Oscar, Tony and Emmy, move over. For regional advertising agencies it”™s the Big W and the International Arcs that ignite the glitz and the glamour.
In light of a down economy, Rodica Ceslov, president of the Advertising Club of Westchester, said innovation and promotion are key points in the world of selling”™s survival of the fittest.
For some ad agencies, those mindsets resulted in awards and honors in 2008.
In Fairfield County, Marquardt & Roche and Partners in Stamford, Conn., was a big winner this year, taking home several awards for its advertising efforts.
“We won eight awards in total at the Business Marketing Association (BMA) Creative Awards,” said Howard Meditz, president of Marquardt & Roche. “BMA is based in Chicago, but there are several regional areas ”¦ the New Jersey chapter holds the contest for the New York metro area, Connecticut, Philadelphia and, of course, New Jersey.” Â
MRP swept the entire “Single Full Page Ad” division, snagging an Impact Award and three Judges Awards. The agency won two first-place “Impact” and six “Judges” awards. MRP also won a print advertising award in the Summit International Creative Competition.
Taylor Design in Stamford earned two awards at the 2008 Connecticut Art Director”™s Club Awards, an annual design competition for studios and agencies, and two awards at the 2008 CASE District II Accolades Competition for work on publications at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers.
Inergy Group L.L.C. in Wilton, Conn., was awarded several honors by the League of American Communications Professionals (LACP) in San Diego and at the International Arc Awards.
Kristin Gibson, Inergy”™s chief operating officer, said the company just received notice that “we have been honored by the U.S. Local Business Association for the 2008 Best of Wilton Award for Marketing Consultants.”
In Westchester County, Dark Horse Marketing in Scarsdale was honored with a 2008 Communicator Award of Distinction for a real estate campaign and three “Big W” Awards, the Advertising Club of Westchester”™s awards in the fields of advertising, marketing and design.
“It”™s been a pleasant surprise noticing the quality of work each year,” Ceslov said. “We expect this year”™s competition to be even bigger ”¦ companies want to showcase their work and show clients their money is well spent; it”™s exciting.”
Ceslov said the “Big W” Award winners are selected by an independent judging panel from throughout the region.
Co-Communications, a public relations and marketing firm in Mount Kisco, and Simsbury stole five “Big W” Awards for work with the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, Seaboard Weatherproofing & Restoration and Grand Prix New York.
In the Hudson Valley, Renee Bulla of Momentum Advertising & Design in Fishkill was named a 2008 ATHENA Award honoree by the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
“It feels wonderful to be in such great company,” Bulla said. “Personally, it feels peculiar to be honored for something that I just do instinctively ”¦ it”™s just part of my DNA.”
The ATHENA Awards were first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Mich., recognizing business and professional excellence.
When looking ahead to 2009, Ceslov said, “Necessity forces people to be creative, which is a positive thing during this downturn. Every cloud has a silver lining.”
