News Archive
02.20.10INK welcomes UCLA Stem Cell Research Group to client roster.
The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA (Broad Stem Cell Research Center) is committed to a multi-disciplinary, campus-wide, integrated, collaboration of scientific, academic, and medical disciplines for the purpose of understanding adult and human embryonic stem cells.INK has been retained to redesign and relaunch a website that more effectively communicates the incredible research being conducted at the center, and the impact that research is having on our daily lives.
02.15.10INK welcomes UCLA Stem Cell Research Group to client roster.
The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA (Broad Stem Cell Research Center) is committed to a multi-disciplinary, campus-wide, integrated, collaboration of scientific, academic, and medical disciplines for the purpose of understanding adult and human embryonic stem cells.INK has been retained to redesign and relaunch a website that more effectively communicates the incredible research being conducted at the center, and the impact that research is having on our daily lives.
02.05.10INK's February First Fun Forced Friday a success! Lucky us.
One of the perks of working at INK is getting to blow off steam each month at one of our company off-sites. In February, the votes were tabulated and bowling at Lucky Lanes at the District was chosen as our monthly winner.As if bowling all afternoon wasn't cool enough, custom t-shirts were made donning the humiliating nicknames of our beloved staff. Our wounded egos may never heal.
01.15.10ILWU Credit Union selects INK for strategic branding and marketing efforts.
Supporting longshoremen and their families for over 52 years, ILWU Credit Union has built an incredible reputation as the credit union built specifically to support the longshore industry.INK has been engaged to refresh the credit union's branding, strategically plan for more targeted and effective marketing efforts, and develop branded campaigns which speak to the unique value ILWU credit union offers its members.
01.08.10INK's January First Fun Forced Friday a success! GoKarting at K1 ends in 2 car pile up.
One of the perks of working at INK is getting to blow off steam each month at one of our company off-sites. In January, the votes were tabulated and K1 Racing was chosen as our monthly winner.An afternoon of white-knuckle racing was outdone only by a two-car pile up that established Jason 1 and Jason 2 as INK's version of Ricky Bobby and Jean Gerrard.
11.13.09New WebRents site launches!
INK developed WebRents.com around the key messages Inform. Order. Pay. Deliver., and created a more contemporary visual treatment wrapped around content aligned with these needs.The result is a new consumer-focused and user-friendly resource where customers can quickly and easily review appliance options and specifications, order and pay for washer, dryer and refrigerator rentals, and request repair and service 24/7.
11.01.09New SmartStop brand launch for retail self-storage company.
With more than 50,000 self-storage facilities operating in the U.S., staking claim to a fresh, new retail brand proved to be a challenge. With the launch of the new SmartStop brand, INK has successfully positioned this rising star in the self storage industry as a company that thinks about their customer's storage needs a little differently.With the new name, logo and branded collateral in place, we now turn our attention to the launch of this new brand across SmartStop’s almost 50 locations nationwide. Building a truly unique retail experience in this category is our ultimate goal, so stay tuned for updates along the way.
10.05.09Chapman Business School launches new awareness campaign
Chapman University engaged INK to help with a basic but critical challenge: low to no brand awareness in the marketplace of the university and its Argyros School of Business and Economics. Chapman’s business school is a nationally-ranked program with a world-class faculty that includes a Nobel Prize winner.So, how could INK help spread the word about the university and make more of Southern California’s high achieving professionals consider pursuing their MBA at Chapman? Click here to learn more.
07.21.09TrustCommerce Selects INK to Develop Its New Corporate Website
TrustCommerce Selects INK to Develop Its New Corporate Website TrustCommerce, one of the country's leading online payment solutions providers, has selected INK to design and launch the company's new website.TrustCommerce and INK will develop a new online look & feel that communicates the company's core business strategies and helps expand awareness of the TrustCommerce brand. Upon completion, the new TrustCommerce site will become the centerpiece of the company's online marketing, sales and communications initiatives. A leader in the online payment solutions space, TrustCommerce was founded in 1998. Today the company serves both Fortune 500 and small-to-medium sized business merchants with online credit card processing, Retail/Point of Service, subscriptions & recurring billing, continuity and installment billing, virtual POS, as well as consulting, database and application development services.
