New hire at Oliver Russell

Heidi Kelly has joined Oliver Russell as an Interactive Producer. Prior to joining the agency, she was with Critical Mass, and also worked within the marketing department at Albertsons for ten years.

Congratulations Heidi.

Technorati tags: heidi kelly, oliver russell, critical mass, albertsons

In your opinion...

What do you think is going to be the biggest issue facing agencies in Idaho this year?

Will it be finding and retaining clients? Growing the agency? Adapting to changes in technology?

Or will it be something entirely different? I've got my opinion, of course, but I'd like to hear yours.

Comment away.

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies, agency business

BAF Social Event

The Boise Advertising Federation is putting on a Three Ounces + Ice social event.

This get together will take place on Thursday, January 31st from 5:30 - 7:00, at Beside Bardenay. For those who aren't familiar, Beside Bardenay is, well, beside Bardenay on Grove St.

Admission is free for BAF members, or $5 for non-members. According to the email sent out recently, you'll be able to "Hear what the BAF has in store for the upcoming year including upcoming Three Courses + Cake speakers, Rockies details and more."

Technorati tags: boise advertising federation, beside bardenay, bardenay, baf, rockies

Job Opening - Key Account Manager

Wirestone has an opening for a Key Account Manager in either Boise or Portland. There's a laundry list of required experience for this position, including five years or more experience in interactive marketing and interactive agencies. Full details about the position can be found here.
(Courtesy of Craigslist)

Technorati tags: wirestone, account manager job, craigslist

Recurring themes

Steve Hall over at AdRants posted an item earlier today regarding the Minnesota State Lottery's store clerk series of spots.

They're good spots, no doubt, but I got a feeling that they were similar to some of the spots that have been done for the Idaho Lottery over the years. The Betty Boop spot in particular comes to mind...

Anyone else care to weigh in?

Technorati tags: steve hall, adrants, minnesota state lottery, idaho lottery

BlueLine is no more

For those who may not have yet heard, BlueLine Grassroots Marketing is no more.

Tac goes into much more detail on the New Comm Biz site, so there's no need to regurgitate it all here as well.

Technorati tags: blueline grassroots marketing, new comm biz

Hey Media Buyers / Planners

If you act quickly, Balihoo may still let you get in on this.

New Addition - Adrian + Sabine

In what seems to be an ongoing trend, this addition to the Idaho Ad Agencies roster is headed up by a former member of Oliver Russell & Associates.

Adrian + Sabine Creative Services offers "strategic planning,project management, event planning, and "virtual agency" services." It was founded by Courtney Robinson Feider, formerly of Oliver Russell. Adrian + Sabine's focus is on matching business with creativity, by matching the appropriate creative service with a given business, and the right business with the right creative individuals.

This, by my own unscientific calculations, is the third new business to come into being from a former Oliver Russell staff member over the course of the past year. Some may remember that Kristy Weyrich formed W Design about a year ago, and Paul Carew started Carew Co. about six month's ago.

Technorati tags: oliver russell & associates, adrian + sabine creative services, courtney robinson feider, oliver russell, adrian + sabine, kristy weyrich, w design, paul carew, carew co

Interesting

There's all kinds of traffic coming to this site lately as a result of searches for Drake Cooper. Anyone care to shed some light as to why?

Oh, and the snow globe on their website has finally been put away. It's been replaced by a coming soon message, with a "promised" launch date of March 1st. Really. They mean it.

Given just about every agency's track record when it comes to updating their own websites, I'm not holding my breath.

Technorati tags: drake cooper

Full disclosure - an update

As those of you who have been reading the Idaho Ad Agencies blog for a while know, I make a conscious effort to ensure that this site is focused on the marketing / advertising / agency world here in Idaho, without throwing too many of my own personal activities into it.

There have been exceptions, of course, when I felt it was appropriate. This is one of those times.

As many of you know, I have been working for Closed Loop Marketing & Advertising. Yesterday, however, was my last day with the agency.

It's no secret that I've long been a fan of the interactive space. I'm a self-described internet junkie, and have been involved with online activities in one form or another for over a decade. That trend continues to this day.

My new venture, for those who are curious, will involve working with agencies, and their clients, on how to best understand and utilize the new media space, and the assortment of tools available in that arena. Blogging, podcasting and social networking are a few of the areas that I will be focusing on. As has been the trend for several years now, so much of everything that we do has moved online, and those businesses, and their agencies, who are able to take advantage of that trend will have greater success in the long run.

As part of this change, I will also put a renewed focus on this site. Admittedly, I have not dedicated much time to it lately, but I plan to change that.

