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CONTACT: Kevin Meany
BFG Communications
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Promo Magazine Gives BFG Top Marks
Hilton Head Island, SC (June 4, 2009)

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, Hilton Head Island-based BFG Communications is proud to have landed solidly in the Top 10 in the 2009 Promo Magazine “100 Spotlight,” in the “Event and Experiential” category.

This is the first year that Promo has called out individual agencies in the five marketing disciplines of retail, interactive, events, promotional products and sports.

By landing in the Top 10, BFG Communications continues to solidify its well-earned position as one of the most innovative agencies in the country.

Overall, BFG continued to move up the Promo 100 list, coming in at 31 on the list of the Top 100 agencies in the United States. The Promo 100 spans the agency gamut, from the mega-conglomerates to small regional shops; all the agencies are ranked on the list according to their 2008 U.S. net revenue.

Promo calls out BFG as being an industry leader in the areas of experiential marketing, retail and integrated promotions, digital, sampling, strategic market planning, creative development and production.

The magazine also charts the energetic growth of agencies, and it shows that BFG Communications grew at a vibrant 32 percent between 2006 and 2008.

The Promo 100 is a highly anticipated annual event, and the 2009 rankings were announced during an early morning Promo webinar on June 4.

Are You Ready For a Mancation?
Hilton Head Island, SC (August 25, 2008)

Combos and BFG have joined forces to create the ultimate “mancation”—a trip for four to the big race in Daytona next February.

The grand prize winner will receive a Daytona 500 prize package, which includes a trip for four to Daytona Beach, airfare, hotel, a $1,000 Visa gift card and, most importantly, the chance to serve as honorary crew chief on race day.

The promotion is born from this insight: The vast majority of men (71 percent) wish they could spend more time on vacation with their friends, according to a recent survey. And more than a third (41 percent) said attending a live professional sporting event would qualify as an ideal mancation.

To spread the news about the Combos Nation Ultimate Mancation, Combos brand ambassadors have been traveling nationwide in a Combos Nation RV, stopping at NASCAR races and other events to encourage men to join Combos Nation and enter the sweepstakes.

The tour kicked off in May at the All Candy Expo in Chicago. Then it was literally off to the races. The Combos Nation tour has had a full lineup of NASCAR events, including stops at the Dover International Speedway and the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The tour’s final stop will be in October at the iconic NASCAR proving grounds in Alabama—the Talladega Superspeedway.

At each event, branded tent areas are transformed into living room environments with comfortable recliners, Xbox and NASCAR video games, big screen TVs broadcasting the race of the day and a supply of Combos samples.

The Combos Nation Tour and Ultimate Mancation Sweepstakes are part of a national outreach program that also includes an online experience on the Combos Nation Web site and on social networking sites. In addition to our involvement in the real world consumer engagement opportunities, BFG also created in-store signage for grocery and convenience store channels.

Camel Goes Wides
Savannah, GA (July 1, 2008)

BFG Interactive recently scored another victory for Camel by launching CamelWides.com.

Anchoring the new site is a feature story, video and photo gallery, all of which dive deeply into the world of tattoo master P.J. Ferrante, who, along with his wife Nic, owns and operates Energy Tattoo in Santa Barbara, California. Ferrante is highly regarded among tattoo artists and ink aficionados for what he calls his “classic American style” of tattoo art.

Also featured on the site is some of the tattoo-inspired artwork that has graced many of the Wides packs. Scroll through the gallery to view the works of Brooklyn tattoo artists Scott Campbell—a biochemist turned tattoo pro—and JK5, whose work re-imagines exotic iconography. Also check out the surrealist beauty that comes from the hands of Philly’s Jason Goldberg and don’t miss Portland’s Marcus Kuhn, who specializes in exotic motifs.

The site also tackles the real stories behind tattoo art. BFG hit the streets around the country to find cool tattoos and collect the various—and let’s just say interesting—tales behind each one.

