Madison+Main Weekly Report 8/1/14: Turn The Page

Hey folks,

Even though it’s only the first day of August, it seems marketers are ready to turn the page on summer. I don’t mind “back to school” sales or “end of summer” events, but when Costco starts selling Christmas decorations in July, I just have to shake my head in disbelief. Listen to me, folks. There is no need to get depressed. Summer isn’t over until September 22nd, and you’ve got five weeks before the kids go back to school. However, this summer’s group of interns has started to disband. But they left us with a video masterpiece.

Monday, July 28th: On Monday morning, the interns unveiled “Bold-y,” this semester’s hilarious video project. Without further adieu, I present Lizzy “Shrimp Toast” Samardge,Riley “Bro’Shea” O’SheaSam “The Sweetest Kid” Edwards and Kaity “Sea Bass” Byrum.

Bold Brands Win, Baby.
Bold Brands Win, Baby.

…to read the full article, follow this link.

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Madison+Main Weekly Report 7/25/14: New Places, New Faces

Hey folks,

I’m back to writing the M+M Report this week, even though many of you wrote me while I was on vacation and told me how much you enjoyed last week’s report written by the Main-iacs. Yes, it was all very tongue in cheek, but I need to set the record straight: we did not paint the building pink, nor did zombies attack us, and Account Manager Sammy Yatco doesn’t play basketball for VCU.

I am sad to report, however, that Sammy’s boyfriend Andrew got a job in Ohio and Sammy was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third round of the recent NBA draft. Best of luck to Sammy in her new career: pro basketball. The good news is we welcomed some new faces at Madison+Main this week, plus I got to see some new places last week on my trip to Ireland and the Isle of Man (see a quick video from my trip here).

Aha, I found my theme for the week: New Places and New Faces…

Monday, July 21st: My Monday started very early. I arrived at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport at 12:30am (via Newark via Belfast via Douglas on the Isle of Man.) It took me 25 hours to get home, but I was back in the office at 8:00am and barely functioning on 4 ½ hours of sleep. Most normal people would have taken the day off, but I wanted to personally welcome Casey Severinghaus and Jessica Black to the Madison+Main family (yep, we had two new Madison+Main-iacs start this week and I’ll be introducing them to you more formally next week).

…to read the full article, follow this link.

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Madison+Main Weekly Report 7/11/14: In a Land Far, Far Away

Hey folks,

Once upon a time, the hardworking people at Madison+Main got to take a vacation. They traveled near and far, they traveled through exotic locales. Molly left for Costa Rica with her home-again hero LeeColleen is visiting New York City and I spent an afternoon in Hopewell.

Just kidding.

I’m flying out Saturday to meet up with Sue and the kids on the Isle of Man (Sue is from this tiny island in the middle of the North Irish Sea, and unfortunately it’s a 25 hour journey from everywhere on earth.) Woo-hoo, I get to spend my vacation with my In-laws…it’s a good thing my In-laws are VERY cool. On Saturday I fly from Williamsburg to Newark, from Newark to Belfast, hop on a ferry from Belfast to Douglas, then take a 45-minute cab ride to Sue’s hometown of Ramsey.

Despite vacations and summer travels, the Madison+Main-iacs got a ton of work done this week.

…to read the full article, follow this link.

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Madison+Main Weekly Report 6/27/14: Priorities

Hey folks,

It was a busy week at Madison+Main, and for once I felt like my priorities were in order (this week’s theme of “Priorities” is brought to you by my friend Greg McQuade of Channel 6. Greg is one of the most positive people I know and inspires people constantly.) Keeping a good work-life balance is important, and I preach this to friends, family and colleagues. This week, I took some of my own advice.

Last Saturday I worked half a day. I hate working Saturdays. I never ask my team to work on weekends. I made up for it on Sunday with my parents in town and a family reunion (I find it ironic that my family would schedule a reunion on the longest day of the year.)

So this week, we tried to put a little more “life” in the “work-life balance.” And with Richmond coming in as the #5 Least Stressed Out City in America, it’s nice to see that much of the city has the same idea.

