Steve’s breakdown: We’ve been watching these guys for a while and now, with this $20 million, believe this is a very hot lead.
Here’s our original report from April of 2011.
LOS ANGELES: Veggie Grill, the popular West Coast restaurant concept known for craveable, plant-based food, has completed its fourth successful round of [...]
Posts in category Region: West USA
Veggie Grill gets $20 million for growth
Steve’s breakdown: We’ve been watching these guys for a while and now, with this $20 million, believe this is a very hot lead.
Here’s our original report from April of 2011.
LOS ANGELES: Veggie Grill, the popular West Coast restaurant concept known for craveable, plant-based food, has completed its fourth successful round of [...]
Buzztime bellies up to the bar with a new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: Two things:
1) With this hire comes a social media agency. That said, big marketing thinking, we believe, is the way to approach the new guy.
2) The logos featured are the clients of Buzztime and handling this account might be a good way to get introduced.
CARLSBAD, CA: NTN Buzztime, Inc., a provider of bar and restau [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Boston Medical Group Seeks CMO
Steve’s breakdown: This account is way bigger than you think. Boston Medical Group has twenty-one office locations across the United States and if you can help find their new CMO, you win!!
Here’s the job description:
NEWPORT BEACH, CA: The Chief Marketing Officer reports directly to the CEO and is responsible for spearheading Bos [...]
Sega gobbles Relic
Steve’s breakdown: Sega’s has some deep pockets and we suspect they’ll be putting them to use to market the properties of Relic.
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON & TOKYO: SEGA Corporation acquired all of shares of THQ Canada Inc. and some IPs owned by THQ Inc., a parent company of THQ Canada on January 24, 2013 in order to fur [...]
Tiger Woods targets women: No Really
Steve’s breakdown: EA Sports is targeting women 25 to 45 for this video project. Interesting idea for all you female centric agencies that want to get into sports. The deadline is March 3rd and the creative brief can be accessed here.
REDWOOD CA: Get ready, the world’s #1 selling golf game is back and better than ever! Tiger Woods PGA T [...]
Reply.com closes on a CMO
Steve’s breakdown: We don’t usually report on marketing companies but these guys need to get the word out and their own services won’t help. How about yours?
SAN RAMON, CA: Reply.com, the leading marketplace for local advertisers, today announced that Chris Mancini has joined the company as its chief marketing officer. Reply [...]
Kiva seeks kind sole for CMO
Steve’s breakdown: If you like doing good, here’s a lead that will take care of that while you take care of small businesses around the globe. The job description is below.
SAN FRANCISCO: Bring lenders to Kiva’s “front door” by making the company one of the best known and loved global brands for leveraging technology to drive soci [...]
SurveyMonkey raises $350 million without IPO
Steve’s breakdown: This is a great service we’ve used before and we applaud this financial news. They say the $350 million has to be “invested” and you know I think advertising is an invstment. Check them out.
PALO ALTO, CA: Forgive Dave Goldberg, chief executive of rapidly growing SurveyMonkey, for not being in the sl [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Growing medical office software company checks-in CMO
Steve’s breakdown: They say Kareo is the only medical office software provider dedicated to serving the small practice. If that’s true, they have a lot of advertising to make because just showing testimonial after testimonial is only going to take you so far.
IRVINE, CA: Kareo Inc., the cloud-based medical office software provider [...]
Santaris to launch Uceris™
Steve’s breakdown: They are adding 85 new sales people to handle this launch and it doesn’t look like they have the branding done yet.
SAN DIEGO, CA: Santarus, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNTS) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved UCERIS™ (budesonide) extended release tablets for the induction of remissi [...]
$5 million PR review at PayPal
Steve’s breakdown: They are saying there is a seven agency short list but if you have e-commerce & banking experience, I’d make the call.
SAN JOSE, CA: PayPal has kicked off a review of its $5m North American PR business, with seven firms expected to contend for a brief that seeks to strengthen the e-commerce giant’s co [...]
Lose 500 lbs, get a job at Fresh Healthy Vending
Steve’s breakdown: The story is: Alexander Capio weighed 700 lbs not so long ago. The same dedication that allowed him to achieve the almost impossible 500 lbs weight loss will now be the backbone in which Fresh Healthy Vending relies on to drive its marketing message. So we might be looking at the next Jared Fogle and that means more m [...]
CES 2013: After Delays, Pebble Wristwatch Will Ship Jan. 23
https://vimeo.com/40128933
Steve’s breakdown: Fresh from CES: The featured video is how they paid for the production of 85,000 Pebble watches via KickStarter.
