A Match Made in Business Heaven: EOS Marketing is Now a Phase 3 Media Company

It’s a done deal! We have been purchased by Phase 3 Media, a leading provider of design, production and distribution services. This purchase will create end-to-end marketing solutions for our clients and we are so excited for what’s to come in 2013!

Learn more and read the official press release below.

EOS Marketing & Communications Is Acquired by Phase 3 Media

Strategic Purchase Creates End-to-End Marketing Solutions for Clients

ATLANTA -October 23, 2012 - EOS, an integrated marketing and public relations firm has been purchased by Phase 3 Media, a leading provider of design, production and distribution services with offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas and Nashville.

The asset purchase, completed on October 16, 2012, provides Phase 3 Media the opportunity to offer a comprehensive range of services including ideation, brand strategy, strategic planning of marketing and public relations programs; and tactical execution of advertising and media, graphic design, print production, social media programs, special events, warehouse and distribution services, web strategy and design and video production.  “With the acquisition of EOS, clients will enjoy a complete end-to-end solution.  From ideation to execution to delivery, it’s all here,” said Ken Holsclaw - president, Phase 3 Media.

From entrepreneurial start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations based in the southeast, both firms built their businesses on strong client relationships, superior customer service, understanding client needs and delivering exceptional work.  “Because EOS has such a superior reputation in the marketplace, as well as a compelling brand in the industry, everything will remain business as usual,” continued Holsclaw.  “EOS’ opportunity to become a Phase 3 Media company just increases their capabilities and potential for exponential growth.”

As the nation rallies from the Great Recession, EOS and Phase 3 Media will continue to expand its footprint.  “We’re honored and humbled by the opportunities that have presented themselves, and excited about what tomorrow will bring,” said Margaret Gearing - president, EOS Marketing & Communications.   ”We will continue to live our New day. Fresh perspective. mantra, while Phase 3 takes care of everything else.”

About EOS Marketing & Communications

EOS Marketing and Communications, Inc. is an award-winning, full-service integrated marketing and public relations firm based in Atlanta.  Founded in 2005 by Atlanta marketing veterans Margaret Gearing and Susan Frost and certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council in 2007, EOS has a client roster representing the following industries:  city governments, commercial and residential real estate, consumer products, energy, food/beverage, hospitality, human resource development, legal counsel, manufacturing and non-profits.  EOS is active in vertical associations including the American Marketing Association, Entrepreneur Advisors, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Public Relations Society of America.

For more information, visit: www.eosmarketing.com, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/EOSAtlanta, and on Twitter: www.twitter.com/eosmarketing.

About Phase 3 Media

Phase 3 Media was founded in 2001, with design and print under one roof and has offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas and Nashville.  Phase 3 Media is a leading provider of a complete range of creative services, graphic design, web design, digital printing, offset printing, warehouse and distribution services and print procurement software to large corporations. For more information, visit: www.phase3media.com.

Media Contact:

Elyse Hammett, APR

EOS Marketing & Communications, a Phase 3 Media company

(404) 949-3777

elyse@eosmarketing.com

Mama Knows Best

Spent the weekend with Mama. You know - the one who gave me life, taught that the days are long but the years are short, that laughter is the best medicine. She juggled multiple jobs with a breathtaking smile on her face. No matter how grey the outlook, she provided positive perspective.

So, as we pass Mother’s Day, let’s consider those little sayings moms share that help us look at the world through different prisms. Experience is, after all, the ultimate wealth.

• Life is more circumstance than pomp.
• A friend is a fellow who knows all about you and still likes you.
• Bloom where you are planted.
• Remember the little things. They add up.
• When you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said.
• Lift as you climb - and never forget the boys in the back row.
• It’s not the big that eat the small, but the fast that eat the slow.
• Everyone is free to wear sunscreen.
• All great changes are preceded by chaos.
• Don’t let screen time erode family time.
• Look for blue skies.

The road will rise to meet you, no matter your circumstance, if you remember that in this world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

Media Relations in a Social Media World: The Presentation

PRSA/GA set a new record for their monthly morning seminar welcoming over 50 attendees for EOS’ presentation on Media Relations in a Social Media World. If you weren’t there, check out the presentation below.

Enjoy!

