Category Archives: Community

posted by Julie

Jun 06, 2011 @ 4:40pm

CreateAthon Season Starts to Simmer

Julie Turner works it for charity during CreateAthon '10

It is still months away, but I am already excited. With each day that passes, CreateAthon is one day closer.

CreateAthon is a national nonprofit assistance initiative that was born right here in Columbia, SC. During CreateAthon, partner marketing, advertising and public relations firms provide pro bono marketing services for select nonprofits. I have been lucky enough to cry through a number of presentations to very deserving nonprofits who year after year accomplish so much good with so very little means.

The brainchild of Riggs Partners Cathy Monetti and Teresa Coles, CreateAthon has grown from a lone, local effort into nationwide network of partners. If you’re interested, there’s still time to become a partner or a participating nonprofit.

In the weeks leading up to national CreateAthon week, September 12-16, follow the excitement in real time on the CreateAthon blog and on Facebook.

CreateAthon is an amazing experience and I look forward to volunteering each year. No sleep. No showers. No egos. It’s 24 hours of pure marketing insanity that I wouldn’t miss for anything in the world.

Comment (0)
posted by Guests

Jun 01, 2011 @ 2:22pm

Mast General Store and Environmental Stewardship

By Rebecca Jacobson, project manager

Downtown Columbia scored a major economic victory last week with the opening of Mast General Store.  With their vast selection of shoes, clothing, home goods, gifts, ole-timey toys and barrels of candy, it’s a fun, feel-good kind of place to shop, and city leaders and residents alike are all hoping it will be the catalyst for change in downtown Columbia.

What we believe makes Mast Store an even more exciting addition to Columbia is the fact that they are a company with values deeply rooted in corporate social responsibility (CSR).  All the way back to their original store in the late 1800’s, Mast Store has always maintained a culture of contributing to their local community.

If you just consider their business philosophy of locating in cities where they believe the store can be a catalyst for Main Street revitalization, as was the case in Greenville, SC and Knoxville, TX, that in itself is a pretty significant way to make a difference.  They are an employee-owned company, supporters of United Way, very active in promoting community events, and they hold several annual projects to benefit local food banks, shelters and others in need.

What I’m really excited about and energized by is Mast Store’s commitment to the environment.   Their sense of environmental stewardship runs deep and is evident in these very progressive programs:

  • Green Power – the company purchases carbon credits in North Carolina and Tennessee to help offset the impact made by their delivery trucks.
  • Recycling – all stores recycle plastic, glass, paper, aluminum, bi-metal cans and cardboard, and their shopping bags have a special additive that quickens the decomposition process (I mean really, who does that?)
  • Mast Transit – employees earn incentives for carpooling, riding their bike to work, walking to work or taking public transportation (If only I could get an incentive for carpooling my daughter to school the past couple of years!)
  • Local Land Trust Day – the first Saturday of every June, Mast Store donates 20 percent of the day’s sales to their partner land trust in the community of each of their stores; think about it, on this one day, 20 percent of the sales from every store goes back into the local community specifically to support land conservation – I’d say that’s some pretty impressive CSR.

The Columbia partner for Local Land Trust Day is the Congaree Land Trust (CLT), a small organization that has conserved more than 27,000 acres of land in central South Carolina.  CLT board members, volunteers and staff will be on hand all day to educate shoppers about land trusts, conservation easements and the status of land protection in central South Carolina – something you might not have ever considered it weren’t for Mast General Store and their tremendous sense of corporate social responsibility.

If you’d like your shopping dollars to have an impact on the local community, head downtown to Mast Store this Saturday, June 4 and see first-hand this great company that has moved in on Main Street in Columbia.

– Rebecca Jacobson

Comment (0)
posted by Apprentices

May 10, 2011 @ 4:29pm

The Magic Happens in the Audience

Over a recent lunch with my coworkers, the subject of social media came up. Since we’re all young enough to be classified as digital natives, I was surprised to find they were somewhat disillusioned with social media. “Most of it feels like someone sat down, wrote a bunch of stuff, fired it off, and hoped someone would ‘Like’ it,” one coworker said.

I know what he means. In this world of likes and followers, it’s easy to focus your efforts on numbers. You can measure network growth and plot it neatly in a spreadsheet. Sure, gaining fans and followers is validating. “Look, they like us!”  But before you grab your megaphone and starting broadcasting marketing copy (nicely packaged in 140 characters), consider this: what is the value of your social network? If you have 5,000 Facebook fans or 500 Twitter followers, but they remain largely unengaged (they only liked you for that free pizza deal anyway), your social success is over-valued.