Now I'm not trying to make this sound too much like a sales pitch -- hopefully it hasn't come across that way. I felt it necessary, however, to let you the reader know what changes are happening on this side of the keyboard, and how they could impact the blog. I've said it before and I'll say it again - thank you to everyone who visits this site regularly, and contributes in one way or another. I am still of the opinion that we have the opportunity to raise the bar, so to speak, on the marketing and advertising world here in Idaho.

As always, I welcome your questions, comments and feedback.

Technorati tags: idaho ad agencies blog, closed loop marketing & advertising, almost live productions

New hire at Wirestone

George Seybold has joined Wirestone in Boise as a Project Manager. George was most recently the brand marketing e-media manager (wow, that's a mouthful) at Weyerhaeuser's i-Level division.

Congratulations George.

Technorati tags: george seybold, wirestone, weyerhaeuser, i-level

Job Opening - Graphic Designer

Rizen Creative has an opening for a Graphic Designer. They're looking for "an experienced graphic design/art director/all-around good human being – a real utility player who wants to play an integral part in crafting kick-butt work."

Additional detail about this job can be found here.
(Courtesy of Craigslist)

Technorati tags: rizen creative, graphic designer job, craigslist

Getting settled in at the new place

By all accounts, Rizen Creative has finished, or is very close to finishing their move into the new office space.

Once they do get settled in, perhaps they'll be so kind as to give me a tour of the shop.

Technorati tags: rizen creative

New Agency Addition

Imagination Graphics (iMgX) is a full service ad agency / graphic design shop located in Coeur d' Alene. They first opened in 2002, and have been steadily picking up clients and employees ever since.

A quick spin through their website suggests that iMgX is an eight-person shop that focuses primarily on graphic design and signage.

Thanks for the heads-ups Sean. Just remember though, now you guys are on the hook to send updates from time to time.

Technorati tags: imagination graphics

New Hires at Stoltz Marketing Group

Stoltz Marketing Group has added some new faces over the past few months, including:

Dave Jansik, who joined the agency in August as Public Relations Director. Prior to taking the position with Stoltz Marketing Group, Dave was with Micron Technology, and also spent several years with LookSmart and CNET in San Francisco.

Billy Mitchell started with Stoltz in September, as Director of Client Services. Before joining the agency, Billy was the Director of Marketing at ProTeam, and also worked with full service agencies in Portland.

Doug Gneiting is the latest addition at Stoltz, joining the shop in November as an Art Director. Doug is a recent graduate of BYU Idaho, and most recently worked for the in-house marketing group at Melaleuca in Idaho Falls.

Congratulations to all.

Technorati tags: stoltz marketing group, dave jansik, micron technology, looksmart, cnet, billy mitchell, proteam, doug gneiting, byu idaho, melaleuca

Job Opening - Java Architect

Wirestone in Boise has an opening for a Java / Software Solutions Architect. Candidates should have 10 years of experience, and "will be well-versed in all aspects of software development in a Java/J2EE and/or .NET environment, including architecture, configuration, development, testing and deployment."

Full details about the position can be found here.
(Courtesy of HotJobs)

Technorati tags: wirestone, java architect job, software solutions architect job, hotjobs

That time of year once again

The college football season is officially over.

The snow keeps falling, causing headaches for commuters (if they'd just leave slow down and leave a little more room...)

And the Boise Advertising Federation (well, the Idaho Advertising Federation, officially) is once again calling for entries for the annual Rockie Awards.

Yes, that's right, the IAF is actually getting the word out ahead of time that the entry window for the Rockies is open. Entries are being accepted now through February 15th, with a late fee assessed to those entries submitted after February 1st.

The Rockies Award Show is scheduled for April 12th at The Big Easy (or whatever the name happens to be by then) and will feature a Creative Invasion 80's theme to the entire affair.

For questions about the Rockies Award Show, submissions, or anything else related to the event, contact Carolyn Weske.

Technorati tags: boise advertising federation, idaho advertising federation, rockies, rockie awards, the big easy, rockies award show, carolyn weske

A little more on Drake Cooper

Here's an interesting little nugget I came across recently about the new Drake Cooper...

Jamie Cooper, formerly Chief Operating Officer is now Chief Executive Officer. Bill Drake remains President.

Also, the sign has been up on the new building for a couple of weeks now, but the new website, promised on January 1st, still hasn't made a guest appearance.

Technorati tags: drake cooper, jamie cooper, bill drake

Platinum Advertising Group...

...is no more. According to the Idaho Secretary of State's office. Officially, the company was administratively dissolved because the annual report form was undeliverable.

The link has been removed from the list of Agencies in Idaho.

Just a not-so-subtle reminder as the year starts that you have to take care of all facets of your business, if you want to be successful.

Technorati tags: platinum advertising group, idaho secretary of state, agencies in idaho