PR/Marketing

Branding firm Lingo takes off with team of 4 in Ann Arbor

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August 1, 2012

A couple of former corporate executives who specialize in branding are launching their own boutique marketing agency in Ann Arbor called Lingo Definition + Design. Scott Hauman and Kyle Feliks, who have worked for the likes of Coca-Cola and Ben & Jerry's, have grown the downtown Ann Arbor-based company's team to four full-time and three part-time employees, along with an intern. That team specializes in brand development and deployment for innovative start-ups. "There really wasn't a true branding firm in this area that was serving innovative companies," Hauman says. The company now has a dozen consistent clients and is looking to hire a brand strategist, brand design and a couple of project managers. Hauman says the early success of his company has told him taking the leap into entrepreneurship "was the best decision we ever made," adding he and Feliks "should have made it years ago." "In terms of our growth, we have exceeded our expectations," Hauman says. "We are very happy with that. We didn't intend to have an office yet, but we have one now." He adds that he would like to have a staff of 10-15 people within the next year. The company is also looking at opening offices in both Detroit and Grand Rapids. Source: Scott Hauman, co-founder & chief brand strategist for Lingo Definition + Design Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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Phire Branding Co leverages slow-and-steady growth to expand staff

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Economic Development

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July 18, 2012

The special sauce to Phire Branding Co.'s growth isn't about adding more clients. It's about concentrating on its current roster and expanding the scope of work with them. That 14-year-old full-service marketing company has brought on a handful of new clients last year but has been able to steadily grow its revenue by expanding its relationships with longtime clients. "Our growth comes from maintaining those older relationships," says Jim Hume, principal of Phire Branding Co. "We don't churn and burn our clients." That has allowed the Ann Arbor-based company to hire an account executive this summer, expanding its staff to a dozen employees. That staff overseas cohesive branding campaigns for a broad range of clients, including MASCO Cabinetry, the University of Michigan Athletic Dept, ProQuest, UMS, Ann Arbor Summer Festival, DFCU, Cleary University and Harley Ellis Devereaux. "We have a very diverse client base," Hume says. "It's that way on purpose." Source: Jim Hume, principal of Phire Branding Company Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Ingenex Digital Marketing hires 3 as it expands social media work

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Arts & Culture

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June 6, 2012

Remember Lindsay Blackwell, the recent University of Michigan graduate who last year launched a social media campaign to be hired as U-M's new social media director? Derek Mehraban remembers. And although Blackwell didn't get the job, she did land one with Mehraban's firm, Ingenex Digital Marketing. The downtown Ann Arbor-based Internet marketing firm has experienced some steady growth thanks to its expansion into social media work. The 6-year-old company has hired three people over the last year, including Blackwell who is heading up the firm's social media efforts. "The clients just love her," Mehraban says. "Our social media work has really increased. That was a big stride we took in one direction." Ingenex Digital Marketing is also launching a buzz tour, featuring a restored 1972 VW camping bus. The Digital Bus will come with Wi-Fi and a number of other digital technology options and tour across Michigan and beyond. "We're going to go on a summer tour of Ann Arbor, Detroit and perhaps New York," Mehraban says. "It's all part of our plan to create buzz." Source: Derek Mehraban, CEO of Ingenex Digital Marketing Writer: Jon Zemke

Clarity Quest Marketing expands staff with new hire

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Economic Development

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May 16, 2012

Business is becoming increasingly health-care oriented for Clarity Quest Marketing. The Ann Arbor-based marketing agency has watched 75 percent of its business leads come from companies in the health-care industry, which is up from the 50/50 split from a year ago. "This year the pendulum completely swung," says Christine Slocumb, president of Clarity Quest Marketing. "What's going on in the health-care system is really driving a lot of growth in that sector." That has translated to more growth for Clarity Quest Marketing. The company has recently hired three people, including the recent addition of a former intern. The firm now employs 15 people and an intern with offices in Seattle and Connecticut. The 11-year-old marketing firm has enjoyed 20 percent growth and continued work from the tech and bio-tech sectors to complement its growing health-care workload. "This is going to be our best year ever in terms of revenue," Slocumb says. "This was our best first quarter ever." Source: Christine Slocumb, president of Clarity Quest Marketing Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

PR firm Knight Writers grows in Saline

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Economic Development

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May 9, 2012

Years ago people used to tell Sherry Knight she should run her own consulting business, helping executives and leaders find their voice in the written word. That was 16 years ago, about the same time Knight decided to take a buy out from her job as head of communications at Ameritech and open Knight Writers. The Saline-based business now employs three people and a few independent contractors after hiring another over the last year. Knight's team focuses on helping leaders improve their communication skills to become better leaders. "Much of what I do is help leaders take what is in their head and their hearts and open that up," Knight says. "Great leaders are great communicators and we help them be that." Knight has been helping a lot of people. She says Knight Writers hasn't has a down year in any of its 16 years, recession or no recession. The last two years have been especially kind, proving to be record years for growth. So much so that Knight has become quite selective in who she takes on as a client, sometimes turning away good work. "At this point I am receiving one call per week from new clients," Knight says. "I am having to tell people I am booked because there is so much work." Source: Sherry Knight, president of Knight Writers Writer: Jon Zemke

