Surviving a Career in Marketing Communications

There was a time, when it was possible to graduate from college, assume a position a marketing communications (graphic designer, copywriter, illustrator, typesetter) within a corporation, move up the corporate ladder–and receive a gold watch upon retirement.

Within my own professional career (dating back to1984), there have been 2 major "meteor strikes” within the creative/marketing profession. The initial blast took place in the mid to late 1980s, when the computer firmly established itself within workplace. 

Those who failed to accept the new technology, floated out to sea on icebergs–with their little bags of corn, rub-down type and t-squares.

In the very early 1990s, the World Wide Web put down roots and quickly pulled the 'sheet' out from under the printing industry–taking with it the stubborn print-loyalists.

Who knows what lurks in the near future?

Chances are high, that another catastrophic event will cause yet another paradigm shifting shakeup.

How is one to prepare? 

Is it possible to build a successful marketing communications career, that will span 40-50 years? 

I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions! – Doug.

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doug@eymer.com

Every Parent's Worst Nightmare: My high school senior wants to become a creative professional.

Amongst my 2014 business resolutions, I am committed to taking a more wholehearted approach to BLOGGING.

Up until this point, I have found the process to be a bit of a schizophrenic experience. One part of my brain makes up questions in hopes that another part will chime in with either a solution or something equally or even more thought-provoking idea. Many times, my ADD is tweaked, shifting my focus to a new app, image, or snarky Facebook response–that suddenly pops up on my monitor.

Face it, today’s brave new marketing world is evolving to quickly to allow the necessary rules of engagement, to be properly defined and implemented. 

Contrast the social media world of today with the printing industry and how it developed, over many, many, years–Gutenberg to Franklin to digital printing. Even television’s 20 or 30 year development period, pales in comparison.

So my audience of business-minded professionals, please allow me to act as moderator/catalyst (as opposed to author/lecturer), and lets get the dialog started.

Here is my (3 part) question:

If your high school senior was interested in a creativity-based marketing career:

1. Would you encourage or discourage them?
2. From a college standpoint, where would you suggest that they apply? 
3. In addition to a college education, what other experiences do you feel would help bolster their career?

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BRIBE: 
For every comment that received, we will send you a much-coveted EYMER promotional piece.

A LIST: URLs purchased while under the influence of a martini.

1. beigecubicle.com

2. cooljohnee.com

3. creativesurvivalguide.com

4. digitaltaxidermy.com

5. germincubator.com

6. hashtagcolon.com

7. kooljohnny.com

8. tinymindgazette.com

Doug Eymer | doug@eymer.com

–happy 2014! Doug.

EYMER Mailers: Supplies are dwindling! Don't miss out!

We are currently busy, finishing up the mailing of our annual promotional piece. There are still only a handful left–and we would love to whisk one your way.

If you should wish to receive a thoughtfully packaged bundle of EYMER BRAND Laboratories + Think Tank propaganda–please send us:

YOUR NAME | ADDRESS | eMAIL ADDRESS

Within hours, a uniformed United States Postal worker will hand-deliver this package to your predetermined destination.

Oh!–and even better!

From time to time, you will receive thought-provoking news and information from our laboratories and think tank. Win! Win! Can life actually get much better?

Happy 2014!

The Good Sport: Local Retail Hero

For the past few years, EYMER BRAND Laboratories + Think Tank, has had the pleasure of working with Cohasset sporting goods retailer–THE GOOD SPORT.

Now in its 36th year, the brick and mortar retailer, offers a wide variety of sports-related products from brands such as NIKE, Adidas, Saucony, Brine, Maverik and many others. Owner, Austin Lyne, and his staff of local high schoolers, offer the customer service that is obviously missing from many of the BIG BOX sporting goods retailers.

Talk to any parent (in our Boston south shore community) about the first day of soccer practice and how THE GOOD SPORT saved the day with their inventory of cleats and shin guards.

"I didn't realize that Suzie's feet had grown 6 inches over the winter."

"I knew that Buster had a thing for shoes–but never recognized his insatiable appetite for soccer shoes!" 

Unlike the sports mega-store, THE GOOD SPORT actually measures your child's foot–and provides a shoe that will meet peer approval–and not drain Mom or Dad's wallet.

So what do we do?

In addition to managing the store's website, EYMER also maintains the social media network and e-mail marketing efforts.

With new marketing tools appearing almost daily, there is always some form of experimentation happening behind the scenes. For the near future, EYMER and THE GOOD SPORT will be working with FACEBOOK–as we continue push the local brand in the right marketing direction!

How is your local business marketing itself?

We would love to hear how your local business is. How are you bringing customers in the door?

