News From the Bullpen

Bullpen Marketing Adds Industry Veteran to Team

suzanna.morin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:02:25 +0000

Bullpen Marketing has announced the addition of Cindy Gertner to their Marketing team in the role of Account Manager. Prior to Bullpen, Cindy specialized in magazine and radio advertising, marketing, and promotional product sales for more than 20 years in Houston and Washington, DC.

“It’s great to add Cindy to our team,” adds Robert Melvin, Bullpen Marketing COO. “She has had an instant impact bringing a wealth of experience and industry insights to our company.”

Prior to Bullpen, Cindy worked for a series of publications including Oil and Gas Digest, Houston Living and Houston City and “D” Magazines, where she was the Territory Manager in charge of developing special Travel Sections for the Texas Gulf Coast. She was a principal in Gertner Cavazos LLC, Creative Promotional Products as well as Director of Marketing for Scott Gertner’s Skybar and Grille, a live R&B/Jazz venue and Scott Gertner’s Sportsbar Live in Houston.

About Bullpen Marketing: Bullpen Marketing is a Houston-based marketing firm that offers many services ranging from print and web design to promotional products. As a fully integrated marketing agency, it specializes in helping companies and schools improve the way they promote the value of their products and services. Core areas of expertise include strategic planning, branding, academic and web marketing. Its clients range from elementary schools to Fortune 500 corporations. Founded in 1997, Bullpen is one of Houston’s fastest growing marketing and promotional products companies with both local and national accounts. Bullpen is the preferred supplier for the American Marketing Association. Other clients include the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals, NACE International, and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Bullpen is a member of the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), American Marketing Association (AMA), Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), and the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA). Learn more at www.bullpenmarketing.com.

Bullpen Marketing Clients Receive 2010 Crystal Awards

suzanna.morin — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:01:09 +0000

Houston (May 20, 2010) – Bullpen Marketing is proud to announce three clients which received the American Marketing Association’s Houston Crystal Awards this past Thursday. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston received the AMA Crystal Award for Corporate Citizenship, Co-Cathedral for Promotional Product and St. Pius X High School for Outdoor Advertising.

The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston won in the category of Corporate Citizenship for their Steps for Students campaign, which is an annual 5K race to provide financial aid for inner city students attending Catholic Schools. Bullpen Marketing donated the design for posters, brochures, t-shirts, advertisements and more to spread support for the campaign.

The Co-Cathedral received the Promotional Product award due to their outstanding fundraising using carved stone crosses. The recent purchase of the old Federal Reserve building left the Co-Cathedral needing more funds to create an appropriate work space. Bullpen Marketing helped their fundraising efforts by creating crosses from the Co-Cathedral’s limestone surplus as limited, numbered memorabilia.

St. Pius X High School won the Outdoor Advertising category for their billboard which was displayed from December of 2009 to April 2010 off of 610 and San Felipe in the Galleria area. Bullpen Marketing collaborated with the high school in order to form the, “Start Here. Go Anywhere,” campaign and included it on an outdoor billboard display. Bullpen was also responsible for the photography, design and layout of the billboard. “We’re very proud to have been a part of all three of the winners’ campaigns,” said Colin Hageney, Bullpen’s president and CMO. “The best part was the sincere gratitude that each client expressed. It’s the ‘thank yous’ that keep us motivated and keep us wanting to do even better next time.”

The AMA Crystal Awards are judged on a series of criteria: challenge, objective(s), strategy, message alignment and results. Each of these criteria is scored upon by a panel of judges from outside of the Houston area. The AMA Crystal Awards recognize a collection of categories pertaining to marketing projects; those that win Crystal Awards have used an extraordinary amount of creativity to achieve outstanding results.

About the American Marketing Association: The American Marketing Association is the largest marketing association in North America. It is a professional association for marketing leaders, thinkers and doers and is the only organization that brings together Marketers, across all specialties, to collaborate and inspire one another. Through relevant information, comprehensive education and targeted networking, the AMA assists marketers in deepening their expertise, elevating their careers and ultimately, achieving better results.
American Marketing Association offers highly acclaimed Face to Face training and professional conferences focus on the immediate needs of marketers, as well as trends shaping the future. American Marketing Association’s website, MarketingPower.com, is the everyday connection to marketing data, articles, case studies, best practices and a robust job bank. Additionally, the American Marketing Association is the source for the field’s top magazines and journals, including Marketing News. Through local and collegiate chapters, American Marketing Association members are connected with the best people and the best practices.
For more information on the American Marketing Association please visit www.MarketingPower.com.

