Wednesday, May 19, 1999
INDUSTRY NOTES: MEDIA & MARKETING
Portion Pac hires designer for Web site
BY JOHN ECKBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Portion Pac Inc., a division of Heinz USA, has turned to Bridge Integrated Communications to develop and design a Web site for the top U.S. producer of single-serve pouches for condiments, jams, jellies and sauces.
The company provides individual serving pouches for brands such as Log Cabin Syrup, Wishbone dressing and Welch's jams and jellies.
The site is being developed to offer food-service customersonline access to Portion Pac's range of products, including package sizes and custom orders, officials said.
“Our customers include major fast-food restaurants and independent restaurants, as well as educational institutions, corporate cafeterias and health-care facilities,” said Nelson Craige, Portion Pac's general manager of marketing.
“Quick and easy access to product and promotional information is one of their most important needs. We decided to develop a Web site with an easy-to-use directory as a way to meet customer demands.”
Bridge International Communications is an interactive agency specializing in brand and sales communications and interactive marketing, including design and programming of Web sites, CD-ROMs and kiosks. Clients include the Cincinnati Reds, Diners Club International, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LensCrafters, MetLife, the Procter & Gamble Co. and Thomson Consumer Electronics.
Non-tech companies had biggest growth in Web ads
It looks as if some of the big boys on the block are beginning to ease some advertising dollars into the Web.
The biggest Internet advertising growth in 1998 was seen in non-technology industries, according to InterMedia Advertising Solutions, a New York City-based company that monitors Internet advertising.
The company found in a study that tracks 400 industries that industries involved in medicine boosted Internet advertising by 365 percent over 1997, followed by government and organizations at a 328 percent increase and retailers at a 235 percent rate.
Among the top 10 on the list of advertisers, still dominated by technology companies, were General Motors Corp., at $12.1 million — an 85 percent increase from the previous year; AT&T Corp., at $9.2 million — a 44 percent increase; and Barnes & Noble Inc. at $7.6 million — a 280 percent increase.
Computers and software advertising led all industries with an Internet advertising presence at $461.8 million — a 45 percent increase over 1997 — followed by companies in the financial sector at $92.8 million, an 8.9 percent increase.
The total spent by the top 10 industries in 1998 was $897.4 million, InterMedia found.
Magazine honors agency's ad spots for Frisch's
Sive/Young & Rubicam commercials created for Frisch's Restaurants have been honored by SHOOT magazine's “The Best Work You May Never See” section.
The weekly publication, which covers the advertising industry, included two 15-second commercials created by the agency in a feature devoted to coverage of ads that aren't distributed nationwide.
The two Frisch's spots feature fish and Buddie Boy sandwiches and are airing regionally in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus.
A “favorite things” message is conveyed in the spots through daydream sequences set to futuristic music.
The fish sandwich commercial depicts a female office worker imagining herself as a mermaid, while the Buddie Boy spot has a male window washer climbing a giant version of the ham sandwich.
Both spots end with an abrupt return to reality.
Credits at the agency for the work are: Michael Kitei, creative director; Clifton Lin, art director; Andy Conroy, copywriter; Doug Bergheger, broadcast producer, and Oscar Bassinson, director.
WonderGroup launches division for health care
Cincinnati-based WonderGroup has launched a new division, Sci-Health Communications, to provide clients with a specialized approach to develop educational and marketing materials for health-care professionals and patients.
Sci-Health Communications will be headed by Sara P. Howrey, vice president and creative director, and Lauren Hughes, vice president/group director.
Fifth Third recognized for mortgage loan products
Fifth Third, Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky's No. 1 mortgage loan lender, is featured in the June issue of Broker Agent Magazine, distributed in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
The bank has two new mortgage loan products: Millennium Mortgage and Flex 53. The Millennium Mortgage offers a 5.99 percent rate guaranteed for three years with a free conversion to a fixed rate within one year of the closing.
The Flex 53 targets self-employed or new business owners with little credit history or past credit problems.
Ad cetera ...
Rack Room Shoes has named Strategic Creative Services of Cincinnati its agency of record. ... Design Team One of Clermont County will lead employee recruiting efforts for Long John Silver's. ... Charles K. Murdock, former owner and president of WLW radio, has been named the 1999 recipient of the Silver Medal Award by the Advertising Club of Cincinnati. ... Libby Perszyk Kathman is sponsoring the Acoustic Lunch series in Cincinnati every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Piatt Park through Sept. 28. ... Freedman, Gibson & White Inc. has added Tri-County Mall to its roster of public relations clients. ... Klosterman Baking Co. has named Backley & Gingrich Advertising as its agency of record. ... Van Dyne Crotty Inc. named Bridge Integrated Communications to establish GoCasual.com, an e-commerce site of business casual wear for the Dayton-based uniform company.
Fed warning: Rates could rise
TRISTATE MARKET SPOTLIGHT
Banana profits to trail forecast
Airport rated No. 2 in nation
Movie mania strikes stores
Bank One offering special home loans
TRISTATE BUSINESS SUMMARY
INDUSTRY NOTES: MEDIA & MARKETING
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
