A note on consumer confidence and the retail market
There are many factors that go into the inner workings of our economy, none more important than Credit and Consumer Confidence.
Billions of federal bailout dollars are flooding the financial system, credit markets are loosening and many banks say they are ready to lend. However, a crucial piece of the recovery puzzle still needs to be solved: consumer confidence. According to the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index, consumer confidence is at an all-time low. Bad news seems to be everywhere and it affects buying activities greatly. From a consumer standpoint, the world is now a very small place. When CNN or Fox News reports, millions of consumers are receiving the same information; newspapers have had to cut back staff and are relying on the national newswires for content. What used to be isolated “local news” stories is now big news everywhere. We truly live in a small world. Is this a good thing? Well, that all depends. When it comes to the economy and consumer confidence, I say no. Pack mentality rules the day. That may be standard on Wall Street but now it is infecting Main Street. If you have been listening to the news lately, you would think that on every street in America foreclosures are common place. But did you know that nearly half of the homes in foreclosure are concentrated in six states? California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada have been hit by a hangover after a home-building boom in the middle of the decade, which was fueled by rising home prices and investors snatching up real estate using risky mortgages. Those four states have nearly 400,000 homes in foreclosure, or a third of the nationwide total. Roughly 3.6% of all of the loans in these states are now in foreclosure. The other two states that are ground zero for the crisis – Michigan and Ohio – have been hit by the more traditional economic woes stemming from rising job losses, particularly in the automotive sector. What this amounts to is 2.5% of the loans on a national basis in foreclosure with 40% of those loans being the risky ARM loans. In today’s small world that means that consumers in a small town in Oklahoma are affected by homes being foreclosed in Las Vegas; not because their home is in jeopardy but because it shakes confidence. “Is that going to happen here? Maybe I should hold off on that new truck or wait on remodeling the kitchen.” What if the same information was framed a different way? Instead of “worst in history” or “thousands of homes in foreclosure,” what if it was reported that “97.5% of all mortgages were in good standing?” What we hear as consumers is: “foreclosure”… or ”worst in history.” Hearing that 97.5% of all mortgages are in good standing sounds a little different, doesn’t it? I am not trying to downplay the serious nature of our economic problems, and we all know that the news organizations will not change how they report, so what can be done about it? Communication! For retailers who are charged with selling a product and for us marketers who are charged with getting the word out, concentrating on the positives of the situation is the only way. If you are a car dealer, you are still in business to do business and you have vehicles to sell and service to perform. Telling consumers this is a great time to buy is one thing; showing them and asking them for business is another. You must get specific and approach your communications from a strategic standpoint. Recently we produced a series of ads for the Metro Area Dealers Association in Oklahoma. The message: we have money to lend, we have cars to sell, now is a great time to buy. Will it completely counteract the negative news? Who knows? What we do know is that the message that loan money and great deals are available is the truth, and more importantly it is something we can control. Sitting back and getting swept up in the river of negative messages will only drown your business. Stay positive. No one likes doing business with losers. If you don’t have a plan, we can help.
Stalcup Speaks About Recent Emmy Award
While proclaiming to not covet awards, Chad Stalcup, founder and president of Skyline Media Group, had this to say about his agency’s recent Emmy Award: “This one is special, because it recognizes how we’re truly doing something unique with our partner, KWTV News9. Local news organizations across the country are more-or-less known for creating news promos that don’t stand up to the quality of their news organizations. Together with the courage and strength of News9, we feel that we’re helping them go a long way to change that standard in Oklahoma City. This Emmy Award is a testament to that.” KWTV News9 and Skyline Media Group won the Emmy for the recent “Making a Difference” campaign.
Skyline Named Innovator of the Year
On January 31, 2008, the Journal Record, an Oklahoma City business newspaper, named Skyline Media Group a recipient of one of its Innovator of the Year awards.
oThis honor came on the heels of several recent points of distinction, which collectively indicate that Skyline Media Group is a communications firm that is quite unlike any other in the region.
oIn Fall 2007, ESPN blogged that Skyline Media Group had created the “spoof of the year” with a local Fowler Automotive commercial, wherein Fowler Commercial Spokesperson Chad Stephens imitated OSU Football Coach Mike Gundy, with an “I’m a man, I’m 40” rant.
oEarlier in 2007, Skyline Media Group demonstrated unique attributes by adding a premiere in the Cannes Film Festival to the firm’s collective portfolio. Written and directed by Skyline Creative Director Brett Hart, Bone Dry made the Cannes Film Festival and is now available for rental at a Blockbuster near you. Chad Stalcup, Skyline Media Group’s president and founder was the executive producer of the film, and several Skyline editors – notably Chuck Taylor – put in long hours working on this project.
Most recently, Skyline Media Group followed up this Innovator of the Year Award with an Emmy Award for work on a “Making a Difference” campaign. The innovative thinking continues…
Remington Park – Attendance is Up and The Purses Have Never Been Better
Skyline Media Group began working with Remington Park in May, 2007. In the subsequent 18 months, Skyline has produced a prolific body of creative, promotional work, including 45+ targeted television commercials, 45+ radio commercials, and more than 750 individual print jobs – all part of a successful “It’s Your Lucky Day” campaign. How does Skyline define success with Remington Park?
a)Sales, sales, sales. Remington Park’s racing casino is doing well in both the casino and the racing side of the business. Attendance figures continue to climb. Daily attendance average now exceeds 4,000 people and for the past calendar year, Remington Park drew more than 1.4 million people – by far more than any other sporting entertainment destination in the state.
b)The improved attendance and revenue results are uplifting the quality of the horse racing. The purses have never been higher, the trainers, the jockeys, a full stable of horses…all are signs of healthy days for horsemen at Remington Park.
c)Working relationship. Skyline Media Group couldn’t ask for a better working relationship than the one we have with Remington Park. The leadership at Remington Park is truly committed to continual improvement, and they’re extremely open to fun and innovative ways to drive attendance and pique interest in their promotions.
