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This long-time It Lister has enjoyed steady, double-digit growth annually for six out of the past seven years. Enhanced its digital services with expertise on YouTube creators, industry bloggers and online influencers. Touts its reputation in sports and entertainment, but flexed strategic muscle this year by steering a guerrilla campaign for The Biotechnology Innovation Organization through the highly charged political scene at the national conventions, and deploying Vitamin C Immune Patrols (complete with a Saint Bernard) for Ester-C at ski resorts.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Guerrilla/Street Marketing
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Big Ten Network/FOX Sports, Kia Motors, The Nature's Bounty Co., Lightlife Foods, Wholesome Tea
WEB: activentmarketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Tom Jacobs, email@example.com
Dropping "International" from its name this year and adopting the "We Make Brands Happen" tagline, this now bicoastal agency celebrated its fifth anniversary with a fête in Palm Springs. Enhanced in-house creative technologies to include video editing, 3D rendering for activations and displays and animation across digital and stadium assets. This year tackled the Final Four with LG, the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 with Microsoft and Super Bowl 51 with Papa John's and its "Family Feud" activation and digital extensions tied to #PizzaFamily.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Launch Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Energy Upgrade CA, Hyundai Motor America, LG Electronics USA, L'Oréal (NYX Cosmetics), Papa John's
WEB: advantagemrktg.com
RFP CONTACT: John Lane, email@example.com
With a "can do" spirit clients rave about, this Chicago-based veteran has several b-to-b wins under its belt this year. A successful Intuit QuickBooks Connect conference, complete with a lineup of all-star speakers from Michael Phelps to Malcolm Gladwell, led to the extension of smaller versions in London and Sydney. Produced Hampton's Ultimate GM Huddle in Orlando, activating a facial recognition vending machine and a mini music festival. Capping the year, entered into a strategic partnership with breakfast lecture series CreativeMornings.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Internal Employee Events
CORE 3: Sales Conferences
FOCUS SPLIT: 25% B-to-C, 75% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Grant Thornton, Hilton Worldwide, Hostess, Intuit, University of Iowa
WEB: agencyea.com
RFP CONTACT: Claire Holland, firstname.lastname@example.com
Fresh off the placement of a brand-new leadership team last year, boosted its adult beverage investment by recruiting industry creative vet Seth Gable as creative director, as well as Matt Cicero as senior director of client services. Demonstrated range this year with Char-Broil Nights pop-up events at popular burger shrines and a buzz-building campaign for Maserati's first SUV, the Levante. Nearing the agency's 20th anniversary, co-founders Brook Jay and Sarah Eck-Thompson were inducted into the Chicago Area's Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Buzz/Influencer Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Beam Suntory, Char-Broil, Maserati, Northstar Lottery Group, Paris Presents Incorporated
WEB: allterrain.net
RFP CONTACT: Brook Jay, email@example.com
Allied is still buzzing from People's Choice and Ex Awards wins for its Netflix "Gilmore Girls" nationwide coffee shop takeovers for the series' reboot—an effort bolstered by its 21 field offices nationwide. Flexed its muscle with the "American Ninja Warrior" course at VidCon and then spread its wings with an invisible "Wonder Woman" jet at San Diego Comic-Con. On top of dominating the entertainment event space, the agency is increasing its focus on special markets and hired a dedicated LGBTQ marketing director to bolster these efforts.
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Pop-Up Stores
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Amazon, American Express, Netflix, Panera, Warner Bros.
WEB: alliedexperiential.com
RFP CONTACT: Matthew Glass, email@example.com
The Maryland-based agency signed on Signe Hilton, former director of game entertainment for the Washington Redskins, as new director of client services. Produced a Milk-Bone and Target program at NASCAR events complete with puppy pit stops, a doggy sampling bar, stunt shows and roving paw patrols that earned the brands nearly one million impressions. Underscoring its sports and entertainment know-how, the office fantasy football league has clients and even athletes themselves asking for open spots six months before the draft.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Sampling
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: AAA (Club Alliance), Florida Hospital, MedStar Health, M&T Bank, Target
WEB: aquarius-se.com
RFP CONTACT: Marc Bluestein, email@example.com
On top of bases in Manhattan, L.A. and Miami, BMF planted roots in Austin to serve Southern clients and plug into SXSW and Austin City Limits. Expanded its strategic consulting services with custom-tailored retainer packages. Launched Destination Dell: A b-to-b mobile tour that hit 40 stops that doubled as both an executive briefing center and an employee engagement tool with happy hours, concerts and game breaks. Enjoyed more than 28 million p.r. impressions from a Marriott Autograph London multi-day media event.
CORE 1: Press Events
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 50% B-to-C, 50% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Dell, Marriott, LACMA, Revlon, MasterCard
WEB: bmfmedia.com
RFP CONTACT: Ed Starr, email@example.com
Sampling programs remain this former Bottlerocket Marketing agency's bread and butter, but clients say they love its "spectrum" of ideas and capabilities from the tried-and-true to "scare the heck out of our legal team." Among executions this year: a 1,600-square-foot mosaic of Red Sox icon David Ortiz for Dunkin' Donuts and re-creating a HISTORY "Vikings" scene with live snakes in a San Diego Comic-Con booth. Expanded its sampling capabilities with the new end-to-end DIGITRY network solution.
CORE 1: In-Store/Shopper Events
CORE 2: Sampling
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 85% B-to-C, 15% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Dunkin' Brands, Kraft, Nestlé, Target, Turner Entertainment Networks
WEB: brandconnections.com
RFP CONTACT: David Chatoff, email@example.com
Broadstreet honed its tech chops this year by adding augmented and virtual reality activations, on top of meeting planning and logistics, to its offerings. Developed a mixed reality demo for Konika Minolta printers with HoloLens, and a 110-foot mosaic LED wall at a national pharmaceutical sales meeting that interacted with live dancers. Welcomed 25-year industry vet Peter Scott as new cmo, and continues to foster a tight-knit office environment with dogs and traditions: cheers to Champagne Tuesdays.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Sales Conferences
CORE 3: Launch Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 11% B-to-C, 89% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Alexion, Konica Minolta, Pernod Ricard, Revolt, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals
WEB: broadstreet.com
RFP CONTACT: Claudia Rodriguez Tressler, email@example.com
Brand-new "fast casual" It Lister Cadence boasts in-house rental and fabrication arms, but considers itself a boutique agency. Logistics are a clear capability for this 20-year-old Wheeling, IL, outfit, having driven cars off cranes and into fourth-story windows and deployed an army of bulldozers to clear a bean field for clients… just this year also flew in 30,000 cups of Gazpacho from Europe for Alvalle's "La Gazpacheria" sampling experience at the America's Cup in Chicago. Delicious.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Trade Show Programs
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 46% B-to-C, 54% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: AkzoNobel, Diageo, Mercedes-Benz USA, PepsiCo, Revolution Marketing
WEB: cadence-inc.com
RFP CONTACT: Katie Baxter, firstname.lastname@example.com
This venerable multicultural marketing agency paved the way for growth by adding two new floors to its Chicago office. Launched new division HENRY, which focuses on data, strategy, media and shopper and influencer marketing. Worked with client of more than 20 years Anheuser-Busch's Bud Light and NFL teams on unique fan experiences including a "glamping" trip inside FedEx field and a viewing event on the 63rd floor of One World Trade Center. And clocked nearly 68,000 engagements for Sprint at Copa América soccer matches.
CORE 1: Multicultural Events
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: In-Store/Shopper Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: AARP, Anheuser-Busch, Conill (Toyota), Sprint, TracFone
WEB: cmnevents.com
RFP CONTACT: Elena Sotomayor, email@example.com
The 2017 Grand Ex Award winner made a bold statement with the Airbnb Open, but, fact is, bold has always been something CEG was known for. Part of Ryan Seacrest's growing portfolio of companies, what began as a New York City municipal promotion and event agency has become soooo much more. New? The installment of a cultural insights team charged with helping clients "navigate shifting cultural tides" related to their experiential marketing strategies with chief culture officer Linda Ong at the helm.
CORE 1: Global Activations
CORE 2: Partnership Activations
CORE 3: P.R. Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Airbnb, Ford Motor Company, HBO, Snap Inc., Verizon
WEB: civic-us.com
RFP CONTACT: Ilan Lev, firstname.lastname@example.com
As part of a strategic rebranding, shortened its name from Creative Producers Group, and named Jeremy Carrus, who's resume includes Disney and McDonald's, as new creative director. Introduced two new leadership programs for clients' internal events (Millennial Alignment and Heroic Journey), and executed its largest event in seven years for Southwest Airlines: six events, six cities and live broadcasts for 15,000 employees that resulted in a 50 percent increase in attendance year over year.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Internal Employee Events
CORE 3: Sales Conferences
FOCUS SPLIT: 10% B-to-C, 90% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Amazon, Carnival Corporation, Jimmy John's, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Planet
WEB: cpgagency.com
RFP CONTACT: Peter Cartier, firstname.lastname@example.com
You don't know Cramer? Shame on you. Absolutely on our "ones to watch" list, which means it absolutely needs to be on your radar screen, playa. One of the industry's most razor-sharp b-to-b event agencies, this Boston experiential shop boasts some of the heaviest strategic chops (Hey Brent Turner… you… you're good), bleeding-edge technology offerings, experience design and audience engagement know-how, plus, one of the biggest content development capabilities of any b-to-b agency on this list. Check. Them. Out.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Sales Conferences
CORE 3: Buzz/Influencer Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 15% B-to-C, 85% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Genzyme, IBM, PTC, PwC, UPS
WEB: cramer.com
RFP CONTACT: Scott Connolly, firstname.lastname@example.com
For DriveShop, 2017 is poised to be another record year in growth and work supporting the automotive industry. Is evolving digital marketing and social media advertising offerings, and recently hired a dedicated influencer and social media director. For Hyundai, partnered with Amazon for a first-of-its-kind on-demand test drive experience for Prime customers. Its annual Pineblock Derby charity event at the Redmond, WA, HQ will have 50 hand-produced cars competing, the biggest to date.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Launch Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 100% B-to-C
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Motors, Kia Motors America, Mazda North America, Toyota Motor North America
WEB: driveshop.com
RFP CONTACT: Todd Liedeke, email@example.com
This full-service experiential agency has an event technology backbone, reflected in its customer acquisition and data capture capabilities, proprietary software and, new this year, virtual reality and augmented reality expertise. Oversaw staffing and scheduling for 650-plus MetroPCS events in Philadelphia and Southern California markets to drive awareness and sales. Launched the Product Sampling Store portal online at weknowsampling.com, and increased training and vacation days for employees, on top of bestowing premium welcome gifts upon newbies.
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Sampling
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Delta Air Lines, DNX, Organic Valley, WhiteWave Foods
WEB: elitemg.com
RFP CONTACT: Matthew Klein, email@example.com
The eco-friendly campus based in Falmouth, ME, provides clients with uncommon cost efficiencies and EMG3 staffers with the benefits of working amid incredible Coastal Maine. Over the last year hired a new senior vp-client engagement and a new senior director-operations. Is in the process of developing and deploying an event activation secret shopping initiative that will combine primary research with customer experience analytics and national polling to evaluate program strengths and weaknesses.
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Sampling
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Delta Air Lines, Go Team Blue (Ford), Lowe's Home Improvement, McKesson, Osram Sylvania
WEB: emg3.com
RFP CONTACT: Jon Genese, firstname.lastname@example.com
This consistent award-winner underwent a rebranding this past year. Bolstered its research and insights department, adding headcount and proprietary tools to support its engagement consulting practice, now 20 percent of the agency's overall revenue. Served up a 185-percent increase in reach for a Greyhound influencer program. The in-office Kegs + Eggs and DIY workshops may have inspired the "handcrafted"-themed, 8,800-square-foot Budweiser Country Club at music festivals last year.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Buzz/Influencer Programs
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: American Family Insurance, Anheuser-Busch, ESPN, Greyhound, Mercedes-Benz
WEB: engineshopagency.com
RFP CONTACT: Patti Blythe, firstname.lastname@example.com
An experiential agency with mobile expertise, Epsilon's Conversant arm manages the agency's digital offerings. Expanded its relationship with Bacardi to include St-Germain, on top of activating for Grey Goose at Kentucky Derby, U.S. Open and the ESPYs. Its interactive Poland Spring Cheer Meter display at the Boston Marathon earned 21 million media impressions and big bucks for One Fund Boston. Its Farm to Flavor Adventure for Alexia Foods with local chef demos served up equally satisfying results with a 90 percent increase in brand awareness.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: B-to-B Meetings/Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Bacardi, Dex Media, GSK, Mercedes-Benz, Nestlé Waters
WEB: epsilon.com
RFP CONTACT: Stephen Materna, email@example.com
This now 36-year industry veteran out of Columbus, OH, has enjoyed long-term relationships with clients in industries ranging from utilities and insurance to recycling and sustainability. Because of this, EMS boasts a "knack" for elevating the mundane: like transforming waste management into a 10-minute engagement. A lively office features playful amenities like scooters, which were also woven into a campaign for Piada Italian Street Food.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Guerrilla/Street Marketing
FOCUS SPLIT: 95% B-to-C, 5% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: AEP Ohio, Mattress Recycling Council, Nationwide, OhioHealth, Piada Italian Street Food
WEB: eventmarketingstrategies.com
RFP CONTACT: Drew McCartt, firstname.lastname@example.com
Creative development remains at Eventage's core. Recently added TV spots to its menu of in-house broadcast services. As half its clients are non-profits, this family-owned agency knows how to do more with less. Emphasis on the more. Overhauled the Opening Ceremony presented by United Airlines at the TSC NYC Marathon Olympics-style with 1,300 marchers and a fresh script. Said the client: "You came in, took over and made it what I've been wanting it to be for years."