Monday, June 23:  On Monday I showed up on time at the office instead of an hour early and VP of Brand Strategy Kara Forbis got an extra half hour of family time each day this week by taking her daughter to soccer camp.

At the Monday Morning Meeting we welcomed Bentley Logue and Liza McGraw from St. Catherine‘s who decided to spend a week with us. I can imagine how the “How Did I Spend My Summer Vacation” assignment started… “We had to spend a week with a bunch of really weird people in downtown Richmond. It was like an ad agency or something, I don’t know.”

We had a very productive meeting with the leadership team at Commonwealth Autism Services on Monday, where we presented our brand and marketing report and showed them our designs for their new brand. They liked three out of four designs, which means we’re batting .750 for the month of June. #allstarnumbers

Geoff Glisson got in the spirit of the work-life balance discussion and left the office early Monday to cheer on his wife’s favorite team, Brazil. The rest of us closed down the office an hour early and popped in to the brand new studios of Overcoast Media for a quick tour and a slow cocktail.

Tuesday, June 24: On Tuesday we invited Steven Robertson of Blanchard’s Coffee to the office to meet with A #1 Client, Lauryn Adams from Village Bank, and we put together the framework for a new cross marketing plan for these two awesome local brands.

On Tuesday night, the advertising, marketing and PR worlds collided at SummerFest at theVirginia War Memorial. The Richmond Ad ClubAmerican Marketing Association(Richmond Chapter) and the local Public Relations Society of America chapter held a joint social event, and since we’re members of all three, the entire team of Madison+Main-iacs attended. It was a fun event, but in hindsight I should have dropped by Foxcroft to cheer onHattie and Jack and the rest of the Bayhill Point Torpedoes. (When in doubt, go support your kids.)  🙂

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Lindsey Durfee pals around with friends at SummerFest

Wednesday, June 25: On Wednesday I took a break from the hustle and bustle at Madison+Main to drop by Lucy Corr Village to perform some duties for the Lucy Corr Foundation. We hosted representatives from the Community Foundation and gave them a tour of the free dental clinic created at LCV. Fingers crossed, I think they’re making a generous donation to help keep the clinic up and running and helping folks in Central Virginia.

Three mysterious business people dropped by the office Wednesday afternoon and we worked on our top-secret project that I mentioned last week. They begged me not to “spill the beans” in the Weekly Report. All I can say is BIG news is coming and it’s going to be delicious.

On Wednesday night Sue and the kids and I did something totally out of character, but completely wonderful. We stayed in, turned off our phones and cooked burgers on the grill. It was the best night of the summer so far.

Thursday, June 26: On Thursday morning I dropped by one of my favorite places, Can-Can Brasserie, to have a cup of coffee with Susan Craven Johnson, owner of WKH Solutions. Susan and I had a very productive meeting and we look forward to sending some business back and forth between our two companies. On another note, I’ve always loved the coffee at Can Can, and this week I learned why. It’s Blanchard’s.

Yesterday afternoon, we launched the world premiere of Sky Zone Richmond’s new online video spot, “Best. Birthday. Ever.” The video was brilliantly shot by Hal Dowdy and Noah Pearcy from Broadscope Media and features a ton of kids from my neighborhood, including “the star,” Darius Reed, the precocious 10-year-old son of friend and copywriter Michelle Reed. Check out the video below, and if it doesn’t make you smile, I’ll give you a full refund.

 

Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 1.45.14 PM

Best. Birthday. Ever.

Last night, Lorenzo Hall of WTVR CBS6 dropped by to interview me about the CDC’s provocative TV campaign. If you missed the story at 11pm, click here to watch.

Friday, June 27: I decided to take my own advice this morning and drive to Williamsburg to meet the family at Great Wolf Lodge

Molly said it was okay. And Sarah promised to do all of my work, including finishing this email.

Next week’s report will probably have a picture of me busting my butt on the wave machine. But to hold you over until then, have you seen Graphic Designer Colleen Festa‘s Friday Vine jokes yet?