Skyline and Express Employment Professionals team up!
“Express Yourself!” This tagline has been running through our employees’ heads like mad lately! Our national campaign is being seen by thousands across the country. We love working with Express Employment Professionals because we realize we are helping them attract people toward a better life.
“From the top down, the philosophy of doing the right thing and helping people is pervasive throughout their company,”said Skyline Account Services Team Leader, Francis Marino. “They care about people. They built their business on this principle”.
Our campaign is spreading itself across the U.S. and Canada to over 600 franchises. As one of our newest clients, we couldn’t be happier to work with them.
Skyline goes national again with football parody!
Using a long established “ripped from the headlines” style Skyline created a series of ads for Fowler Toyota based on the rant by Oklahoma State Football Coach Mike Gundy. The Gundy press conference has received national attention and the parody prepared and starring Chad Stevens has also created a stir on the national scene. ESPN has aired the spot on College Football Live and interviewed Fowler Toyota General Manager Rick Burgess live on air. The spot is also scheduled to air on the NFL network in the coming days.
Click here for parody.
Earlier this year a spot prepared for KWTV News 9 aired within the Jon Stewart show on Comedy Central.
It is especially gratifying to know that our clients are being noticed within the content of programming on a national level, when you are able to garner free exposure for your clients that is a very good thing.
PS we are for hire!
"Bone Dry" Premiers at the Cannes Film Festival
Skyline Media Group’s president and creative director recently premiered a film in Cannes, France. Bone Dry, the first feature film for Skyline president Chad Stalcup and creative director Brett Hart, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The film was one of 400 selected out of 5,000 applicants to premier in Cannes, France. Hart began his directorial debut with the film by searching for the cast and scouting locations in 2002 and just completed the finishing touches in June of this year.
According to the film’s official web site (www.bonedryfilm.com), “This is a thinking man’s action suspense film, where a character’s primal desire to live, is matched by another character’s desire to torment.” Executive producer of the film, Chad Stalcup and Hart are hoping to announce “Bone Dry” release dates for the U.S.A in the upcoming months. Articles and more information can be found on the film’s official web site www.bonedryfilm.com or www.myspace.com/bonedryfilm.
Additional Skyline Media personnel that contributed to the film include Andy Seifried, graphic assistant; Chuck Taylor, special effects; and Jonathan Stapleton, assistant editor.
“It’s good for clients to see our capabilities by finishing a feature film,” stated Hart on the topic of Skyline Media’s involvement. “We are a unique, forward-thinking agency not intimidated by the challenge of a feature film. It helped showcase our talent.”
Skyline makes the Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Skyline’s production of “The Calm During the Storm” for KWTV News 9 in OKlahoma City was featured on the June 14th version of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. The hilarious segment featured Stewart cursing the production value of the spot as better than his own show. Click here to see the clip and laugh right along with the rest of us.
Skyline off and running with Remington Park Racing and Casino
OKLAHOMA CITY (June ##, 2007) – Remington Park Racing and Casino, Oklahoma’s only horse-racing, casino and entertainment facility, has named Oklahoma-based Skyline Media Group as the advertising agency of record for its facilities nestled in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District.
“We’re excited to rejuvenate and energize our marketing and advertising efforts and proud to announce our selection of Skyline as our full-service marketing and advertising agency,” said Scott Wells, Remington’s vice president and general manager. “We look forward to working with Skyline’s creative team as we promote our racing facility and casino to Oklahomans and the nation.”
Remington Park Racing and Casino is Oklahoma’s only major league horse racing attraction featuring both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse seasons, while offering simulcast racing from coast-to-coast seven days a week. In addition to the horse racing, Remington Park is home to the only casino in Oklahoma City. The casino floor is the end result of a $35 million renovation project; offering 650 state-of-the-art electronic gaming machines, an spacious racing lookout, the Wild Rush Bar and the Remi’s Buffet restaurant.
“Remington Park is an amazing Oklahoma City attraction, and we’re ready to roll up our sleeves to grow Remington Park with our unconventional, energetic approach to advertising,” said Chad Stalcup, president of Skyline Media Group.
Skyline is launching a multi-media strategic branding campaign for the race track and casino that comprises television, radio, newspaper and magazine ads, including media placement, online branding, creative development and full television and radio production.
Skyline completes work with James Garner
We recently completed work with one of the most beloved and influencial men in Hollywood and Oklahoma. James Garner is now the spokesman for the Mile of Cars in Norman. It was really a treat to work with such an icon. It is also a testament to Chad Stalcup and Brett Hart our Director, without their experience in the film industry we would not have been able to pull off this project. Many of the crew that worked with Chad and Brett on “Bone Dry” (full length motion picture produced by Chad and directed by Brett) were used to film Mr. Garner in L.A. in February.
The biggest thanks go out to the dealers in Norman who are not afraid to take a chance and make a big splash.