Ms. Brooks goes to Washington

Last week I traveled to D.C. to be a guest panelist on a live webcast at the NAB, or National Association of Broadcasters. The topic was “The Golden Years; Marketing to Seniors.” 

I was very excited because a) I had never actually been to Washington b) I can talk about senior marketing to a dog, and c) it was all expenses paid. So off I go to discuss what has inadvertently become second nature to me over the last 24 years – marketing to baby boomers. 

I was joined on the panel by other industry experts; Jim Glynn, Principal, GlynnDevins in Kansas City; Brian Wexler, Director of National Multimedia Accounts, WTSP CBS Tampa, FL; and Brad Seitter, Senior VP, Local Division at NAB. I was excited to see what similarities or differences they saw in marketing to this demographic.  

What I learned, all over again, is how much I enjoy working with this target audience. 

Over dinner with my colleagues I went on and on about senior’s decision making processes, their healthcare concerns, their family values, their buying power... until I was asked, "Why doesn't anyone talk about this market?"
 

My answer was simple. Because it’s not sexy. 

Advertising folks want sexy. Sexy commercials, sexy websites, sexy ads, sexy young. Sexy. 

But quite frankly, don’t get me started on marketing to our youth. Let’s just say they’re “special.” Try marketing to a group of Youtub-ing, Snapchat-ting, Starbucks-drinking hipsters that decide a new trend every 5 minutes? A market that tends to be fragmented, have no loyalty to brands, and have the attention span of a Vine video?

I think educated, voting, research-driven, brand-loyal, boomers who don’t take shit and know what they want - and mean what they say - is pretty damn sexy. Just look at these numbers:

• 10,000 Baby boomers will be turning 65 every day – for the next 19 YEARS.
• Baby Boomers outspend other generations by an estimated $400 billion each year on consumer goods & services  
• The senior age group is now, for the first time, the largest in terms of size and percentage of the population in the U.S.
• The 55+ age group controls more than three-fourths of America's wealth (ICSC). 

So what did I learn in Washington? I learned that I still love advertising to seniors. And I learned I can still learn more every day from my peers – even at a craft beer dive in Dupont Circle, DC. 

Diana Brooks
dbrooks@vsbrooks.com 

It’s Great to Work Here … We’re One of Florida Trend’s 2014 Best Companies to Work For!

At VSBrooks, it’s our job to be fun, creative, and an overall great place to work. Not only do WE think we’re a fantastic place to come to work every day, but recently, the popular business news magazine Florida Trend agreed with us, naming us one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the state of Florida.

We were awarded in the Best Small Companies category (15-49 employees), in which there were 36 ranked winners. We’ll be recognized, along with the other winning companies, in Florida Trend's August 2014 issue.  

So, what does this list acknowledge, and how did we get it? Well, it recognizes companies that have built productive workplaces for their employees, strengthening their own as well as Florida's competitive advantage in the national and global arenas.

To participate, companies or government entities had to employ at least 15 workers in Florida and have been in operation at least one year. Companies that chose to participate underwent an evaluation of their workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The process also included a survey to measure employee satisfaction. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the registration, survey and analysis and determined the final rankings.


We’re especially proud of this recognition, because if our staff is happy, then our clients are happy. Plus, “happy” is just an overall good thing to be.

It’s Hard to be Ideal and Humble, but We’ll Try!

On Thursday, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce informed us and everyone else in the room of a little tidbit that we already, kind of, sort of knew – VSBrooks ADVERTISING is an Ideal Workplace.

Like the cliché says, we know how to work hard and play hard. In the process, we have a pretty good time, take care of each other and make our clients happy along the way.

When we arrived for the 2013 Coral Gables Diamond Award ceremony, we were feeling rather nice. As finalists in the Large Business Category, we were hoping for the best and received an even better surprise. The Ideal Workplace Award is not advertised, and we were not nominated. Instead, the judges look at all the applicants’ questionnaires and select the workplace they find most ideal, based on employee benefits, training and recognition.  

