Morgan County passes sign ordinance
The Morgan County Plan Commission has endorsed a new sign ordinance that requires electronic billboards to change no more
than once every 15 seconds.
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Jennings County group hires PR firm
The Jennings County Economic Development Commission recently hired Indianapolis-based Brand Acceleration Inc. as its agency
of record to handle advertising, public relations and brand management.
MZD Advertising signs deal with National Guard to publicize child care benefits
Indianapolis-based MZD Advertising topped a field of 14 agencies competing to become agency of record for Gap Solutions Inc.,
which provides contracted services that support the National Guard Child Care Program.
After record election revenues, TV ad income may hit 10-year low
With the economic swoon and no political ad campaigns in 2009, TV ad revenue could hit a 10-year low next year.
Airport hoping to double ad revenue with digital push
Indianapolis International Airport officials hope to double advertising revenue, pushing it past $1 million, when the midfield
terminal opens in November. That income, officials said, is important because it helps ease pressure on cash-strapped
airlines, allowing them to focus on offering more flights. The airport relies on non-airline revenue, such as food sales and
advertising, for about 60 percent of its revenue.
MotoGP race will give Speedway whole new look
Fans walking into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the First MotoGP race there Sept. 14 likely won’t recognize the place. Sponsor ads will hang on the inside walls of the track. There will be a host of companies in the hospitality area–including Yamaha, Kawasaki, Ducati and Repsol–that have never set foot inside the Speedway’s grounds. The motorcycle-specific nature of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP will permeate every facet of the event and affects all elements of the host city’s planning.
Entrepreneur has high hopes for deck-chair markers
In late May, Darrell Bowman launched Lounge Hats LLC, an Indianapolis-based company that makes fabric covers that fit over
beach or pool-side chaise lounges to make one thing clear: This seat is taken. Bowman withdrew $20,000 from personal savings
and added another $50,000 from an investor, his friend Mike Oswalt, to start the company. He runs Lounge Hats out of his garage,
hiring a Chinese company to sew the hats and contracting with a local printer to finish them off.
Angie’s List, AT&T fight in court over consumer firm’s logo
A federal court this month gave a thumbs-down to a lawsuit filed by Angie’s List claiming that AT&T Yellow Pages violated
trademark laws by publishing ads containing the Angie’s List logo of a servicewoman giving a “thumbs-up.” But on June 25–two
weeks after the court dismissed the suit saying its legal arguments were “meager” and “insubstantial”–the publisher of online
and print business directories filed an amended case against AT&T in U.S. District Court.
Ailing Steak n Shake rehires ad agency, but will pact stick?
Local advertising powerhouse Young & Laramore signed a new contract with Steak n Shake, one of its flagship clients, just
two weeks ago, but ad industry observers can’t help but wonder if the 18-year-old relationship is about to run its course.
Before the ink on the contract was dry, the struggling hamburger chain had a new board chairman who is likely to shuffle Steak
n Shake’s executive suite and take the company in a new direction.
Prized state tourism account ‘big deal’ for Williams Randall
Williams Randall Marketing Communications pulled a surprise victory by snatching the $2.5 million Indiana Office of Tourism
Development advertising account away from incumbent Hirons & Co. and eight other bidders, most of which were larger than Williams
Randall. The two-year contract starts July 1.
Guerrilla advertising might seem wacky, but often gets results
The 24 area Liberty Tax Service outlets are known for their human mascots dressed up as the Statue of Liberty or Uncle Sam,
standing on street corners and waving in traffic. Liberty’s approach is just one incarnation of one of the fastest-growing
trends in advertising: guerrilla marketing.
State ads try to lure Illinois, Michigan businesses
Indiana’s friendly economic development rivalry against Michigan and Illinois is heating up. Confident that its business costs
are lower, Indiana has begun a six-month advertising campaign designed to attract companies across the state line.
Lottery director rejects all 6 bidders for lucrative ad account
In an unlucky turn for area ad agencies, Hoosier Lottery officials rebuffed all six bidders for the creative portion of its
advertising account. The rejection of all bidders is an unusual occurrence in the ad industry and it has never before happened
with the lottery account, one of the most lucrative, high-profile jobs in the state.
Billboards enter digital era
Remote-controlled digital billboards are revolutionizing the outdoor advertising industry nationwide, but a city prohibition
against the medium is preventing a rollout here.
Advertising in high-definition still fuzzy
Production companies here say advertisements they’ve produced using high-definition technology are being held hostage by local television affiliates that have no way of showing them. The TV stations counter that they’re working as fast as they can to get up to speed.
Emmis swings unique advertising deal with Google
Emmis Communications Corp. is turning to Google in its search for relief from a radio-industry slump. The local media company
is tapping the power of the popular Internet search engine to sell advertising for its Indianapolis and New York radio properties.
Loss of $20M HHGregg account leads to big cuts at Pearson
Hhgregg’s decision to take its $20-million-plus advertising account out of state is sending shock waves through the local
creative community. The Indianapolis-based electronics and appliance retailer’s longtime agency of record, Pearson McMahon
Fletcher England, will lose a third of its staff as a result, including three of five active partners.
MZD Urban division gains momentum
As head of MZD Urban, a division of one of the city’s largest advertising agencies–MZD Advertising–Troy Julian Gipson is
ready to take the city into the future of multicultural marketing.
HH Gregg account goes up for grabs
HH Gregg–under increasing market pressure–has put its multimillion-dollar advertising account up for bid, and Pearson McMahon
Fletcher England this month decided not to pursue the contract it has held for an unprecedented 24 years.
Mellencamp a reluctant pitchman in Chevy ad
U.S. celebrities making pitches for large corporations is nothing new. But John Mellencamp has been long known as an artistic purist with a disdain for commercialism. His debut this fall as a pitchman for Chevrolet’s Silverado pickup truck has surprised many and touched off a torrent of criticism.