A long awaited milestone took place at CKC this week. The Renco Electronics product catalog arrived to the factory in palette-fulls. For longer than we might like to admit, the Renco catalog has been part of CKC daily operations.
With the project complete, it will certainly be “cataloged” as CKC lore. The project brought to light how diverse niche industries can be. And, how technological advances don’t always replace tradition.
Renco Electronics was founded in 1955 by John Rensing. The company designs, engineers and manufactures electronic products which enable power stabilization and control in nearly every product imaginable. In fact, this year CKC launched the “Renco Everywhere” campaign promoting all the locations the Renco parts are placed.
Despite remaining at the technological forefront of their industry, Renco believes that a printed catalog remains a vital part of their business model. Even with the advent of technology to browse a catalog online as though flipping through the pages of a book, Renco chose to print a 500-page catalog.
We’ve learned over the last decade that the best client relationship are a true partnership where we combine our marketing know how with our client’s industry knowledge. Renco knows that their engineering customers want to hold a catalog and turn pages physically. It adds confidence to their experience. Our job was to ensure that the printed catalog delivered more than data. We created a catalog which told the story of a thriving company standing out in an industry with “me-too” products.
This month Florida Trend, the authoritative business magazine for the state, featured the Space Coast in it’s issue. Of the many business featured, Rivian Automotive landed the coveted prime cover position. The company is designing highly fuel efficient vehicles with a kick. The first model a sporty coupe will be available for consumer purchase in 2014.
We can’t wait to swap out the efficient but bland Prius for the road hugging ride of a Rivian coupe.
As the final space shuttle launch approaches, media outlets from all corners of the globe are descending on the Space Coast. Gladly, CKC has effectively leveraged their arrival for clients who don’t have a direct space agency tie.
Our media specialists spent the week working with crews from National Public Radio, CBS News and the Financial Times among others. Despite common associations to public relations professionals acting as ‘spin doctors’, our team considers a true presentation of facts as the most effective strategy. The truest test for any PR pro is to seek out our clients’ timely connections to media trends.
Our clients work within truly varied industries. The diversity of business verticals keeps the CK Communications team engaged and creative. Staying creative with fun products rarely challenges us; however, take a tiny surface mount as manufactured by Renco Electronics and ask us to get creative.
Start with an amazingly detailed photo shot with a macro lens by our own creative director and photographer, Craig Kempf. The process of photographing the product provides its own level of inspiration. We find the precision of the photography a reflection of the accuracy required to create this product perfectly every time.
Ultimately, we realized these tiny powerful products sustain power in everyday products used in nearly every industry. Capitalizing on this line of thinking, CKC launched a electronics industry branding campaign underscoring the pervasive presence of Renco’s products – RENCO everywhere.
Green start-up, Rivian Automotive grabbed the lead in a Wall Street Journal article today. It reminded us of the wise, old saying the “cream rises to the top”. During the interview process with WSJ, we had two goals – 1) support the reporter’s needs for the article 2) build a long term relationship with WSJ’s Florida beat reporter.
At the conclusion of the interviews, we felt solid in achieving both goals. But, the value in Rivian’s story pushed the company to the top of a story focused on the wind down of the Space Shuttle program.
Check out the article
As an agency, we’ve won our fair share of awards for great work. Instead of entering the same competition year after year, we’ve made it a policy to mix things up and enter different ones. Recently our creative director learned that this photo is a Photo of the Year Finalist. The image was captured in Haiti during the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake.
Producers of the inspiring documentary Undefeated brought CKC on board this morning to build a social media presence for their film. We’ve jumped in feet first to help get the word out before the film premieres at South by Southwest next week.
Set against the backdrop of an American football season, Undefeated is a coming-of-age vérité documentary film centering on three underprivileged student-athletes from inner-city Memphis and an unexpected volunteer coach who struggles to provide them with the discipline, resources and inspiration they’ll need to not only overcome their bleak surroundings, but also to win the first playoff game in the high school’s 110-year history.
Check it out – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Undefeated/146601622071063
Today our building literally shook as Space Shuttle Discovery re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere. We couldn’t help noticing that the sonic boom from Discovery aligned with the rumbling all day in the news about the final destination of the shuttle. Radio, television and Internet media covered the question and suggested possible destinations from Seattle to the Smithsonian. Being behind the curtain of how media and PR work together, we laud NASA public affairs for creating a new story for the day other than the “shuttle’s home” message.
As Space Coast residents we hope to have a shuttle land permanently in our backyard, but at the same time we recognize it deserves the prestige of the Smithsonian Institution. Regardless of it’s final stop, Discovery and all her crews have offered our nation, and the world, glimpses of the universe we would never have had. Discovery brought the Hubble telescope into space in 1990. Thanks Discovery. Congratulations NASA PA.
What does “Carmello to the Knicks” have to do with marketing?
The trade of Carmello Anthony to the Knicks underscores the classic challenge that all companies face – “Go big or Go home.”
The Knicks did exactly that, and now, sports radio stations are abuzz with energy and excitement over the Knicks
Essentially, it falls into the class of businesses who advertising in one spot or send out a single email blast to scrimp and wonder why there is minimal result. The world is full of average. If you have the opportunity to be outstanding, take it.
Successful marketing requires outstanding execution.
Kudos to the Red Cross for handling a potential communication crisis with immediacy and humanity – two characteristics that reinforce the mission of the 130 year old organization.
With the fast pace of technology and American’s 24 hour work day, it’s no surprise that a twitter snafu occurred. Innocently enough a staffer with access to the Red Cross twitter account crossed wires with the personal twitter account.
The result was less than desirable.
Yet, given a situation which might panic some, the Red Cross has responded with the appropriate balance of humor and information. The tweet was deleted, but the Red Cross acknowledged that once in cyberspace, all posts live on.
A pleasant unintended consequence of the incident has been an increase in donations and followers to the Red Cross twitter feed.
Read the full story >>Red Cross Twitter Faux Pas
A long awaited milestone took place at CKC this week. The Renco Electronics product catalog arrived to the factory in palette-fulls. For longer than we might like to admit, the Renco catalog has been part of CKC daily operations.