07.04.09INK set to put a fresh spin on the laundry industry
INK has been engaged by Web Service Company to establish a fresh and updated online experience for both its WebLaundry.com (corporate) and WebRents.com (consumer) sites. A leader in the multi-family laundry systems space since 1947, Web Service Company has partnered with INK to help them reinforce and build on their market position, starting with a relaunch of their website.In very short order, our creative team will provide distinctive yet complimentary designs for the business and consumer sites, building on a greatly improved site architecture and functionality. When this project wraps, Web Service will have an SEO-friendly site that serves their business needs and performs as beautifully as it looks. Stay tuned for updates…
05.21.09VIZIO turns to INK to introduce new line of Connected TV's
VIZIO, America’s HDTV Company and the #1 selling brand of LCD TVs in North America, has sold over 8.5 Million flat panel televisions to date and is about to shake up the industry yet again.The new line of VIZIO “Connected TVs” will revolutionize the television viewing experience by integrating Wi-Fi access and Yahoo! Internet widgets. As part of this new product launch, VIZIO has partnered with INK to design the "boarding experience" of intuitively configuring this new connected device.05.03.09Leader in self-storage industry turns to INK to build a world-class brand
Strategic Capital Holdings LLC, a leading REIT specializing in acquisition, operation, and development of self storage properties, has asked INK to develop and launch a new, national brand for its self storage business that currently includes over 5,700 self storage units.The self storage industry in the United States consists of approximately 51,500 facilities representing approximately 2.2 billion rentable square feet. 77 million Baby Boomers may move and downsize over the coming decade, and the demand for self storage is on the rise. INK is excited to lead this challenging brand development project. Watch for our announcement of the new brand soon!04.27.09INK Adds Schmidt To Direct New Business Development Efforts
INK has added Paul Schmidt to our growing team. Schmidt, a 17-year advertising and marketing veteran will be directing new business development for the Irvine-based agency and adds yet another strong strategic layer to INK's already powerful arsenal.Prior to joining INK, Schmidt worked exclusively within both the agency and client side environments, building a solid career in account management, strategic planning and new business development. Working both nationally, as well as throughout Southern California, he has been responsible for the acquisition, direction and management of brands such as Marriott International, Jack in the Box, General Motors, Honda and Park Place Entertainment.
04.21.09Rolling Stone Drum King Campaign launches
505 Games, the global video game developer and publisher, partnered with INK once again to promote and market Rolling Stone Drum King, an exciting new game for the Nintendo Wii.Coming off a successful launch in Europe, the game needed a new look to go with the edgy, cool sensibility that the very name “Rolling Stone” brings to mind, so we started with a custom photo shoot to develop all new box art and graphics. We extended this look to a microsite with a game trailer and screen shots, illustrating the “interactive, arm-swinging, beat-busting” action in the game, and we created banner ads for placement on key websites. Additionally, Rolling Stone Drum King got its own Facebook page where fans could stay posted on the launch and other 505 Games updates. These combined marketing and promotional tactics ensured that gamers would have their hands full of rock-n-roll action with another successful release by 505 Games.
04.21.09The Legend of Zorro continues with the launch of Destiny of Zorro
Launching the new game The Destiny of Zorro, INK built a microsite with a game trailer and screen shots, chock full of sword fighting, bullwhipping, daredevil Zorro action. To really capture the attention of the youth-skewed target market, though, we knew we’d have to come up with something innovative.The new twist to our approach was to engage the target audience on their home turf – social networking sites. The Destiny of Zorro got its own Facebook page and a MySpace page. Zorro posted daily tweets on Twitter, and his Wikipedia entry was updated with a new synopsis and box art. The crowning jewel was the “I Am Zorro!” contest on YouTube – users were invited to post their most daring, swashbuckling, Zorro-esque videos for a chance to win a VIZIO flat screen HDTV. The contest was promoted on all of the social networking sites, and this co-branding partner approach was successful in building customer awareness for both 505Games and VIZIO.05.14.09SCAN Health Plan®, one of the country's leading nonprofit Medicare Advantage Plans, seeks a full web refresh
For more than 30 years, SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of people with Medicare and today is the fourth-largest nonprofit Medicare Advantage Plan in the United States. The company currently serves nearly 110,000 members in Southern California. SCAN's mission is to find innovative ways to enhance seniors' ability to manage their health. INK is proud to partner with SCAN in extending this important mission to their website through a complete redefinition of their online experience.