The news is they have a great product but no proper marketing.
SILICON VALLEY, CA: Pebble, the much-hyped wristwatch designed to connect wirelessly to smartphones to display infor [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Krispy Kreme & Jamba Juice look tasty for take overs
Steve’s breakdown: We are way in front of these two. Both would, no doubt, go into an advertising review if they are bought. Keep’em on the radar. Check out the video report on Bloomberg here.
WINSTON-SALEM, NC & EMERYVILLE, CA: Following the biggest surge in takeovers of restaurant and coffee companies since the last recessio [...]
Coinstar is looking for ideas
Steve Breakdown: So many of you heard the CEO of Coinstar bailed last week. To do damage control and to stop the stock from plummeting, the CFO took control and announced that they have “double revenue in the next five years” plan. They are going to need a better marketing plan to do all this in addition to getting back to 2009 me [...]
The Green Monster lost: Tully’s with celeb owner
Steve’s breakdown: Tully’s has 70 locations and, now, a free celebrity endorsement deal. Sounds like a good deal for a local ad shop to pick-up.
SEATTLE, WA: Actor Patrick Dempsey’s investment group agreed Thursday night to pay $9.15 million for Seattle-based Tully’s Coffee.
“We met the green monster, looked her [...]
PR Review: Nevada’s 150th
Steve’s breakdown: Starting October 31st, Nevada will be celebrating it’s 150th as part of the union. The RFP can be viewed for this account by clicking here.
CARSON CITY, NV: Nevada kicked off a PR firm search Wednesday to drive communications strategy for its upcoming sesquicentennial.
The Silver State will mark its 150th annive [...]
Account review prediction at DEI
Steve’s breakdown: Brands within DEI include Polk Audio, Definitive Technology and BOOM Movement in addition to Viper, Clifford, Python and Autostart. We think the first three are ripe for review. Check out this quotee: “I feel that we can focus on new approaches in our marketing mix because the family of brands we are developing are sp [...]
Direct marketing projects predicted at Dish
Steve’s breakdown: While I was at the Romann Group we had the direct marketing accounts for Dish & AARP so I have a bit of insight on the new guy. And that insight is this he’s going to spread the direct work around so get in line.
BTW: The featured ad was done by Romann Group.
ENGLEWOOD, CO: DISH (NASDAQ-NMS:DISH) today annou [...]
Quiksilver brings in marketing pro as CEO
Steve’s breakdown: After 20 years at Nike and 11 at Disney, we think this ex-CMO will be making some big changes with Quiksilver marketing.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA: Quiksilver, Inc. ZQK +7.08% today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Andy Mooney as President and Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Quiksilver’s co-fou [...]
Webroot looks to secure a new marketing chief
Steve’s breakdown: The news cycle seems to still have a new years hangover but there are some interesting CMO jobs that need to be filled. Here’s a job listing in Colorado.
BLOOMFIELD, CO: For the accomplished marketing leader with proven success in innovative lead generation who’s extremely resourceful with an entrepreneuri [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Account Review Prediction: Founder buys back Aman Resorts
Steve’s breakdown: There are 26 resorts/brands including 2 in the United States. And since this is the founder buying back these resorts, we suspect he’s going to clean house. And that means a advertising review of some kind.
SINGAPORE: Ownership of ultra-luxury Amanresorts is set to return to its founder, Adrian Zecha, as DLF ann [...]
Sony TV tunes in marketing VP
Steve’s breakdown: This was a big job to fill and Nathalie’s going to need some help. Maybe you’ve got what she needs.
CULVER CITY, CA: Nathalie Lubensky will manage the global marketing and branding initiatives for Sony Pictures Television’s networks portfolio that spans 159 countries and reaches more than 800 million home [...]
Herbalife news opens up all kinds of new biz opportunity
Steve’s breakdown: Word on Wall Street is Herbalife is a pyramid scheme. Whether you believe it or not, this news will affect more than Heralife. It will also affect all multi-level marketing companies.
Our suggestion is to check in with a few others regarding PR. Here a list of them:
5LINX
ACN Inc.
AdvoCare
Agel Enterprises LLC
[...]
2013 Predictions from the Financial Sector
Steve’s breakdown: You know we make account review predictions here all the time. It’s a skill I’ve had to perfect out of shear survival as a new business professional.
