Avant Garde Productions recently launched a brand-new website for Helm Chiropractic and Wellness Center, based in Old Town Tustin. Sporting a fresh and health-conscience look, the goals of the site are to educate their current and future patients about the benefits of chiropractic care and to spread awareness of their full array of chiropractic and other health services to the surrounding communities.

Founding chiropractor Robert Helm says "I've been a licensed chiropractor for since 1979 and I'm thrilled to be able to reach out to my patients and the community with this new web site. It will expand our geographic reach and give our patients a new and exciting resource for their health needs. That's something to feel good about!" Dr. Helm's colleague Dr. Black agrees with his perspective. He adds, "Not only do we offer the best chiropractic care, we can show people how much we offer, such as personalized programs in acupuncture, nutrition, massage and exercise. We're also known for our nutritional program and how it helps one choose healthy foods to feed the body's basic needs."

The new web site features a "Meet the Doctor" page with vital stats on all the practicing doctors. It also offers a tour of the facility, dedicated pages regarding their chiropractic, nutrition, massage, fitness and acupuncture programs, a contact form and regularly-updated new patient promotions.

Avant Garde Productions Principal Paul J. Bean commented, "The site is an excellent reflection of the positive spirit of Dr. Helm and the rest of his staff. The depth and breadth of the services and knowledge on display is remarkable for their industry. This site is a great showcase for their talents and a great marketing tool for them to use in their community and throughout Orange County. The cooperation, input and the educational content provided was also a major factor in the success of this site."

Avant Garde Productions is a full-service design and marketing firm that helps clients of all shapes and sizes maximize their ROI (return on investment) by using effective design and innovative marketing strategies. Their corporate site is located at www.StudioAGP.com.

For more information contact Paul J. Bean at Avant Garde Productions at 714.892.8969 or creative@studioagp.com.

Labels: news, press, release

AGP was recently an exhibitor and sponsor of the Marketing Association of Credit Union's (MAC) Annual Meeting and Conference. This annual event, held at the Newport Beach Marriot, is an education-rich conference that tackles leading issues for today's credit unions. We enjoyed spending time with many old and new friends and colleagues and getting to meet a new generation of credit union marketers. If you attended the conference, please drop us a line and let us know what you thought of it!

Avant Garde Productions recently launched a fully redesigned web site for the Epsilon Kappa chapter of the Alpha Chi Omega national sorority, which is based at Californa State University - Fullerton. Sporting a fresh new look aimed at the sophisticated collegiate set, the site's primary focus is for marketing to future generations of sorority sisters and educating the local community about the history, philosophy, and outreach programs of the sorority.

Alpha Chi Omega alumna and mentor Sarah Henning said "The Epsilon Kappa chapter of Alpha Chi Omega was formed in 1968, and we have since been proud participants in the Cal State Fullerton academic community. We felt it was vital to get our particular brand out to potential sisters beyond the campus and even across the state. We're always interested in recruiting new members and educating them about what an amazing experience it is to be part of the Alpha Chi sisterhood."

The new web site features extensive information on the history of the sorority, the many opportunities for philanthropy that are available through membership, the executive structure upon which the chapter is built, the ethical and professional standards of the organization, and an interactive forum for current members.

"The site is a perfect reflection of the sorority's positive spirit and the professional workplace model. The cooperation, input and educational content provided were also major factors in the success of this site," Avant Garde Productions Principal Paul J. Bean commented. "Alpha Chi will be able to use this multipurpose marketing tool to promote their identity on campus and in the local community for years to come."

Avant Garde Productions is a full-service design and marketing firm that helps clients of all shapes and sizes maximize their ROI (return on investment) by using effective design and innovative marketing strategies. Their corporate site is located at www.StudioAGP.com.

For more information contact Paul J. Bean at Avant Garde Productions at 714.892.8969 or creative@studioagp.com.

Labels: news, press, release

At Avant Garde, we want to keep tabs on what's happening in your world. In this new section of our newsletter, we'd like to take a minute of your time and ask you questions about the issues that you deal with every day. Consider this the beginning of a very informal forum in which we'll ask you questions and post the responses.

This month's question...

What bugs you most about working with creatives? Click here to send your reply.