03.23.09Chapman seeks greater brand awareness nationwide
Chapman University, one of southern California's best-kept secrets, is looking to put that label behind them. Nationally recognized as a rising star among Universities and Business Schools alike, the Chapman team are readying themselves for broader appeal both locally and nationally. INK has been retained to establish Chapman's brand positioning platform while communicating the University's unique value through integrated marketing campaigns for the Argyros School of Business and Economics.
03.02.09INK recruited to support UCLA with new web portal for University donors
UCLA, one of the country's leading universities, is working to expand their online communication with their current and future donors. The team at INK is charged with building enduring relationships with UCLA's donor base through a heightened sense of community and connectivity to the University as a whole.
2.10.09Kurtzman Carson Consultants enlists INK to launch new marketing campaign for 2009
Kurtzman Carson Consultants (KCC), the industry leader in bankruptcy and restructuring support services, has expanded by leaps and bounds since their inception in 2001. Since that time, they have grown to become the clear market leader in claims and noticing services. The team at INK has been retained to develop a brand awareness and lead generation campaign consisting of traditional, direct, digital and outdoor initiatives and is slated to launch in early Q2, 2009.
1.29.09Two Way Direct calls upon INK
Two Way Direct offers next-generation two-way radio solutions in an industry that is still very traditional and conservative. They have called on INK to revitalize their online presence to reflect their current position as an invaluable information resource, a credible solutions provider and an environmentally innovative company. While competitive sites are crowded, busy and highly templated, Two Way Direct's new site will bring a fresh new voice to their market space through simple, intuitive architecture, interactive social networking features and an elegant product display and comparison tool.
1.12.09Independence Bank gets web make-over
Independence Bank offers unbeatable rates and unparalleled customer service to individuals and businesses in Orange County. These competitive strengths are buried within their current website, so the team at Independence Bank has hired INK to re-define their brand position while re-architecting and re-designing their online presence. Leading edge analytics and content management systems will establish the site as a versatile and powerful marketing tool for a bank that's currently the best kept secret in Orange County.
01.5.09Communications giant taps INK for 2009 marketing efforts.
Cox Business, one of southern California's largest providers of communication services has partnered with INK to develop their 2009 positioning and awareness campaign. Targeting both SMBs and enterprise-level businesses in Orange County, INK will be developing a comprehensive marketing strategy which will be executed across all major mediums including microsites, outdoor, print, direct response, banner, and TV spots for the communications giant.12.24.09505 Games Relationship expands to include 2 more A-list titles.
Expanding on the success of the upcoming launch of 505 Games' "Hotel of Dogs" campaign, INK has been retained to develop similar integrated campaigns for A-list titles "The Legend of Zorro" and "Drum King". These campaigns will include microsites, print ads, banner campaigns, viral games, media placement and trade show support. Both are slated for launch in Q2.
11.20.08Agile consulting firm BigVisible hires INK for re-branding and marketing efforts.
Big Visible, one of the country's most respected Agile consulting firms, has hired INK to re-define their corporate brand. Part of this brand re-definition, INK will create a new positioning strategy, logo, tagline and full corporate identity system. Following those efforts, a complete 2009 marketing and promotional strategy will be developed in order to best represent the value Big Visible brings to their respective Fortune 1000 clients. (include testimonial)
11.04.08Europe-based video game distributor partners with INK to launch U.S. business.
