Schafer | Condon | Carter

Schafer Condon Carter announced the addition of a color proofing system to its in-house studio/production capabilities.  The move was made following a thorough evaluation of best-in-class vendors’ capabilities, costs, and timing by SCC Studio and Print Production personnel.  “This addition will bring speed, flexibility and significant cost savings to our clients,” said Rob Hansen, Director of Studio Services, Traffic & Print Production at SCC.  “In-town vendors, while fast, have significant costs and while distant vendors are less expensive, they often take too long to turn a proof around. As timing continues to be condensed and budgets tightened we are able to win on both issues with this solution, providing lower cost and faster turn-around for our clients’ print needs.”  The new proofing system will also have large format printing capabilities.

“This is a great advancement for our agency and our clients,” said David Selby, President of SCC. “Along with our continuing investments in hardware and software in our digital group and the addition of in-house HD video capabilities, this continues to demonstrate SCC’s commitment to a full array of best-in-class services and capabilities for our growing client roster.”

Know how to instantly upgrade your creative department’s product?

At no cost to your bottom line?

It’s not more tools.  Not more freelancers.  Not hiring another hot team.  Not a new improved strategy document.

Just give your creative types more…time.

Simple, glorious, thought inspiring, idea-wallowing…time.

Quite the affordable yet apparently elusive luxury.

Back at my just barely post-Mad Men days at Burnett (when Merv Hiller, The Creative Recruiter of all Chicago at the time, watched me with bemusement as I banged out Oldsmobile ads) our group consisted of 5 teams lead by “Not Your Father’s Oldsmobile”  creative director, now author, Don Gwaltney.  Our group had a year for each new campaign.  A year!  A year to shoot all the print and TV.  5 teams spending roughly six months on concepts; six months shooting.

We now have very successful agencies with less teams than we had in our Oldsmobile group.  Agencies that crank out stuff in a millisecond.

It’s the “stuff” part that’s the problem.  Any good creative can crank out stuff at a moment’s notice.  Brilliance takes a bit longer.

We have abused our new and improved tools to such a point that just because it can be done in warp speed it’s expected to be done in warp speed.

We need to slow down.  To chill.  We’re burning out great talent that will never be able to realize their talent.

To realize that the ability to take a breath can lead to taking a new route.  Not just the instinctive one but the introspective one.

It’s an easy upgrade this time thing.

We just need to start asking for it.  Just a day more.  A week more.  It all helps.

Just a moment more can lead to making that emotional connection that could easily be missed as we rush to mediocrity.  To stuff.

The only thing it costs is time.

And it’s time to ask for more.

SCC Grossman and SCC just completed an intensive three-month start-up phase for Rise Group, a fast-growth management consulting company that helps leaders of dynamic organizations conceive, build and operate transformational buildings, infrastructure and operations across the world.  Rise recently delivered the now world-renowned Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago and the design phase for the Shard London Bridge project, soon to be the tallest building in Europe.  During this initial phase of our work, SCC Grossman and SCC developed a new strategic market position, brand architecture and big brand idea “Defining Moments.” The first creative work to come out of this initial phase is  a stunning new corporate capabilities brochure, which will be adapted for the iPad. Rise has also tapped SCC Grossman and SCC to help establish a significant digital presence, beginning in late 2010.  Click here to view the capabilities brochure.

Last week, in a wonderful ceremony at Northwestern University, SCC’s Julie Merkin and her team “Pulse” not only graduated from the Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies, but they won a very cool competition. Their team, made up of young executives from across the Chicago agency scene, beat out four other similar teams, with a spectacular marketing presentation, given last week, for the very cool brand and business Threadless.com.

Not a big fan of blahgs.

Blahg. Blahg Blahg.

“Lots of plates. No food.”

That’s what my Italian immigrant grandfather would tell my mother as they walked past the well groomed mansions of Hibbing, Minnesota in the 1940’s as she would look in wonder at the amazing abodes.

“Lots of plates. No food.”

If anyone can write a blahg is any one blahg worth reading?

Blahg. Blahg. Blahg.