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Cause-Related Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, New York Road Runners, Sundial Brands, Weber Shandwick, Yonex
WEB: eventage.net
RFP CONTACT: Matt Glass, firstname.lastname@example.com
This "global but local" agency this year lit up the office disco ball with a number of new clients, including Cigna. Incorporated a number of new on-site digital tools (RFID and beacon technology) to provide greater data and analytics concerning consumer behavior at events. Flexed its disruptive muscle this year with hands-on experiences including human head dissection for Galderma at Med Ed, and creating an interactive parade float co-created by parade-goers for Hilton's LGBT event program.
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Trade Show Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Cigna, Galderma, Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, PNC Financial Services, NFL
WEB: eventivemarketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Amy Beth Stern, email@example.com
One of the oldest experiential marketing agencies in the industry (41 years), it's known for producing the "impossible." Think: Constructing an island on the Hudson River, and producing a live media event for the First Lady with three-weeks lead time. Among a diverse range of clients, added this year Carnival Cruise Line to expand its reach in travel and hospitality. A Beauty + Swag truck for NYX makeup, with express lip touch-ups and social media staging, generated 8,579 one-on-one interactions.
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Health Insurance Activations
CORE 3: Launch Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Bigelow Tea, BlueCross BlueShield, Carnival Cruise Line, Humana, L'Oréal
WEB: eventnetusa.com
RFP CONTACT: Shelby Beaty, email@example.com
A continued focus on digital and word-of-mouth shareability keep EventNext's disruptive stunts, launch events and interactive test drives on the map long after they've ended. Aggressive recruiting tactics help retain top talent, including brand ambassadors who are empowered to sell product while activating events. A Detroit Design Festival activation for Chrysler had attendees writing on glow-in-the-dark walls in an homage to Motor City; one in four asked to be contacted by a dealer. And a Brooks Running national tour reached 300,000 runners.
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CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Guerrilla/Street Marketing
CORE 3: Sampling
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Brooks Running Shoes, Cornfields, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Honda, MC-2
WEB: eventnext.com
RFP CONTACT: Yvon Russell, firstname.lastname@example.com
The Challenge:
To lead the creative and strategic development, production and implementation of a multi-platform mobile experience showcasing Brooks Running cutting edge Run Signature gait analysis system at premier running events across the nation. EventNext was also challenged with structuring a tour schedule based around top tier running events in markets with the highest growth potential for new consumers.
The Idea:
To broaden the appeal of Brooks running shoes among runners of all abilities through Run Signature, a new fitting method that utilizes leading-edge technology to assess the way a runner's body wants to run and recommends the right shoe to fit their run. Challenging the traditional approach, Run Signature is more holistic and individual, combining the biomechanics and desired experience of runners.
The Experience:
EventNext facilitated a one of a kind mobile running lab for Brooks to showcase their state of the art Run Signature system. The Run Signature mobile trailer was equipped with two and treadmills where consumers could experience their own custom analysis with one of Brooks' expert Gurus'. The goal was for Brooks to help every runner find their stride, their signature run.
The Result:
Through Run Signature, Brooks was able to empower runners to choose the experience they wanted from their run, based on the data they gather about how their body moves. Since the program's inception in May of 2016 the Run Signature Tour has performed over 8,000 Run Signature Analysis and generated over 40,000 leads. While at the same time surprising and delighting runners of all ages and abilities with prizes and the chance to participate in the Brooks "Run Like the Wind" prize booth for a chance to grab the golden Brooks Running ticket for a free pair of shoes! All of these effort successfully continue to strengthen Brooks' sponsorship as the official footwear and apparel partner of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series as well as further strengthen Brooks' already thriving relationship with specialty running retailers in key markets.
EVI specializes in producing large-scale experiences, including corporate meetings for Fortune 500 clients and world-class music events. Think: concerts featuring rare artist collaborations customized for corporate audiences. The latest included a 210-foot stage designed with a combo of HD LED panels and projection surfaces, while surrounding screens displayed keynote content and real-time tweets. Keeps the team, including new technical and creative directors, in lockstep with proprietary procedures and checklists.
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CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 20% B-to-C, 80% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Aramark, David Foster Foundation, McAfee by Intel, Nu Skin, TD Bank
WEB: executivevisions.com
RFP CONTACT: Robert Marto, firstname.lastname@example.com
In our 30 years of producing experiential marketing, we've been constantly amazed by the non-stop, high-demand race being run by corporate marketing and communications teams. Between internal and external initiatives, the range and scope of projects tackled each year is impressive.
In the effort to accomplish the work, it's sometimes easy to lose sight of how each program fits into the big picture. With numerous initiatives running simultaneously, often produced by different teams and agencies, a project may be successful stand-alone, but could potentially sacrifice cohesiveness with other programs and with overall company objectives.
Building "connected" strategies has always been one of EVI's foundational strengths. We view experiential and events production as a highly-integrated component of a corporation's macro strategy and business communications plan, and that's where every client relationship begins.
We develop client partnerships with an "all-in" approach that positions us as a direct extension of your team. One of the ways we accomplish that is by taking more of a long-term "agency of record" mindset. While most corporations take a partner approach with their advertising and PR firms, we find it is more uncommon on the experiential and event production side. That's something we're working hard to change. As simple as it sounds, the brand discovery phase is crucially important, but often overlooked. It's the foundation for everything that follows.
When EVI undertakes an agency of record agreement, we immerse ourselves into the people, the mission, the products, the services, the history and the culture of a brand. How does a company want to present itself… to be perceived by its audience? What behaviors are they trying to reinforce or modify…what are the desired results?
We team-up with senior leadership, marketing, branding, communications, the advertising and PR agencies, product development, technology, finance…all of the departments that make a company work. With a strategic perspective, we are able to look at all event marketing and communications objectives synergistically, providing numerous advantages in creative continuity, financial efficiencies and message effectiveness across the broader campaign. Ultimately this roadmap allows us to achieve more optimized results.
That business fluency is a major reason why companies like Aramark, McAfee by Intel, and JCPenney choose to work with EVI as their long-term experiential agency on their year round calendar of events.
Tod MacKenzie is Aramark's Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. He's an industry veteran with years of experience leading advertising and communications for companies like PepsiCo and DineEquity. When MacKenzie teamed up with new CEO Eric Foss at Aramark in 2013, they were on the verge of taking the global food, facilities and uniforms services company public, and looking to completely reshape the brand and its worldwide experiential strategy.
"We recognized that we had to significantly raise the bar on our experiential marketing efforts", says MacKenzie. "The company was doing a lot of events, but there was a lack of cohesiveness,
and we just weren't getting maximum impact. We needed an experiential agency that could partner with us across the board on an optimum strategy and on a long-term basis." EVI President and CEO Michael Marto and his producing team came in and very quickly helped put Aramark on track. In collaboration with the company's senior management and functional centers, and its new brand agency, EVI became an indispensable part of Aramark's team. The company credits EVI for looking at its experiential needs from a holistic view, which is crucially important.
Aramark and EVI scrutinized every opportunity with that big picture view to optimize and connect all aspects of the company's experiential effort. A cohesive and connected matrix of brand launch events, recognition events, leadership conferences, internal webcasts, communications media, branded entertainment and permanent installations have played a big role in supporting Aramark's robust growth as an industry leader. Adds MacKenzie, "From the strategy and creative innovation, to the project management and producing execution, we have a highly collaborative machine that performs at a peak level. The value proposition is an undeniable success. We're entering the fourth year of producing a full slate of events, and I can't imagine a better way of achieving our goals."
Founded in 1985, Executive Visions is a leading producer of live events and brand immersive experiences. We partner with Global Fortune 500 companies to deliver creative results across a full range of integrated communication services, innovation creativity and technical excellence are at the heart of everything we do. Learn more about us at executivevisions.com or contact Bob Marto, Co-Founder, EVP at firstname.lastname@example.com, 678-221-6236.
Strategic Understanding of Corporate Mission from a toplevel business perspective enables us to produce projects that deliver results within the context of the big picture. Thorough Brand Immersion enables development of creative ideas and message cohesiveness completely aligned with your culture and brand language. Ability to very accurately deliver to the client's tastes and expectations across multiple projects with consistent quality, flawless technical execution, and accountability for results.
Ongoing client interaction and feedback through surveys, team input and involvement in strategic meetings with senior management allow us to refine solutions and stay precisely on track with key business objectives and metrics.
Continuity of team members enables a very efficient, cohesive, and effective workflow, creating a client comfort factor at major positions, from project managers and producers to the creative design team. A deep working knowledge of the client organization enables seamless integration with all departments. Allows more efficient use of internal marketing communications resources. Project to project consistency avoids a repeated vetting and alignment process with multiple agencies. Enables internal marketing communications team to remain focused on primary core business objectives.
Long term planning allows optimization of all resources and delivery of a much higher value proposition. Investment dollars are more efficiently amortized across numerous events and platforms through advance negotiation, increased buying power and multi-purposing of resources. Savings can go straight to the bottom line or create resources for additional projects.
Recently added experience design to its core offerings and continues to develop proprietary event technology solutions, like FactorySnap, an in-house photo application that offers clients a way to track and measure consumer behavior in real time—driving down vendor costs for clients in the process. Established in the midst of the Great Recession, the team is well equipped to adapt to its surroundings and pivot on the fly. And an internal network of over 20,000 brand ambassadors lends a layer of authenticity to every program.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Sampling
CORE 3: Pop-Up Stores
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: ESPN, JTI, LinkedIn, MetroPCS, Samsung
WEB: factory360.com
RFP CONTACT: Reinaldo Piloto, firstname.lastname@example.com
Whether the team is working alongside WWE wrestlers, pro hockey players or Metallica, its behavior-based, data-driven approach is moving the needle. Moved to new offices to accommodate an over 50 percent increase in its diverse staff, which includes a professional baker, a high-society Southern belle and a dude nicknamed "Big Angela." An in-house video production suite, Content Lab and Creative Realism initiative help the team interweave physical and digital experiences.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Buzz/Influencer Programs
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 85% B-to-C, 15% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: ALDI, Anheuser-Busch InBev, CenturyLink, Sutter Health, The Boeing Co.
WEB: fcb-x.com
RFP CONTACT: Andy Slate, email@example.com
By the numbers: one new acquisition, three leaders added to the Executive Leadership Committee, three new strategists, 20 corporate social responsibility initiatives and 21 promotions. Acquisition of BKA added killer creative and production prowess to its catalogue. Expanded capabilities, including dedicated venue sourcing and a range of event tech solutions. Executed a takeover of Manhattan's South Street Seaport with a festival-style block party for AOL that blew the roof off the NewFronts.
CORE 1: Launch Events
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Sales Conferences
FOCUS SPLIT: 5% B-to-C, 95% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: AOL, Fresenius Medical Care North America, MasterCard, The New York Times, UNICEF
WEB: firstagency.com
RFP CONTACT: Jared Elish, email@example.com
Family-owned Freeman's experiential marketing agency spinoff continues to hire as it expands around the world. Recent highlights, you ask us? A variety of new products and services were launched over the last 12 months, including five virtual reality offerings and a Customer Plan Tour tool related to event sponsorship revenue. The company also continues to innovate in the area of creativity and design via its ongoing relationship with Canadian super designer Bruce Mau. Its transformation of a popular mall in Beijing for Warner Bros.' "Fanastic Beasts" was hot.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Sales Conferences
CORE 3: Trade Show Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 15% B-to-C, 85% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Brocade, Genentech, Marketo, Sage, Splunk
WEB: freemanxp.com
RFP CONTACT: Melinda Lindland, email@example.com
Targeting youth? These are your peeps. Fuse has helped consumer, sports and lifestyle brands authentically speak to millennials and Gen Z for the last two decades. Areas of expertise include college marketing, influencer campaigns and content creation. Rocked NBA All-Star Weekend with the Uncle Drew Restaurant, an expansion of a series of Pepsi commercials starring Kyrie Irving. Also, seriously beefed up its brand ambassador offerings over the last year.
