HOUSTON, TX (June 2, 2008) – Bullpen Marketing, a Houston-area marketing company specializing in promotional products strategy and a wide range of marketing services, won the American Marketing Association’s coveted Crystal Award for Logo Design this year. This is the second year in a row that Bullpen topped the extremely competitive Logo Design category. The company won it in 2007 with St. Pius X High School’s Panther, and this year with St. Agnes Academy’s Tiger.

“Capturing the spirit or essence of a school in the form of a mascot is perhaps the most challenging thing that we do,” said Colin Hageney, president of Bullpen Marketing. “Unlike the corporate world, the school athletic logo is something the students are very passionate about – in which they literally rally around, dress up as, paint on their faces and cheer to victory! Winning a Crystal Award for St. Agnes Academy, a Houston institution for over 100 years, is a badge of honor for our creative team.”

The marketing victories in Logo Design are unusual because both projects were school mascots. Academic clients are always up against stiff corporate competition. Often, there is more money behind company projects than school projects, and that makes it difficult for schools to contend in professional marketing competitions. However, the overwhelming positive results from both mascot redesigns helped clinch the victory for each school. In the entire 22-year history of the Crystal Awards, Bullpen is the first company to capture the Logo Design category two years in a row.

“St. Agnes is very excited about our Crystal Award win in recognition of our efforts to represent the mission and vision of our school. An official mascot logo to represent the Academy’s dynamic school spirit was long overdue,” said Megan Clark, Director of Communications at St. Agnes Academy. “Thanks to partnering with Bullpen Marketing and working with students, parents and alumnae, we are proud of our award-winning tiger that graces everything thing from bumper stickers to t-shirts.”
The new Tiger made its official public debut at St. Agnes’s Athletic Awards Banquet on Wednesday, May 16th, 2007.

Bullpen Marketing also won the Crystal Award in the Promotional Product Marketing Campaign category with Bohemeo’s “East End People Keep It Real.”

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.

HOUSTON, TX (May 16, 2007) – Bullpen Marketing, a marketing firm specializing in promotional products strategy and a wide range of marketing services, rolled out the new look of St. Agnes Academy’s tiger logo at its Athletic Awards Banquet this week. The updated design better reflects the school’s personality “strong, alert and capable” and replaces the old version, which school administration felt was simplistic, inconsistent and old-fashioned.

“St. Agnes had problems managing the look of their brand,” said Colin Hageney, president of Bullpen Marketing. “Girls on the softball team were wearing a completely different tiger than those on the soccer team. Inconsistency makes it difficult to establish a brand, especially when competing for student enrollment.”

Bullpen had several meetings with administrators, faculty and students to determine the best approach to redesigning the logo. The resulting feedback was clear and direct. The tiger logo must be versatile so all groups could easily substitute their name while representing the same tiger.

The new logo depicts the portrait of a black, gold and white tiger within the shape of a shield. Tigers is printed in white text on a black background directly above the image. St. Agnes is printed above Tigers and is curved to represent the top of the shield. This placement allows words like softball or soccer to be substituted for Tigers, and it also meets the school’s requirements that the logo be appropriate for any school activity. The tiger can be brought out of the shield to stand alone on spirit wear or uniforms.

“[We express] our deepest appreciation for all of the outstanding work that Bullpen Marketing has done,” said Greg Price, PKF Texas and St. Agnes Booster Club volunteer. “[We] put a lot of pressure on [Bullpen] to meet some deadlines in a short period of time, and they came through and did a wonderful job. The T-shirts were a hit. I couldn’t be happier. We have bags, hats; everything we need.”

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.