The American Marketing Association Awards Colin Hageney 2009-2010 Outstanding Chapter Volunteer

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 23:13:12 +0000

(CHICAGO, May 05, 2010) – Colin Hageney, President of Bullpen Marketing, was named 2009-2010 International Volunteer of the Year (VOY) by the American Marketing Association (AMA). Mr. Hageney has been an AMA member for over fourteen years and served in various leadership roles including President of the Houston Chapter and President of the National Professional Chapters Council (PCC). The award was presented in Chicago at the annual AMA Leadership Summit, a conference for 300+ AMA volunteer chapter leaders.

“Over the course of his volunteer work with the AMA, Colin has given tirelessly to the AMA organization, both at a local and a national level”, said Dennis Dunlap, Chief Executive Officer of the AMA. “His efforts towards deeper membership penetration and mentorship of chapter leaders has been invaluable. We greatly value his past and ongoing contributions to the success of the AMA”

“The AMA is very appreciative of Colin’s strong leadership for over a decade in numerous AMA positions”, said Deborah Billow, Chief Customer Officer of the AMA. “He is generous with his time and shares his knowledge with both new Chapter volunteers and future Chapter leaders. He truly exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism at the AMA”.

“I’m very humbled to receive this honor in Chicago in front of my peers and AMA Houston family”, said Hageney. “Volunteers are only as good as or successful as the team in which they surround themselves. I’ve been blessed throughout my AMA career to have been supported by amazing marketers who are passionate about our profession and sharing it with others.”

The Volunteer of the Year is selected annually by the AMA Professional Chapters Council through a nominating process based on recommendations from Chapter Officers. Mr. Hageney is the fourth recipient of the program which recognizes and rewards a chapter volunteer whose ongoing contributions to the organization have added significantly to the AMA’s goals at both a local and national level.

Mr. Hageney has held the following AMA leadership roles:

American Marketing Association
2008-2009- Committee Member, National Finance Committee
2006-2007- President, Professional Chapters Council

American Marketing Association – Houston Chapter
2009-2010 Co-chair, Crystal Awards
2008-2009 Crystal Awards Chair
2002-2003 Immediate Past-President and Crystal Awards Chair
2001-2002 President
2000-2001 President (and Crystal Awards Co-chair)
1999-2000 President-Elect
1998-1999 VP Membership
1997-1998 Technology SIG Chair
1996-1997 Professional Development Chair

Bullpen Marketing Receives 2010 BBB Pinnacle Award

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 18:00:04 +0000

Houston (May 5, 2010) – Bullpen Marketing was honored with the prestigious 2010 Pinnacle Award at the annual Better Business Bureau Awards (BBB) showcase today. The award is the BBB’s highest honor. The company was recognized for the third consecutive year for their dedication to customer service, team involvement, and charitable work. The BBB uses a strict set of criteria when judging award entries, which includes evaluating the company’s willingness to give back to the community, its ability to resolve problematic customer service issues, and its drive to inspire employees to better themselves in the course of their work.

Bullpen Marketing has been dedicated to customer service and community involvement since its inception in 1997. Within the past year, the company has sponsored numerous events for non-profit organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Bullpen has also donated marketing and design work as well as time and funds to many different causes including Catholic Charities’ Young Professionals Group, the Spirit of Charity Gala, Glam Girls and Steps For Students just to name a few.

“This is a great honor for our team who strives constantly to find more ways to offer value to our clients”, says Colin Hageney, President of Bullpen Marketing. Hageney adds, “The road to exceptional customer service is a never ending journey at Bullpen Marketing.”

Bullpen Marketing Client Named Marketer of the Year in Education

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:22:24 +0000

Houston (February 18, 2010) – St. Pius X High School, a long time client of Bullpen Marketing, has been recognized as the top Houston education (elementary/secondary) marketer by the American Marketing Association’s Houston Chapter. The 40 Best of Category winners were determined by a vote of AMA Houston members combined with votes from a panel of local marketing and business leaders and educators.

“We’re very proud of our ‘Start Here. Go Anywhere.’ Campaign,” said Donna Pollard, O.P., and head of school at St. Pius X. “Not only has it had a favorable impact on our admissions, but it has also positively raised awareness about St. Pius X High School and its place among Houston’s secondary schools. We’re honored to have been recognized by the Houston chapter of the American Marketing Association.”

“Partnering with St. Pius X on their marketing has been an exciting and rewarding journey,” said Colin Hageney, president of Bullpen Marketing. “From the development of their award-winning brand to receiving the top marketing honor in education, we are truly proud of these recognitions.”

Bullpen also received a Crystal Award in 2007 for the redesign of St. Pius X panther mascot.