CORE 1: College/Campus Campaigns
CORE 2: Buzz/Influencer Programs
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 100% B-to-C
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Amazon, Dick's Sporting Goods, Frito-Lay, Pepsi, Wendy's
WEB: fusemarketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Bill Carter, email@example.com
Acquired by talent agency WME | IMG last spring, FUSION offers its clients unprecedented access to top influencers and celebrities. Large-scale experiences are the name of the game, like a takeover of Alcatraz for Budweiser during Super Bowl 50, when more than 400 VIPs were treated to an exclusive tour of the island, private acoustic set and fireworks display. Developed an incentive-driven b-to-b program that allows users to redeem points for access to experiences tied to high-profile celebrities.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Sampling
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 61% B-to-C, 39% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: 4Front Entrematic, Anheuser-Busch, Campari America Spirits, Fox Sports, Purina Pet Care
WEB: thisisfusion.com
RFP CONTACT: Scott Gaterman, email@example.com
Developing programs that drive conversion and make a measurable impact on clients' bottom lines is second nature to this outfit. Established a multicultural team charged with implementing strategy and creative. Continues to thrive in the retail space through programs that influence buyer behavior, and proprietary tools that map and analyze shoppers' purchase decision journeys. New York's Chocolate Factory serves as a sweet home base for the North American team.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: In-Store/Shopper Events
CORE 2: Trade Show Programs
CORE 3: Nightlife/On-Premise Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: American Airlines, American Express, BEAM, E&J Gallo, Shell
WEB: geometry.com
RFP CONTACT: Debbie Kaplan, firstname.lastname@example.com
American Airlines made time fly at the Sundance Film Festival.
It's no secret that airline travel requires waiting. From security
lines to flight time, the wait feels even longer because travelers
are excitedly anxious to get to their destination. American
Airlines is working to make the entire flying experience better,
with new amenities that can help make time fly.
To demonstrate this, American Airlines traveled to the
Sundance Film Festival, where thousands of film festival
attendees were subject to wait times for movies and other
events. American Airlines created two experiences; one that
would make time fly for celebrities waiting to be interviewed,
and one for film festival fans waiting to see films.
For the celebrity activation, American Airlines partnered
with The Hollywood Reporter to design a luxurious, relaxing
destination where celebrities could play an interactive game
while they waited for their interviews. The game was a race
against the clock, where players pushed a lever, like the ones
pilots use to fly planes, to land the clock hand on the highest
number. That number represented a number of miles that were
donated to Stand Up To Cancer.
A leaderboard kept track of how many miles each celebrity
earned for American to donate on their behalf. That started a
competition to see who could earn the most. To help in their
competitive quest, American Airlines doubled the amount of
miles donated when celebrities posted a photo of themselves
next to the leaderboard on social media. Many celebrities came
back to play and earn more, citing that it was a fun, unexpected
experience that made a difference for a great cause.
For film festival attendees, American Airlines created an
experience at the Festival Co-op. While attendees waited to
see films, they were given things to make the wait time feel
more comfortable, from hand warmers to hot chocolate. Plus,
American Airlines created an interactive GIF maker where
attendees could choose their props, get in front of a Park City,
Utah scene and have a personalized GIF made to share on social
American also encouraged visitors to explore Park City. They
created a number of artistic flight symbol sculptures, each
representing a different travel destination, and placed them
around high-traffic locations. Festival attendees who found
any of the five sculptures, snapped a photo and shared on
social media were entered for a chance to win a free trip to that
As a result, American Airlines was able to make time fly. And in
the process, surpassed their Stand Up To Cancer donation goal,
with a total of 3,000,000 miles donated and 3,252,878 social
media impressions generated.
Festival attendees shared positive feelings about American
Airlines through the Festival Co-op experience and Flight
Symbol sweepstakes. Over eight days, they received more than
51,000 social impressions and 357 sweepstakes entries.
These events created memorable, shareable moments that
helped shift the overall perception of American Airlines, and
create a more positive overall travel experience.
Data is king inside the biggest marketing agency within global holding company Project Worldwide's global monstrosity of shops, putting much more of an emphasis and a global bet as an agency differentiator on data and the growing role/power of data—leveraging existing metrics, reimagining the "artful collection of new data," tweaking the integration of various data points and adding focus and strategy to the conversion of that data into actionable analytics. A new Dallas office is now open for business.
CORE 1: Global Event Programs
CORE 2: Trade Show Programs
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 35% B-to-C, 65% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Cisco, IBM, Salesforce, Toyota USA, Under Armour
WEB: gpj.com
RFP CONTACT: Scott Kellner, email@example.com
CEO Steve Moster is keeping his promise to employees and clients—the global trade show giant's expansion into strategic experiential and event marketing continues, with traction stemming from new hires, new capabilities, new acquisitions and new wins. "GES is second to none," said one client. "This is one amazingly hard-working group. Reliable. Dependable." With a global footprint that is shockingly comprehensive to look at on a map and the support and backing of owner Viad, the GES Events unit is on the rise in 2017… and beyond.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: B-to-C Events
CORE 3: Developer Conferences/Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 4% B-to-C, 96% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Cetera Financial Group, Dell, LPL, Mary Kay, Tableau
WEB: ges.com
RFP CONTACT: Sally McComic, email@example.com
Giant Step originally hit the scene as a club promoter and underground record label, making it an authority on music and culture, and a reliable producer of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. New virtual reality production capabilities allow for a melding of VR content and multisensory elements that foster immersive storytelling experiences. Partnerships afford access to a youth insights consultancy, data-driven influencer platform and comprehensive network of concert promoters, venues, festivals and media companies.
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: Pop-Up Stores
CORE 3: Buzz/Influencer Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: A2IM, Hudson Rouge, Iris Worldwide, Samsung, SoundCloud
WEB: giantstep.net
RFP CONTACT: Maurice Bernstein, firstname.lastname@example.com
Work is derived from eight in-house centers of excellence containing 30 specialty service offerings that give GMR's team of 850 the tools they need to seamlessly activate on a global scale. Already an industry veteran, the agency has its sights set on developing new areas of expertise, including augmented reality, virtual reality and esports. Recently supported 15 different clients and dozens of brands at the 2016 Olympic Games, and led the NFL's environmental décor program for Super Bowl LI.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Nightlife/On-Premise Events
CORE 3: Global Event Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Comcast, Esurance, MillerCoors, NFL, Procter & Gamble
WEB: gmrmarketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Becky Petska, firstname.lastname@example.com
A leader in launch events and automotive experiences, GOXD has been around since '99, helping clients apply best practices and avoid common pitfalls—and delivering measurable results. Brings a b-to-c spirit to large-scale b-to-b events, and continues to build a presence in the consumer sector. A new Strategy and Validation initiative helps clients execute programs designed to serve their business objectives while delivering relevant attendee messaging. A 2016 launch event for Porsche led to a three-mile traffic jam caused by rubbernecking on L.A.'s I-405.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 35% B-to-C, 65% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Accenture, Fiserv, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche North America, Turner Broadcasting
WEB: goxd.com
RFP CONTACT: Matt Schrader, firstname.lastname@example.com
Woman-owned and operated, Grow can often be found rallying agency partners to work together to achieve clients' objectives. With 16 years under its belt, the agency is earning biz from the likes of YouTube, Target and Nike, in addition to maintaining strong relationships with clients Google and Pernod Ricard. Added three designers to the team and increasingly serves as a one-stop shop for its clients' marketing needs. Beefed up its media coverage efforts to ensure campaign amplification.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Pop-Up Stores
FOCUS SPLIT: 60% B-to-C, 40% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Dignity Health, Google, KinderCare, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Pernod Ricard USA
WEB: grow-marketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Tami Anderson, email@example.com
To show consumers how Google Home and Google Play Musicprovide the best in-home music experience when used together, Grow developed an immersive pop-up on both coasts with interactive demos and social amplification that garnered millions of impressions and increased purchase intent amongst the target audience.
Hires content creators, social media influencers and other cultural tastemakers to ensure an authentic understanding of the culture that consumers value and identify with. Specializes in interweaving digital and live, and continues to add new technology, like virtual reality, to its service offerings. Helped change consumer perceptions with a "ShoeLove" campaign for Amopé insoles featuring a mobile fashion boutique, influencers and a chance to win designer shoes, racking up 164 million impressions along the way.
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Sampling
CORE 3: Nightlife/On-Premise Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 95% B-to-C, 5% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: 3M, General Mills, JetBlue, Peet's Coffee, Reckitt-Benckiser
WEB: havasimpact.com
RFP CONTACT: Cathy Babiez, email@example.com
Rebranded after a merge with ignition and Cake to deliver integrated sponsorship management, content development and event execution services. Focused on enhancing sponsorship and partnership consulting efforts to maximize existing relationships and foster new ones. Helped launch Havas Group's proprietary Meaningful Brands initiative, the largest global analytics study of its kind, unlocking insights on what makes brands meaningful to consumers. Reached 20 million teens and earned 200 million impressions for Coke's youth-centric 2016 Olympics campaign.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Global Event Programs
CORE 3: Buzz/Influencer Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 95% B-to-C, 5% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Delta Air Lines, Harley-Davidson, LVMH, The Coca-Cola Co., TracFone
WEB: havas-se.com
RFP CONTACT: Brad Jansen, email@example.com
Increased both staff and business by 15 percent while maintaining a host of long-standing clients who value its talent for communicating brand messaging that drives action. Launched 14 new ice cream products for Tillamook with a vintage-style Ice Cream Yum Bus featuring a flip-open roof that allowed brand ambassadors to dish out more than 72,000 samples. "Get Your Shit Done" comp days keep the team refreshed and ready to tackle the next campaign.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: P.R. Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 45% B-to-C, 55% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: adidas, Daimler Trucks North America, Kaiser Permanente, KinderCare Education, Tillamook
WEB: henryvevents.com
RFP CONTACT: Katja Asaro, firstname.lastname@example.com
Sponsorship activations for sports and entertainment properties are HMT's forte, whether at Red Rocks for Jeep or on tour with NABISCO and One Direction. Another strength—shopper-focused engagements like the OREO Dunk Challenge, which transformed traditional grocery store sampling into interactive, memorable experiences at nearly 8,000 locations. Equally adept at internal events, contests, corporate hospitality, street teams, guerrilla tactics and giving tender loving care to brand mascots like Mondelez' Teddy and the Sour Patch Kids.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Sales Conferences
FOCUS SPLIT: 81% B-to-C, 19% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Back to Nature, Gallo Wines, Kraft Heinz, Mondelez
WEB: hmtassociates.com
RFP CONTACT: Patti Conti, firstname.lastname@example.com
With significant investments made to its IT infrastructure and a High Business Impact security award under its belt, clients come to Redmond, WA-based ImagiCorps because it knows how to keep a secret. Not so secret? The production of the Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, which drew 5,000 players from 35 countries, 50,000 attendees and two million remote watchers. When not managing events, tours and building retail and corporate interior environments, you'll find this team on the slopes supporting the Special Olympics. Nice.
CORE 1: Launch Events
CORE 2: Pop-Up Stores
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Fluke, Microsoft, MLB, PACCAR, Pokémon
WEB: imagicorps.com
RFP CONTACT: Thomas Hutchinson, email@example.com
Its acquisition last year by talent powerhouse WME | IMG gives IMG Live direct access to sports and lifestyle events worldwide and a pipeline of celebrities and influencers across the globe. In 2016, it reached millions of people physically and digitally at more than 3,000 sports, entertainment and hospitality events. Continues to push boundaries, getting into martial arts and esports video game competitions, which all adds up to increased staff and new clients (among them: Cadillac, Dell and MLS) for this busy agency.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Buzz/Influencer Programs
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 76% B-to-C, 24% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Coca-Cola, DirecTV/AT&T, Marriott, Topgolf, Visa
WEB: imglive.com
RFP CONTACT: Jim Moylan, email@example.com
Works across many different industries, but after 35 years handling global event and trade show programs, strength in healthcare, technology and industrial remains its core. Attracts longterm clients (some have stayed 15 to 30 years). A PlayStation VR Tour for Sony heralded the arrival of the product before it was available to the general public at more than 500 events and 64,000-plus engagements. Established a SoCal office in 2016 and, with a proprietary Strategic Playbook up its sleeve, look for even more impactful work in the year ahead.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: Trade Show Programs
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Consumer Activations
FOCUS SPLIT: 15% B-to-C, 85 % B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: BASF, Entrata, Pfizer, Sony, Under Armour
WEB: impact-xm.com
RFP CONTACT: Charles Sanchez, firstname.lastname@example.com
BASF wanted to drive new ways to effectively engage with their
target audience at PestWorld, their main trade show in this
Innovation is at the center of what BASF offers. With that
in mind, and working closely with the BASF team of pest
experts, Impact XM created the Innovation Lab, a customerfocused,
experiential environment that gave Pest Management
Professionals direct engagement with BASF's innovative
solutions through activities that improved knowledge
comprehension and retention.
Impact XM turned the innovation of BASF into a "Please Touch"
experience, driving booth traffic and product memorability.