But we’re not the only one’s with a crystal ball. CNBC made a few 2013 predictions of their own and we’d like to share them with you along [...]
Account heads up: Starz to be sold
Steve’s breakdown: We’re jumping the gun a bit here but that’s the whole I idea behind our philosophy of “Event Based Prospecting” and “Being First”.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO: Liberty Media has started sending out feelers to potential buyers for its premium channel Starz.
Liberty has reached out to media co [...]
SolarCity’s IPO raises cash for advertising
Steve’s breakdown: A successful IPO is alway good news for the market but what about marketing. Well, for a company like SolarCity who allows customers to lease solar panels by paying a monthly fee, advertising will most definitely get a piece of that IPO money. Right now, they use a in-house shop.
SAN MATEO, CA: Shares of SolarCity Co [...]
Anchor Steam’s owner launches Hophead Vodka
Steve’s breakdown: We all know about Anchor Steam’s beers and ales but few know about their distillery. If fact, with this brand launch, they will have 60 spirits in their portfolio. The brewery does their advertising in-house so we suspect the same is true with the distillery.
So congratulate them on the launch of their own vodka [...]
An ad account is born: Dish cleared for smartphone service
Steve’s breakdown: We’ve been watching these guys slowly taking over the world. For instance, in August we reported “Dish to offer nationwide satellite Internet service“. Now this. So who’s going to handle this account? You?
ENGLEWOOD, CO: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved a proposal to letD [...]
Murad woos Estee Lauder exec as CMO
Steve’s breakdown: The new CMO will be leading brand development, advertising, public relations, creative, and education. Murad is the #1 selling clinical skincare brand at many leading salon and spa locations worldwide and is sold in over 40 countries.
EL SEGUNDO, CA: Murad Inc. announced that Suzanne Dawson has joined the Murad Family [...]
CEOs Who Will Get Fired in 2013
Steve’s breakdown: The Street has published a list of 5 CEOs who should probably go in 2013.
Do we believe all these companies will be new business leads in 2013? No but if you’ve been following us, you know we think Best Buy, Netflix and Pandora top our list of the 5 mentioned here.
NEW YORK, NY: I use “will” in the [...]
Longterm account watch: Fresh & Easy
Steve’s breakdown: Fresh & Easy is getting sold one way or another and the brand will be just hanging out there. Be ready to catch it.
EL SEGUNDO, CA & CHESHUNT, UK: Britain’s biggest retailer, supermarket giant Tesco, said it was launching a strategic review of its struggling US business Fresh & Easy, which may lead [...]
DreamWorks 1st global brand officer
Steve’s breakdown: We’ve been watching this guy bounce around like Sonny the Cuckoo Bird, whose “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!” Check it out:
October 2011: Target CMO Departs for JCPenney: No love lost . . . yet
June 2012: JC Penny CEO takes over CMO duties
September 2012: Gap snags a falling star: Penny’s ex-Pres
WeR [...]
Juicy Juice’s creative review
Steve’s breakdown: If you didn’t notice in our post this morning regarding the Nestle media review, there is a mention of a creative review for Juicy Juice. So to make sure you didn’t miss it, we’ve highlighted that news below.
GLENDALE, CA: Nestle USA has launched an agency review for media and digital planning and b [...]
Nestlé USA media review: Everybody is under the microscope
Steve’s breakdown: This review includes Nestle Waters North America, Nestle Nutrition, Nestle Purina PetCare and Nestle Professional media and digital planning and buying.
GLENDALE, CA: Nestle USA has launched an agency review for media and digital planning and buying. The review will likely mark the beginning of an exhaustive look at a [...]
$700 million Honda account drives into review
Steve’s breakdown: You don’t see this every day-of-the-week. A 26 year long agency relationship could be over. Roth & Associates is handling the review so make sure Dick has your stuff!
TORRANCE, CA: A huge auto-account shakeup is under way as American Honda Motor Co. throws its $700 million U.S. creative and media accounts i [...]
MGM hires 1st CMO
Steve’s breakdown: They’ve got big plans on growth and it’s most likely coming from digital & direct marketing so if that’s your bag . . . . you know the drill.
LAS VEGAS, NV: MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) has announced the promotion of Bill Hornbuckle to President & Chief Marketing Officer.
