The Communications Group is a full service regional and national marketing, advertising and public relations firm based in Little Rock, Arkansas which specializes in strategically oriented, result-driven programs. 
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| Strategic Optimism: whazzat?
Words of Marketing Wisdom by Dan Cowling, agency president |
 The Dow has finally crossed the 10,000 mark for the first time in a year. Cause for celebration? Maybe. In the business world, more than likely, it's merely cause for a dose of strategic optimism. Strategic optimism? How is that any different from plain old vanilla-flavored regular optimism?
According to executive performance coach, Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach™, it has to do with your orientation toward risk. Risk is unavoidable in business, Sullivan says. But the strategic optimist does not shy away from risk or try to circumvent it altogether. Instead, the strategic optimist understands the differences between foolish, pie-in-the-sky risk and calculated risk. Now, more than ever, there is a need to plan for the future, and act on those plans. There are no guarantees. There never are. Just about the only thing you can't do in the current economic environment is nothing.
How does your risk tolerance and subsequent optimism (or lack thereof) affect your business performance and outcomes? Learn more by listening to Sullivan's podcast on Strategic Optimism by clicking here. |
| 37 Publishers in 3 Days in 1 Office:
Baldor Media Week |
If one marketing firm hosts 37 magazine reps from 18 publishers representing 42 trade publications in the U.S. and Canada in 3.5 days for a single client, what do you get? While it may sound reminiscent of one of those confounding algebra word problems from high school, not to worry, it's just a little thing our media department calls Baldor Media Week.
Going on its eighth year in our Little Rock office, Baldor Media Week is something of an industry phenomenon in its reach and efficiency. Media Week is coordinated for Baldor Electric Company of Fort Smith by Leigh Grant, VP, director of media for CG.
During the week, an entire year's worth of media schedules and placement packages are presented by 42 trade magazines from across North America. The proposals are reviewed and added value is negotiated in those three and a half days. Many of the added value packages integrated an online presence into the publication's ad package, helping support the idea that traditional and new media can effectively go hand-in-hand in today's evolving media environment.
The Baldor marketing team, led by Randy Breaux and Charlie Hubbard, are on-site for the week to help evaluate the proposals. Media Week takes several months to plan and coordinate and is a one-of-a-kind event in this region. Find out more by e-mailing Leigh Grant at Lgrant@comgroup.com or calling 501.376.8722. |
| Baldor Electric Company:
Building a Culture, not just a Company |
 As any creative director can tell you, annual reports can be a challenge, especially for a manufacturing client...unless you're working with a company like Baldor Electric Company (NYSE: BEZ).
Baldor's track record of international success begs the question, "What is it that makes a company thrive, even in incredibly tough economic times?" The annual report we created for Baldor this year focused on one of Baldor's strongest competitive advantages: its corporate culture.
Check out the new annual report by clicking here. Baldor has been a client of The Communications Group since 2001. This Fort Smith-based company is a world leader in the production of energy efficient industrial electric motors, drives, generators and power transmission products. See more Baldor creative materials on our Web site at www.comgroup.com.
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| It's all About the Kids: Early Childhood
Education Account goes to CG |
The Communications Group was recently awarded the account for the Arkansas Early Childhood Education outreach program in a competitive bidding process.
The campaign, called Better Beginnings, began October 1 and focuses on the launch of a new quality rating system for childcare providers. The outreach and education elements of the program communicate the importance of getting children into quality childhood learning experiences as early as possible. The program also helps parents and caregivers understand what makes a high quality childcare experience, what to look for in a provider and how the new rating system will work.
The new logo, designed by CG, was unveiled last month at a statewide economic development conference hosted by DHS and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. The new rating system is set to go into effect in the summer of 2010. In the meantime, the education campaign is focusing on getting childcare providers prepared for the new ratings.
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| Golf for a Good Cause: First Tee
Picks CG as Agency of Record |
 It is arguably one of the best-kept golfing secrets in Central Arkansas: beautiful grounds, great clubhouse, inexpensive green fees, almost never a wait for a tee time and all of the proceeds go to a good cause. The place: First Tee of Central Arkansas. The cause: golf instruction and leadership development programs for youth.
Perhaps those golfers that do know about First Tee don't want to share the professional course with others, or maybe it's because First Tee is a relatively young organization in the state. Either way, the First Tee board of directors recently selected The Communications Group as their marketing agency to help make the organization more visible.
Neal Moore, CG's creative director and resident golf nut, has been working with our creative team developing professional marketing materials for the organization's fundraising events. Check out a recently produced TV spot featuring professional golfer, Ken Duke. [click here to play TV spot] Shane George of George Creative Productions provided the video services for the spot. The Works studio is providing audio for the radio production.
Learn more about First Tee at www.thefirstteelittlerock.org or better yet, get out of the office and go play a round. Call 501.562.4653 for directions...and tell them The Communications Group sent you. |
White River Medical Center, of Batesville, Arkansas, is the recipient of two Arkansas Hospital Association Marketing Diamond Awards. The Diamond Awards recognize healthcare organizations that excel in marketing and public relations in the state of Arkansas. The awards were announced at the AHA's October annual meeting.
The campaign was also recently recognized with a Bronze Quill Award by the International Association of Business Communicators at the IABC Arkansas awards program. To see samples of White River's award winning work, visit our Web site's creative section at www.comgroup.com/creativity.
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| Grouper Gossip: News about our Staff
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 Rex Nelson, senior vice president of government relations and public outreach, celebrated a blogging milestone with his 50th entry last week. If you haven't visited www.RexNelsonSouthernFried.com lately, you're missing some really great reading. It's the kind of blog that makes you proud to be Arkansan.
 Carol Wilson, accounting assistant, completed her last semester of college with a 4.0 grade point average, while working full time, caring for an ailing family member and being a single parent. Wow.
 Lela Delgado, account planner, recently graduated from the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Leadership Little Rock Class XXIV. |
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Thank you for your interest in The Communications Group.
Dan Cowling, President and Principal
400 West Capitol Ave., Suite 1391
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501-376-8722
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