It’s often remarked that once you get a tattoo, it’s hard to stop. The new Wides site will follow that mantra and continue to feature new elements, including a video series that motors down the less-traveled two-lane blacktops of the U.S.A., seeking out wonderfully bizarre and offbeat characters and locations.

Camel to the Nines
Savannah, GA (June 10, 2008)

BFG Interactive unleashed CamelNo9.com earlier this summer with a focus on fashion-forward content.

At the center of the new microsite is designer Santino Rice. BFG’s feature on the Los Angeles-based designer brings out a softer side of Santino not seen before. In a story, photo gallery and two videos, Rice shows off his studio and L.A.’s downtown fashion district, and describes the thinking that went into making his specially designed 9s pack.

On the site, age-verified smokers can “Ask Santino” questions about fashion or any other subject. For a limited time, Rice will pore over the submissions on a regular basis and select which questions to answer.

A feature on fellow 9s pack designer and fashion guru Jennifer Wannarachue is also now on the site. Other designers will be featured later this year.

In another section, the “9s Style Guide” explores fashion districts and fashion-related events on a city-by-city basis. The first features look at Minneapolis and Portland. Detroit, Austin and Philadelphia style guides will be published in the months to come.

Appetite Appeal At Retail Moves Cases And Wins Trophies
Hilton Head Island, SC (March 24, 2008)

Last Wednesday night in Chicago, BFG Communications was once again recognized by POPAI for outstanding achievement in point-of-purchase advertising.

POPAI’s annual Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) Awards contest celebrated its 50th anniversary, recognizing the most innovative and effective marketing at-retail displays and programs that lift sales and engage shoppers.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary, every entry at this year’s OMA contest became a permanent part of POPAI’s online Creative Gallery and received special historical recognition.

BFG received a Gold OMA for its Baileys in-store holiday work, shown below.

Take 12 Rocks BFG’s Socks
Hilton Head Island, SC (January 10, 2008)

An oft-heard joke in advertising is that every agency has a house band.

What’s not a joke is that BFG has way more than one band and DJ rocking out in its creative midst. In fact there are so many awesome musicians working for BFG that a compilation CD showcasing all this talent was inevitable.

It’s finally here and Take 12 rocks. Take 12 shines a bright klieg light on the hard, after-hours work of 12 bands from across the BFG nation. Take 12 pays a visit to many of the zones in the contemporary musical landscape, exploring the worlds of dance, electronica, metal and alternative rock.

The album features the hipster soaked indie-folk of Philadelphia’s The Bee Team bundled next to the sonic jack-hammer of Nashville’s Destroy Destroy Destroy. The “dance-floor approved” urban breakbeat mind assault of South Carolina’s DJB lives next to the funky garage rock of Detroit’s Mic-Rob.

The music is not the only area where BFG’s creative juices are surging and its artists are flexing their muscles. The CD’s artwork showcases 12 distinct designs from BFG’s deep roster of talented visual artists. BFG’s art directors and graphic designers were charged with designing a signature page for each band for the CD booklet and each page bears their unique creative stamp.

BFG’s Creative Team Totally Shreds
Hilton Head Island, SC (September 11, 2007)

As an expression of its employees’ passions and creativity, BFG Communications comissioned over a dozen art pieces from its Hilton Head Island headquarters staff. The collection is housed in a permanent installation on the agency’s second story.

See Flickr gallery for more

According to Associate Creative Director Leon-Surasak Luengthaviboon, participants were given a skateboard and no rules. The results are as varied as the personalities that gather at BFG each weekday.

Graphic Designer Rachel Schroeder used acrylic and ketchup to create her Asian-influenced piece “Poopy Cornut Coi.” Senior Art Director Jeff Smith took a jigsaw to his board and made an unexpected target with his “Bullz Eye” entry. Art Director Jason Statts saw his board as the perfect place for a “Found Objects” collage.

Plans for another BFG exhibition—this time with surfboards as the artists’ canvas—are underway.

