Biz_Buzz

Free ad work for non-profits

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:07:58 -0600

Nonprofits looking for someone to create free marketing materials can turn to Virginia Commonwealth University mass communications students.
The school is holding its CreateAthon for the third year on campus during spring break next year. But nonprofits need to apply by Nov. 20.
The program is part of a semester-long class at VCU’s School of Mass Communications that specifically works on creating communications strategies for nonprofits.
Students — aided by professors and local ad professionals — will work more than 24 hours straight to create marketing packages, including public relations, branding materials and logos for the nonprofits.
CreateAthon is a nationwide project that was started in 1998 by RIGGS Advertising in Columbia, S.C. Mostly professional ad people work on the project in other cities.

Café Caturra closes original store

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:09:29 -0600

Café Caturra has closed its original shop on Alverser Drive in Chesterfield County.

The café-and-wine bar opened in 2005.

A sign on the door today thanked customers for four years of business.

Café Caturra had been expanding in recent years. It has three shops in the area, including one at Short Pump Crossing Shopping Center in western Henrico County that opened in September.

CRT/tanaka picks up community college account

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:15:58 -0600

Richmond-based public-relations firm CRT/tanaka will handle public-relations work for The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education’s Great Expectations program.
The firm will handle branding and donor awareness and help develop an online resource center.
Great Expectations is a program that helps teens in foster care transition from high school and their foster homes to college. The program stresses the value of a college education as the best way to find work and live independently.

Prime Outlets to open early on Black Friday

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:11:34 -0600

Prime Outlets in Williamsburg will kick off its holiday shopping season at 12:01 a.m. on Black Friday.
The outlet mall will for its Midnight Madness Pajama Jam. The center’s retailers will offer special sales, and the first 500 people to show up in their pajamas at the center’s promenade will get a gift bag with coupons and merchandise.
The 115,000-square-foot center is on U.S. 60 and has about 120 stores.

ESPN NBA tour coming to Washington

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:16:17 -0500

ESPN’s NBA RV bus tour will hit Washington on Wednesday for the Wizards game against the Miami Heat.
The RV is part of a marketing campaign by the sports network and sister network ABC.
It was created to draw attention to the NBA coverage on the two networks. ESPN personalities travel to games on the RV and then do on-air promotions.
Besides Washington, the RV will stop at 19 other cities and cover more than 40,000 miles.
Fans will be able to tour the RV and enter contests. ESPN will give away branded merchandise at the stops.

Style sells, VCU profs say

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:13:21 -0500

What’s ailing the U.S. auto industry could be that it’s not redesigning its products nearly enough, according to a study by three economic professors at Virginia Commonwealth University.
The study, titled “Non-Price Determinants of Automotive Demand: Restyling Matters Most,” found that U.S automakers saw their market share drop from 72.9 percent in 1996 to 47.4 percent in 2008. Between 1995 and 2006, Japanese manufacturers restyled their vehicles every third year, while the U.S. manufacturers restyled every four years.
The study found that restyling “represents the dominant determinant of demand in the auto industry.”
A carmaker would have to double its advertising spending to match the impact of restyling, according to Oleg Korenok, the lead author of the study. Professors George Hoffer and Edward Millner were co-authors. The study will be published by the Journal of Business Research.

Free chicken at KFC Monday

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:48:27 -0500

Swing by the nearest KFC Monday for a free piece of grilled chicken.

The restaurant chain, which made its name by frying is poultry, is giving away the chicken as part of its Grilled Nation campaign.

Kentucky Fried Chicken set up branded vendor carts outside the United Nations building in New York yesterday to “expand the population of Grilled Nation” by feeding UN delegates, employees and visitors.

It’s taking the product to the rest of America Monday for what it’s calling UNFry Day.

There are 22 KFC restaurants in the Richmond area.

The chain says Grilled Nation is 60 million people strong. It’s set up a Web site “to help recruit new citizens.

A digital billboard in New York’s Times Square will track its population growth.

Carytown cancels New Year’s Eve celebration for financial reasons

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:41:32 -0500

Carytown won’t host a New Year’s Eve party this year.

The Carytown Merchants Association said the cost of putting on the event is just too expensive.

Last year, people attending the celebration were asked for a $2 donation, but the merchants association still lost money, according to president Thom Suddeth. He owns Road Runner Running in the West End Richmond shopping district.

The association is already under a lot of strain. It’s been working to spruce up the area, but to get the work done, the association needs money.

It depends on dues for its funds. Roughly 30 percent of the nearly 300 merchants in the Carytown area are members.

Ukrop’s gives customer a car

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:02:20 -0500

While the public has been debating its future, local grocer Ukrop’s was busy giving away a car.
The family-owned chain handed out a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu earlier this month to customer Mary Capps of Fredericksburg.
Any one who bought a six-pack of Pepsi or spent more than $50 at a Ukrop’s store in August was automatically entered into the drawing. The contest had more than 675,000 entries.
One winner from each store got a key and a chance to start the car.

Traded-in rugs go to needy

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:03:23 -0500

Capel Rugs in Henrico County is taking in old rugs and donating them to Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity.
The retailer launches its “Trade In, Trade Up” today.
For each reusable rug a customer donates, Capel will give them a coupon for 25 percent off and a tax donation receipt. The event runs until Oct. 31. Capel Rugs is at 3995 Deep Rock Road, off of West Broad Street west of Gaskins Road.