Divided into three key areas showcasing BASF's solutions for
controlling termites, ants, and cockroaches — the three largest
pest challenges — the Lab offered nine uniquely different
engagements at "Innovation Stations" that included both
tactile and technological demonstrations – all designed to
address core business challenges and demonstrate BASF's Pest
Control solutions in fun and engaging ways.
The "Please Touch" experience included:
• At an ant station, attendees used
a tethered UV light to discover how BASF's
Transfer Effect Technology took advantage
of ants' social characteristics.
• Using augmented reality at a cockroach
station, attendees could use a tablet to reveal
cockroach infestations
• To explain the concept of bait aversion, we offered a unique
jellybean challenge where identical jellybeans could either be
sweet and delicious (such as lime or tutti-fruiti) or distasteful
(lawn clippings or stinky socks).
• At another station, BASF's Trelona termite bait spike was
displayed using levitation technology so that it floated a few
inches above a grassy countertop – stopping traffic
• All these experiences and more were presented in a compelling
exhibit design with custom printed floor
The Innovation Lab has driven real and substantial sales growth
for BASF — with double digit sales gains for termite, ant and
cockroach control. Actual incremental sales growth attributed
to this campaign has been well above BASF's 10% goal and has
seen real gain in sales increase year over year throughout the
extended campaign.
Because it was strategically developed with built-in flexibility
and scalability, beyond PestWorld, the Innovation Lab has
been used expansively to support a range of events all around
the country, from small meetings to key industry tradeshows,
further driving ROI.
More than just increasing sales, this initiative also resulted in
an expanded customer base, improved coordination with field
sales, heightened morale among the BASF team, and most
importantly, a heightened reputation as the clear market-leader
within the Pest Control industry.
2016 was a busy year for IMT with technology-meets-festivalization productions for HP-Intel at Panorama and Coachella, the first-ever live-action HP Omen Challenge gaming competition on Twitch, Intel's first foray into SXSW with the Intel AI Lounge and more than 25 red carpet movie premieres and related experiences. Clients also hail from the fields of education, fashion, food & beverage, automotive, travel and finance, all seeking to create the boundary-pushing experiences IMT is known for.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: Launch Events
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: P.R. Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 70% B-to-C, 30% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Banc of California, Credence MedSystems, HP, Intel, Twentieth Century Fox
WEB: infinitymarketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Chad Tons, firstname.lastname@example.com
PC gaming hardware sales trends have shown that the Enthusiast
PC Gamer market is forecasted for the highest industry
growth at 11.7% and will be a $14B market by 2018.
Gaming is an entire eco-system as live streaming, competitions,
and esports are growing industries. Streamers not only stream
live but record, while chatting and playing the game.
How could HP successfully meet its objectives of delivering high
engagement with Enthusiast gamers in a non-traditional and
authentic way, while also growing social channels to sustain the
The result was the HP Omen Challenge – the first ever live action
game on Twitch!
HP partnered with the social video platform and gaming
community Twitch at TwitchCon on Oct. 1 to activate the
HP Omen Challenge, an original and re-defining live gaming
tournament that showcased the power and performance of the
Omen brand through spectacular gaming "torture chambers"
and multisensory elements. The event was held before the
TwitchCon After Party at Petco Park in San Diego, CA, for nearly
7,000 attendees on the ground watching the live action, while
many millions more tuned in via the livestreams and replay
For the tournament, HP recruited 20 Twitch gamer-influencers
to form four (4) all-star teams to play Blizzard Entertainment's
"Hero of the Storm" on HP's Omen products and accessories.
Clad in head-to-toe Omen Challenge team jumpers, the Twitch
gamers would promote the Omen Challenge through a combination of
targeted media ads and livestreamed Omen Challenge practice sessions
for their followers. Each team entered enclosed chambers
powered by the Omen X and custom built to inflict torturous
environments on both the gamers and equipment as they
competed. Special effects like fire, ice, tornado, earthquake,
lightening and stink bomb were applied to both challenge and
distract them.
The infamous HP Omen voodoo mask logo lived in a 30' tall
'holo-gauze' LED tower at center stage that brought the logo
to life as it would become angry and emanate spectacular
animations related to the tortures throughout each round of the
tournament. Depending on the effect, players inside the torture
chambers felt extreme heat, freezing temperatures in under 30
seconds, a tornado barrage of particles blowing in their faces,
heavy duty strobe lights, hydraulic shaking quake gaming chairs,
and hideous smelling green smoke while trying to perform.
Every 5-7 minutes, viewers (both livestreaming and on the
ground) could go to the Omen Challenge app online to vote on
what "torture" element to inflict on the players. Results were
immediately tabulated and the element with the most votes
would be applied.
Staggeringly successful results from the HP Omen Challenge
demonstrated that HP did indeed gain credibility amongst
Enthusiast gamers for the Omen brand while also increasing
awareness and consideration of the Omen family of products.
23,310,566 impressions from Nerdists and social media
influencers combined with 9M impressions from digital and
video reach and 2M HP owned social properties to account for a
whopping 34 million+ total impressions…more than doubling
the benchmark goal. 6,915 gamers and live viewers attended the
HP Omen Challenge event…a phenomenal number for a gaming
tournament and almost quadrupling the initial goal.
If you're looking to send employees off to a dinner on the Great Wall of China or treat clients to a VIP night at the Grammys, this is your go-to. As worldwide event and location specialists, Infrared combines custom event, incentive travel and hospitality with logistics and planning expertise to pull off corporate meetings, launch events and more. A licensed travel agency and member of the kyu collective, its marketing expertise runs broad and deep.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Sales Conferences
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 30% B-to-C, 70% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Acer, American Heart Association, Discovery Networks, Turner Networks, Pandora Media
WEB: weareinfrared.com
RFP CONTACT: Kelly Weinberg, firstname.lastname@example.com
Boasts a diverse client roster, with a significant portion of clients within the beverage category, and a deep knowledge of the beer, wine and spirits industry. Engages a network of in-market millennial-aged influencers to understand the nuances of each of the 40 markets where it has a presence, resulting in hyper-local market knowledge and up-and-coming consumer trends. Has beefed up its insights and analytics solutions and added a Warehouse and Logistics department.
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Nightlife/On-Premise Events
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 95% B-to-C, 5% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Bimbo Bakeries USA, Constellation Brands, Diageo, Nespresso, Virgin Atlantic
WEB: inspiramarketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Jeremy Litchfield, email@example.com
2016 marked Invision's 25th anniversary and a repositioning around the agency's core principle—the power of people to learn, grow and succeed. That philosophy played out in a VR experience at Cisco Live that introduced attendees to its Internet of Things products, and an Escape Room team-building activity for Intercept Pharmaceuticals. Positive thinking plus a thriving Technology Innovation Group (that earned top marks during a CEMA Summit innovation demo) and a Personalized Experience Optimizer is setting this agency up for another vibrant 25 years… or more.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Internal Employee Events
CORE 3: Sales Conferences
FOCUS SPLIT: 100% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Amway, Atlassian, Genentech, Oracle, NetApp
WEB: iv.com
RFP CONTACT: Chris Dalton, firstname.lastname@example.com
With increased account teams in New York City and London offices, along with an overall 14 percent growth in its full ranks, INVNT is growing at a pace like never before. New work on the AIA Conference on Architecture, the FutureStack tour of events from digital intelligence leader New Relic and ESPN's upfront point to its ever-expanding creative, as well. Also growing—its Event Strategy Consulting service for brands seeking to resonate with new audiences. This agency is on the move.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Global Event Programs
CORE 3: P.R. Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 30% B-to-C, 70% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: ESPN, General Motors, PepsiCo, Pivotal, Subway
WEB: invnt.com
RFP CONTACT: Scott Kerr, email@example.com
To vividly showcase ESPN's unique brand attributes, INVNT created a fresh, engaging and multidimensional Upfront presentation focusing on the power and resonance of the live viewing experience.
Creative Perspective
In this third year of producing ESPN's Upfront, INVNT faced three major challenges: engaging an Upfront audience without the customary reveal of new programming; connecting every element to ESPN's marketing messaging – including diverse perspectives – in 60 minutes; and building on the great success of previous years.
INVNT scored on all fronts, creating a powerhouse event that took big risks and was great entertainment. The Upfront brilliantly communicated ESPN's sales concept: great sports moments, and the surrounding commentary, travel the world in a heartbeat and connect ESPN directly to the emotions of their audience before, during and after they happen.
The presentation opened with a unique musical/spokenword evocation of the emotionality of sport by Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom, Jr., stars of the megahit HAMILTON. Their electrifying duet instantly connected the audience to how ESPN viewers feel when watching thrilling live content.
Building on this atmosphere of authenticity and excitement, INVNT focused the Upfront content on key points rather than tightly scripted moments. Freedom from the teleprompter allowed the charismatic personalities of ESPN's talent and sports stars to truly shine. To highlight their role in the broader cultural conversation, INVNT brought ESPN's onscreen diversity and global reach to the stage by including an exciting variety of ESPN personalities and perspectives in the Upfront presentation.
In addition to managing all talent, producing a media takeover of Times Square screens and the branded pre and post-show, INVNT crafted executive presentations and video content, as well as an unforgettable closing moment celebrating the highs and lows of sports fandom.
A close collaborative relationship with ESPN's top execs combined with daring creative and flawless production helped INVNT make this 2016 Upfront a huge success. Video of the opening number went viral and ESPN closed over 80% of its Upfront business directly after the event.
Ahhhh… the mighty Jack. Introduced a new content marketing capability, and continues to roll out new immersive and inventive technology offerings across the portfolio. The often-unbeatable b-to-b work has truly been joined by some of its best consumer experiential campaigns in recent history. And the hiring of new chief creative officer and design thinking wunderkind Bruce Henderson has added a tsunami of creative energy, innovative thinking and ripples of ideation throughout the veteran global agency. Enough said.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: Launch Events
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Trade Show Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 45% B-to-C, 55% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Facebook, General Motors, Google, Liberty Mutual, Samsung
WEB: jackmorton.com
RFP CONTACT: Peter Sun, firstname.lastname@example.com
The challenge
Audible, with over 180K titles in its audio library, is capable of
transporting imaginations to thousands of different worlds
through the power of spoken word. To heighten awareness
of their engaging content, Audible asked Jack Morton to help
increase consideration among early adopters who already love
stories. A natural habitat? New York Comic Con.
With 140,000 trendsetters, celebrities, artists, writers and
fans concentrated in one place, New York Comic Con is the
second-largest pop culture convention in America. We needed to
identify and rally an audience of igniters—those who are first to
try, buy and amplify—who treasure stories and storytelling and
could quickly become audiobook fans and advocates.
Comic Con is an innately competitive event, where people
demonstrate their knowledge and "cred" through, for example,
The idea
Sci-fi and Fantasy enthusiasts pride themselves on their vast
knowledge of stories and characters. To engage these admirers,
our strategy was to create an immersive experience that
challenged and celebrated their expertise in all things Sci-fi and
Fantasy. We wanted them to revel in their knowledge while also
allowing them to experience the incredible content that Audible
has to offer.
To turn heads, we introduced Audible Recall: an immersive
listening game that brought audiobooks to life in an otherwise
exclusively visual environment. With Audible Recall, players
listen to a set of 15-second audio clips from some of Audible's
numerous Sci-fi and Fantasy titles. Their goal? To match the clip
with one of four book titles presented to them on screen in less
time than anyone else.
The experience
The most important factor for the program's success was
Audible's connection to the audience. Jack helped transform an
inherently solitary experience—listening to audio books—into a
fast-paced multi-player contest. Guests were invited to play a
multiple-choice listening game that tested Sci-fi and Fantasy
book knowledge in a timed, game show-like contest that pitted
seven opponents against one another for speed and accuracy.
Each player received an Audible VIP card for a free download
and 30 day free trial. Top scorers were awarded larger prizes and
entered into the daily leader board for a chance to win the daily
grand prize.
The results
Over a four-day period, Audible Recall greatly surpassed all
program expectations. It drew the direct participation of +3.8K
conference attendees, increasing trial by 52%, which was over
3X higher than our initial goal of 15%.The game also earned 8M
media impressions and increased social sharing at Comic Con by
485% from the previous year.
With its success at New York Comic Con, Audible is extending
the experience with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and an
encore appearance at New York Comic Con.
Clients enamored of its consumer-facing work now lean on the Cow for trade shows and events such as SuperZoo and Specialty Vet Conferences. Other highlights include the Better With Pets Summit on behalf of Nestlé Purina, and numerous projects for Food Lion, which required marketing, logistical and food handling expertise, including a Charlotte, NC, takeover for the grocery chain that drove consumer engagement and award-winning Food Lion Women's Shows that demoed its private-label products.