Agency Ranks High On National List
Hilton Head Island, SC (May 02, 2007)

BFG Communications continues to grow at a rapid pace. Annual revenues jumped 13.9% to $17.3 million in 2006, according to Advertising Age’s 63rd annual Agency Report.

BFG currently ranks as the nation’s 32nd largest Sales Promotion agency and the nation’s 102nd largest marketing services agency (by revenue) in Ad Age’s list.

Agency President Kevin Meany says he’s never paid too much attention to size or “growth,” rather he says BFG’s focus is solving clients’ problems and doing that well leads to the kind of double-digit growth BFG is presently enjoying.

Meany says, “Having good people and open-minded clients that let us do good work,” is the secret to the agency’s continued success.

Logos Evolve Along With The Agency
Hilton Head Island, SC (March 15, 2007)

BFG Communications unveiled a new corporate indentity package today. The new identity helps tie together the three main entities—BFG Communications, BFG Fieldworks and BFG Interactive—within the larger agency structure.

Agency President Kevin Meany says, “As BFG continues to grow and evolve, we will identify exciting ways to reflect the collective strength of our areas of expertise. Among the first steps is to unify the identity of our organization.”

Scott Seymour, VP and Executive Creative Director, says, “When I think of identity, I think of personality and our new identity delivers that. We’re not a typical corporation. We do things in a unique, playful way.”

Seymour adds, “I’m excited by what each of our business do and when you look at these three logos together, you see the power of BFG’s capabilities.”

Graffiti Art Makes A Splash At BFG
Hilton Head Island, SC (February 06, 2007)

As part of a renovation and redesign of BFG’s corporate headquarters in Hilton Head, a series of graffiti art pieces were recently commissioned. To a new visitor, the graffiti is most apparent upon entering the reception area where it adorns the entire front wall. There are also several other graffiti art displays throughout the building, located in offices and in the back.

“We wanted to create an environment that celebrates creative expression and inspires our team,” says Scott Seymour, Executive Creative Director and Vice President of BFG. “Graffiti seemed like the right mix of art, attitude and spontaneity that fits in perfectly with BFG’s personality.”

Ron DeCosta, a graffiti and tattoo artist from Savannah, Georgia, was brought in to create the graffiti and make sure it reflects BFG’s persona. DeCosta says he was surprised by the type of graffiti BFG was looking for. “Usually, people like characters of girls with cute little bob haircuts…I’m used to people saying they want graffiti and, after I do it, they want prettier stuff,” he says. But in the case of BFG, “they wanted something a bit more raw, like dragons.”

Graffiti art also brings a more urban, street feel to the building, DeCosta adds. “It lets people know that you’re in touch with these things,” he says.

BFG’s art projects may not end with graffiti. Seymour says BFG also has a few art installations up its sleeves, including a series of hand-painted skate decks.

Camel Focuses On Events
Hilton Head Island, SC (October 09, 2006)

CamelSmokes.com, the official web site of Camel Cigarettes, today debuts a new Events section that features information on upcoming events, show reviews, photo galleries, streaming multimedia and desktop wallpapers available for download.

Camel’s event marketing agency, BFG Communications, is behind the launch. “Our charter is to create a lifestyle magazine online,” says David Burn, BFG’s Content Director. “Camel and BFG don’t just put on events, we support the adult smokers’ lifestyle and help create community around the brand,” Burn adds.

CamelSmokes.com is a members only site restricted to legal-age tobacco consumers.

With field offices in every major U.S. market, BFG conducts millions of 1:1 on-premise customer engagements each year for Camel. The new online project for Camel takes BFG’s relationship building expertise to the next level. With more consumer media time being spent online, plus new initiatives like online ticketing, it’s clear Camel’s offline programming requires online support.

BFG’s field offices, field marketing headquarters in Tampa, creative departments in Hilton Head and New York, account service, production and content departments in Hilton Head and BFG’s interactive division in Savannah all contributed to the launch, and will be active in keeping the site timely and relevant moving forward.