So then why am I writing my own blahg you might ask.  (If you’re still with me that is)

Just trying to carve out a little cyber space on the inter-web

To find out for myself why a 30 year Chicago ad vet is still surviving, producing and looking at today’s ad landscape with bemusement instead of jaundice.

To try to understand why after 30 years of meetings to prepare for meetings, inane dictates and count-them-on your-hand victories I still love this biz.

Why?

Well you just have to check in from time.

Welcome to My First Blahg.

Welcome to Notes From the Grave.

Both support the the new, integrated “We Are the Fire“ campaign, a marketing and branding initiative centered on the passionate, proud and unapologetic fans that make soccer the special sport that it is.  The first spot, “90 All-In” captures the non-stop action that takes place on the field and in the stands during a 90-minute soccer match.  The second spot, “The Scarf” explores the unique tradition of the “Soccer Scarf” that fans wear to show their support for their team.  Take a look at the new spots here.

Ulta Beauty selected Schafer Condon Carter to develop its first ever TV campaign to support Mother’s Day. Building upon our successful campaign for Holiday 2009, we created a commercial that captured the accessible and fashionable voice of the Ulta brand and married it to a powerful branded promotion and call to action. The lotus flower serves as a strong symbol of Ulta’s beauty and elegance.

Trio of Agencies Partner with Fire to Launch “We Are the Fire” Brand

CHICAGO, IL (April 27, 2010) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today that it has selected a trio of agency partners in Schafer|Condon|Carter (SCC), All-Terrain and PACO Communications. SCC, Chicago’s top independent mid-size advertising agency, and one of the fastest growing shops in the U.S. will be responsible for strategic brand positioning, advertising campaign development and activation and ongoing brand stewardship. All-Terrain, an integrated marketing and public relations firm, will provide broad-based strategic marketing support including experiential and grassroots marketing, sponsorship activation, social media/mobile platform campaigns, media relations and influencer marketing. PACO Communications, an award winning multicultural marketing agency, will be tasked with Hispanic creative, media placement and tactical application of the Fire’s brand initiatives.

“We believe Schafer l Condon l Carter, All-Terrain and PACO Communications will assist in the growth of the Fire brand while providing additional exposure in traditional media outlets, grassroots campaigns and within the Hispanic community,” said Fire President Dave Greeley. “The We Are the Fire brand represents a passionate, authentic and inclusive feel that embodies the Fire experience. The intentionality of the “We Are the Fire” brand is to activate and mobilize the core fan base while broadening reach among avid Chicago sports fans. We will utilize brand, strategy and media direction to engage a multi-cultural cross-section of Chicago and soccer lovers of all generations.”

The Chicago Fire, in collaboration with Schafer l Condon l Carter have created and launched a new, integrated marketing campaign under the theme, “We Are the Fire“, a marketing and branding initiative to help capture the core target profile of “Soccer Passionistas” – a group of passionate fans who love soccer and are emotionally engaged in the game. Included in the “We Are the Fire” brand activation in both English and Spanish are outdoor implementation of creative elements, transit signage, print and radio spots and a weekly game video.

All-Terrain will bring “We Are the Fire” to life using grassroots strategies and unique experiential marketing activities. This will include introducing the team to Chicago area influencers, executing multicultural programming – especially focusing on Hispanic and Polish communities, social media/mobile platform integration, non-sports media relations work and involving Fire players in nonprofit and social events all season.

PACO Communications will implement the “We Are the Fire” brand with creative promotion and multi-cultural marketing efforts specific to the Hispanic community, creating integrated Spanish-language promotional materials to further engage the Hispanic community in the Chicagoland area.

ABOUT CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club was founded on October 8, 1997 as a Major League Soccer expansion team. The Fire won the MLS Cup in its inaugural season in 1998 and was crowned the champion of U.S. Soccer’s national tournament, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006. In June 2006, the Fire moved into its world-class home of TOYOTA PARK, located in Bridgeview, IL. For more information on the Chicago Fire, please visit the club’s official website at www.Chicago-Fire.com.

