Is 3-D Direct Mail Your Secret Weapon?

In our history as an agency, we have mailed out a colorful array of 3-D items on our client’s behalf. Used strategically, dimensional mailings can certainly cut through the clutter and get your message noticed. The key is finding the right item. It should be completely relevant to your message or promotion. In August we sent out a marketing flyer printed directly onto a piece of sustainable oak veneer for our client New Oak. The piece was tactile and fragrant, helping the viewer really connect to the reality of the message.

New Look for Taylorsville Savings Bank

We have just wrapped production of a new branding campaign for Taylorsville Savings Bank. The campaign is designed to increase awareness of TSB’s long history serving the citizens of Alexander County. It includes a new logo design, newspaper ads, radio spots and outdoor designs. EKA has represented the Bank for the past 15 years. Under the leadership of President Tim Keever, TSB has become the largest, most successful financial institution in Alexander County.

Bringing Home The Gold!

We won a Gold MAC Award in Comprehensive Marketing Strategy for our web, direct mail and advertising work on behalf of The Boys and Girls Clubs of North Carolina at the 2010 BGCA National Conference.

Gearing up

Here at the agency, we’re in the process of gearing up for what we feel will be a significant increase in business in the near future. For the last couple of years, we’ve been treading water – holding our own until the economy caught it’s breath and started moving again. It’s still early in the recovery, but business seem to awakening from a long period of hibernation. Business people are once again talking, making new plans, designing new products and gearing up for a better business environment. We have added a new associate to our staff – Leigh Ann Venable – to help Tony and I introduce EKA to potential new clients. We just hired Seth Peters, an upcoming junior at Appalachian for our summer intern program. And, we’re completing a remodeling plan that was directed by our designer (and Brent’s wife), Carla Taylor. Carla was an artist and fabric designer in a previous life (before kids) and has been a huge help with paint, furniture, artwork and accessory selection. So, just as business is starting to rebound, Ed Kemp Associates is ready to respond. How can we help you?

EKA Welcomes Leigh Ann Venable

We are proud to announce the addition of our newest associate, Leigh Ann Venable. Leigh Ann is the former owner of 360 marketing in High Point, NC.  Leigh Ann brings with her several valuable clients and a vast depth of knowledge. In addition to client service, Leigh Ann will also lend her expertise in new business acquisition.

EKA President, Jon Kemp, says “we are so lucky to have her as a part of our team. Leigh Ann has a great reputation in the industry and our partnership allows her to offer her clients a wider array of services. She will play a valuable role in the continued growth of our agency.”

Leigh Ann lives in High Point with her husband, Terry. She has two daughters, Allison, an upcoming sophomore at N.C. State and Emily who just graduated from State with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Welcome to the EKA family Leigh Ann!

Giving Birth To An Annual Report Without The Excruciating Labor

In the middle of creating an annual report for Skyline Rural Telecom Cooperative, we were given a compliment.  “This isn’t nearly as hard as we thought it would be!”  For some companies, annual reports are an arduous process and a necessary evil.  We try to make the process easy and even fun.  EKA staff brings their prodigious organizational talents, project management skills and fresh creative perspective to tell your company’s important year-end story. We aim for the reader to be engaged, and your company’s burden in the project to be light.

Making Small Budget TV Look Big Budget

Many of our clients face the same challenge – creating local TV spots to compete with big-budget national commercials.  At EKA, we’ve always felt that a strong concept well executed with creative resourcefulness can trump a big budget.

Recently, we did just that for North State Communication’s PLEX Voice, Wireless, Broadband and TV products.

Using a combination of such powerful tools as digital animation and custom music we were able to create a visually rich and engaging spot with no costly location shoot or on-camera talent fees.

You can see the spot here http://www.youtube.com/user/EdKempAssociates

Is Social Networking Working?

JON’S NOTES

Strategic Marketing Advice and Tips from EKA President Jon Kemp

Twitter, Linked-In, Blogs, Facebook… Is it alll Worth it?

One minute I’m thinking “social networking is great – I’ve reconnected with people I haven’t seen since high school.” The next minute I’m thinking “why do these people spend hours every day yakking on these sites –  don’t they have 

anything better to do?” No matter which face I’m wearing today, the viability of social networking is something that cannot be ignored. You may use it for connecting with friends and family, but don’t ignore its importance as a 

business tool as well. It allows you to strengthen the bond between you and your client by connecting you on both a business and personal level. These connections can be valuable in the long run.  The best news is that, for the most part, it’s free.   

We Remember… Bill

Our EKA family mourns the passing of our long time friend and colleague, Bill Campbell. For the past eighteen great years, Bill was a brilliant and consistent source of great ideas and beautifully expressive copywriting. Bill possessed the rare ability to take a pile of chicken manure and transform it into gourmet chicken salad. He was a delightful person with wit and wisdom in abundance. He had an amazing command of the English language and was the EKA “walking dictionary”.  He introduced me to so many new words (some of them are even repeatable) that I often accused him of studying “Word Power” in the Reader’s Digest in his spare time. The first time he called me “obstreperous”, I didn’t know whether to curse him or thank him. He made me “look it up”. We enjoyed many successes thanks to Bill’s brilliance and at least as many laughs to go along with it. It’s a lot quieter around here without Bill but his memories live within all of us who knew and loved him.

Newest addition!

We are proud to announce the arrival of EKA’s most junior, junior art director. Adorable Emmi McLawhorn was born in August (yes we know it is now March!) to interactive director David McLawhorn and his lovely wife Betsey. Her parents claim she is already exhibiting PhotoShop prowess.