JL Cherry@marxlayne Celebrates 25 Years with a Staff Reunion – Farmington-Farmington Hills, MI Patch http://farmington-mi.patch.com/d/articles/marx-layne-celebrates-25-years-with-a-staff-reunion
Archive for the ‘Media Relations’ Category
Marx Layne Marketing, Public Relations & Digital Media Celebrates 25 Years
Posted: February 20, 2012 in Branding, Employee Relations, Media RelationsTags: digital media, Marx Layne, public relations
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NYT NEWS ALERT: Rebekah Brooks, Former Head of News International, Said to Be Arrested in Hacking Scandale.
Global Reach Realized
Posted: August 20, 2010 in Media RelationsTags: global business, global pr, language learning
For many years now, I’ve listened while people have talked about business “going global”. Admittedly, I never really grasped the concept – until I realized that I was translating a myriad of the articles and ad copy I was drafting with an increasing frequency into a variety of languages. My work no longer was simply impacting “my little corner of the universe,” but winding up on the other side of the great divide.
Now, we’ve always handled national accounts at our agency. In fact, that’s where I first learned to pitch media. But the other day I started taking inventory of my clients. I have a client who does work in China and we’ve had the opportunity to promote their success; our company has been retained by numerous online websites across the country for promotion purposes; hired to do media relations efforts for a collection of nearly 20 entertainment venues spread across the country; and we have a client I’ve never met in who resides in the Caribbean. We’ve done work in Canada and Mexico for various projects too.
While the wrap up here may seem to be simple, I think it’s supposed to be. It’s amazing to think that one person or agency could have such a large reach, or that that reach could even be possible.
I’m a fan of HGTV, always up for a good episode of “House Hunters,” “Property Virgins,” etc. So when I stumbled upon a new show called “Flipping Out” on Bravo, I figured it was a must watch. Guy owns a company, flips houses. Sounds interesting, right? Midway through my first show, I was ready to leap from the top of the nearest tall building.
The main designer (Jeff) is a pompous jerk, to put it mildly. It’s one thing to dislike a character on a television show because he/she creates functional conflict that drives the plot, but it’s another to dislike that character so much that the viewer changes the channel. One assumes the purpose Jeff did such a show was to help drive his business – in a positive direction. After watching his , it’s difficult to imagine anyone who would want to do business with him.
Southwest Airlines had a successful reality show back in about 2005. It showed the trials and tribulations that Southwest Airlines employees went through in serving their customers – dealing with drunk passengers, crying children and lost baggage. In the end, most viewers walked away with sympathies for those tasked with moving travelers across the country. The inside peek Southwest allowed its viewers encouraged them to think twice before they acted up at the airport. They gained respect for the jobs those employed by Southwest perform. It helped people respect the work of the airline. Jeff and “Flipping Out” should take a lesson from Southwest. The show is doing nothing to improve his image.
It Takes 500 Volunteers to Raise a Festival
Posted: August 7, 2010 in Festivals, Media RelationsTags: Arts Beats & Eats, Citizens Bank, Community, Summer Festivals, Volunteering
Five years ago, I became involved in managing media relations for one of Detroit’s greatest Labor Day Weekend traditions – Arts, Beats & Eats. Now known as the Ford Arts, Beats & Eats Festival presented by Citizens Bank, the event is by all definitions a massive undertaking. It is an orchestrated effort, starting with the event producer and his immediate team to the restaurants, cultural and nonprofit organizations, throngs of musicians and companies with interactive displays. And, of course, there’s the public relations effort, coordination of advertising and more.
A behind-the-scenes look at the festival will reveal that in order to make the event the success it has been for the past 12 years, it takes volunteers – a lot. And not just 2 or 3 people. This year the festival is hoping 500 people step forward. They are the very backbone of the event.
These dedicated individuals often make themselves quietly available to help several events run smoothly, be it Detroit’s Winter Blast, Detroit River Days or Arts, Beats & Eats. They exhibit a true sense of community by working hard to ensure the festival appears to just “be,” springing up virtually overnight.
Historically, new volunteers have come to work at the festival by word-of-mouth. They had a friend who volunteered before and thought it sounded like an interesting experience. Today, for the first time ever, people potentially interested in volunteering their time for Arts, Beats & Eats on Labor Day Weekend (September 3-6, 2010) can come out to Art Van Furniture, 32301 Woodward Ave., south of 14 Mile Road to learn more about the opportunity.
Volunteers are being sought to welcome festival patrons at the gates, staff the information booth, assist with craft projects and general festival clean-up. If you can’t make it out today, please contact event producer Jon Witz or volunteer coordinator Mary Flynn at 248-334-4600 for further information.