A panel of marketing leaders from outside the Houston area will review information submitted by category winners to select the 2009 Marketer of the Year for Houston, which will be announced at the March 15, 2010, event at the Alley Theatre.

About AMA Houston: AMA Houston is the second largest American Marketing Association chapter in North America, with more than 1,000 professional members. The organization is dedicated to providing educational and career-building resources along with superior networking opportunities for marketing professionals.

Bullpen Honored for Excellence in Promotional Campaign

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:24:58 +0000

Las Vegas (January 13, 2009) – Bullpen Marketing, a Houston-based marketing firm, received a 2010 Pyramid Nominee Award from the 52nd annual PPAI Pyramid Awards Show in Las Vegas. This was the company’s fourth Pyramid Award received in three consecutive years. The ceremony, hosted by the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), recognizes the best promotional product marketing campaigns around the world.

“Creativity and effectiveness are key to winning this much coveted award,” said Steve Slagle, CAE, PPAI president. “As these winning programs illustrate, there is no limit to the application of a promotional products program.”

As a winner in the “Not-for-Profit” category, Bullpen Marketing was recognized for a project it developed for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston’s Cathedral Centre — called “Co-Cathedral Crosses.” The Co-Cathedral Crosses project converted a problem of having excess building materials into much needed renovation funds. Leftover limestone from the construction of the Co-Cathedral was carved into 1,000 limited edition crosses. They were offered for sale to the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral parish and the public as a special reminder of the church. In addition, a small, unnumbered paperweight was sold at a lesser cost. Of the campaign, Gwenne Buck, Facilities and Project Coordinator of Cathedral Centre said, “The result of the project has been wonderful. People have purchased the crosses as keepsakes (not just for themselves but also to give as gifts for occasions such as graduations, baptisms and weddings). Interest has spread beyond the Houston area. We have shipped crosses to other cities and states.”

Bullpen Marketing has won in several categories over the past three years including “Goodwill” and “Tradeshows & Exhibitions.”

Hageney Elected to ASI Marketing/PR Advisory Board

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:10:48 +0000

TREVOSE, PA (January 7, 2010) – Advertising Specialty Institute® has named the members voted onto its Marketing/PR advisory board along with three other boards. Hundreds of ASI member companies voted during the online balloting period to help choose leaders of the boards.

“Marketing is my passion and the foundation on which we do everything at Bullpen, “ says Colin Hageney, president of Bullpen Marketing. “It’s a thrill to be recognized by my peers and to assist ASI with taking their marketing efforts to the next level.”

The boards will meet regularly to discuss and debate important issues affecting the marketplace and participating leaders will recommend and take action to drive the industry forward. The new boards join ASI’s existing advisory boards for ASI Show, ASI Education and ASI’s six magazines. All boards meet in-person at least once each year and via quarterly conference calls.

“We applaud every one of the new board members for devoting their time and energy to tackling issues important to our industry,” said Timothy M. Andrews, president and chief executive officer of ASI. “We heartily encourage all of our members to share their thoughts and ideas with ASI, and especially with these new board members, as we move forward into a new year and confront and conquer fresh challenges.”

Membership on ASI boards is open to industry distributors, suppliers, decorators, multi-line reps and educators. Any ASI member company can nominate an employee for consideration by the nominating committee. A vote open to all ASI members was conducted online as part of the process to select board members. The 2011 elections will begin after the ASI Show New York, taking place Tuesday, May 4 – Thursday, May 6.

About ASI: Advertising Specialty Institute is the largest media and marketing organization serving the advertising specialty industry, with a membership of over 26,000 distributor firms (sellers) and supplier firms (manufacturers) of advertising specialties. Supplier firms use ASI print and electronic resources to market products to over 22,000 ASI distributor firms. Distributor firms use ASI print and electronic resources, which contain nearly every product in the industry from more than 3,500 reputable suppliers, to locate supplier firms and to market services to buyers. ASI provides catalogs, information directories, newsletters, magazines, websites and databases, and offers e-commerce, marketing and selling tools. Visit ASI online at asicentral.com and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, the CEO’s blog and the ASI Social Network.

Bullpen Marketing Helps Glam Girls

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:32:33 +0000

Bullpen Marketing, a fully integrated marketing agency, is once again supporting Glam Girls and its cause. Glam Girls is a non-profit organization, which has an annual effort committed to helping women in transit from domestic violence situations. All actions and donations are made in an effort to help these women, recovering from emotional and physical abuse, feel beautiful and confident. Already celebrating their 8th year of service, Glam Girls sets out to collect donations of unused toiletries and makeup to distribute to the Houston Area Women’s Shelter during the holiday season in mid-December.