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Launch Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 85% B-to-C, 15% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Cannonball, Delhaize, Hallmark Cards, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Reach Marketing
WEB: kickingcow.com
RFP CONTACT: Cindy Hagel, email@example.com
A growing client base, partnerships with HP and Samsung and the addition of Volvo and Genesis to the roster signal Kubik's continued growth after 34 years in business. Staff count is up by 15 percent as well. Additional environmental projects for museums and galleries have increased its cultural-focused experience. Enjoys a global reputation for domestic and international exhibits and exhibitions, media events, theme parks and brand experiences, and now boasts a team exclusively focused on retail.
CORE 1: Trade Show Programs
CORE 2: Global Event Programs
CORE 3: Corporate Visitor/Experience Centers
FOCUS SPLIT: 40% B-to-C, 60% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Effem Foods/Mars, HP, Hyundai Auto Canada/Genesis Auto Canada, Nissan Canada, Samsung
WEB: thinkubik.com
RFP CONTACT: Elliot Kohn, email@example.com
Acquisition by CSM Sport & Entertainment last fall gives LeadDog new resources, bigger reach and opportunities to think big. Brought Louis Vuitton's America's Cup World Series to NYC for the first time in nearly 100 years, activated five events in the Bay Area for Super Bowl 50 and launched the first-ever Ryder Cup Trophy Tour with PGA of America. Its in-house Breed division works with cutting-edge start-ups like The Drone Racing League. Yep, that's thinking big.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Sampling
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 91% B-to-C, 9% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Adidas, Audi, Coca-Cola, Intel, The NFL Player's Association
WEB: leaddogmarketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Danit Aronson, firstname.lastname@example.com
With expanded wine, champagne and off-premise retail marketing efforts adding dozens of new activation markets to its roster, 75 additional full-time and 300 part-time staffers help Legacy stay ahead of the curve. Has also expanded analytics resources and offerings, including data aggregation, for new insights and key takeaways, and increased digital offerings with AR, VR and more. With Nate Stillman as new vp of new business, expect even further growth, especially in entertainment.
CORE 1: Nightlife/On-Premise Events
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Buzz/Influencer Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C; 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Constellation Brands, Hewitt, L&W Supply, Pernod Ricard, Yokohama Tire
WEB: legacymp.com
RFP CONTACT: Nate Stillman, firstname.lastname@example.com
Handling Walmart's Shareholders Meeting and its Holiday and Year Beginning meetings, along with work for Hilton Garden Inn, AutoZone and other heavyweights has led to 584 percent growth over five years for LEO. Executed 106 b-to-b events in 2016, and b-to-c business is expanding. Producing the KAABOO Del Mar festival (it's also a part-owner); activating its corporate sponsorship and guest engagement gives the shop a unique perspective that benefits b-to-b and b-to-c clients. And with Southern hospitality roots, customer service is as important as creative services.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Sales Conferences
CORE 3: Global Event Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 15% B-to-C, 85% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: AutoZone, ExxonMobil, Hilton, Walmart, Software AG
WEB: leoevents.com
RFP CONTACT: Cindy Brewer, email@example.com
Hilton Garden Inn (HGI) hosts its Brand Conference every other
year, and 2017 marked the second such conference for which
LEO Events handled every aspect, from strategy to production
to logistics and execution. HGI retained LEO and it was gotime
over the next 18 months to plan the event for 1,700 global
HGI's Brand Conferences typically have the same strategic
objectives–to grow revenue, encourage loyalty, and increase
profitability–but this event added a brand reveal, or a "brand
amplification," to the mix. For LEO, that meant starting the
conference with one brand look and feel and then helping HGI
introduce an entirely new one when conference attendees
stepped out of the first general session.
HGI selected Hilton Chicago. From start to finish, LEO ensured
that the event not only featured unique, engaging activities but
that all of the behind-the-scenes work ran flawlessly.
The conference was almost entirely paperless with LEO writing,
scheduling and distributing more than 100 pre-event custom
digital communications. LEO also created the registration
platform as well as the event app, which achieved more than 92
percent usage, allowing registrants to do all of the "paperwork"
before they arrived. When the attendee hit "print" for his or her
name badge, the name and geographic location would light up
on the screen of a digital, 3-D globe. The registration and event
platforms also collected data in real time to show who had checked
in and from where.
Two key elements stand out. First, for the General Sessions,
LEO turned the International Ballroom with custom scenic and
intimate seating and staging, for all of HGI's executives to make
major presentations. The high-energy event kicked off Sunday
evening with custom videos, a performance by the Soul Children
of Chicago, and an awards celebration.
The next day's General Session started with a performance by
a parkour troupe—complete with a look-alike of John Greenleaf
to cleverly introduce the global head of HGI to the stage for the
brand reveal, "We are Brighthearted." While the first General
Session was taking place, LEO was hard at work flipping the
conference from the old brand to the amplified one, including
digital and static signage, and focusing on the new messaging
and color palette.
Second, we placed a to-scale model of HGI's new "Garden
Market" concept in the Grand Ballroom for attendees to
experience this coming attraction. It featured virtual-reality
Oculus stations for the different global markets to show how
the Garden Market would look in Europe or Asia.
A "Bright Conversations Lounge" for vendors and partners to
highlight their services and products was created and HGI Food
& Beverage also showcased new, brand-wide service items.
Attendees used the area for meet-ups as well to leave day-glo
messages on the Brighthearted Message Wall. For the second
day, we took these messages and threw blacklight on them to
make them pop during that evening's closing party, Illumi-Nation.
This final night event spanned two ballrooms and engaged
attendees with illuminated, walk-around talent, a live band, as
well as custom GLO Bars, a giant custom Lite Brite board and
other day-glo games.
Like an AccuWeather for culture, Marcie Allen's agency spots trends and talent long before others and incorporates them into breakthrough programs for clients. A new alliance with hip-hop agent Cara Lewis guarantees even more opportunities. In 2016, executed eight days of activations for new client Miller at Governors Ball and Austin City Limits, and opened the first West Coast flagship for AT&T with rapper Ludacris, helping to generate more than 35 million social media impressions. Forecast? Sunny.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Buzz/Influencer Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Citi, H&M, MillerCoors
WEB: macpresents.com
RFP CONTACT: Marcie Allen, email@example.com
Citi, a core partner of Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign, is on a mission to ensure that no child in the U.S. has to face hunger. Since 2014, Citi's support has raised millions of dollars and enabled No Kid Hungry to provide more than 76 million meals to kids in need. This year, through strategic initiatives with musicians and amped up social media opportunities, the bank also has ensured a top-notch experience for Citi cardmembers at Taste of the Nation dining events that raise money to support the No Kid Hungry campaign. Musical performances, Instagram "takeovers" and video vignettes created buzz, promoted ticket sales and raised awareness for the cause. They also added a fresh element to a program that is now in its third year. Taste of the Nation dining events are one of Share Our Strength's flagship culinary fundraising programs. The events engage more than 3,000 chefs, mixologists and restaurateurs in nearly 40 cities to raise funds to support the cause of ending childhood hunger in America. "Through our involvement, and that of our cardmembers, we are able to help No Kid Hungry provide meals to children in need and ensure they have the foundation they need for a bright future," says Jennifer Breithaupt, Global Consumer Chief Marketing Officer at Citi.
Citi also leverages its sponsorship of Taste of the Nation events as "hero moments" as it helps the brand foster emotional connections and creates feelgood moments for cardmembers. "With one of the largest entertainment access platforms of any brand, we endeavor to tap into these resources to elevate the experience for our customers and engage them in supporting our efforts to have a transformative impact on this country's youth," Breithaupt says. Citi cardmembers receive special benefits such as early purchase of tickets to Taste of the Nation events and VIP entry at a Citi VIP table, where they receive a custom laminate, lanyard and tasting tray. Once inside, they can enter the Citi VIP Lounge with its sleek white furniture, private bar and charging stations. This year, the lounge featured a photo booth where attendees had their picture taken, which was then printed on a thin layer of sugar adorning a custom cocktail that attendees could post to their social media sites.
Five of the Taste of the Nation events— held in Washington DC, New York City, Miami and Los Angeles, with one more to take place in August in Chicago— this year capitalized on music and
the artists' social media influence to elevate the attendee experience and increase awareness about the No Kid Hungry cause. MAC Presents, the New York City-based agency that specializes in connecting brands with musical talent, handles the activations for Citi on this program and this year added the artist integration.
The first event, which took place in Washington, DC on April 19 at Nationals Park, resonated with the folk, hip-hop and rock & roll sound of musicians Judah & the Lion, an alternative band from Nashville that performed two acoustic sets on the main stage overlooking the ballpark. The group played its hits and a few covers, then free styled about the importance of the No Kid Hungry mission. When they weren't playing, band members Brian Macdonald and Spencer Cross scouted the event, taking photos of the culinary components and the Citi cardmember experience, then posted them to Citi's Instagram account. The photos, as seen through the eyes of the musicians and captioned "Captured by: @ judahandthelion #CitiGiving #NoKidHungry," added the group's signature artistic flair. The group also participated in a meet-and-greet inside the Citi Lounge.
The New York Taste of the Nation event, which took place April 24 on the East River Waterfront at 180 Maiden Lane and was hosted by restaurateur Danny Meyer, offered an evening of bite size fare, craft cocktails and inventive desserts topped off by the Canadian rock group The Strumbellas, who performed an acoustic set during the event. The Strumbellas also performed in Miami on May 12 and will appear at the Chicago event in August as well. In New York City, Citi harnessed the group's creativity in a video "takeover" of Citi's Instagram story. The Strumbellas' video vignettes featured interviews with the chefs and the dishes they were preparing, including a tasting with local Pig and Khao chef Leah Cohen. The Los Angeles Taste of the Nation event took place during the day at Media Park in Culver City in an experience that was more family-friendly and featured performances by Us the Duo, a married couple that has been exploding on social media since 2014 and has garnered 134M YouTube views and 4.4M Facebook fans. The group performed two acoustic performances in the center of the park, and in between performances, cardmembers waited to take photos with the duo inside the Citi Lounge.
"Each artist helped make the event feel simultaneously more intimate and national in scope, and their support on social media brought the cause an additional spotlight." says Jessica Beutler Abel, EVP Client Services for MAC Presents.
What started as a creative shop by a few 72andSunny and Crispin refugees has become one of the best independent agencies on the It List. They say they are "a hybrid of strategic thinking, client services and seasoned production." We say if every agency was this bold and fun to work with, we wouldn't be able to play favorites like we're doing with Magnetic. Smart, sassy and ready to push the envelope if you are ready to let them, like Hershey's did when it reintroduced the updated TAKE5 bar to the market at SXSW.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: P.R. Events
CORE 3: Launch Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 55% B-to-C, 45% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Bacardi, Facebook, Google, Hulu, Netflix
WEB: weremagnetic.com
RFP CONTACT: Jessica Reznick, firstname.lastname@example.com
A little bit about Magnetic, for those of you who don't know us
We're a team of thinkers, believers, and doers brought together
by a love for storytelling through experiences that feel warm,
engaging, and inspiring, while remaining slightly unpredictable.
These moments feel magical and effortless to our clients and
their consumers — which is intended by design — but we all know
that a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to pull a rabbit out
of a hat, if you will.
What makes Magnetic so special is our talent and expertise,
which enable all this work to happen under one roof. Our inhouse
staff consists of strategy, creative, production, technical
production, detail drawings, architecture, 3D modeling, graphic
design and more. In a nutshell, we are a hybrid of strategic
thinking, client services, and a seasoned production shop: a
trio that enables us to handle the creation of experiences from
concept and design through execution, making us the perfect
partner for the experiential and live event landscape.
Our expertise also allows us to ensure the quality of our
partners and build out, to competitively and accurately price
our activations, and to produce premium designs — but more
importantly, unique designs that inspire content creation, social
sharing and buzz from the onset.
Experiential has evolved over the years. So we've evolved with it.
We've been in business for five years, but our company's
founders had decades of experience between them before
opening Magnetic's doors. They were doing the first nontraditional,
non-media format kind of experiential 10 years ago.
Five years later, they launched Magnetic to give consumers what
they wanted — experiences and marketing that follows suit.
In the beginning, experiential was a word that was synonymous
with promotions and nightlife events. The explosion of
technology soon changed everything. It created a more
interconnected world and spurred a culture that was looking for
constant content to consume and share. At the same time, the
rise of smartphones, laptops, and smartwatches, also meant
that consumers were having more distracted interactions with
With that change, experiential became a more important format
in the marketing mix. It offered a way to create more direct and
meaningful interactions with consumers, and technology helped
to bring physical experiences to life in new ways, with a much
broader reach.
Even now, the industry continues to evolve. We've seen
experiential become more closely tied to the art landscape,
using installations and interactions as a way to "wow" and
connect brands to culture.
Magnetic has grown and evolved with the experiential industry,
to meet our clients' changing needs and provide a 360 degree
offering of services. We started with a team of eight employees
in NYC and a handful of clients. Since then, we've opened an
office in London and grown to a team of 70+ with experts in
everything from experiential design and production, to content
creation, to PR and communications, and more.