Feel free to be as descriptive or as concise as you want. Take only as much time as you have! We look forward to your feedback! Please contact us with any questions.

Are you communicating to your target market as effectively as possible? Are you looking for a gateway to a whole new level of direct mail success? Announcing Matrix Plus^TM mailing program, new from Avant Garde Productions.

Targeted mailings are the best way to reach a specific audience. No credit company should be without a communications matrix that speaks clearly to that audience. If you need to penetrate more deeply into your target markets, our mailing program is perfect for you--regardless of your company's size.

With Matrix Plus^TM, we'll analyze your data and present you with a comprehensive communications program that will deliver your target market timely messages. We'll carefully craft direct mail letters to appeal to different demographics and arm them with compelling reasons to respond. Lastly, we'll pair the targeted messaging system to our eye-catching designs to make the direct mail pieces stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Don't sit and wonder if there's better ways of reaching your market, email us or call us today toll free at 866.731.7773 and let us help you increase your response rate.

A special editorial from AGP Principal Paul J. Bean

Flying back from Michigan amidst one of the worst cold fronts in recent memory, my thoughts revolved not around the sub-zero temperatures, but my grandfather's funeral. At 90 years of age, he lived a full and feisty life. A tall man with a John Wayne-like presence, he could be summed up in some simple terms: proud, family oriented, passionate, irascible, funny, a sportsman and an armchair detective all rolled into one. It also struck me how these were more than mere adjectives, they all pointed to a legacy of laughter, love and adventure.

During the flights I had plenty of time to reminisce, but during the layovers I found myself with plenty of time to read. Catching up on newspapers and magazines, I read all about politics, talks of a national recession looming, global angst, etc., etc.

One particular article stood out. It talked about how major financial institutions are looking to their small business clientele to "cinch their lending belts." The article conveyed that seemingly overnight, even the most generous of corporate lenders turned ultra-conservative. The backlash, of course, is a wave of small businesses going under and those in "start up" mode may be severely hindered. But who can blame these institutions? As they used to say, 'there's a depression on.'

Now, we don't have a depression. We may not even have a recession. But, if a recession does get a stranglehold on the economy, small businesses will only be the first wave of those affected. The average consumer will be next and they'll face increasingly conservative lending guidelines, among other ramifications. We will be (and have been) encouraged to spend and stimulate the economy, but really, how many big-ticket items will consumers want to finance when no one wants to lend?

The implications are scary. But, then again, I stayed awake in history class. As a nation, we've experienced "hard times" before. This isn't the first or last, so I ask:

What do you want your legacy to be?

It's actually not a tough question to answer. The bottom line is actually pretty simple: tough times don't last forever. They always pass and lead to better times. But regardless of whether you or your company is prosperous or poor, your legacy will endure.

You must ask yourself, personally and professionally: Do you want to be known as someone who was there for others when the times got tough. Or will you be known as the one whose fear drove them to make decisions that hurt and alienated others.

My grandfather never really worried about the economy. A skilled tool and die man with his own dental apparatus company on the side, he never lacked for work or good people to work with. In fact, he left behind him a trail of co-workers and clients with nothing but good things to say about him. And if he did worry about the economy or his job, he'd never show it. He never seemed afraid of things that concerned his livelihood. Maybe he stayed awake in history class, too. Or maybe he just wanted to be remembered as rising above it. In any case, congratulations, Richard Hickok, you succeeded.

Dear readers, thank you for listening to me talk about my grandfather's legacy. Now, let me ask you...what will yours be?

Paul J. Bean
Principal, Avant Garde Productions

First Quarter is Always a Hectic Time for Looking Back

The first fiscal quarter of a calendar year is always a very hectic time. It's chock full of last minute budget meetings, strategic planning and implementation meetings. And usually, during the middle of all this, an Annual Report is required to be produced, with all the joys and challenges that this caliber of project entails.

Here at Avant Garde, we want you to know we're adept at dealing with these types of projects and it's many details. We can handle any aspect of your Annual Report project:

• Art Direction and Concepts
• Graphic Design and photo research
• Copywriting and Proofreading
• Custom photography and/or Photo re-touching
• Pre-press and print production

If you have any questions about your upcoming Annual Report, please feel free to contact one of our representatives. Call us today at 866.731.7773 or contact us via our web site.