2014: Positive Energy For All!

Since 1989, and EYMER BRAND Laboratories + Think Tank’s humble beginnings, we have used this time of year to refresh our mailing list and to send out a printed promotional package–simultaneously welcoming the new year and reminding clients and prospects, that we are eagerly awaiting their next project.

This year, through the generous support of our intellectual property, law firm client, Wolf Greenfield–we were able to acquire extra copies of the 2014 calendar that we designed for/with them.

The Wolf Greenfield 2014 holiday calendar contains information regarding wacky patents (Motorized Ice Cream Cone) and little known holidays (September 22: Elephant Appreciation Day)

Following the buffing and polishing of the mailing list, a conscious decision was made to put aside the negative vibes emanating from the stagnant economy and to force ourselves to focus on a brighter and more innovative future.

The letter that is included within the EYMER propaganda package.

Here is the text from the letter that has been included in the packaged propaganda–along with the printed calendar:

OK. IT’S 2014. 

For the past few years, we have ALL been cautiously moving forward, keeping our risk-adversed heads down–slowly trudging sideways with the rest of the FRIGHTENED HERD.

It has been neither FUN, nor PROFITABLE.

LET’S LEAP from our WELL-WORN RUTS, and FORCE CUSTOMERS to eagerly TAKE NOTICE!

YOU ARE GREAT AT WHAT YOU DO! YOUR BRAND IS SECOND TO NONE!

TOGETHER, WE WILL make 2014 your year to SHINE IN THE SUN!

CALL US: 781.383.8844  | eMAIL US: doug@eymer.com

We will respond in MILLISECONDS! IT’S 2014!

TIME TO GET MOVING!

An official looking envelope seal–will hopefully allow the package to land on the desk of the intended party–and NOT a nosy personal assistant!

For additional graphics, we dug through the EYMER archives and found our Stand Up! Dude, created back in 1995. In a world where the marketing efforts of many organizations tend to ‘blend’ more than ‘lead’–we felt that the Stand Up! Be Noticed! message should be the battle cry for 2014!

Addressed packages–boxed and awaiting the friendly assistance of the United States Postal Service. May we send one your way?

We have a couple of handfuls of unaddressed packages waiting to be claimed and would welcome the opportunity to include your name and address within the next bundle of outgoing mail.

Please respond to this post and we will whisk a package over to you!

Have a happy, successful and profitable new year!

Faw-Law-Law-Law! Our Legal Holiday Cards for 2013

While a principal and creative director at the marketing communications firm, PARTNERS+simons, I helped to establish the Professional Services Practice, which primarily focussed on the marketing of law firms and their services.

During the winter holidays, I became a specialist in designing law firm holiday cards. At first, the cards were printed–but as time went on, technology advanced, working styles changed, the economy dragged— more and more requests were made for ‘on-screen’ holiday greetings.

Not only is October Cookie Month, the spread also introduces the virtual 'High-Five' apparatus!

This year, EYMER BRAND Laboratories + Think Tank,  completed holiday projects for two law firms, headquartered in Boston. For the intellectual property firm of Wolf Greenfield, we designed a printed calendar. The calendar’s theme focusses on wacky pattens for inventions such as the Motorized Ice Cream Cone, Gas Powered Pogo Stick, and the Greenhouse Helmet.

Online holiday card from Sullivan & Worcester

For Sullivan & Worcester, EYMER designed an on-screen card, that in addition to offering holiday greetings–announces the firm's new London office in both English and American languages.

I cannot imagine how law firm projects could be any more fun! – Cheers, Doug.

EYMER: Chevron’s pick for PitPack

Rack ready for installation in one of Havoline's xpress lube centers.

PitPack allows the Havoline xpress lube centers to quickly and efficiently replace your vehicle's motor oil.
 

So if you're any normal wine-sipping American consumer, you surely understand the concept of ‘wine in a box’.

In place of the traditional glass bottle with the foil and cork, Boxed wine, consists of: a plastic bladder, a handy spigot, a decorative cardboard box. And let us not forget the bucket full of fermented grape juice.

When you are a high-volume motor oil distributor–like one of Chevron/Havoline’s xpress lube centers, emptying quart can, after quart can of motor oil makes very little sense–for many different reasons.

Voila! This is where Havoline’s new, PitPack product enters! Motor oil in a box!

So, the next time that you are sitting in the pits awaiting an engine fluid exchange, ask your technician to show you the PitPack.

Soon, you will be the big shot–when you tell them that you know the firm that designed the product mark (logo).

EYMER BRAND Laboratories + Think Tank!

Then you wonder–what will they be working on next?