wear fur” stated Joel Mercier, Print Savvy’s Event Coordinator “You can say that this product is truly green & comes from 100% natural resources!”

The evening began with a selection of food that included gourmet Panini sandwiches & delicious chicken chili that both participants & audience members noshed upon as they networked, & concluded with text-voting, ala “American Idol” style, to declare the 2009 “Iron Design” trophy: a cast-iron skillet. “My clients are still raving about the food,” said Print Savvy Senior Account Executive Ami D’Amelio “It really was in a different league this year!”

The three teams that came to the table were Calypso Communications, of Portsmouth, who sent a team of seven of their best talent, while the Timberland Company of Stratham sent four of their award-winning team members to compete.

“The final team added a bit of a twist to the competition this year – six industry veterans who had never worked together before, all currently “under-employed,” made up the final team, and called themselves The Marketing All-Stars,” Landry said. The three teams worked for just one hour as the audience looked on. Then, it was time to showcase their stuff.

“Each team brought their own unique strengths to the competition, Timberland came up with a great name and had a fantastic logo, Calypso had terrific ideas for selecting a celebrity to sponsor and promote the clothing line, including giant billboard displays in NYC’s Time Square, but it was clear that the Marketing All-Stars had the most audience votes,” Conroy said as he declared the winners.

“I think it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there for this competition, & we’re extremely proud of all the competitors. Each team had a unique & interesting offering. I loved the way team Calypso positioned the clothing line as a trailer chic lifestyle brand that used celebrity endorsement already popular in that demographic (they recommended Miley Cyrus & Matthew McConoughey) & I was especially fond of the logo from Team Timberland. It was cute, to the point & very, very funny. Finally, I was totally impressed by the way the Marketing All Stars worked together without corporate backing. Talk about a creative & innovative way to show the marketplace what you can do—especially in this economy! I suppose audience chose to ‘hire’ the All-Stars because they had their game on & like me, they were inspired by their chutzpah.” Landry said “They clearly took the challenge very seriously.”

Photos at http://www.harkinsphotography.com/irondesign09/index.html, courtesy of Kevin Harkins Photography.
#nhcc
Scenes from Tuesday's Iron Design Competition at Print Savvy: http://ping.fm/de90r

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A sincere thanks to the entire staff at Print Savvy & the Savvy Workshop for making the NHCC Iron Design event possible. You are all champs! #nhcc
All three teams did a fabulous job. Many thanks to Calypso & Timberland for stepping up to compete. You both had really great & creative ideas. #nhcc
NHCC's Iron Design surprising result -- Team of 'transitioning' marketing professional, aka the Marketing All Stars, win the Skillet! Congrats

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Marketing All Stars Claim Iron Skillet
The team of marketing professionals that banded together to show that, they have what it takes to market in the new economy won handily over the other corporate teams...
The ingredients are prepared, the competition is trash talkin' -- Don't miss the Iron Design Challenge, tonight at Print Savvy 6pm!!!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Last call to register for NHCC's Iron Design Event @Print Savvy on Tues, May 19th. Register at http://ping.fm/R8YCS

Print Savvy's New Business Development Team to Compete in New Hampshire Division of Economic Development's Business Bowl

Second Annual Business Bowl Features New Twist

MANCHESTER – Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs was just an appetizer. The main course in the battle of the sexes will actually take place on Friday, June 5th at 7:30 p.m. as a team of five female business professionals takes on a team of five male business professionals as part of the Second Annual New Hampshire Business Bowl at The Acting Loft Field at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

During the course of the Manchester Wolves – Albany Conquest af2 football game, two teams of five local business professionals will take part in fun and competitive “office Olympics” style events which will test their teamwork skills. The women’s team will be led by Print Savvy CEO Lisa Landry while North American Equipment Upfitters President Michael Dunican will be at the helm of the men’s squad. The winner of the competition will receive the second annual Business Bowl trophy, (STEPHANIE, CAN YOU PLEASE FILL IN THE OTHER PRIZES?).

“Last year’s Business Bowl demonstrated the great teamwork that it takes to build a winning organization and we’re glad to be able to introduce an interesting new twist to this year’s event,” said Manchester Wolves General Manager Stephanie Bike. “We all know that men and women each contribute to the success of local businesses and play a vital role in writing a Granite State success story both in the boardroom and on the playing field.”

New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Communications & Legislative Director Steve Boucher added that the Business Bowl is part of his agency’s desire to reach out to new clients in innovative and non-traditional ways.
“Rather than hosting a regular business after hours or scheduling a typical ‘getting to know you’ networking session, we want to engage the business community in an enjoyable and interesting way,” he said. “Building new relationships and establishing partnerships is supposed to be fun – who really gets jazzed up by business as usual?”

Prior to the Business Bowl event, the Business Resource Center, the Wolves and their media partners New Hampshire Business Review and WGAM will host a free business appreciation reception for the first 50 business respondents at Piccola Italia Ristorante at 5:30 p.m. To make reservations for the free reception or purchase tickets to the game (at the special Business Bowl price of $10 per ticket), contact the Manchester Wolves at 627-9653 or sbike@manchesterwolves.com.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Print Savvy to Host NHCC Iron Design Competition

Have you ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes at advertising or design agencies? Join The New Hampshire Creative Club for the Fourth Annual IRON DESIGN Competition as three local creative teams battle it out to see who will be awarded the coveted Iron Skillet award. Competing this year are Calypso Communications of Portsmouth, The Timberland Company of Stratham and the newly formed “Marketing All Stars” – a team comprised of transitioning marketing professionals who are currently seeking new job opportunities. Talk about a creative (and courageous) way to show what you can do! Each will be given one hour to promote and market a product or service with which they are completely unfamiliar. Watch as they brainstorm and bring their ideas to life right in front of you!

This event will be held at Print Savvy, Inc. located at 55 South Commercial Street in Manchester, NH on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. Admission for students and NHCC members is $5.00; entry for the general public is $15.00. Registrations are now being accepted at www.nhcreativeclub.org/irondesign Experience this wonderful opportunity to see creative process at work! Voyeurs welcome.

The New Hampshire Creative Club serves as a creative forum for networking and education in the advertising and visual communications field through a series of monthly meetings that include panel discussions, presentations and workshops on subjects that are timely and practical. For more information, visit www.nhcreativeclub.org.