We've been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to
work with some of the most innovative and forward-thinking
brands. Making us even luckier, they've embraced some of our
craziest — and sometimes seemingly impossible — ideas. We
recently turned a 24,000 square foot space into an immersive
exhibition space for Netflix around the Emmy Award voting
season, helping to launch its biggest voting campaign to date
— think massive installations, interactive photo moments, and
fun reception spaces all inspired by the Netflix shows we love.
Oh, and one time, we literally defied gravity, collaborating with
Marriott and Grey to produce the #MGravityRoom and generate
excitement for the new Marriott room renovations.
It's been quite the journey, and we've learned so much along the
way. Where we're going next, we're not sure — but we're ready
and excited to see where the next five years take us!
Connects music with millennials through events, branded tours, content collaborations and on-site activations. Produced the 15th annual Honda Civic Tour featuring Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, launched a collaboration for Honda Powersports with Aviator Nation and handled activations at Governors Ball and other fests for Honda and Waterloo Records. With new execs Ted Mico and David Siegel more innovation is on the playlist. Stay tuned.
CORE 1: Branded Collaborations & Experiences
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: B-to-B Meetings/Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 11% B-to-C, 89% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: American Honda Motor Co., Aviator Nation, Central Texas Dealer Advertising Assoc., Honda Financial Services, Maritz
WEB: marketingfactory.com
RFP CONTACT: Ted Mico, firstname.lastname@example.com
Access to consumer data and retail connectivity from parent CROSSMARK and sister company PromoWorks gives campaigns a head start. An example: transforming Copa Univision's annual soccer tournament into a top-tier event, delivering more than 34,000 registrations, 250,000 attendees and increased recognition among Hispanic-Americans. Recently launched a Marketing Werks Experiential Content service and a proprietary Advocacy Quotient to measure consumer advocacy is in the "werks."
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Sampling
FOCUS SPLIT: 100% B-to-C
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Frontier Communications, Hershey, LMO Advertising/The Air National Guard, Univision Deportes, U.S. Cellular
WEB: marketingwerks.com
RFP CONTACT: Cari Deville-Wilber, firstname.lastname@example.com
From mobile and retail to influencers and pop-ups, from design and build to execution and field operations… like an onion, you really have to peel back the layers to realize that Match is ready to get lit for your brand. One of the biggest experiential marketing agencies nobody knows is now one of the biggest experiential marketing agencies focused on bringing to life the OMG-so-totally-in "omnichannel" trend that replaced the now-so-totally-out "path to purchase" trend.
CORE 1: Buzz/Influencer Programs
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Automotive Launches and Personal Drive Experiences
FOCUS SPLIT: 95% B-to-C, 5% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: adidas, Ford, Hormel, Karma/Continental Mills, Progressive Insurance
WEB: matchmg.com
RFP CONTACT: Jason Wozny, email@example.com
A few highlights from this busy shop: Designed and activated the Jack Daniel's Lynchburg General Store pop-up in New York City; won Perrier's global business and developed the Perrier ARTXTRA art program; created TD Bank Rooted In, a community program; won the college football program for Dos Equis; and began activating Jack Daniel's House No. 7 in various cities. Also recruited a full-time Ph.D to develop Emotional Memory Design to map emotions that influence consumer behavior.
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Launch Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 85% B-to-C, 15% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Brown-Forman, Heineken USA, Mount Sinai Hospitals, Nestlé Waters N. Am., TD Bank
WEB: mirrorball.com
RFP CONTACT: Brendan McCarrick, email@example.com
Globalization is the keyword at MKTG, which has grown from six offices to 32 in less than 18 months and in 2016 acquired companies in Toronto, Paris, Madrid, Dusseldorf and Mumbai. The integration of Team Epic gives MKTG (both owned by parent Dentsu Aegis) a full offering, from sponsorship identification, consulting and negotiation through to activation, all under one roof, while new MKTG Labs provides tech solutions to take it all to the next level.
CORE 1: Nightlife/On-Premise Events
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Buzz/Influencer Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: AT&T, Diageo, IBM, NHL, Nike
WEB: mktg.com
RFP CONTACT: Bryan Duffy, email@example.com
Successfully rebranded as "The No Boundaries Experiential Marketing Agency," which highlights two new agency branches: Moderne Media, with more than 250,000 curated locations for out-of-home messaging; and Moderne Strategy, which reaches consumers across a number of marketing verticals. Campaigns to promote PepsiCo's Starbucks Frappuccino, Starbucks DoubleShot and Mountain Dew reached more than 40 festivals, achieved one million social media impressions and distributed lots of flavor.
CORE 1: Guerrilla/Street Marketing
CORE 2: Pop-Up Stores
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Amazon, Latin Works (for PepsiCo), The 88 (for Adidas), Mediavest (for Comcast), NPA (for Interscope Records)
WEB: modernecommunications.com
RFP CONTACT: Nick Stetz, email@example.com
2016 marked Momentum's third straight year of double-digit growth and its second year for winning arguably the biggest win in sports and entertainment sponsorships, following up on its Verizon win by being named global AOR for SAP. Continues to push boundaries: With Verizon, it brought the first live-streaming Oculus Rift VR experience to the Indy 500 and for American Express and Golden State Warriors fans, the first IMAX live screening of an NBA game.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Nightlife/On-Premise Events
CORE 3: Trade Show Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: American Express, Coca-Cola, SAP, U.S. Army, Verizon
WEB: momentumww.com
RFP CONTACT: Richard Black, firstname.lastname@example.com
With one of the most creative strategy and ideation benches, one of the largest field forces and one of the most marquee client rosters, Mosaic stands among the elite. Maintains leadership status in the area of using content to create experiences and experiences to create content. Continues expanding into b-to-b events with strategies that are b-to-c-flavored. Still gets the "they're the ones that did that sick Bud Light Whatever, USA campaign"—a sweet badge of honor that will take years to fade.
CORE 1: In-Store/Shopper Events
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Anheuser-Busch InBev, Best Buy, Chrysler, Coca-Cola, Oracle
WEB: mosaic.com
RFP CONTACT: Nicole Yelsey, email@example.com
With one of the event industry's highest client retention rates, some of the largest piles of experiential marketing awards and a line around the block of people begging to get hired—seriously—it's still pretty bangin' to be Motive, baby. If you lay awake at night dreaming of going bold, if you fall asleep during meetings with your current boring and uncreative agency, if you know you were meant for pure unadulterated experiential marketing greatness, we suggest you stop, drop and dial 303-302-2100. Like, right now. Ask for Rivington's dad.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: College/Campus Campaigns
CORE 2: Content Experiences
CORE 3: Guerrilla/Street Marketing
FOCUS SPLIT: 100% B-to-C
CLIENTS INCLUDE: PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch, Snap, Dickies, Edrington
WEB: thinkmotive.com
RFP CONTACT: Krista Nicholson, email@example.com
For the 2016/2017 NBA season, Mtn Dew set a clear and
ambitious goal to bolster its role as an NBA partner, charging
the game with its signature energy and bringing fans into the
fold not only as spectators, but as active participants of the
game, and lifestyle, they know and love. To do it, the brand
introduced The Courtside Project: a series of creative activations
celebrating the culture that surrounds the NBA through
collaboration and giving fans a platform for self-expression. And
they launched the project with a one-of-a-kind NBA All-Star
experience called Courtside HQ.
Courtside HQ served as the hub for all things DEW during NBA
All-Star 2017, positioned on Magazine Street in the heart of New
Orleans—a major throughway for fans heading for Smoothie
King Center to take in the on-court action. Fans visiting
Courtside HQ began their journey by stepping through an
angular neon cavern and into a space that transformed classic
NOLA architecture with an infusion of DEW and NBA style.
Inside, visitors got hands-on with several interactive co-creation
opportunities: a musical art gallery featuring mixboard-infused
paintings for live beatmaking; an apparel customization station;
and a photo studio curated by The Madbury Club, where fans
could step in front of the camera, get snapped by a professional
photographer and print a custom poster on the spot. Outside,
DEW kept the entire weekend abuzz with a hangout lounge
sampling a wide-range of the product-lineup and featuring
larger-than-life NBA2K gaming.
But all of this was just the beginning. Throughout the weekend,
Courtside HQ served as an event space that was not to be
missed. Dozens of current NBA players, legends of the game
and celebrity fans dropped by to interact with the space—and
a few players even took a hold of the DJ's AUX cord setting the
vibe for the space and giving their fans a unique look at their
personal music collections. Don C, a streetwear apparel icon,
joined a session on style and its impact on hoops culture with
L.A. Lakers guard and fashion guru Nick Young. We hosted live
viewing parties of NBA All-Star Saturday Night and Sunday's
NBA All-Star game on a massive outdoor LED screen. And if all
that weren't enough, we brought in hip hop artist Joey Bada$$
for an exclusive concert: one during which he debuted a brandnew
track, "Victory," written exclusively for The Courtside
Project. Throughout the performance, a crew captured cinematic
footage, and the space and DEW fans became the backdrop for
the track's music video.
In the end, Courtside HQ achieved the goal set out for it: putting
fans face-to-face with lifestyle creators and even making them
into creators themselves. It was one of NBA All-Star's most
talked-about experiences, with stacked press coverage and hundreds
of millions of impressions. Even more importantly, it delivered an
opportunity for fans to drive the off-court narrative of the NBA
season, and charge the game with the only brand that could take
them courtside: Mtn Dew.
Continues to expand its focus on healthcare with Ascension Health and BCBSM, producing dozens of events for seniors enrolled in the Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan. Also increasing consumer events with multiple activations for Comcast, Flagstar Bank and AAA, while business meetings remain a strong focus. A proprietary attendee tracking and event dashboard is up and running, and consumers and business folks alike love MVP's fully functioning giant smartphone for demonstrating apps.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Sales Conferences
CORE 3: B-to-B Meetings/Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 54% B-to-C, 46% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Allstate, Ascension Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Comcast, General Motors/OnStar
WEB: mvpcollaborative.com
RFP CONTACT: Karl Siegert, firstname.lastname@example.com
After all these years, nobody knows who will be hot next like your pals at EM. This is def one to watch—and gets this year's EM award for the newbie agency most destined for experiential marketing supremacy. With clients as different as Under Armour and Twitter, with activations as different as the US Open and CES and with campaigns landing in places as different as New York and Copenhagen, NA represents a new breed of creative experiential boutique that is able to ideate and scale easily. Take a look at this one. You won't be disappointed.
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Pop-Up Stores
FOCUS SPLIT: 60% B-to-C, 40% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Microsoft, SoundCloud, Tommy Hilfiger, Twitter, Under Armour
WEB: na-collective.com
RFP CONTACT: Chiara Adin, firstname.lastname@example.com
Need a large-scale program activated quickly, strategically and within budget? NCompass is your go-to, having mastered the ability to develop and launch global campaigns for major brands with world-renowned talent within weeks. And, it wins awards and surpasses goals, to boot. In 2016, it beefed up technology expertise and ROI measurement tools, all while executing a second epic blockbuster fan experience for Call of Duty and activating a 15-city drive-in tour for Adult Swim fans.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: Global Event Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 70% B-to-C, 30% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Activision, Best Buy, Citi, Microsoft, Google/YouTube
WEB: ncompassonline.com
RFP CONTACT: Matt Mayer, email@example.com
We create WOW MOMENTS that inspire connections between brands and people.
Probably best known for brand experiences at more than 2,200 college-related locations and for relationships with students and ambassadors in hundreds of markets, this "big man on campus" goes off-campus, too. It powered up last year's immersive L.L. Bean Northern Lights Holiday experience, created an interactive event at Super Bowl LI for Touch by Alyssa Milano and launched the Razer Stealth computer with a gaming and VR tour. Now also offers design and fabrication services.
CORE 1: College/Campus Campaigns
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Sampling
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: L.L. Bean, Razer, Thomas J. Paul, T-Mobile, Touch by Alyssa Milano (through G3)
WEB: newbridgemg.com
RFP CONTACT: TJ Nolan, email@example.com
Continues to do what it does best—creative strategy, execution and measurement. Want proof? A series of b-to-b seminars to launch the Novo product line by visual display product maker Vivitek, a 10-week campaign to introduce Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails to African-American women that resulted in a 100 percent lift in the L.A. market and a sampling blitz for Community Coffee at 14 events over 11 days that jazzed up thousands of South Floridians.
