Orange County Advertising Agency Blog from DGWB

Weinfeld’s walk-off wins it as DGWB hands Y&R their first defeat

Wallace hits for cycle and scores game winner on Weinfeld’s 7^th inning hit to give DGWB a 10-9 playoff victory against top-seed in Championship bracket

June 15, 2009, IRVINE – There wasn’t a crowd of 40,000 fans.  There were no banners.  There was no ESPN truck.  But there was a definite playoff atmosphere at Harvard Park last night as 4^th seeded DGWB surprised top-seed Y&R.   With two-outs in the bottom of the 7^th, Mark Weinfeld grounded a perfectly placed single to right field scoring Skyler Wallace from third to send Y&R to their first loss of the season and set DGWB up to face PComm next Monday in the winner’s bracket game.

DGWB tied the game in the bottom of the 6^th on a two-out single by Jesse Dienstag scoring Bethany Roe from second.  They then held the potent Y&R offense scoreless in the top of the 7^th setting up the dramatic walk-off win.

Skyler Wallace flared a shot down the right field line and sprinted all the way to third to lead off the inning.  That hit completed the cycle for Wallace who singled in the 1^st , ripped a two-run homer in the 2^nd  and doubled in the 4^th.  But that was the last thing on his mind at the time.  With 15-year veteran Doug Koegeboehn coaching at third, Wallace, like a caged animal, held at third when Jonnell Hungerford hit a slow grounder past the mound and was barely thrown out by the second baseman to record the first out. 

“It seemed crazy to take a chance and send him when Dean (Dunlap) was on deck.  I knew Skyler would score easily on the next at bat” said Koegeboehn.  But what Keogeboehn and Dunlap didn’t realize was that with first and second base open, Y&R smartly took the bat out of Dunlap’s hands and intentionally walked him to bring up Cassidy Wilber.  Brian Ickes, Y&R’s pitcher, threw two perfect pitches and struck out Wilber for the second out and the stage was set for Weinfeld’s fourth and most important hit of the night.

“I yelled to him before the pitch asking him if he was thinking about his stupid blog right now?” said a respectful Ickes after the game.  “He didn’t say anything. He didn’t even smile.  I could tell he was in the zone.” 

“Mark set the tone Sunday night with his inspirational email to the team.  I think he stole some of my stuff from the Salad Coach storyboard I wrote.  But that’s OK, he got us fired up.” said left fielder, and award-winning copywriter Courtney Betley, who delivered two key hits including a run scoring double in the 1^st.  “Weiny was wound pretty tight at the beginning of the game. The Zen-like Phil Jackson he is NOT” said Dienstag at the post game press conference.

The intensity rubbed off on the DGWB team as they started the game with three runs in both the first and second innings and a solo run in the third to take a 7-2 lead.  Perfect defensive play held the league’s highest scoring team to just three runs through 5 innings.  Trailing 8-3, Y&R seemed to wake up and methodically scored 6 runs in the top of the 6^th to take a 9-8 lead.  “I was in disbelief that we could play that well for 5 innings and now be trailing” said Brian Sullivan, who added 2 hits and a spectacular defensive gem at shortstop.  “We couldn’t let this slip away.”

DGWB continues its bid for playoff supremacy next Monday against PComm at Harvard Park, Field #1 at 7:40PM.  Make the playoff atmosphere real and come out and cheer on the team.  

Google: Way More Than Just Search

Google recently announced plans to essentially unify communication on the web in a new product called Google Wave.  Why use e-mail when you can have a real time conversation instead?  It’s not available to the general public until later this year, but when you consider this and Google Voice, it seems that Google isn’t focused on search, but changing communications and information paradigms.  

Instead of just organizing search results like Microsoft and others, Google feels like it’s trying to introduce new ways of creating and using information as well.  When you look at the forays Google is making into the user’s internet experience (from browser to information) and the expectation of nearly 20 Android phones by the end of the year it feels like Google is on the cusp of a change as big as MS-DOS to Windows. Stay tuned, it all looks pretty cool. W5 (5/29/09)

Choose Which Amenities You Can Live Without, Pay Accordingly

San Diego's Rancho Bernardo Inn is taking a different approach to pricing, offering travelers a rather novel pricing model dubbed the Survivor Package.

Rancho Bernardo Inn asks cash-strapped guests "How low will you go?", letting them set their price by excluding the amenities they can live without. The hotel's Survivor Package, valid through June 15th and promoted on Twitter by General Manager John Gates (@GMGoneMad), is presented as follows:

Deluxe accommodations with breakfast for two for USD 219 per night. 

Or....