ABOUT TOYOTA PARK

Located 15 minutes from downtown Chicago and minutes from Midway airport off of I-55 on Harlem Avenue, TOYOTA PARK is the Midwest’s preeminent outdoor live entertainment and sporting facility. Opened in 2006, TOYOTA PARK not only serves as the home of the Chicago Fire, but also hosts a variety of sporting events, special events and concerts by national and international artists. In 2009, artists ranging from Jimmy Buffett to Phish performed live at TOYOTA PARK.

About Schafer|Condon|Carter

Schafer|Condon|Carter is Chicago’s top independent mid-size advertising agency, and one of the fastest growing shops in the U.S. SCC has built its success by challenging the status quo and delivering a tightly orchestrated, fully-integrated brand vision for its clients across an infinite set of consumer touch points. SCC’s work product manifests as powerful brand ideas that drive stakeholder value. A simple mission drives SCC’s entrepreneurial spirit and aggressive, growth-oriented culture: “Think Again.” SCC is based in Chicago and its wholly owned network includes SCC|Grossman Public Relations, SCC|Digital and Gravitas Sponsorships & Event Marketing. The agency employs more than 60 people. For more information visit www.sccadv.com.

About All Terrain

All Terrain is a 12-year-old integrated marketing and public relations agency that personalizes and connects brands with relevant consumers across a full spectrum of formats. From one-night-only experiential events to integrated multi-site, multi-city, multi-platform campaigns, All Terrain offers distinctive solutions that yield high returns because they engage people in ways that build meaning and loyalty. Recently named to the Inc. 5000 and named by Promo magazine as the 3rd fastest growing promotional agencies in the U.S., All Terrain clients include major brands such as General Motors, Anheuser-Busch, Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears) Foundation , Harrah’s Entertainment, Red Bull, Brian Campbell (Chicago Blackhawks) Foundation, Tribune Company, Chicago Public Library, Groupon.com, and Illinois Department of Transportation. For more information, visitwww.allterrain.net, or www.allterrainjohnny.com.

About PACO Communications

One of the fastest growing multicultural agencies in Chicago, PACO Communications doesn’t fit the traditional agency description or mold.  PACO’s full multicultural and multilingual team creates ideas that motivate consumers and make brands relevant, not just memorable.  With client partnerships like V&V Supremo Foods, Inc., Tampico Beverages, Harris N.A., Aetna, Easter Seals, Aeromexico and National Pork Board, PACO’s experience crosses borders and categories. The independent agency is 100 percent minority owned and operated.  For more information, visit www.pacocommunications.com

Des Moines, Iowa (March 8, 2010) – The National Pork Board announced today that it has selected Schafer|Condon|Carter as its new agency of record. The agency will be responsible for all consumer branding and advertising efforts.

“Pork has so much to offer consumers today – versatility, nutrition, and delicious taste,” said Ceci Snyder, Vice President of Domestic Marketing for the National Pork Board. “In Schafer Condon Carter we found a marketing partner with a deep understanding of our business, the ability to deliver an integrated communication solution, and the passion to help us energize our brand.”

SCC will develop an integrated consumer marketing program for the National Pork Board including strategic brand development as well as traditional and nontraditional advertising. SCC is partnering with Spark Communications for traditional media while handling digital media in-house.

“We are thrilled to have been selected to work with the National Pork Board,” said David Selby, president of SCC. “We look forward to working with the team at NPB to reinvigorate the pork brand and drive consumer preference for such a great product.”

SCC won the business following a review and will begin work effective immediately.

Bob Thacker, SVP Marketing & Advertising for Office Max was the featured speaker at “Ignite U”, Schafer Condon Carter’s internal training and education program. Bob shared his unique perspective as a seasoned brand marketer, touching on some of his most innovative work. These included the “Elf Yourself” viral marketing holiday phenomenon for OfficeMax, the Michael Graves collection at Target and Office Max’s partnership with Adopt-A-Classroom. Intrigued? Take a look at a few clips from Bob’s presentation from “Ignite U”!