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Sampling
CORE 3: Ride & Drives
FOCUS SPLIT: 35% B-to-C, 65% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Anheuser-Busch, CDW, Community Coffee, Continental Tire, Jack Daniel's
WEB: nextmarketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Henry Rischitelli, firstname.lastname@example.com
Privately owned NEXT/NOW has transported people to the future, to virtual racetrack pits and to peaceful bioluminescent forests. It's projection-mapped walls, floors, tables, sculptures, buildings and vehicles put fans in the shoes of their favorite athletes. With a toolbox that's brimming with virtual and augmented reality, gesture, LED, holograms, facial tracking, multi-touch screens and more, NEXT/NOW connects people with brands in deeply immersive environments that dial up the "wow" factor.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: AR/VR/360 Video
CORE 3: Trade Show Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Intel, McDonald's, Ogilvy, Under Armour, Wunderman
WEB: nextnowagency.com
RFP CONTACT: Randy Gress, firstname.lastname@example.com
The Beverly Hills event agency now operates on the left and right, with the addition of its downtown New York City digs. Installed a new Ventures and Analytics Department focused on "crafting effective programs that collect relevant data and draw meaningful insights." Also opened up an internal public relations capability that lets clients use NVE as the p.r. lead for events and other marketing channels. Expanded the sales and business development team in 2017, too.
CORE 1: Launch Events
CORE 2: Developer Conferences/Events
CORE 3: Buzz/Influencer Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 50% B-to-C, 50% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Amazon Prime Video, LVMH, Anheuser-Busch, Twitter, Apple
WEB: experiencenve.com
RFP CONTACT: Jenny Bronstein, email@example.com
An industry giant that's hard to beat, producing more than 4,000 activation days for clients around the world in 2016 alone. Owns and operates more tennis events than anyone, handles the marquee golf event for 28-year client BMW, including the 12,000-square-foot BMW interactive experience, and 25-year global client MasterCard relies on Octagon to bring its Priceless platform to life. New clients are jumping on board, including NBA, adidas, Marriott and CVS.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Global Event Programs
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 50% B-to-C, 50% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Allstate, Bank of America, BMW North America, Mastercard, Walmart
WEB: octagon.com
RFP CONTACT: Danielle Byrd, firstname.lastname@example.com
Creates fun, authentic, "I gotta tell my friends" events that get people talking about brands and remains true to its DNA—building memorable, shareworthy experiences. True story: More than one client has expressed interest in working at OBE. Established its roots in action sports and music, and is bringing the excitement of b-to-c to its growing b-to-b roster (Hello, Kashi's "foodless" booth at Expo West). Opened new offices in 2016, and Chicago is on the way. Also growing: global reach for clients like JPMorgan Chase and a beefed-up Research & Insights practice.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Press Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Activision, Apple, JPMorgan Chase, Kellogg's, Nike
WEB: obexp.com
RFP CONTACT: Dan Hirsch, email@example.com
With expanded strategic capabilities and three new vp-level strategists, including Kim Kopetz, who rejoined the agency after five years at Intel, Opus is well poised to serve clients in the ever-changing events arena. A new global technology events database called SIMON, provides databased insights on venues, calendars, pricing, sponsorship and more. Has transformed AWS re:invent from a burgeoning tech user conference into a "blue chip" cloud computing powerhouse.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Internal Employee Events
CORE 3: Global Event Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 20% B-to-C, 80% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Alaska Air Group, Amazon Web Services, Daimler Trucks, Dell EMC, Salesforce
WEB: opusagency.com
RFP CONTACT: Kristin Waters, email@example.com
This L.A.-based shop has grown from two people in an apartment office in 2013 to more than 20, and in 2016 activated at the Super Bowl, the Grammys, White House Correspondents' Dinner, Coachella, E3, VidCon, ComiCon, CES and more. Flew 300 press to Squaw Valley to launch GoPro Hero5 and Karma products, garnering 4.5 billion impressions and scoring an Ex Award as well. Also doing more social media, p.r., influencer strategy and tech design than ever.
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: Pop-Up Stores
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: AirFrance-KLM, BuzzFeed, GoPro, IGN, Pandora
WEB: penandpublic.co
RFP CONTACT: Liam Smith, email@example.com
Executed events last year at the Daytona 500, the Super Bowl and the Indy 500 while managing Medtronic spinal surgeon training sessions and Trane Heating and Air Conditioning sales meetings year-round. Also handles the largest consistent display properties in the three largest domestic motorsport series and operates tours that travel the country in four tractor trailers to programs managed out of a single truck. Recently added virtual reality to its services.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Sampling
CORE 3: B-to-B Meetings/Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 65% B-to-C, 35% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Jack Morton (General Motors), Medtronic, NASCAR, Roche Diagnostics, Trane
WEB: pmgincorporated.com
RFP CONTACT: Bill Bissmeyer, email@example.com
The IMSA WeatherTech Paddock Club provides an upscale
climate-controlled environment for IMSA guests, teams,
and sponsors of the teams and series. The footprint space
available for the club changes throughout the season. Due to
the changing footprint, the design of the IMSA WeatherTech
Paddock Club was created with both fabric and hard walls to
make the space feel as premium as possible, but also allows for
the space to be configured into multiple environments. Within
the space, it was also critical to have separate reserved private
rooms for sponsors and to provide the two key partners, Tequila
Patron and Tully's Coffee, with space to provide beverages for
the attending guests. To accomplish that goal, we have two
custom built bars that feature the brands prominently and
give them additional branding on the hard walls to give a true
custom area within the display. The reserved private rooms
allow sponsors to have a "base" for the weekend, hold meetings,
relax, take conference calls, work, etc. Each room is equipped
with workstations, sofa, chairs, and media center with live
track feed on their own TV along with its own air conditioning
unit. The IMSA WeatherTech Paddock Club provides regionally
specific planned meals, snacks, and beverages. The meals are
prepared by on-site cooking staff in a 26'x8' mobile kitchen.
In 2015, PMG was asked by the client to do an audit of the IMSA
WeatherTech Paddock Club activation. Through the audit, we
identified multiple areas where the display could be improved
and developed an action plan that could be implemented prior
to the launch of the activation in 2016 as well as staying within
the client's budget. Through multiple meetings, we were able to
add the business to our portfolio as the client decided to switch
providers to PMG.
After the final race of the year in October, a team of our drivers
went and retrieved the assets to bring back to our warehouse.
Once the assets arrived, our team set-up the entire display in
our warehouse so we could go through and repair and/or replace
any items that had been damaged or needed new branding as
the series changed the title sponsorship that year as well.
Over the course of the winter, we were able to upgrade and
improve the display so it was ready for the launch at Sebring
International Raceway in early March 2016.
Over the last two years, we have exceeded expectations and
delivered a premium environment serving high-end regional
cuisine to over 4,000 guests. Through this partnership not
only have we retained the business, we have worked with IMSA
to increase the participation in the IMSA Paddock Club year
over year. As PMG and IMSA are moving toward our third year
together, we are currently looking into how we can update the
environment to make it even more premium and inviting as
the interest in participating in the environment continues to
Recent acquisition by Condé Nast connects Pop2Life to the latest trends and tastemakers, with access to the editors and audiences of Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, Wired and more—a boon when it comes to developing ideas and killer creative. Among the offerings: crafting custom music partnerships between artists and brands that go beyond just writing a check, and managing personalized guest experiences that "pop" to life through sister company Ribyt, also acquired by the publishing giant.
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: DreamWorks Animation, iHeartMedia, Macerich Malls, Scripps Network Interactive, Viacom (Comedy Central)
WEB: pop2life.com
RFP CONTACT: Michele Wiltshire, firstname.lastname@example.com
Known for speed and the ability to deliver more with less, Propac is one of the few agencies with its own on-site warehouse and distribution center. Its Content On Demand service creates product images, names and copy to educate shoppers and drive conversion. Recent work: a Doritos Loaded sampling tour that drove awareness and buzz in five markets and 27 retail stores. With photo booths, samples, a "bad breathalyzer" test and artist meet and greets, fans loved Funyuns at Voodoo.
CORE 1: In-Store/Shopper Events
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Sales Conferences
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Frito-Lay, Interstate Batteries, Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, Ruby Tuesday
WEB: propac.agency
RFP CONTACT: Chase Daigle, email@example.com
What was once one of the hottest up-and-coming b-to-b agencies has become cemented as one of the best b-to-b agencies on the It List. The lean roster of a few dozen provides one of the industry's best rate cards. The creative team quarterbacked by cofounder Chuck "Chucky Baby" Santoro is always ahead of the curve with new ideas anchored by brand stories and narrative. And client services run by Marky "The Sharky" Shearon is high-touch, hands-on and feels like family.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Sales Conferences
CORE 3: Launch Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 20% B-to-C, 80% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Credit Karma, Harley-Davidson, Heineken, Lowe's, TD Ameritrade
WEB: proscenium.com
RFP CONTACT: Connor Chadwick, email@example.com
With a portfolio of over 100 brands, and with distribution in
192 countries, HEINEKEN is one of the most successful family
businesses in history.
In 2016 its US Operating Company, HEINEKEN USA decided
to have two national meetings for their beer distributors in
one year. So, we took to the Jacobs Music Center in San Diego
in March, and the Oriental Theatre in Chicago in October, and
brought the HEINEKEN brands to mouth-watering life with two
events that complimented each other without being repetitive.
Our set featured a multi-dimensional video wall which was
comprised of 3.4 Mil LED screens with an eye-popping resolution
that made everything down to the condensation on the bottles
look dimensional and realistic. We showed rocket ships taking
off, soccer balls flying around, and waterfall pools you could
practically bathe in. These weren't executive PowerPoints,
they were works of art. And they blew the audience away. The
set even featured a flying wall and automated band cart to get
scenery and people on and offstage smoothly and quickly.
For the opening sequence in California, we partnered with a
multi-media performance group to create a rocking ode to San
Diego that showcased HEINEKEN USA's presence there. On
the second day, we brought the performers back to personify
the points made in HEINEKEN USA'S new sales material. What
could have easily been a PPT snooze-fest turned into a character
driven performance that made the ideas in HEINEKEN USA's
presentation literally come to life.
In Chicago, to celebrate both that city and the historic theatre
we were in, we created a custom opening based on ALL THAT
JAZZ from the musical CHICAGO. We utilized
orchestrations and choreography that were evocative of the
original Broadway production. At a certain point in the number,
however, a DJ joined the live band; and the choreography,
costumes, and attitude changed from traditional to Hip-Hop
as the dancers and singers created a uniquely HEINEKEN USA
interpretation of a classic that thrilled the audience.
Beyond sales, however, this meeting was all about marketing.
So to help the CMO make his point that "HEINEKEN is
everywhere" and to make good on his promise of "the magic of
HEINEKEN" we brought in a magician to actually make the CMO
appear, disappear, and pop up in unexpected places (including in
the balcony, and "in" a video screen). In Chicago, he performed a
HEINEKEN-centric parody of Jimmy Fallon's Slow Jam The News
that brought the house down.
The brand managers had plenty of tricks up their sleeves as well,
from the Dos Equis executive who entered in a space suit amidst
flashing lights, clouds of smoke, and rocket liftoff graphics;
to the throned entrance down the aisles of boxer and Tecate
spokesperson Canelo Alvarez; to the mock Google Hangout held
between Neil Patrick Harris, Benicio Del Toro, and the Heineken®
brand manager.
The accolades we received from attendees and executives alike
were off the charts, and we are extremely proud of our ongoing
relationship with this client whose product we serve regularly at
our own in-office Arch Bar. Cheers!
A full-service experiential agency within Publicis Groupe, the agency formerly called PBJS, creates engagements as diverse as its clients. Its Elevate Summit for Uber brought together influencers in transportation and aviation to discuss the future of eVTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing). Also has its feet on the ground, executing activations that targeted NYC marathoners with Walmart's new luxury-inspired bedding line, and Citibank, which actually got 30,000 outdoor-loving New Yorkers to rock climb and canoe in their Central Park "backyard."
CORE 1: Sales Conferences
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 50% B-to-C, 50% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Citibank, Microsoft, Samsung, Uber, Walmart
WEB: publicisxp.com
RFP CONTACT: Lindsay Rowe, firstname.lastname@example.com
Recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies on the INC 500/5000 list seven times in the past eight years, its specialty is fitting brands into new sports and lifestyle landscapes. Created the largest spectator event ever at Navy Pier for the LV America's Cup World Series Chicago; handled a 22-stop, 12-week PAW Patrol Tour for Spin Master; and a "glamping" experience for Goose Island took camping to a whole new level—beer included.
CORE 1: Sports Marketing
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Continental Tire, Goose Island, Louis Vuitton, Northwestern Mutual, Spin Master
WEB: revolutionworld.com
RFP CONTACT: Larry Mann, email@example.com
Specializing in media and entertainment, tech and CPG, Rubik handles pop-ups and sponsorship activations at SXSW, CES and Wanderlust, plus mobile tours and film screenings/premieres. With specialists in VR and AR, it's also on top of tech trends, and a new cmo boosts client strategy. Brought Westeros to life in a multi-market promo for "Game of Thrones," but the coolest thing ever—installing Japanese electronic toilets in a luxury bathroom for Why Him fans at SXSW. Hey, why not?