The four judges selected VSBrooks ADVERTISING, Miami Children's Hospital and Tarpon Bend as their top three, and our team won. If you thought we had an Ideal Workplace before, just check us out now. There are smiles, laughter, pats on the back and hugs galore.

Yep, we already knew we worked in a cool place with awesome people, but now everyone else knows too.

Thank you, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce for the public shout-out!

We’re on the campaign trail. Vote for VSBrooks!

We’re no politicians. We simply can’t waffle, and you always know where you stand with VSBrooks ADVERTISING. (We don’t shut down operations when the team doesn’t agree on a marketing strategy.) But we’re channeling our inner Clinton, Reagan and Lincoln to humbly and sincerely ask for your vote.

As a Finalist, VSBrooks ADVERTISING is running against formidable candidates in the race to become a Winner of a Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce “Sparkle & Shine” 2013 Diamond Award. In the category of Large Business, we are going head to head with Hinson & Culbertson, LLC and The Palace. All finalists – and winners – will be recognized Nov. 14 at the Coral Gables Country Club for their work in representing Coral Gables as a wonderful city in which to do business.

What will separate the Finalists from the Award Winners is the number of online votes cast in favor of each company. Hence, we are campaigning, so to speak, for VSBrooks ADVERTISING to receive such an honor. While we are supremely happy to be Finalists, nothing beats winning. (We know. Competitive much?)

So we ask you to do three things: 1) Mark your calendar for Nov. 14 to join us in our celebration of being a Finalist; 2) Join the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce – they do great work promoting our city; and 3) Cast your vote for us here Monday, Oct. 28 before noon.

We’d kiss a baby and shake a hand, but this is a blog, people.

Thank you!

VSBrooks' Flavors of Thanksgiving

Turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. These are the tastes and smells of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. But at VSBrooks we're not as conventional. We asked around to find out what  the different flavors brought to the VSB family table are. There are some very different and palatable answers!


Vivian Santos:
Her Thanksgiving meal is very traditional, with the exception of the tequila shot everyone (over 21) takes right before eating. According to Vivian, no one remembers when the tradition started, and I think we know why.




Diana Brooks: 

Their Thanksgiving claim to fame is Krispy Kreme bread pudding with homemade whipped cream. Wow.




Junior Jimenez:
Junior brings his Puerto Rican background to the table with arroz con gandules, guineos en escabeche and templeque for dessert. Hispanic much?




Nicky Goicouria:
Nicky combines two traditional tastes; one Cuban, the other very American in her Pumpkin Flan.




Olivia Errasti:
Olivia augments the flavors of traditional pumpkin soup with the addition of craisins and green apples.





Becky Benitez:
Even though Becky's family cooks a traditional Thanksgiving meal, her cuban grandmother refuses to give in. She makes ropa vieja and fried yuca and twists everyone's arm to eat it.

Cristina Alvarez:
Well... we'll let her tell you:

"Turkey a la Cristina, injected with everything from mojo to wine to garlic. Non-Kosher stuffing with sausage, bacon, olives, dates, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, raisins, figs, onions, garlic, and peppers.
White rice a la Elsa (my sister in law) - venezuelan style. Potato salad a la Minita (my mom) with thinly sliced onions, peas, and hard boiled eggs, with a secret batter that includes mayonnaise, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Mini miga sandwiches of a variety of flavors, including anchovies and hard boiled eggs; and prosciutto and goat cheese."

Eclectic as always.


Maria Williams:
Choose your carbohydrate! Maria makes her super secret potato salad, baked mac and cheese and sweet potato casserole with pecans.




Ingrid Trigo de Serrano: Her family mixes cuban and american flavors with their Sweet ham and congri and yuca.




Daniel Timiraos:
His Thanksgiving dinner is strictly traditional, except in how the turkey is cooked; with bacon, lots and lots of bacon...



So now that we've got your mouth watering go and cook something already!  All of us at VSBrooks Advertising wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving, spent with good food and better company.