Monday, April 25, 2016
- Giant Noise
The Texas Book Festival tapped Giant Noise to handle strategic planning, social media consulting, media relations and event support. Giant Noise will work with the Texas Book Festival on all aspects of the festival, including the promotion of Reading Rock Stars, The TBF Youth Fiction Writing Contest, Texas Teen Book Festival, Texas Public Library Grants and the Annual Texas Book Festival Weekend. "We are very excited to be working with a firm that is at the nexus of so many vibrant cultural events and experiences," said Lois Kim, executive director of the Texas Book Festival. "As the largest literary event in Texas, the Texas Book Festival Weekend gathers people from across the state to engage in great conversations with authors about a wide variety of topics. With Giant Noise's position on the cultural and media forefront, we see terrific opportunities to reach new audiences and invite them to experience the Festival." - Pitch
Following a review, Pitch was named creative agency of record for The Coffee Tea & Bean Leaf. WongDoody previously handled project work for the brand. The agency, the company's first agency of record, will launch new campaigns in the second quarter using digital, social media, print, out-of-home, in-store and radio platforms. "We are known for sourcing from around the world only the top 1% of Arabica beans for our coffees and the top two leaves and a bud for our teas," said Adam Tabachnikoff, senior vice president of global brand strategy for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. "And that's how we found Pitch, by exhaustively seeking out the highest quality. Pitch is the perfect partner for us. We are delighted to be working with them." The Coffee Tea & Bean Leaf spent $684,000 on measured media in 2015, according to Kantar Media. - Droga5
Following a review, Droga5 was awarded work for Sundial's SheaMoisture brand, a natural hair-care and beauty line made for all types of hair textures. This marks the agency's first work for Sundial. There was no incumbent agency for SheaMoisture. "We're excited by clients who are hungry to do more than advertise," said Chris Wollen, chief marketing officer of Droga5. "Sundial is a brand that wants to spark important cultural conversation and change and we're honored to partner and to help them do just that." Shea Moisture spent $5.9 million on measured media in 2014 and $7.6 million in 2015, according to Kantar Media. - Digital Surgeons
Tikkaway Grill, a fast-casual Indian restaurant based in New Haven, Connecticut, tapped Digital Surgeons to handle branding, creative, and service design responsibilities. Brand articulation, store signage, creative collateral, and service design concepts, will launch in May, prior to the opening of two new franchises in Boston this fall. Founded in 2013 by entrepreneur Gopinath (Gopi) Nair, Tikkaway offers a lighter, convenient alternative to Indian cuisine. Tikkaway currently has two locations in New Haven, Connecticut. "The team at Digital Surgeons has an exceptional grasp on business ideas, vision, marketing and strategy," said Nair. "At this stage Tikkaway needs an agency that goes beyond the product; discovers and identifies the soul of Tikkaway, and can plug it into the universe so that our customer, wherever we go, understands our mission. Digital Surgeons is a group of super smart, high energy hustlers and doers who will help lead the charge as Tikkaway expands." - Red Door Interactive
Asics selected Red Door Interactive to handle global social media and SEO work. The move expands the agency/brand relationship as Red Door Interactive handles digital media campaigns and manages the Asics America social channels. "We're excited to be expanding our relationship and for the success we'll have for the company on a global scale," said Reid Carr, president at Red Door Interactive. Asics spent $28.8 million on measured media in 2015, according to Kantar Media. - Cohn & Wolfe
Cohn & Wolfe was named global consumer and B2B PR agency for Newell Rubbermaid, charged with handling communications and social media for all of the company's brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Calphalon, Paper Mate and Graco. The account spans 13 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, and will include product launches in new markets. - Blue Chip Marketing
Haribo of America, maker of Gold-Bears gummi bears, tapped Blue Chip Marketing Worldwide as a consumer and shopper marketing agency partner. The agency will be responsible for the brand's Twin Snakes consumer marketing and all of Haribo of America's shopper marketing. "We were really impressed with Blue Chip's fully integrated approach across brand and retail, and their insights, creativity and passion," said Erik Jaeger, vice president of marketing for Haribo of America. "Blue Chip is a great, collaborative partner to help us evolve and elevate marketing beyond traditional TV advertising." - HMSDesign
HMSDesign was tapped by Bigelow Tea Company to develop the brand identity and package design for its new line of organic teas, steep by Bigelow. The agency aided in developing the design and positioning of steep by Bigelow, along with photography, creation of the final package design and implementation across a dozen flavors. "HMSDesign is much more than a brand design firm," said Mary Lauren Factora, director of marketing at Bigelow Tea. "They are true partners in terms of collaboration and designing for success. Their refreshing design work for steep by Bigelow has already yielded results including opening new retail doors for Bigelow Tea." - The Sawtooth Group
The Sawtooth Group won three new accounts. For restaurant chain Potatopia, Sawtooth will build the brand via creative work and media buys as the NJ franchise chain expands to 50 restaurants this year. Sawtooth will help raise the visibility of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in surrounding markets through new creative and content. For Lunch Break, an organization that helps the homeless rebuild their lives, it will help educate the general public about its mission and successes through social media, video, donor materials, and digital support. "We are thrilled with these new AOR relationships," said Kristi Bridges, president of Sawtooth. "All three of our new clients recognize they need to create an ongoing, compelling conversation with their consumers. Our commitment to finding the right insights by digging deep with consumers and making sure those insights get to the right consumers, at the right time, in the right places will help these brands tell their stories in a way that has the maximum impact on their business." - Kimball Communications
Kimball Communications added Alain Pinel Realtors, based in Silicon Valley, and Landmark Hospitality, which operates restaurants and event venues in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, to its roster of clients. Alain Pinel Realtors is the fifth largest real estate firm in the U.S. and the largest privately owned residential real estate company in California based on its closed-sales volume. Kimball Communications will spearhead public relations, social media and brand content development efforts. Headquartered in Jersey City, N.J., Landmark Hospitality owns and manages nine restaurant and event venues with several additional projects under development.The agency will lead the public relations efforts for the parent company and each of its restaurant and event venue locations.
