Long Island Marketing Briefs: July 4, 2003

Long Island Business News, Jul 4, 2003 by Claude Solnik

Facing declining ad revenues in its electronics publications, CMP Media has merged the staffs of its two flagship electronics industry weekly magazines, EE Times and EBN.

The Manhasset-based firm said the staffs which had worked independently had been pooled. CMP said there had been a small number of lay-offs.

"The two editorial organizations, which had worked completely independently, will now work jointly," said Richard Wallace, vice president and editorial director for CMP's electronics group.

He said declining ad revenues at the two publications, along with changes in the electronics industry, prompted the move.

"The trends in electronics manufacturing today are that sourcing, purchasing, supply chain information, and product design are increasingly interrelated," Wallace said. "It makes sense form an editorial perspective."

EE Times, targeting electronics design engineers, has a 150,000 circulation, while EBN, for electronics purchasing and business managers, has a 52,000 circulation.

Wood splinters off, returns to own show

After leading Melville-based Austin & Williams' public relations operations for nine months, Ron Wood has gone back to run his own firm, Ron Wood Public Relations, and signed his first client, the

Sharon Cohen, who had worked in PR at Austin & Williams, is working with Wood as communications director. Wood said the firm also works with a half dozen freelancers.

"Running my own business is very different than being part of the corporate climate of someone else's firm," said Wood, who added he runs the operation out of a home office in Islandia and a cell phone. "There's no red tape."

While a small firm doesn't have the depth of resources of the bigger companies, Wood said "via strategic alliances," his firm can provide a wide range of additional services, such as advertising, marketing, sales training and Web design.

Wood is no stranger to running his own show. He's run his own PR firm for about 15 of the past 20 years with a few intervals at local firms.

"I love what I do," he said, "and my children are grown, giving me plenty of time to work."

The firm handles PR for Hauppauge-based ExecuTrain of Long Island, an information technology training and computer consulting company.

Wood said that the lower overhead of a home office also comes in handy as the firm ramps up.

"I enjoy working in my home office," said Wood. "Overlooking the bay, it's a peaceful place to work and there's no commute to the office."

In addition to running his firm, Wood also teaches television performance & talk show hosting and broadcast journalism at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting.

GrooveCar rides onto ESPN airwaves

GrooveCar Inc. is launching an ad blitz on ESPN radio, 1050-AM, promoting a loan promotion it's doing with more than a dozen credit unions.

The two ads were created in-house by GrooveCar, the Melville- based firm that runs a system allowing credit union members on Long Island to close on auto purchases at nearly 100 Long Island dealerships.

The ads, running July 18 to 27, promote an offer during that time period by roughly a dozen credit unions to shave off as much as half a percent from their usual loan rates and allow six months before payments begin.

The ads, for the loan "sale" being offered from credit unions ranging from Bethpage Federal Credit Union to Winthrop-University Federal Credit Union, also encourage people to go to GrooveCar.com to browse cars.

In addition, mailings are going out to at least 600,000 credit union members, announcing the loan sale. As part of the deal with ESPN radio, the station's logo is going out on the mailers, GrooveCar said.

One ad touts the GrooveCar/credit union partnership as "a clear choice when it comes to auto financing." The ad goes on to describe "special pricing and low credit union financing right at the dealership" and suggests consumers check out Groovecar.com

A second ad advises consumers, "Do not buy or sell your next vehicle" without going onto Groovecar.com.

GrooveCar recently launched GrooveCar Pre-Owned with more than 80 long Island dealerships' used inventory online, and GrooveCar Classified, where consumers place pictures and details about cars for sale online.

GrooveCar also signed an alliance with Enterprise Rent-a-Car allowing it to post former rental vehicles for sale.

Apple & Eve targets talent

Apple & Eve, as part of its sponsorship of the Newport Folk Festival, is sponsoring a talent show for folk singer and songwriters.

In the Apple & Eve Newport Folk Musical Folk Music Talent Search, amateurs will vie for the chance to perform on the main stage at the festival, Aug. 15-17.

Performers at the festival include Lyle Lovett, Ani DiFranco, John Hiatt and Aimee Mann.

Last year, the first time Apple & Eve was a sponsor, the event attracted about 20,000 people.