PWB Marketing Comm leverages SEO/social media hire for more biz

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Arts & Culture

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April 25, 2012

Ask Sean Hickey which way Internet marketing is heading and he will give you two answers: Search and social. Media, that is. The COO of PWB Marketing Communications has watched those areas go from a driver of his company's growth to a integral part of its product portfolio. So much so that its most recent hire, a SEO/social media worker, has become a vital force in the company. "We have been really surprised how our clients have needed and embraced that skill set," Hickey says. "We're at the point where we are starting to see the need to add people." Which is a step in the right direction for an Ann Arbor-based company that was just trying to keep its head above water in the depths of the recession a few years ago. Today the company plans to make a hire or two and add a major client while increasing its product offerings to include ad buying for it customers. All of this is possible because of the company's recent pitfalls in the recession. "We went through the '09 downturn and used that as opportunity to reinvent the company," Hickey says. "What we did 10 years ago is much different than what we do today." Source: Sean Hickey, COO of PWB Marketing Communications Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Bank of Ann Arbor ad campaign gets noticed by non-locals

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Arts & Culture

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March 14, 2012

Chuck Berry used to litter his songs with the names of cities in order to boost record sales. There's nothing like a little hometown pride when it comes to marketing. For Bank of Ann Arbor it's their entire campaign. Maybe you've seen some of their "Non-local banks think..." billboards. We have to admit, the "Big Ten" and "Purple Rose" submissions gave us a cuckle. Excerpt: "The Bank of Ann Arbor, a $1.4 billion institution based in Michigan, is running a playful series of billboards mocking its competitors’ lack of local knowledge. The twist? Each ad is a submission from one of the bank’s Facebook fans. “Non-local banks think The Jerk Pit is a single’s bar,” reads one of the billboards. The ad was written by Beth Langenderfer, who is a Facebook fan of the bank. Her reference is actually to the Jamaican Jerk Pit, a popular local eatery near the University of Michigan campus." Read the rest here.

Ann Arbor’s re:group adds 3 jobs, expands into healthcare field

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Economic Development

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January 18, 2012

Ann Arbor-based re:group is growing its bottom line and staff by adding more health-care businesses to its customer list. "We really have made a concerted effort to grow our business," says Carey Jernigan, director of business development for re:group. "We expect to grow significantly this year. I hope to double our revenue." The downtown-based firm that specializes in branding and Internet marketing has added the likes of St. Joseph Mercy Health System to its roster. The firm now serves companies in a variety of industries, such as finance, bio-tech, retail and franchising. re:group has hired three people over the last year, expanding its staff to 20 employees, a few independent contractors, and an intern. It is also looking to add an account executive later this year, on top of a few more expected hires. Source: Carey Jernigan, director of business development for re:group Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

3.7 Designs aims to hire 2-3 as it releases new products

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Economic Development

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January 11, 2012

3.7 Designs has traditionally made its money through hourly billing for its software and website work. These days the Ann Arbor-based firm is moving toward creating more training products and other software programs that provide more reliable revenue streams. "Our focus now is how do we create a product we can maximize our time," says Ross Johnson, CEO of 3.7 Designs. He adds that these sorts of training products and software programs come with steady customer bases that should allow for more growth. 3.7 Designs currently employs four people, including an intern. That team is currently working to develop and release three products over the next year and improve three of its existing products in the same period. Johnson hopes to add another 2-3 people with that new work. "We're focusing on developing something with a steady customer base," Johnson says. Source: Ross Johnson, CEO of 3.7 Designs Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

ICON Interactive adds programmers, project managers to staff

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Arts & Culture

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July 20, 2011

ICON Interactive slimmed down when the auto industry tanked and the recession took full effect. Now the downtown Ann Arbor-based firm is hiring again after nailing down steady work and planning for near-future expansion.The 16-year-old Internet-marketing company recently hired a few programmers and project managers, bumping its staff to 20 people, dozens of independent contractors, and the occasional intern. The company handles work for clients in the bio-tech, automotive, and service industries."Things have been much more stable and we're targeting some growth again," says Rob Cleveland, CEO of ICON Interactive, formerly ICON Creative Technologies Group. "It's likely we'll hire 1-2 more people throughout the rest of the year."ICON Interactive plans to increase its revenue by 10-15 percent this year, providing more work for its staff in the former second home of the Ann Arbor Art Center. The digital marketing firm moved there two years ago.Source: Rob Cleveland, CEO of ICON InteractiveWriter: Jon ZemkeRead more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.