Celebrating the Indie Spirit
Hilton Head Island, SC (October 06, 2006)

BFG Communications put the wraps on its second leg of Camel Signature Events for 2006 last week. What started with Pepper on the west coast in July, commenced Saturday in Denver with The Stills opening for Kings of Leon at The Gothic on South Broadway.

Other well-known indie rock acts presented to Camel smokers this summer include Phoenix, French Kicks, Bobby Bare, Jr. and The Walkmen. Up-and-coming acts like Ballentine, The Specs, The Sammies, The Southland, The Offbeats and Reverend Peyton’s Damn Big Band found slots on the bills as openers.

Shows were held at legendary venues like The Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, The Doubledoor in Chicago, Emo’s in Austin, Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia and The Bowery Ballroom in New York City.

Looking forward, The Faint, The Bravery and Deftones will each headline a Camel Signature Events tour this fall.

BFG Establishes Interactive Division In Georgia’s First City
Hilton Head Island, SC (June 13, 2006)

The road from Hilton Head Island to downtown Savannah is still mostly two-lane, but the information superhighway is high speed all the way.

Hilton Head-based BFG Communications has joined forces with Savannah-based Velocity Works to form BFG Interactive, or BFGi, for short.

“The two firms have maintained close working relationships for the past seven years. This is the next step in both business’ evolution,” saysKevin Meany, President and CEO of BFG Communcations.

The move strengthens BFG’s creative and technical capacity, while opening the door to larger clients and future growth for the new Savannah-based team.

BFGi will operate as a wholly owned division of BFG Communications. BFGi senior management includes Kevin Thompson, President, and Bob Clagett, Vice President. Both will report to Meany.

Thompson and Clagett launched their firm after graduating from Savannah College of Art + Design. They were recently awarded a Webby for Cotton Inc.’s Team-Cotton website.

BFG Experiencing Big Time Growth
Hilton Head Island, SC (June 5, 2006)

Promo Magazine, the leading trade publication for the $233.7 billion promotion industry, ranks BFG Communications the 10th fastest growing marketing services agency in the nation in its current Promo 100 report.

The magazine uses two-year growth to determine its results. From 2003 to 2005, BFG’s net revenue increased 226.9 percent.

According to Scott Seymour, VP and Executive Creative Director, BFG’s growth is the direct result of strong client relationships. He cites referrals and additional business from existing clients as leading factors in the agency’s phenomonal acceleration.

Expanding the agency’s event marketing capabilities has resulted in the greatest impact on the bottom line, says Seymour.

Now 54 offices strong, BFG’s newest office is at 11 East 44th Street in Manhattan.

BFG Enters “The Blogosphere”
Hilton Head Island, SC (May 12, 2006)

Today a company with no blog is like a fish without a bicycle. Or some such conventional wisdom.

BFG Communications of Hilton Head Island, SC, an event marketing and promotions firm, launched a blog in March and today links to it from the agency’s homepage, bfgcom.com.

We’re getting our feet wet,” says David Burn, BFG’s Content Director. “We have more and more clients calling for conversational media solutions, so we need to be out front with our own blog.”

BFG’s bloggers will not concern themselves with the ups and downs of the ad biz, nor reflect on the agency’s day-to-day doings. Rather, the editorial direction of the blog will reflect the agency’s interest in, and knowledge of, its clients’ industries—food and beverage, nightlife, entertainment, sports, tourism, etc.

“We don’t want to navel gaze,” Burn says. “We want to take note of interesting developments that can later be worked into our overall thinking.”

Buffalo Embraces Zwack
Hilton Head Island, SC (April 15, 2006)

Residents of Buffalo, New York welcomed the introduction of Zwack, a legenday Hungarian liqueur, to their city by declaring April 3rd, “Hungary Day.”

BFG developed marketing materials for Zwack’s North American launch, in partnership with Diageo, the world’s largest spirits company.

photo courtesy of Buffalo Rising

Peter Zwack and his daughter Izabella Zwack were on hand in Buffalo to visit with bar patrons and food and beverage workers. The father and daughter team from Hungary also made it to two Buffalo radio stations, where Izabella taught the DJs how to say, “Egeszsegedre!” Most good.

