Nine Months of Delivery at The Midas Center

Dawning on the ninth month since The Midas Center has opened its doors at 100 W. Garro Street in Plymouth, Indiana, the full service communications agency has experienced a treasure chest overflowing with projects! Although we realize that a newborn baby can be spawned in nine months, we are proud to announce the delivery of the following bundles of joy:

- Designed gratitude cards for Akina Corporation

- Helped promote the Imaginary Art School

- Launched and promoted ongoing events at the inSPIRATIVE art center, a gallery and studio rental space

- Designed and developed new web site for Culver's Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Council

- Launched and managed a social media program for Earthworks and Earthworks Market, within the first six months, the program attracted over 250 members combined

- Designed and developed a web site for Culver's Wesley United Methodist Church

- Designed new image and graphics for Marshall County Recycle Depot

- Designed new identity and exhibit graphics for Sorian, Inc., a start-up wind power business

- Designed and developed web site for art gallery, Gallery on Main LLP

- Designed and developed materials for Chiropractic Association

WORKSHOPS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

For the first six months, we offered numerous brown bag workshops to help local businesses better understand topics such as web sites, branding and social media. Two of the most attended programs were titled, "Branding Basics: It's Not Just For Cows" and "Social Media: New Frontier of Marketing." In addition to these free workshops, owner Andrea Cook became a member to the Wythogan Toastmaster group in Plymouth. Cook also was a speaker at Indy Green Fest 2010.

COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY

We offered our creative services for a multitude of local philanthropies and causes including the Marshall County Neighborhood Center, Run Baby Baby Run and Tri Kappa's Tour De Max. Owner Andrea Cook also launched Women Advisory Group, a local group of likeminded women entrepreneurs who meet monthly to support one another helping each other succeed.

ECO-INVOLVEMENT

After ten years of using the same hosting service, The Midas Center made the decision to select a hosting company that is powered 100% by wind power.

Owner Andrea Cook and her husband have also launched Project Green Building, a proposal to purchase a downtown property and renovate it into a green building to help build awareness for eco-living, eco-working and eco-building. This project is designed to help build awareness through the media on each decision needed to be made throughout the full process. It also is designed to aid economic development by providing educational tours once project is completed. There is also a Facebook page for Project Green Building that has accumulated over 75 members locally and throughout the world.

Andrea Cook was selected as a finalist by Indiana Green Business Award selection committee as Indiana's Green Entrepreneur of the Year.

FUTURE STEPS

For the month of June, The Midas Center will be redeveloping its business model to better meet client needs for today's market. For the past decade we have offered integrated marketing, advertising, public relations and branding services. We want to work on a clear message so that we can improve our communications with you!

The Midas Center will continue to provide visual integrity and help businesses and organizations succeed in the marketplace. Transforming touch points into gold is our motto, and we're sticking to it!

Latest Marketing Creation

We love working with clients to produce materials that help build business! We enjoy the entire process, from finding the perfect solution to fit a client's budget and goals, to designing the layout, selecting the colors and typography and building the message behind the medium!

Each opportunity is an honor to provide solutions to meet client goals and a thrill to be creative and develop materials that are pleasing to the eye and hold visual integrity (TM).

We are proud to announce our latest brochure piece designed for J.R. Brim, a chiropractor with Chiropractic Associates, located in Chicagoland's Long Grove.

Successful Brands Motivate and Build Trust

The Midas Center's main objective is to help businesses and organizations succeed. We do that by trying to build a solid brand that contains an image and message that is credible, attractive and motivating. To do this, it takes creativity to develop the right elements and manage the right media mix.

A successful brand takes investment in both time and money. It takes more than just a logo and copy to have the power to reinforce your brand and motivate the public to act.

In an article titled, Harris Poll Finds: St. Jude's Research Hospital and Susan G Komen for the Cure are among Most Trusted Non-Profits written in Business Wire shows the top ten brands of non-profits. It refers to a study by EquiTrend® that, "evaluates measures including: Equity, Customer Connection, Commitment, Energy, Brand Behavior, Brand Advocacy, and Trust. The keystone to the program is Equity, which provides an understanding of a brand’s overall strength and is determined by a calculation of Familiarity, Quality, and Intention to Donate."

It is important that organizations and businesses know their objectives and when implementing a new identity or branding campaign, realize the overall investment. Successful brands can have a profitable return on investment (ROI) if strategically designed, developed and executed properly.

US Industries: Out with the Old, In with the New

As one calendar approaches the end of its lifecylce, all 2010 calendars are primed and ready to go. Much like some key industries reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) this month, the adage: Out with the Old, In with the New holds true for the marketplace with some industries predicted to decline while emerging sectors show signs of growth.

According to the BLS report, growth industries include:
- Management, scientific and technical consulting services
- Offices of physicians
- Computer systems design and related services
- Other general merchandise stores
- Employment services
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals
- Home health care services
- Services for the elderly and persons with disabilities
- Nursing care facilities
- Full-service restaurants

On the flip side, the BLS reports these industries expected to experience the steepest employment declines:
- Department stores
- Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing
- Motor vehicle parts manufacturing
- Postal service
- Printing and related support activities
- Cut and sew apparel manufacturing
- Newspaper publishers
- Support activities for mining
- Gasoline stations
- Wired telecommunications carriers

How will your business thrive? Are you adapting to and growing with the marketplace as the technical revolultion shifts the way businesses communicate to the public? As 2010 approaches and its trends will inevitability impact your business' bottom line, what ways are you shifting your marketing message? With Social Media as one of the fastest growing marketing tools, technology has again brought meaning to the term: the medium is the message.

If you are interested in learning more about social media, register for the upcoming free workshop, Social Media Pioneers. The Midas Center is dedicated to help Michiana's businesses grow in the marketplace.

For further information on this report, visit the report press release by BLS and an article titled, "Top 10 Growing and Shrinking US Industries," released by MC Marketing Charts.

Mark Your Calendars for January's Brown Bag Workshop!

Back by popular demand, we are offering an encore presentation on Social Media for January's Brown Bag Lunch Workshop series. This free monthly seminar session is designed to help local business leaders grow in the marketplace.

"Social Media: Increase Your Touchpoints" is the next workshop scheduled for Wednesday, January 20th at noon. This 30-minute session will include basic information on what social media is and how businesses can tailor their own plan to utilize this new frontier and grow their business.

Reserve your seat today and register online here >

Sisters' Tea & Eatery will provide pre-ordered boxed lunches for $6. Lunches may be ordered no later than Monday, January 17th. Specify your lunch preference when registering online >