Screen Shot 2014-06-30 at 1.46.35 PM

 

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David Saunders
President & Chief Idea Officer
Madison+Main

 

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Madison+Main Weekly Report 6/20/14: Beating the Heat

Hey folks,

The San Antonio Spurs weren’t the only ones that were beating the Heat this week. At Madison+Main we locked ourselves in, rarely ventured outside and soaked up the deliciously abundant air conditioning provided by our friends at Howell’s Heating and Air. (Howell’s is a long-time client and provided our new HVAC system at 1st & Cary.) The weather outside? Upper 90s. The weather inside? Sunny and 70.

Monday, June 15:  I squeezed one more day out of the weekend and goofed off with my son Jack in the OBX. Monday highlights included driving on the beach in “The Beast,” catching some blues and sea mullet, flopping in the waves at Oregon Inlet and watching the US beat Ghana at Captain George’s in Kill Devil Hills. What’s more American than watching team USA at an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet? Answer: USA flag wet naps.

                      ‘Murica

Meanwhile back at the office, Lindsey Durfee informed me that “nothing really happened.”

 Tuesday, June 16: On Tuesday I paid for my long weekend by putting in a 15-hour day. 7th district Republican candidate for Congress Dave Brat made his first public appearance at the Midlothian Rotary and at the office we worked on a ton of mid-year media plans for clients like SkyZoneLucy Corr Village, and Davis & Green Electrical.

At lunch, we tried out American Tap Room at Willow Lawn and had a great meeting with theGreen Top brain trust, GM Jimmy Hyman and Marketing Director Bob Strepka. In case you’re wondering…Bob and I had the chicken and waffles. #mmmmm Green Top is one of my all-time favorite stores and I always checkout the fishing report before I go fishing. Check it out here.

On Tuesday evening, we attended Village Bank‘s company-wide meeting at the Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen, where we unveiled their new TV spot. Everyone told me they liked it and those in attendance applauded loudly, even though the IT guy played the ad three times in a row.

Wednesday, June 17: On Wednesday morning the Village Bank TV spot hit the airwaves. Let us know what you think of this “People-Powered” commercial.

Click on the image above to view our new spot for Village Bank
Village Bank always puts its customers first…and sometimes they put them in their TV ads

Wednesday morning was a blur of activity but I managed to escape for an hour and had lunch with Richmond Times-Dispatch publisher (and avid Weekly Report reader) Tom Silvestri. It’s always fun to get together with Tom and we realized it had been quite some time since our last lunch. We swapped some fun stories, but I can only share one with you. The last time Tom and I had lunch a couple years ago, we walked out of Chez Foushee, shook hands and both looked up at a Google car that was taking our picture. #streetview

On Wednesday evening we hosted our monthly Media Mixer at Casa Del Barco. It was a great time and a big turn out, considering even long-time Richmonders don’t know how to find the place. Seriously, the folks at Casa Del Barco were very hospitable, the food was amazeballs and we were all impressed by the quality and quantity of their tequilas.

Thursday, June 18: On Thursday I spent most of the day working on a top secret project. Hopefully I will have a BIG announcement next week regarding this new RVA client. We have spent a few months putting this together and believe this project will make news coast to coast.

Last night we were torn between eating hibachi or souvlaki…because Japan played Greece to a scoreless tie in the World Cup. Our compromise? Ribs, wings, and cornbread at Glory Days. FYI: There is no such thing as a boneless chicken wing. It’s called a CHICKEN NUGGET.

Boneless chicken wings at Glory Days are also known as CHICKEN NUGGETS

Friday, June 19: The building shook twice today; first between 9am and 11am as construction crews continued to tear up the corner of 1st and Cary…for the third straight month. I believe the guys are taking a lot longer to get this job done because they enjoy watching and chatting with all of the lovely ladies on our block.

Construction crews pounding the pavement in front of our building

The earth shook again at noon when Dave Brat dropped by the office. The closest I ever got to his predecessor Mr. Cantor was a letter congratulating us on being GRCC Business of the Year. My impressions of Professor Brat? I thought he was a really good guy, a smart guy, and a lot more accessible and down-to-earth than I imagined. (There are real people in politics?) I don’t venture into politics, usually. As far as business is concerned I like Democrats and Republicans, but I’m a member of the Green Party. #MoMoney

Dave and Dave

I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony…

114
David Saunders
President & Chief Idea Officer
Madison+Main
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