Thankful for the Holiday

This Thanksgiving, we thank you for your good will, loyalty and trust.

EOS Marketing will be closed Wednesday, November 23rd to Friday, November 25th for the Thanksgiving holidays. Our office will reopen Monday, November 28th for regular business hours.

Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Right Perspective

I recently came across a TED video by Kathryn Schulz, the author of “Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error,” and “The Wrong Stuff.”  In this video she discusses the question of what it really means to be wrong and the feelings associated with being wrong.

From the beginning, the idea of what is “right” and what is “wrong” is instilled in us. As early as grade school we are introduced to the dreadful feeling of being wrong and the negative stigma associated with it (I sure remember the very first time I misspelled a word in front of my class). So, as a way to avoid that uncomfortable feeling, most of us decide to become perfectionists and overachievers.

Still adjusting to the fast pace of the real world and learning the ropes of a growing agency, this video hit home for me.  As a relative rookie at EOS, it is not a question if I am going to be wrong and make a mistake, but when.

“Things don’t go wrong, they simply happen”. Listening to Kathryn speak, I realize it is not about being right or wrong, but all about perspective. The big idea here is how we perceive the feeling of being wrong. Society’s obsession with being right can affect our productivity and creativity. I often lack confidence in my work and will make sure that each of the partners have reviewed it before I move on. This is the perfect example of how my efforts to avoid doing something wrong, can waste valuable time.

I know that taking chances and learning from my mistakes is a part of life and is fundamental to who I am in both my professional and social life. Embracing unexpected change and the instances in which we are wrong, can enable us to see things in a different light– allowing us to take a step back, see the big picture and put things in perspective.

This is why I find the EOS mantra “New Day, Fresh Perspective” completely inspiring.  As I continue to learn and grow with EOS in this industry, implementing creative, intuitive and innovative campaigns for our clients, I am hoping to overcome my insecurities of making a wrong decision by accepting the hiccups along the way, and remembering that tomorrow is always another opportunity to get it right.

So, check out the video yourself and let me know what you think!

Lift as You Climb

Every day, my iPhone barrages me with bad news - grim tales of recession, loss, cheating, the list goes on and on. Yet, 1692’s revered Desiderata was right “With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.  Strive to be happy.”

To that end, this week was about modern day happiness.  About making hay while the sun shines, and finding lemonade in the lemons.

Why?  Here are four reasons:

• Our client, the City of Snellville, put 28 folks on a bus at 6:30 Friday morning to come clear across town before the sun came up to hear INC Magazine’s #1 CEO under the age of 30, talk about ingenious tactics to create vibrant communities where commerce thrives. The mayor, business leaders, high school students and marketing professors engaged as a team to use their combined talents to create winning strategies for the Atlanta suburb.

• Gigi’s Playhouse, one of our pro bono accounts is a 501-(c3) nonprofit dedicated to providing free programs and therapies to families and individuals with T21, otherwise known as Downs Syndrome. The program provides more than 25 different literacy treatments, muscle toning exercises, physical, occupational, and speech therapies, family support and social events that enable them to have a normal and productive life. The first playhouse opens October 8 in Amsterdam Walk, and has rallied more than 250 Atlanta volunteers and raised thousands for this life-changing cause.

• The Community Foundation is working with four beloved Atlanta faith leaders who are dedicating their time to creating a blog to engage, challenge and uplift Atlanta’s best ideas and biggest opportunities. Named Higher Ground, this ecumenical group includes an Imam, Rabbi and two denominational Christian leaders. Never faith-biased, the organization has been formed to inspire positive change, help people think, collaborate and connect, and - most importantly, to initiate positive action in the local community. Very exciting stuff-and more on this soon.

• Last, but certainly not least, one of our Coca-Cola contemporaries, Pam Bashiani, is married to a tenacious chap who just biked 8,000 miles around the continent of Australia to raise awareness for rare diseases through Cycle for SMILE. Throngs of people lined the streets to offer water and sustenance, and more than 400 Aussies were there to greet him when he crossed the Sydney-area finish line. Yes, it took him 80 days to travel five times the distance of the Tour de France, but the ROI is that the SMILE Foundation (Supporting Medical Innovation for Life Enhancement) is a household name in Australia and we can all learn about ways to help.