CORE 1: Mobile Tours
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: P.R. Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: 20th Century Fox, ABC, HBO, Indiegogo, Unilever
WEB: rubikmarketing.com
RFP CONTACT: Diane Nicoletti, email@example.com
Is rooted in luxury wine and spirits, but has developed a wider portfolio of client brands and industries. A new Insights department focuses on consumer data, cultural trends and hidden truths; tactics include mobile device IDs and geo-fencing technology that delivers in-app notifications and web-based ad units to hyper-targeted audiences. Its Release The Kraken sampling program offered consumers a taste of the brand and reinforced the rum as the life of the party.
CORE 1: Nightlife/On-Premise Events
CORE 2: Buzz/Influencer Programs
CORE 3: Sponsorship Activation
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Citi, Barilla, NBC Universal, Proximo Spirits, Rémy Cointreau USA
WEB: sohoexp.com
RFP CONTACT: Brian Couch, firstname.lastname@example.com
The fabrication and production roots. The global footprint. The expanding strategy team. The growing digital and technology department. A legit measurement and data unit. And a creative team now boasting more than 50 bodies. "I swear to you, no agency gives us ideas like Sparks does," said one client. Is beefing up its continued dominance of b-to-b tech events while quickly expanding into new categories spanning beverage, QSR, kids/family and more. Keep it up, people.
For more perspective, click here.
CORE 1: Developer Conferences/Events
CORE 2: Trade Show Programs
CORE 3: B-to-B Meetings/Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 30% B-to-C, 70% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Anheuser-Busch, Google, LEGO, Peleton, Waze
WEB: wearesparks.com
RFP CONTACT: Kristy Elisano, firstname.lastname@example.com
Wonder Woman: Made with Code
Inspired by the release of the movie Wonder Woman, Google's
Made with Code—launched in 2014 to inspire millions of
teen girls to try coding, and see it as a means to pursue their
dreams—teamed with Warner Bros. Pictures to develop the
Wonder Woman coding project. To launch the project, Google's
Made with Code along with Google Play, brought together more
than 100 teen girls from Los Angeles for a day of empowerment,
coding and fun. Made with Code engaged Sparks to bring the
event to life.
Event Objective
Tap into the essence of Wonder Woman's superpowers
and design a memorable experience to empower teen girls to build
confidence to pursue careers in computer science, engineering
and gaming—or wherever their dreams may take them. Make it a
day they'll never forget.
Sparks balanced the event experience with just the right
combination of learning and fun.
• As the girls entered the venue they received an iconic Wonder
Woman bracelet designed and sponsored by Alex & Ani. It hit
the right note to get the day started.
• Then they made their way to the Hollywood style step and
repeat backdrop for photos and social sharing.
• Then it was time for the keynote.
• Amber Kirsch, Lead Visual Effects producer of the Wonder
Woman movie, inspired with stories about her career and
illustrated how code plays a role in movie making.
• As the event's Made with Code mentor, Amber lent expertise
as brand ambassadors led the girls through the coding project.
The goal was to code three unique scenes from the film to help
Wonder Woman navigate obstacles and reach her goal. Each
level gets increasingly more difficult. The aim was to teach
girls introductory coding principles including sequencing,
loops, conditionals, and so on—with Wonder Woman
encouraging them along the way.
• Once the coding project was complete, the girls were invited
to play the new DC Legends of Tomorrow game while snacking
on "super food" bites and Wonder Woman cupcakes.
• The girls channeled their inner superhero at the Wonder
Woman photo booth where they struck a pose with Hollywood
style props.
• To end the evening, the girls were given more Made from
Code and Wonder Woman swag as they're jetted to a nearby
theater for an exclusive advance screening of Wonder Woman
Rise of the Warrior movie complete with dinner and popcorn—
can't get any more Hollywood than that!
The Right Touches
Sparks laid the foundation for the amazing event by sourcing
the unique LA venue, SmogShoppe, which set the right tone
for the exclusive, but age-appropriate concept. The space is
perfect for creating engaging activations, learning stations
and presentation environments. Sparks incorporated brand
design elements from Google's Made with Code, Google Play
and the Wonder Woman movie throughout the experience's
The event was a smash hit! Press hits included Mashable,
Geek, Engadget, and Amy Poehler's Smart Girls. Feedback
from mentors and the girls ranged from "phenomenal" to
"awesome!" All agreed it was a super, unforgettable learning
The company that brought Bonnaroo and Outside Lands to life continues to craft experiences where brands can reach audiences with two new ventures: the recently launched Comedy Central Presents Colossal Clusterfest in San Francisco, and Lost Lake Festival in Phoenix. Also draped a music festival-style experience over Google I/O with a color, light and style that transformed the developers conference, and created a Super Bowl-style Intel Extreme Masters gaming event for 173,000 attendees.
CORE 1: Buzz/Influencer Programs
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Global Event Programs
FOCUS SPLIT: 80% B-to-C, 20% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Bose, Citi, Disney, Intel, Viacom
WEB: superf.ly
RFP CONTACT: Rich Goodstone, email@example.com
Boasts 35 years of flipping the switch on award-winning field marketing programs, meetings and events, environments, brand marketing, and now adds expanded 3D animation graphics capabilities, drone video and VR to the mix. Recently developed okapi, a proprietary app for custom, cumulative field marketing data. NASCAR activations for Anheuser-Busch and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion's Week, with physical Instagram frames, Snapchat face-swap banners, surprise prize drawings through Twitter and Facebook content got consumers revved up.
CORE 1: Sales Conferences
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: AR/VR/360 Video
FOCUS SPLIT: 50% B-to-C, 50% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: 5-Hour Energy, Ascension Health, Bosch, Hershey, Primerica
WEB: switch.us
RFP CONTACT: Chris Jobst, firstname.lastname@example.com
Whether it's the World's Largest Piñata for M&Ms or the first logo visible from space for KFC, Synergy stands up to the biggest marketing challenges. Has added festival production to its chops, leading planning and execution of the Asbury Park Music in Film Festival and managing content programming and events across 10 venues. Also handled the Reebok Road Trip to the Fittest Tour over 42 days at 30 events across 10,000 miles.
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 75% B-to-C, 25% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Hackensack Meridian Health, Johnson & Johnson, Reebok, Taylor Strategy, Weber Shandwick
WEB: synergyevents.com
RFP CONTACT: Bill Holtz, firstname.lastname@example.com
Founded in 1994 and re-branded in 2015 as T1, this agency means to put Thinking First. Has expanded services to include production, including video, to do new work for clients like AIR MILES and Dairy Farmers of Canada. Also has a new strategy team in place. Hot off the presses—a novel by ceo Mark Harrison focused on what sponsors want, and interim results for its 11th annual Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: Sampling
FOCUS SPLIT: 95% B-to-C, 5% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Dairy Farmers of Canada, Loyalty One, Nissan Canada, Ontario Lottery and Gaming, The Argos
WEB: thet1agency.com
RFP CONTACT: Nicole Stanhope, firstname.lastname@example.com
Part of the MDC Network, Team has been in the business for nearly three decades. This integrated, one-stop shop, helped ACE Bakery launch in the U.S. with cool, customized trike and electric vehicle assets that it designed and produced, and got a taste for helping brands develop new product strategy as well as retooling strategy for existing brands. Landed new clients in telecom and healthcare and produced one of the most successful events in its history—Bacardi's Tales of the Cocktail.
CORE 1: Buzz/Influencer Programs
CORE 2: Nightlife/On-Premise Events
CORE 3: Sampling
FOCUS SPLIT: 100% B-to-C
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Bacardi, Lavazza, MillerCoors, Sprint, Volkswagen
WEB: teamenterprises.com
RFP CONTACT: Kristen Herlihy, email@example.com
These 700 instigators who aren't afraid to get "uncomfortable" hit the ground running in 2016—launching an ear-tuning campaign for Trulia with MC Hammer, helping concert enthusiasts with a relaxing break at Bonnaroo for State Farm, officially launching the largest college sports sponsorship activation program at 100 college campuses for Nissan and slamming dunks with the NBA for the "Most Dunktastic Time of the Year" and "Chinese New Year Secret Envelope." With new hires and growth acquisitions, it's still running strong.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Sampling
CORE 3: College/Campus Campaigns
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: AT&T, Bacardi, Hilton, Nissan, State Farm
WEB: themarketingarm.com
RFP CONTACT: Maddy Bell, firstname.lastname@example.com
Continues to conquer the world, producing events in Spain, Vietnam, Hungary and Taiwan for Microsoft. Also increased its presence at festivals, returning to SXSW, operating at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival on behalf of Nutrish and activating around Coachella with Golin and Mountain Dew. Is building on strong relationships in technology and health, increasing business with Constant Contact, MobileIron and Northwell Health, and expanding cutting-edge technologies like AR, VR and more.
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 3: Mobile Tours
FOCUS SPLIT: 50% B-to-C, 50% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Constant Contact, Meredith, Northwell Health, Sapient Razorfish, Viacom
WEB: michael-alan.com
RFP CONTACT: Erin Mills, firstname.lastname@example.com
For 86 years, Taylor has delivered award-winning programs, like its recent execution for Intel at CES. The 2016 auto show season was a banner one as Taylor took 11 clients to seven cities over six months with immersive experiences. Its "Wish it Forward" campaign for the Bank of Montreal Bicentennial gathered almost 12,000 wishes in the first three months. This year, it will build the interactive gallery at the Canadian Science and Technology Museum, one of the most prestigious in the world, and its design studio in the heart of Toronto is pretty impressive, too.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Trade Show Programs
CORE 3: Developer Conferences/Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 30% B-to-C, 70% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Celgene, Genentech, Intel, Lexus, LG
WEB: taylorinc.com
RFP CONTACT: Matt Grant, firstname.lastname@example.com
Its 24,000-square-foot White Walls fabrication group sets TVG apart, along with increased investments in marketing, digital and content focus to bring influencer activation, content production and social/digital programs in-house. Created for YouTube a massive fabrication at VidCon 2016 and the convention's largest executive/influencer lounge, as well as an after-party for the brand's most successful stars and content creators. Also produced the 16-market launch of Microsoft's Windows 10. And now offers commercial design, to boot.
CORE 1: Launch Events
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: P.R. Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 60% B-to-C, 40% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: CBSi, Google, Netflix, Playboy, Vevo
WEB: visionarygroupla.com
RFP CONTACT: Gabrielle Kessler, firstname.lastname@example.com
Thinks big and executes even bigger, from the stage of a global conference to an annual shareholder meeting to a morning fundraising breakfast to protect the environment. Continues to focus on large- and small-scale exhibitions, events and video production, just doing it better than ever before. Work with the 100,000 Opportunities Coalition helps Starbucks and other organizations provide training and opportunity for disadvantaged youth. Also works with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
CORE 1: B-to-B Meetings/Events
CORE 2: Internal Employee Events
CORE 3: Press Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 90% B-to-C, 10% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft, Moët Hennessy USA, Starbucks, Ubisoft
WEB: touchworldwide.com
RFP CONTACT: Mike Quinlan, firstname.lastname@example.com
One of the original music marketing agencies (founded in 1986), Track has gone from matching artists with brands to socializing offline event activations, going all out in London with a program for Twitter @Wimbledon and producing a three-city tour with chef Michael Symon. Also ran onto the field for the Pepsi Super Bowl halftime show, managing Pepsi's sweepstakes winner activation. Experience design combined with design and fabrication has now become part of Track's core services toolbox.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Music Concert Production
CORE 3: Guerrilla/Street Marketing
FOCUS SPLIT: 95% B-to-C, 5% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Lipton, New Balance, PepsiCo, TuneIn, Twitter
WEB: trackmarketing.net
RFP CONTACT: Alex Frias, firstname.lastname@example.com
With Edelman as its parent, entertainment, sports and lifestyle agency UEG has p.r. at its core, along with specialties in talent and influencer, content, rights and partnerships, communications and brand experience. Expanded the brand experience team to better support clients, opened a London-based office and boosted its in-house creative and strategy practice. With new f(IQ) proprietary tech, it's set to research, identify, target and analyze audiences and influencers that shape pop culture globally.
CORE 1: P.R. Events
CORE 2: Launch Events
CORE 3: In-Store/Shopper Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 100% B-to-C
CLIENTS INCLUDE: The Home Depot, KFC, The North Face, Unilever, Shire
WEB: uegworldwide.com
RFP CONTACT: Angela Filippone, email@example.com
Coming off a strong 2016, with more than 57 projects in 12 markets and more than 747,000 engagements, Wasserman is poised for continued growth. Its focus on aligning strategy and creative played out in the Microsoft Creator's Lab at Super Bowl LI and the Samsung Experience at the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup. And we loved the Road to Rio Tour for the USOC with samba dancers, Olympic history and Sugarloaf Mountain replica.
CORE 1: Sponsorship Activation
CORE 2: Mobile Tours
CORE 3: Launch Events
FOCUS SPLIT: 95% B-to-C, 5% B-to-B
CLIENTS INCLUDE: Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bacardi Group, NBA, Samsung, US Olympic Committee
WEB: wassermanexperience.com
RFP CONTACT: Fred Porro, email@example.com