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9/6/2003 |
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Clark & Christopher awarded Nextwave marketing contract
Dreams do come true. Ask Jon Clark, president of Clark & Christopher and Palm Tree Promotions Inc. in Suite 101 of the Gold Bank building at 1777 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte.
Clark, who has been in the advertising industry for 13 years, recently announced that he has been selected by NextWave Computers to serve as its advertising agency as NextWave builds franchises throughout the country.
"NextWave has one company-owned store in Port Charlotte and franchisees are opening 11 new stores in the short term, with the next to open in Tampa and Clearwater in early October," Jon said.
"When NextWave Computers was ready to grow fast, they knew advertising was a key and they started looking for help outside their business. We are very excited to be working with NextWave Computers and its president and CEO, Tom Welchman."
Clark & Christopher will be responsible for directing all advertising efforts related to developing the NextWave Computers' customer base, new franchise store openings and will work with individual franchisees nationwide on a case-by-case basis for their ongoing advertising needs.
"It has been a dream of mine to actually become more of a full-scale marketing and advertising agency, handling larger portions of a company's marketing efforts," Jon said. "I know there's a great opportunity to have experts go out and help companies market themselves and get a return on their investment."
The advertising agency will continue to use the Clark & Christopher name. Palm Tree Promotions Inc. is the corporate name. Christopher is Jon's middle name.
What are your plans for NextWave's grand openings?
Jon: We have been working heavily on getting a grand opening package done for the stores in Tampa and Clearwater.
For example, we have a ribbon cutting ceremony with the mayor, city council members and chamber of commerce officials set up for the Clearwater store. There will be a huge media blitz a week prior to the grand opening.
So we're off and running and it's fantastic to be working with NextWave because it is an incredible opportunity. With the ability that Tom Welchman has and with the people he has in place and bringing me along to help out with the marketing, you're going to hear a lot of great things about NextWave Computers in the future.
You will be continuing with your promotional items. What does that include?
Jon: At Palm Tree Promotions, we combine our strong local presence with a worldwide selection of promotional products to give clients the best in customized marketing solutions.
We show clients how to use custom-imprinted products to effectively promote their company at trade shows and events, set up successful incentive and recognition programs and create a dynamic impression for their organization in a wide array of other activities.
We can provide apparel, awards, bags, balloons, caps and hats, clocks and watches, desk and office items, drinkware, flashlights, food and beverage specialities, pads and paper, pens and pencils, portfolios, wallets, shirts, sweatshirts, tools and knives, toys and puzzles and umbrellas, to name just a few.
I tend to stick to a lot of the traditional items. I'm more of an apparel company. I do tons of clothing for companies, not only locally but nationwide. That is where I got my start a long time ago and I consider myself an expert, when it comes to embroidery and screen printing, in the apparel field.
What do you concentrate on?
Jon: Our approach to promoting a company includes a thorough evaluation of its audience and marketing objectives, developing an effective theme and detailed plan of action, searching our database to determine imprinted items that will best execute their plan and oversee the success of that company's promotional plan from start to finish.
Promotional products deliver lasting value and impact. Promotional items with a company's logo or message offer a tangible reminder of the company and are cost effective. Clark & Christopher can keep a company's logo or message in front if its customers and prospects in fun, innovative and affordable ways.
You were in this industry in California and then moved to Port Charlotte in 1999. How has business grown for you?
Jon: When I came here, I started with zero revenue. The first year I even surprised myself with the amount of business that I brought in. I think I brought in a level of professionalism that maybe hadn't been seen in this industry here. I kind of raised the bar.
My customer base continues to grow every year. The second year I increased my revenue more than 100 percent. The third year I grew the company at 60 percent and this year to date, I'm above what I did at the same time last year.
What do you like about this kind of work?
Jon: I love what I do and I love making a difference in my customers' companies and in their lives. There's nothing more gratifying to me personally than to have a customer call back and say the plan we implemented for them worked well and we need to do it again. I get my accolades from my customers, and that's good enough for me.
For more information, call (941) 235-0271.
Source - Sun Herald Newspaper
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