Zwack Offers Buffalonians A “Most Good” Experience
Hilton Head Island, SC (April 4, 2006)

BFG Communications has been selected by Diageo North America to develop on-premise promotions and merchandising for the test launch of Zwack Liqueur. Diageo North America in partnership with Zwack/Unicum of Hungary will be test marketing Zwack in Buffalo, New York starting April 4th, 2006.

Zwack (known as Unicum in its native land) has long been the national drink of Hungary. Made from a secret Zwack-family recipe since 1790, Zwack will offer consumers an authentic Hungarian experience while introducing them to the brand’s unique personality.

Under the unmistakably-Hungarian banner, “Zwack is Most Good,” BFG’s comprehensive marketing campaign consists of one-on-one gatekeeper events, viral and guerilla tactics, themed sampling nights, animated outdoor/ mobile billboards and on-premise visibility materials to expose the market to an authentically Hungarian, unquestionably genuine experience that they will want to share with friends.

BFG Wins Pro Award
Hilton Head Island, SC (October 21, 2005)

BFG Communications took top honors at the PRO Awards, PROMO Magazine’s annual awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding promotional campaigns. The PRO Awards are regarded among the industry’s highest achievements with categories focusing on strategic promotional planning, creativity and execution across the full spectrum of promotional marketing and media.

BFG won in the category Best Campaign Generating Brand Loyalty for Captain Morgan’s ‘Captain for President’ campaign, a national guerilla marketing effort that is credited for Captain Morgan posting the highest share gain among all spirits in the U.S. and propelling Captain Morgan past Absolut to become the #3 spirits brand in the U.S.

The campaign was also honored as a finalist in three additional categories: Best Use of Promotional Advertising, Most Innovative Communication Strategy and Best Creative. Other finalists included Boeing, General Motors, Guinness, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Disney, Lowe’s and Unilever. This is the second year in a row that BFG has entered the PRO Awards and the second consecutive win.

BFG Wraps Up Packaging For T.G.I. FRiDAY’S
Hilton Head Island, SC (June 15, 2005)

Popular restaurant chain, T.G.I. FRiDAY’S, licenses and distributes an entire line of prepared cocktails through BFG Communications client, Diageo—the world’s largest spirits purveyor. The lineup of “Blenders” and “On the Rocks” ready-to-serve cocktails are available at retail locations throughout the United States.

T.G.I. FRiDAY’S is a major player in the prepared cocktail category, with 15% market share by volume, second only to Authentic Jose Cuervo Margaritas (another Diageo brand). The Mudslide, Margarita, Long Island Iced Tea, Piña Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri are but some of well-loved cocktails offered by T.G.I. FRiDAY’S.

As a means of keeping the excitement level high, T.G.I. FRiDAY’S will be introducing two new flavors this summer—Raspberry Cosmo and Berry Lemonade. BFG developed the names and designed the packaging for both prepared cocktails.

BFG also created a point-of-sale display program, including shelf talkers, case cards, case stackers and product neckers to help sell the new SKUs to the trade.

Seasonal Entertaining Guides Keep The Party Going
Hilton Head Island, SC (June 14, 2005)

Diageo, the world’s largest spirits purveyor, asked BFG Communications to help ring up more premium liquor sales in grocery stores on the west coast of the United States. BFG responded with stylish in-store entertaining guides and direct mail entertaining guides sent to half a million California households.

Brands supported in these guides include Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan, Smirnoff, Crown Royal, Red Stripe, BV, Jose Cuervo, J&B, Baileys and Tanqueray.

The guides—produced on a seasonal basis—provide fun party ideas, favorite drink and food recipes and the all-important product coupons. In certain cases, customers can save up to $50.00 on the purchase of multiple bottles.

Thus far, BFG and Diageo have teamed to create summer, fall and holiday entertaining guides for 2005. In addition, there is an Hispanic version of the summer guide, and a wine version of the holiday guide.