505 Games, creators of the upcoming video game based on Paramount's “Hotel for Dogs” film, has hired INK to launch their flagship title via a new integrated marketing campaign. Slated for release in January 2009, the new campaign will feature a new website, banner campaign, public relations, print advertising, viral, broadcast, and event marketing, all conceived and executed by INK.
07.31.08High-Tech firm leverages expertise of INK
ATEN Technology, Inc., a worldwide provider of remote connectivity products for SMB and enterprise-level environments today announced a strategic partnership with integrated marketing agency, INK. As part of this partnership, INK will be developing marketing and advertising campaigns for ATEN's product lines across several international markets.
07.15.08Local PR legend joins forces with INK
With over 20 years of experience in Public Relations, Stacey Doss Doherty is welcomed into the ranks of INK. With many accolades to her name, including the prestigious Silver Anvil Award, the highest honor in the public relations industry, Stacey brings a level of experience, connectivity, and passion that few others in her field possess. Her breadth of experience covers a variety of fields including; high-technology, entertainment, healthcare, real estate, non-profit, fashion and general business. Client press coverage that Stacey has landed includes the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, ABC, MSNBC, Fox, CNN, Fortune, Forbes, Businessweek, People, and InStyle.
07.10.08Legends aren’t born, they’re made. Legendary Pictures slated for re-launch.
Legendary Pictures, creators of graphic novel films including The Dark Knight, 300, and Superman Returns has hired INK to re-brand the iconic studio via a new website and strategic marketing campaign. Slated for release in late 2008, the new campaign and accompanying website will help to position Legendary Pictures as the gold-standard in graphic novel films, and INK is proud to be the digital agency selected to bring this new site to life!
07.04.08Yokohama Tire hires INK for online certification program
One of the world’s largest tire manufacturers, Yokohama has enlisted the help of INK to develop their new certification program aimed at training industry re-sellers. Focused on educating tire professionals on the finer details of Yokohama tires, the online certification program also aims to keep participant’s attention sharp by inserting animations, timed quizzes, and contextual learning modules. The completed program is slated to launch in Q4 of 2008.
07.01.08Ink welcomes Chris Mellow to the Account Services team
INK, one of Southern California's leading interactive agencies, is pleased to announce the arrival of Chris Mellow as Senior Account Executive. Chris brings over 10 years of experience managing interactive projects as well as a strong background in brand and web strategy. In the role of Senior Account Executive, Chris will be managing relationships with INK's fast growing client list, will oversee the development of the strategy and information architecture practices, and help foster the growth of the account services team.
Prior to joining Ink, Chris held senior positions at Los Angeles firms The BrandCulture Company and The Mellow Group. Before that he worked with some of the world's largest brands at storied agencies Landor and Siegel & Gale in their New York offices. Chris has helped ensure the successful delivery of projects for clients including Kodak, Revlon, Toyota, T. Rowe Price, Wilmington Trust, Experian, and American Funds.
06.21.08DIRECTV brings INK on as creative partner
INK announced today that it has been selected by DIRECTV to serve as a creative partner on an upcoming, high-profile initiative. In close collaboration with DIRECTV’s internal marketing and design teams, INK will serve to extend the widely recognized brand of DIRECTV into new and exciting directions.
06.05.08Kelley Fleet Services to get web make-overServicing companies like Pepsi, Boeing, and Swann Foods, Kelley Fleet Services represents the best of both worlds. Large-scale fleet management services, with the attention and customer-service of a small start-up. The re-launch of Kelley’s new website represents this transformation of Kelley into a nationally-recognized industry leader in the services industry, and INK is right there to launch this exciting new brand.
04.24.08INK expands creative team with entertainment industry visionary
INK is pleased to announce that Sean Conrad has joined the team as the agency’s newest Senior Art Director. He will work across all clients bringing his vast entertainment and web experience to bear for all of INK’s valuable clients. Sean brings his 7 years of experience in creating web experiences for all of Hollywood’s major studios including Paramount, Fox, and Universal to the table and will be instrumental in future expansion into this key market.