Scrolling through my personal Twitter stream a few days ago, I stumbled across this little gem from the always-smart Seth Simonds:

He reminded me what makes social media magical. It’s not the fact that it’s free, or that it’s “easy” (hah), or that it’s a fantastic tool for reaching a lot of people in real-time. Social media is powerful because it’s interactive. It moves brands from monologue to conversation. New Economy Consumers—especially members of the Millennial generation—expect brands to be authentic. So stop churning out marketing copy. Brands are like people, complete with individual personalities, voice, and habits of expression. Give your audience a chance to get to know you by getting to know them.

You don’t develop real life relationships by rattling off a rote stream of information about yourself. You strengthen your connection over time, through a steady exchange of ideas. When you’re building relationships with people, you pay attention to them. You ask them questions. You talk to them about things they find interesting or meaningful. You listen. You make yourself available. This is the definition of a great social strategy.

Bowers & Wilkins, maker of quality home theater, hi-fi, and personal audio products, recently jumped into the deep blue waters of Twitter as @BWNorthAmerica. To build their network, they’re currently running a giveaway, requiring Twitter users to respond to a question and include “@BWNorthAmerica” in their tweet. This is a pretty standard strategy for launching a social network, but here’s what makes them different and delightful: They’re asking people “What are you listening to right now?”, and when they get a response, they follow up with another question, a personalized recommendation, or a thoughtful remark. They’re communicating authentic interest in the people who are talking to them. You can check out the conversation over here.

Back to those 5,000 pizza-lovin’ Facebook fans. What is their favorite kind of pizza? Maybe you should ask them. And then tell them yours.

Comment (0)
posted by Cathy

May 04, 2011 @ 4:01pm

Full circle moments

Julie and Cathy, circa 1988

In 1988, I was a 27-year-old entrepreneur with a great passion for advertising and a tiny bank account that didn’t allow for payroll (including my own). The phone rang one day and on the other end of the line was the determined voice of high school student Julie Smith.

“My sister just graduated and she doesn’t know what she wants to do and I already know I want to work in advertising and if you will let me come work for you now I will do anything you need even empty the trash and you won’t even have to pay me.”

It didn’t take me long to say yes, and even today — 23 years later — I consider it one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made. It was also a valuable lesson:

Never underestimate the power of the gut instinct decision.

Is there any level on which it makes sense to hire your first — and might I add only — employee from the high school pool? Okay, maybe if your business is a landscaping service. But not in this kind of business, for which a level of talent demonstrated through a great portfolio or experience in other respected shops is virtually required. And yet I heard something in Julie’s voice, a quality that told me This girl is something special. I was right, and for the next five years, Julie added sparkle, smarts and joy to our growing creative studio.

Cathy's graduation gift to Julie

In 1992, she graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in advertising and I joyfully nudged her out into the world. I knew her talents would best be developed with experiences challenging and diverse, and she earned her stripes with stints at several respected agencies and in leading an in-house marketing program for a major nonprofit.

She also grew up, got married, and became a mother of two precious, precious boys.

Earlier this year, Julie founded her own creative studio, wordsmith. She has come home to roost in the fabulous WECO building, alongside Riggs Partners and among our band of crazy-talented strategic partners who also call the WECO home.

Cathy and Julie, circa now

It is one of the great joys of my life to work alongside my protégé and friend, Julie Smith Turner. She is a reminder to me, every day, that the relationships we build as we move along this “work” pathway are the real payouts for a job well done.

Comment (1)
posted by Cathy

Jan 21, 2011 @ 5:35pm

Moe is We

Pete, Ryon, Kevin, Teresa and Cathy after their power lunch at Moe's

There’s nothing I love better than a Friday lunch with my RP pals, made better when we’re patronizing a client. Today we headed to Moe’s in West Columbia, and it was the highlight of a really great week.

After loading up with a Joey Jr. and more than my fair share of salsa, I joined the RP crew at the table for some fascinating conversation and a lot of laughing. We planned a series of Explore Meeting excursions, took a couple of phone calls from The-Work-Goes-On Tom Barr, got great news from CreateAthon Evangelist Peyton Rowe, and had a great idea for a new Moe’s Facebook promo. And just for good measure, we named every Moe’s poster non-rock star dead rock star in the room. (Did you know Moe’s stands for Musicians, Outlaws and Entertainers?)

It was the best kind of impromptu lunch — productive and fun. Isn’t that a great reminder to get out from behind the computer and out into the world every now and then?

Comment (0)
posted by Cathy

Dec 27, 2010 @ 7:30am

Fathers, and sons, and the elegance of civilized commerce

The very, very, very best part of my job is getting to meet people, from various walks of life, who inspire me.