So, what’s the net/net?  People do lift as they climb.  People still care.  Hope springs eternal.  And happy days are still ahead.

Cheers-

Margaret

Laboring One Less Day

On Friday, September 2, we’ll close the firm to honor our EOS’ team with an extra day off for all they do. Elyse, Margaret and Susan are available by cell if needed.

Savor your last blast of summer, and we’ll be back to the marketing magic Tuesday, September 6 at 8:30.

Taking our Media Relations Flair to the Fairways

We took our PR smarts to the links this year with the nation’s 16^th ranked amateur event, The 2011 Dogwood Invitational.  Held at Druid Hills Golf Club since 1941, EOS created a PR plan to increase coverage of the tournament and heighten the cache of the club.

EOS used its marketing magic to get the Dogwood name out. And it worked. Resulting in 41 television stories, 45 million media impressions equaling $240,000 in corresponding ad values and a 45% increase in Facebook fans, not to mention two, four-year college scholarships thanks to the tournament sponsors. It’s safe to say that the 2011 Dogwood was a hole-in-one.

Check out photos from the two media days and the tournament on our Facebook Page, and call us if we can make the magic work for you.

Your Most Valuable Resource is Closer Than You Think

I walked into the office last Friday morning with big plans. I had new ad creative due by the end of the day and cleared my schedule to devote myself to this one particular project. And I was ready. I went for a run before work, had my coffee and was perfectly prepped to spill my creativity into a print campaign for the next eight hours. Well, as to be expected when you put all your eggs into one basket (or in my case, one day), I got into the office and learned that our servers were down. So there I was: No art files to start from, no way to access the internet for research, no websites for inspiration, nothing.

My initial reaction was panic. What was I going to do? I had an entirely new ad concept due by the end of the day and nothing to use as a resource. Until after about 5 minutes, I stopped and realized that I did in fact have the one resource that is the most valuable: my brain. So I sat down with a pen and a piece of paper and started brainstorming. I did mind-maps, sketched comps and let my mind focus on this one specific project without the distractions of email, internet, social media, etc. And the result?

Well, once the internet and server were back up and running, my ad campaign was complete within a few hours. And our client loved it.

When I looked back, I realized that our Friday morning Server-geddon was the best thing that could have happened to me. We are all so inundated with information through the internet and social media, that we forget where our most powerful resource is.

From now on, I will always start with pen and paper ­- even if it feels like a waste of time. Because it reminds me that my best thinking can’t be found on a website or in the depths of twitter-land, it’s found within myself.

Most Valuable Player in Social Media

Heron Bay Golf & Country Club is a premier master planned community located just south of Atlanta in Henry County. Named community of the year in 2005, Heron Bay is renowned for their outstanding selection of amenities and family-friendly lifestyle. A community thriving in the age of social media, the community Facebook page is an important part of its marketing strategy. The participatory experience for residents provides additional insight into the lifestyle the community offers, and its neighborly vibe.

Heron Bay’s Facebook page is the place where residents can stay apprised of what’s happening with their neighbors and share their thoughts and opinions. A 900 member community, Heron Bay wanted to increase their fan base as well as showcase the community to friends and prospects. The Heron Bay Facebook Tournament was a way to increase the number of Facebook fans and expand the playing field in a way that would get engage residents and get them excited about their community.

Incorporating a sports theme helped get residents excited and added a competitive flair. Engaging residents through e-blasts that explained the rules of the game and how to become the MVP, we also offered participants an incentive. The resident who brought in the most “new likes” would win the title of MVP along with bragging rights, fifteen minutes of Facebook fame AND a $100 American Express gift card with a basket full of summer fun!

Lasting for two weeks, the tournament gained momentum as more residents got in the game. Posting score updates and rooting on the most valuable players as well as the underdogs evoked team spirit among friends, family and co-workers as residents relentlessly spread the word for others to “Like” the Heron Bay Facebook page in an effort to help them take home the title of MVP.

The result? Heron Bay Golf & Country Club almost doubled their fans moving from 404 to 745 in just two weeks!

The Facebook Tournament was a new and fresh approach to increasing the fan base and reach of the community in a social world where opinions and conversations have all become viral.