Last year Bullpen adopted this cause and developed the brand for the organization. In 2009, Bullpen takes it a step further in assisting the Glam Girl cause by designing and donating a website (www.helpglamgirls.com) as well as cosmetic bags. Additionally, Bullpen will be a collection point and Glam Girl volunteers at the Bullpen office will do all assembly and distribution. “Glam Girls is a group that has captured our hearts,” says Colin Hageney, president of Bullpen Marketing. “Assisting women in such a fragile, vulnerable state is the right thing to do and something we’re always happy to help out.”

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP?

Here are some ways that you can.{1} SPREAD THE LOVE: Post this flyer in and around your office/community to help spread the word.{2} DONATE: Donations of all types are being sought. For a full list, please visit here. {3} VOLUNTEER: Be a Glam Girl helper by picking up donations or assembling bag.

The deadline for accepting donation is December 4, 2009. Any additional questions regarding Glam Girls and donations can be sent to info@helpglamgirls.org

Social Media—FYI

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:21:44 +0000

Here at Bullpen Marketing, we pride ourselves for having great customer relationships. We understand what the words “commitment,” “accountability,” and “honesty” mean to clients and do everything in our power to preserve the integrity of those words. That is why, when news about the new FTC social media rules were announced, we didn’t even blink.

On December 1, 2009, new guidelines issued by the Federal Trade Commission will go into effect. These guidelines were specifically created to protect consumers from false or inaccurate claims made by marketers and bloggers about their products. We decided to publish this news for the benefit of our clients and anyone who wasn’t already made aware of this.

The three specific points to this new rule are as follows:

Disclose when you are being compensated—whether it’s an endorsement or free sample.
Be truthful in your statements—and make sure they can be substantiated.
Speak from actual experience—not just what the maker of the products want you to say.

What happens if the FTC finds you breaking any of these rules? An $11,000 fine. Hopefully this new rule will weed out dishonest marketers doing and endorsing anything to make a quick buck.

Bullpen Marketing Published in Industry Magazine

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:34:45 +0000

Bullpen president, Colin Hageney, was interviewed for the October 2009 issue of Promotional Consultant Magazine. In it, he speaks about the project Bullpen tackled for the Co-Cathedral in Houston. Continue reading for the entire article.

CREATIVITY IN CONSTRUCTION
A Houston church transforms leftover limestone into limited-edition keepsakes.

By Audrey Sellers, Promotional Consultant Magazine

It’s not often something beautiful emerges from the dust and rubble of a construction site, however, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston saw opportunity in ordinary limestone pallets left over from the construction of a new cathedral.
Colin Hageney, president of Houston-based distributor Bullpen Marketing (UPIC: BULLPEN), who had previously worked with the Archdiocese, pitched an idea—cut the limestone into small crosses and paperweights to use as fundraisers for the renovation of the archdiocese’s Cathedral Centre housed in an old Federal Reserve building.

“Churches don’t typically do this sort of thing, so it was really a leap of faith,” Hageney says. But he felt confident the crosses and paperweights would be big sellers, considering that the cathedral is the headquarters for the cardinal who represents about one million Catholics in the city.

The Bullpen Marketing team rolled up their sleeves and got to work, hiring a trucker to haul 22 pallets of limestone across Texas to a stonecutter to create 1,000 numbered crosses and 500 un-numbered paperweights. Meanwhile, they sourced white gift boxes and royal blue tissue paper to package the items.

Anticipating that the crosses and paperweights would make ideal mementos for parishioners, Hageney spared no detail. “We created a card insert for the cross packaging that features one of the two quotes carved into the side of the cathedral,” he says. “The tissue included the seal of the church for added effect.”

Hageney and his staff spread the word about the gifts by developing a website and placing ads in the Texas Catholic Herald.
This, along with putting together the gift boxes, was the most fulfilling part of the project for the Bullpen team. “We’re a marketing agency, so it was great to provide the full breadth of our services. We not only did the crosses, but also the advertising and a website,” Hageney says.

The project resonated with the Catholic community, with parishioners buying 10 percent of the inventory on the night of the project launch. “We sold so much because it was the one-year anniversary of the dedication of the church,” says Hageney. “There was a dinner at the cathedral, which brought a lot of people to celebrate. Plus, the cardinal was there to bless and sign the crosses.”

Hageney reports that those who purchased the crosses were excited about getting something different. “They liked that it was a limited-edition keepsake made from the actual materials of the church. Some people see a building being torn down and save a brick—this is taking it one step further and making it into a piece of art.” PC