BFG Puts On Blue Tights For Superman Returns
Hilton Head Island, SC (May 26, 2005)

BFG Communications has been selected by Warner Bros. Consumer Products division to develop national retail promotions and merchandising for Superman Returns. The consumer products and promotions will break at retail spring of 2006, in advance of the theatrical release on June 30th.

Superman Returns is being directed Bryan Singer (X2, X-Men, The Usual Suspects). The film introduces Brandon Routh as the Superman, and features Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. Kate Bosworth plays Lois Lane. Superman Returns is not a remake—it’s a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world’s most beloved superheroes.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products division is responsible for all retail merchandising products and licensee agreements for Superman Returns. BFG will develop the promotional concepts that will be used to merchandise the film at one of America’s largest retailers. In a related effort, BFG will also help bring classic DC Comics characters like Aquaman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman and Batman to life in the retail environment.

Superman Returns marks the third such collaboration between BFG and Warner Bros. – coming on the heels of BFG’s global merchandising work for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, which breaks at retail in September 2005.

BFG Promotes Eclectic Musical Events On 17-City U.S. Tour
Hilton Head Island, SC (April 29, 2005)

BFG Communications—a prominent promotions and experiential marketing firm—is hooking up with some of the most critically acclaimed acts in music today, to deliver a 17-city concert tour taking place this April, May and June in packed venues across the country.

These semi-private VIP events at clubs like House of Blues in Orlando, Crobar in Chicago, Hush in Houston and On Broadway in San Diego, are bringing together artists that might not otherwise appear together on stage in one mind-bending night. Several of the shows open with an electronic set by the likes of Mix Master Mike of Beastie Boys fame, Beck’s DJ Swamp, DJ Christopher Lawrence and DJ Icey before segueing into live music from in-demand acts like Fischerspooner, Los Amigos Invisibles, VHS OR BETA, The Von Bondies and Black Eyes Peas.

BFG is producing and promoting this national tour to help bring the latest trends in entertainment to an audience who craves discovery, and to clients who want to associate their brands with emerging voices. “It’s really about sharing, and getting the word out via unconventional means,” says BFG Vice President and Executive Creative Director, Scott Seymour.

BFG Elevates “The Conference” With VIP Events At Mansion
Hilton Head Island, SC (March 22, 2005)

When you’re entertaining VIPs at the “Super Bowl of Electronic Music,” only a Mansion will do.

BFG Communications rolled out the red carpet this year at Winter Music Conference, hosting VIP parties every night from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am at Miami’s newest “it” club, Mansion.

With only 150 invites available at any one time, guests mingled with, and witnessed surprise performances by superstar DJs like Tall Paul, Christopher Lawrence, Judge Jules, Mark Farina and Bad Boy Bill.

Winter Music Conference, in its 20th anniversary year, is regarded as the singular networking event in the dance music industry, attracting professionals from over 60 different countries. With its high concentration of top international artists, DJs and industry professionals, WMC permeates the international press and is thereby one of the most publicized events in the business.

BFG Wins Gold Reggie At Promotion Marketing Association Awards
Hilton Head Island, SC (March 4, 2005)

BFG Communications took top honors at the Promotion Marketing Association’s annual awards ceremony in Chicago. The Reggie Awards, the promotion industry’s most prestigious award, recognizes successful campaigns that result from superior promotional thinking, creativity and execution across the full spectrum of promotion marketing. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were presented in 13 categories.

BFG’s Gold Reggie was awarded for Captain Morgan’s ‘Captain for President’ campaign, a national guerilla marketing effort that is credited for Captain Morgan posting the highest share gain among all spirits in the U.S. and propelling Captain Morgan past Absolut to become the #3 spirits brand in the U.S.

Full-coverage of the Reggie Award finalists and winners will be featured in an upcoming issue of BRANDWEEK magazine. Finalists included Pepsi, McDonalds, Miller Brewing Co., CNN, The Home Depot and 20th Century Fox.