August '08: On the heals of 2007’s successful “Springfield Economy Is Back” media campaign, Garvey Communication Associates Inc. and a host of regional media outlets have come together again to launch an expanded campaign called “Springfield Good News.” The new campaign, which underscores the role of the Springfield Chamber in the local economy, features the return of host Victor Woolridge, Managing Director for Babson Capital Management; as well as guest spokespersons Russell Denver, President of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce; Yasmin Cortez, Owner of Appliance Plus Gift Shop; and Juan Campbell, Senior Vice President of Sales for Health New England. “Springfield Good News” print ads, radio, and television spots focus on improvements to downtown, the City’s 17 beautiful neighborhoods, and the success of local small businesses. To date, WMAS-FM, Clear Channel, WAQY-FM, The Republican, The Reminder, Turley Publications, BusinessWest, WWLP, CBS3, WGGB, and WEEB have all signed on. GCAI also has online ads that are in production and will be launched soon on MassLive.
August '08: EASTEC, one of the largest precision manufacturing shows on the East Coast, has chosen Garvey Communication Associates Inc. as their agency of record for Public Relations and Media Buying. The trade show, sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), is held at the Eastern States Exposition and attracts over 14,000 attendees annually. To start, GCAI will analyze past media buys in three regional DMAs and plan a Search Engine Optimized media release strategy for early 2009. SME is looking to elevate the awareness and appreciation of EASTEC and manufacturing in the region. According to a recent study by Northeastern University, manufacturing is a growing part of the Massachusetts economy. An estimated 8,600 plants are in the Commonwealth and most of them are technologically sophisticated as well as looking for employees. The study showed how these plants are boosting productivity faster than the rest of the state’s economy and are becoming a larger share of the gross state product.
July '08: After funding approximately $20 million of clean and green energy generation, PeoplesBank is finally getting the recognition it deserves thanks to an SEO release by GCAI. Over the past five years, the Bank has funded hydroelectric power generation and two wind farms, along with making substantial energy conservation improvements to its own physical plant. Normally, this is not the stuff that community banks are known for - even market leaders like PeoplesBank. Yet, thanks to the Search Engine Optimized PR tactics utilized by GCAI, Mass High Tech, WSJ Market Watch, Business Week, Forbes, and Wind Watch all took notice of the Bank's laudable efforts. These publications were joined by many others as demonstrated by the Bank's dominant Google "first page" results. This good news came at a critical time in banking. In these days of bank failures and mortgage bailouts, PeoplesBank was able to convey a core value to its community: Not only is the Bank incredibly stable, but it is significantly investing in the health, wellbeing, and future of the community it serves.
June '08: Increases in sales are where the rubber meets the road and, for GCAI clients, public relations strategies are driving them. When a business profile on Snap Fitness appeared in a local paper a few weeks ago, the owner reported an immediate response – 10 new clients. Last month, Convergent Solutions Inc. reported that a prospect saw a GCAI generated basic personnel release in a local paper and it led to a substantial led (which looks like it will close soon). Practically all GCAI PR has a long tail these days as well – which means it appears in print and on the Internet, giving the story a much longer shelf life and clients an increased amount of optimized, searchable content on their business.
May '08: It is not easy to talk about the work of Convergent Solutions Inc. (CSI). Healthcare administration is a complicated field and the CSI approach to improving it is even more complicated. Yet, when GCAI pitched the story to the editor of BusinessWest and Healthcare News, he saw immediate cover story potential. The secret is in the approach, both that of GCAI to the editor and CSI to their prospective clients. In the editorial pitch, GCAI kept the premises simple: CSI was formed by leaders in the their field, who have a proven track record, and were taking a technology that has been used for Homeland Security and using it to improve healthcare administration. These are the same value points that are impressing CSI prospects: because of CSI, doctors can concentrate on providing healthcare while leaving billing worries to the experts. The result - healthy patients, healthy practices - proving once again, the power of PR.
May '08: With study after study showing that consumers are very interested in environmentally friendly initiatives, GCAI has been assisting clients and community organizations with "Green PR." Recently, GCAI helped PeoplesBank spread the word about financing the biggest wind farm in the state and how it is retrofitting its buildings for increased energy efficiency. The resulting coverage in daily newspapers and business trade publications also highlighted the fact that 60% of PeoplesBank's energy in their Holyoke offices comes from clean, renewable hydroelectricity. When Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity partnered with the ReStore Home Improvement Center, GCAI PR efforts drew considerable attention from television stations and print newspapers interested in the fact that reharvested lumber would be used on the project. The lumber was saved from the deconstruction of a 6000 square foot beach house on the eastern end of the state. The lumber was then brought to Springfield and used on the construction of a new home on Central Street.
April '08: Advertisement on American Idol, hard hitting news stories, photography from the Red Sea, barrels and barrels of colored ink - and a whole lot more - will all be discussed in detail during the 2008 "Media and Marketing for Middle School," a GCAI vocational mentoring program at the Alfred G. Zanetti School in Springfield. The program, now in its 4th year, consists of classroom presentations by GCAI President John Garvey, The Republican Reporter Liz Roman, and WSPR's DJ "Baby C". There will also be tours of the CBS 3 television studio, Langone photography studio, and The Republican printing press. GCAI wishes to extend special thanks to Reporter Liz Roman, Bill Lucardi of CBS 3, Photographer Jim Langone, and Jim Foley - the Production Director at The Republican for donating their time. The program will finish in early June with a visit to the offices of GCAI on the 24th floor of Tower Square. According to Mr. Garvey the most popular parts of the office tour are always the elevator trip, the cookies, and looking out the window.
April '08: It's no secret - EMRs (Electronic Medical Records) improve healthcare delivery and make it more cost effective. Yet, according to the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative, with implementation costs running at $40,000-$45,000 per physician, the medical industry has been slow to convert from paper medical records, until now. GCAI is working with client Convergent Solutions Inc. to launch a new EMR system that features very low implementation and maintenance costs. Feature articles are expected in upcoming business and healthcare publications. The campaign will also use print advertisement, Search Engine Optimization and Social Networking to extend its reach.
March '08: Auto rates are falling - so why not drop a car out of an airplane as a visual? In new television spots for FieldEddy Insurance, that is exactly what GCAI did...well using stock footage anyway. Longtime client FieldEddy has been working with GCAI to make the Commonwealth's new managed competition auto insurance plan simple for consumers in western Massachusetts. Television, radio, print advertisement, and PR are all being employed to support FieldEddy's promise of more options and the best price. GCAI has also been helping the company unite their agency network throughout the region under a new FieldEddy brand.
March '08: Sure, all agencies are close to their clients, but very few would regard them as family. Not so at GCAI, at least when it comes to Snap Fitness in Holyoke. David Garvey, brother of GCAI President John Garvey, is launching a new fitness business with the help of "the top marketing firm in the Pioneer Valley - from an elevation standpoint!" Located at 506 Westfield Road, Snap Fitness Holyoke offers a "Fast, Affordable, and Convenient" workout along with tanning and personal training. GCAI provided print advertisement, PR, and social media services to support the launch. More information can be found at SnapFitness.com/Holyoke, or by emailing David at Holyoke@SnapFitness.com
February '08: GCAI president, John J. Garvey, was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts. With a history that dates back to 1918, the World Affairs Council is a forum for discussion of critical global issues. The council serves as an educational resource for its members and connects them to high-level contacts operating in the global economy. Mr. Garvey also serves on the Board of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.