This inspiration takes many forms. It is a thrill, as a creative, to rub elbows with greats in our industry who produce work that literally changes our culture. (And then to discover that they are, surprisingly, human.) As a professional whose work often intersects the nonprofit arena, I am constantly humbled by the generous spirits of those who dedicate their lives to social good. As a community servant, it is a privilege to work with intelligent, committed and conscientious men and women who bring passion and smarts to board rooms and workrooms around the Midlands.

But last week, I had the unexpected joy of not one encounter — but two — that left me . . . changed.

Here’s what happened. In my role as board member, Central Carolina Community Foundation Executive Director JoAnn Turnquist and I are seeking support for Talk About Giving, an initiative (developed by Riggs Partners during CreateAthon), to encourage conversation about philanthropy in homes throughout our community. Our first two meetings were scheduled for the same day, two hours apart. In both cases, we met with well established and highly respected corporations headquartered here in the Midlands. And in each case, we met with two generations of corporate leadership: patriarch, and son.

I won’t name the companies or the people in this post; I am quite certain that none of the four relishes that kind of personal spotlight. But I will say I was struck, and deeply moved, by the similarities of the meetings and the dynamics, in each case, between father and son. From the moment we shook hands in greeting, these men paid careful and thoughtful attention to the story we had to share. They listened generously. They asked questions. They engaged. And while each of them is, no doubt, extremely busy with very important work to do (they are, after all, leaders of major corporations), not one checked a Blackberry or stole a look at his watch or rushed us in any way.

We finished our presentation, and business completed, stood to leave. In both cases, we were escorted TO THE FRONT DOOR by these gracious executives, in one case detouring slightly for homemade holiday cookies along the way.

I left both meetings on top of the world, completely validated, as if what I had to say to these Heads of Industry was the most important item on their complex agenda that day.

Isn’t that an invaluable lesson? Isn’t it a reminder of the power of common courtesy, which is not so common today? Isn’t it just good business?

Here’s the other thing. In both instances, the son, who plays a significant role in the running of the corporation (and has for many years), honored his father with a level of respect I found humbling and refreshing.

There’s no doubt we are all competing in a how-fast-can-it-be-done economy; speed is the name of the game in today’s business environment. Be we seem to have forgotten that even in the rush, there is simply no substitute for good, old-fashioned manners.

Just ask those who have achieved the kind of success that lasts, generation to generation.

Comment (0)
posted by Cathy

Nov 04, 2010 @ 3:24pm

getting ready for debbie millman

debbie millman     aiga south carolina     columbia     december 1

Comment (0)
posted by Teresa

Oct 18, 2010 @ 1:42pm

Run like Mad!

Was the collective cry from the audience to Megan last night at the Mad Men Finale Party. A host of 60s souls came out to the Nickelodeon, and the wardrobe selections did not disappoint. We were all channeling the outer power and confidence of Don and Joan until he turned into a giggling Ricky Nelson (did we even know he had that many teeth?) and Joan let us in on her baby conspiracy. While some of us expected more business, we were reminded of the writers’ tendencies to leave us wondering about character foibles rather than agency prowess at the end of the season.

So best wishes to the bride (as Pete Campbell aptly reminded us) and congratulations to Don for entering his own personal Sound of Music. But when he starts whipping out the guitar, we’re outta here.

Pam marvels in Teresa's (aka Joan) empowerment by Playtex

Kevin cuts a deal on the street

Tim and Cathy Monetti, quintessential power couple

Ryon is giddy with the thought of Pantone markers and rubber cement.

Keely Saye, lovely in any era

The junior staff plot their takeover of the Palmolive account.

Our costume winner took home a lovely ashtray sure to dress up any kidney-shaped coffee table.

Don and Betty: When you're this beautiful, who needs to worry about new business?

Comment (2)
posted by Cathy

Oct 11, 2010 @ 3:54pm

We’re going to party like it’s 1964!

Channel your inner (or outer) Don, Betty, Roger, Pete, Peggy, Joanie, Bertram, Midge, (etc.) and join us at the Nickelodeon Theatre for the Mad Men Season Finale Party! Creatives, account-types, clients, friends and family (of legal drinking age) are welcome and there’s no charge for admission. It all takes place DURING the Mad Men finale this Sunday, October 17th. RSVP on Facebook via Nickelodeon. Spread the word!

Comment (0)
posted by Cathy

Jun 21, 2010 @ 3:59pm

Our Favorite Facebook Status Update, of Late

Comment (0)