In the newl [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Medullary thyroid cancer drug Cometriq approved
Steve’s breakdown: Just so you all know, we are going to start covering hot FDA approvals for any of you interested in the pharma category. This is the first.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Exelixis Inc.‘s (EXEL: Quote) lead compound for medullary thyroid cancer, Cometriq, previously known as Cabozantinib, crossed the finish line on Thu [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Fisker hires GM get-a-way
Steve’s breakdown: Green-car startup Fisker Automotive named former General Motors Co and Hyundai Motor Co marketing executive Joel Ewanick as interim chief commercial officer. What do you thing will happen with their ad account. Why not call and find out?
ANAHEIM, CA: Ewanick was ousted as the global marketing chief at GM in July afte [...]
TurboTax and Quicken brands seek CMO
Steve’s breakdown: It’s kind of late to be looking for a new CMO so close to tax time but what do we know? There are both great brands and could use some help. So get in there now before the marketing new boss does. OPr, even better, help them find the new boss.
Here’s the CMO job description:
SAN DIEGO, CA: After more tha [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Cole Haan splits with Nike
Steve’s breakdown: We had this account while I was at Margeotes|Fertitta+Partners. The phrase granola-eating-garmentos comes to mind. It’s still a great brand so go get it.
BEAVERTON, OR: NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) announced today it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its Cole Haan affiliate brand to Apax Partners for $570 mil [...]
Ad account review prediction: T-Mobile
Steve’s breakdown: You always wonder why news like this gets held back until Friday afternoon. Stock market? Crank calls from competitors? Who knows but it’s still a new business lead. In fact this spring we knew this when we reported “Agency review prediction: T-Moblie CMO is leaving with a bad plan in place” so get [...]
Ziering hair transplant to launch in UK: PR in review
Steve’s breakdown: Here’s a nice opportunity to expand into the UK. You got to start somewhere.
NEWPORT BEACH, CA: The five-figure brief is for media relations work for Ziering Medical Worldwide, a US company that treats men and women, and founded by surgeon Craig Ziering.
The company, which is launching its services in the UK in [...]
GoSpotCheck bags ex-Coke CMO as advisor
Steve’s breakdown: There’s only one reason they did this, growth through marketing insight. Keep an eye on these folks because things are going to get interesting.
DENVER, CO: GoSpotCheck, a provider of mobile and web-based software that enables businesses to collect on-the-ground, real-time retail data and intelligence, today ann [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Intel bags Yahoo CMO
Steve’s breakdown: The inside scoop is the head of global sales at Intel Corp’s McAfee Security division is leaving the company to take a job with another firm. The executive, Joe Sexton, is one of only a handful of top managers who had remained with the world’s No. 2 maker of anti-virus software following its February 2011 [...]
New CMO at TriNet
Steve’s breakdown: Cloud-based accounts are are growing in numbers and will probably end up being a type of speciality. So you might as well get in there sooner than later.
SAN LEANDRO, CA: TriNet, a leading cloud-based provider of HR services, today announced the appointment of Steve Apfelberg as the company’s Vice President of M [...]
Have you checked your “Rolodex” lately
Steve’s breakdown: This news is just as much a reminder to stay in touch with past clients as it’s a possible real lead today. Just sayin’
BTW: Peets was sold back in July which would be just one more reason to check this lead out.
EMERYVILLE, CA: Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc. today announced that Dave Burwick will be appoin [...]
A new category to pitch: Marijuana
Steve’s breakdown: This is a lead that will continue to expand year-after-year so you might as well positioned for it. Colorado & Washington agencies, you go first.
DENVER, CO & SEATTLE, WA: For marijuana entrepreneurs like Ean Seeb, the legalization of recreational marijuana use in Colorado and Washington in Tuesday’s election [...]
Wells Fargo wants to go farther: social media in review
Steve’s breakdown: Hopefully you’ve been invited to partisipate. If not, it’s time to get your credentials over to Selected Resources International who’s handling the pitch.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: It appears that our sources were pretty much spot-on as we’ve received confirmation that San Francisco-based financial service [...]
Account review prediction: Qualcomm
Steve’s breakdown: Back in August we reported “Qualcomm bags new CMO” and said there will be big changes. Well, that’s been confirmed with this statement from the new CMO.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Qualcomm’s (NASDAQ:QCOM) new chief marketing officer said the company plans to more heavily advertise its brand, including [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
New marketing centric CEO at Kaiser Foundation
Steve’s breakdown: The new guy conceived of and headed up Kaiser’s high-profile “Thrive” campaign, which he called “a big part of our marketing effort.”
You know our favorite CEOs are former CMOs right? Just sayin’
OAKLAND, CA: Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan has tapped Bernard Tyson, its [...]