“Shark Tank” Appearance by Client Shines a Light on Marketing In Color

"Shark Tank", ABC Television Network's Friday night gem, featured Byron Young of CordaRoys beanbag beds, a Marketing In Color client, in its March 8 episode. From the time MIC president Cheryl Parrish first told Byron about the show, to the moment that Byron said yes to the deal offered under the glare of the TV lights by shark Lori Greiner, the Marketing In Color team was instrumental in getting the CordaRoys creator his (initial) fifteen minutes of fame.

The story of Byron becoming one of 40,000 to appear as a "Shark Tank" entrepreneur - and the way Marketing In Color helped him prepare - is one for the books.

Byron demonstrates his beanbag creation to the Sharks on ABC-TV's Shark TankJust as gripping is what happened after "Shark Tank's" closing credits rolled (Byron's segment appeared last). The crash-proof CordaRoys website crashed, under a deluge of a thousand times its normal traffic. When those responsible for the website could not stop the bleeding, MIC intervened with triage, devising a home page re-direct for internet customers who requested notification when the site was restored. And restored it finally was, early Sunday morning, the 10th.

Marketing In Color holds a Shark Tank "Watch Party" in Tampa to see if Byron gets a dealSince then, CordaRoys has been assembling and shipping beanbags virtually non-stop. Marketing In Color has helped Byron sort through all manner of offers and inquiries, from "mommy bloggers" seeking to review the CordaRoys product, to resale proposals, to employment inquiries.

And there is a most promising result of the "Shark Tank" experience, for the outlook of CordaRoys and its brand: the alliance formed between Byron Young and Lori Greiner.

"'Shark Tank' is great TV, but it's just the beginning," Cheryl Parrish said. "Byron and Lori not only became business partners in the TV episode, but the two of them and their spouses have also become friends. Just like Byron, Lori is inventive, and of course entrepreneurial. With her resources, her connections, and her experience, the opportunity for Byron and CordaRoys is just about limitless."

"Words can't express how thrilled we are for our client. And all of us at Marketing In Color had a ball with the whole "Shark Tank" adventure!"

Marketing In Color Presents at Sunscape Window Film Dealer Conference

Madico Window Films, Inc. held a Dealer Conference February 20-22 at the Tradewinds Island Beach Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida. The conference took place to inform, educate, and entertain dealers of Madico's Sunscape® window film product line.

Marketing In Color (MIC) worked closely a year ago with Madico to conceive and develop the Sunscape brand, a high-end line of window films manufactured for sale and installation by a select group of dealers. With that fruitful collaboration in mind, Madico's marketing director asked MIC president Cheryl Parrish to design a presentation for Sunscape dealers, covering online marketing strategies.

Parrish and MIC Account Supervisor/Social Media Director Liane Caruso gave such a presentation on Thursday morning of the three-day conference. To about one hundred Sunscape dealers, spouses, and business partners, Parrish and Caruso taught a crash course on elements of marketing via the internet that no business can afford to ignore today. These included search engine optimization, the use of social media platforms, blogging, capturing email addresses, and using online directory listings.

A question-and-answer session followed MIC's presentation, and it was here that the depth of interest in internet marketing among the dealers emerged. Parrish and Caruso took and answered questions across the topics they spoke about, right  up until the time came for the next presenter to take the microphone.

Marketing In Color thanks Jeffrey Plummer, Angie Leonetti, and Mike Byrd of Madico for the opportunity to meet and educate the Sunscape dealers at the conference.

Executive Producer Hats For MIC At The Villages

Marketing In Color prizes the long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships it forms with its clients above any other facet of its operations.  No MIC client better typifies this outlook on business than The Villages, the central Florida mega-retirement community with whom MIC has worked since 1997. In September, The Villages reached out yet again to MIC, and collaboration began soon after on a major video project to be completed this spring.

MIC has assumed the role of executive producer for this endeavor, a 30-minute sales tool intended for potential new residents of The Villages. Cheryl Parrish, president and CEO of Marketing In Color, said that MIC's responsibilities include the hiring and management of onsite video shooters, technicians, and producers. "This piece is both an update and an upgrade from the video that we produced for The Villages ten years ago," Parrish said. "We are proud of the faith and trust that the folks at The Villages, our long-time client and friends, have placed in us for the execution of this project."

The Villages, ranked by Forbes Magazine in 2012 as the fastest-growing small town in America, is a multi-billion dollar corporation with numerous resources at its disposal.  This fact alone makes Marketing In Color all the more grateful for the loyalty and trust accorded them by The Villages' management. Parrish said that discussions have begun that will result in even more video production work by MIC for The Villages, including one project that will run one hour in viewing time.

Marketing In Color is privileged to do business with The Villages!

Brianna Slowik Is Marketing In Color's New Traffic Coordinator

Brianna (Brie) Slowik has joined the Marketing In Color team as traffic coordinator. Cheryl Parrish, MIC president and CEO, said, "Brie is a welcome and much-needed addition to our company. Our client base continues to grow, and with that growth comes the need for process efficiencies, and for effective communication among an increasing number of teams within MIC. Brie will help us with both of these needs."

Brie graduated from the University of Florida in 2012, majoring in public relations with a minor in communications studies. Her prior professional experience includes a social media internship with a Florida business college, and a marketing internship with a Florida paperless payroll company.

With Marketing In Color, Brie leads daily staff meetings, writes and updates the company production list, facilitates communications between MIC's creative and account management teams, and maintains and manages the online collaborative software system used by MIC and its clients.

"I feel fortunate to land a position with a company like Marketing In Color right after graduating from college," Brie said. "I really enjoy the people here, and it's a welcoming, supportive environment to work in. I'll have the opportunity to learn a great deal, in so many areas that have interested me."

Alan Garber Joins Marketing In Color Creative Team

Marketing In Color (MIC) has expanded the size and capability of its creative team with the hire of Graphic Designer Alan Garber.

Alan is a 2010 graduate of the University of Tampa, where he earned the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design. For two years after graduation, Alan worked as a design contractor, freelancing for a number of companies and honing his skills in brand development, website design, and the production of social media assets.

With MIC, Alan will employ Photoshop Illustrator, InDesign, and Dreamweaver, among other tools, to design graphics for the company's clients. He will conceptualize with MIC's creative director and account management team to create visual communications solutions that effectively convey a brand's message.

“There is a real collaborative spirit around Marketing In Color that I enjoy,” Alan said. “Prior to coming on board here, I had no problem working with clients and their vendors, but I always did it from a remote location. Working here among the MIC team, I've gotten back the close contact and team spirit that was missing from my previous gigs. We work hard and have fun here, and that definitely benefits the clients in terms of the work we put out for them.”