• $199 without breakfast

• $179 without honor bar

• $159 without A/C or heat

• $139 without pillows

• $109 without sheets

• $89 without lights

• $59 without linens

• $39 without toiletries

• $19 without bed

No word yet on whether anyone has been willing to pay USD 19 to sleep on the floor, but it definitely makes for an eye-catching price strategy Springwise (6/11/09)

Will Gas Prices Hit Last Summer's High?

With crude oil prices rallying above $71 a barrel in recent days, should Americans fear a repeat of the summer of 2008, when $4 gasoline jolted the nation?

The national average on June 10 for a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.627, according to the Oil Price Information Service's American Automobile Assn. daily Fuel Gauge Report. That's up 40¢ from a month ago but significantly lower than last June, when the average price was $4.04 and well on its way to a July record high of $4.11 per gallon.

Several analysts say it's not yet time to ring economic alarm bells. While they concede some similarities to the fierce energy spike of a year ago, don't expect to see crude oil and gasoline prices continue rising as steadily as they have in recent months, analysts say. BusinessWeek (6/11/09)

Eco-Friendly Hotel Key Cards

The James Hotel of Chicago is a brand that touts commitments to a being a globally, socially and culturally conscious brand that supports both the local community and the global environment. One way the show that is through these cool 100% recyclable keycards as an eco-friendly alternative to the more common plastic cards. The James card feels like a thick business card and has a matte finish on the front with a glossy varnish protecting the magnetic strip on the back. PSFK (6/11/09)

 

Subway's $5 Foot-long Becomes Yardstick for Fast-Food Meal Deals

Subway handily beat its competition last year with the incredibly popular $5 foot-long promotion. Doing so, it also crystallized the $5 price point as the one to meet or even beat.

Subway continues to push $5 sandwiches, but with a lot more company. Domino's launched a $5 toasted sub this winter,Quiznos has a $4 sandwich, and Kraft has introduced frozen sandwiches under $4 from its DiGiorno and California Pizza Kitchen brands. Pizza Hut launched a $5 calzone over Memorial Day weekend. Even McDonald's billboards in New York show a Big Mac, fries and a drink pointing to a full meal at the critical $5 mark. Ad Age (6/8/09)

Y&R Uses Mysterious Black Box; Leads to nine-run 5th inning and a 17 – 9 victory

Brand Asset Valuator (BAV) distracts DGWB defense and completes Y&R’s undefeated season

June 9, 2009 – IRVINE –   How do you explain a Skyler Wallace dropped fly ball, a Brian Sullivan boot at shortstop, a Mark Weinfeld muff at 1^st Base and three walks issued by Dean Dunlap – all in one inning?  Were the moons in an uncharacteristic alignment?  Was there a mystical wind from the south?  No, but Y&R brought their vaunted black-box new business tool, their proprietary BAV to Harvard Park on Monday night to help ensure they finished the regular season undefeated for the first time in ASLOC history.

“I heard a weird humming sound during the 5^th inning, but I really didn’t think much of it” said Doug Koegeboehn after Frank Thomas spotted the mysterious black box sitting behind the Y&R dugout a after the fated 5^th inning.  The DGWB defense went from solid to porous in a matter of moments as the team seemed to fall into a hypnotic-like state during the pivotal inning.  It became evident that the BAV was to blame for turning a perfectly played 2-2 tie into a blow-out victory for the multi-national agency. 

“The order came down from New York” said Brian Ickes, Y&R’s left fielder. “I think it came directly from Sorrell’s office.  They really needed us to win.  Have you seen WPP’s stock price lately?”  Ickes made no attempts to deny any accusations that the BAV was unsportsmanlike.  “Look, we just do what we are told.  When the Mothership speaks, we obey.”  They were clearly not ashamed of using a tool that is considered Y&R’s secret weapon that helped them secure the Doubletree Hotel account last summer in competition with DGWB.

“That explains a lot” grumbled DGWB partner, Mandi Dossin when asked to comment about the effects of the BAV used again during last night’s contest.

Dean Dunlap, a former Y&R staffer himself, figured out that the BAV had been employed.  “That thing has a weird effect on you.  I learned how to shield myself from the effects of the BAV when I was there.  I called a team meeting at the end of the inning and told everyone.  We almost immediately snapped out of it.  I just wish I had figured it out earlier.”  Dunlap proved his theory when he sparked a comeback attempt with a mammoth two-out 3-run homer to right field as DGWB scored seven runs in their last two at bats. 

Some stellar defense kept the game close early.  Cori Amberger, just called up from the Cal Bears, threw out a runner in the first on an attempted bunt.  Michael Keller also made a Sportscenter-worthy catch in left field in the third to spoil a Y&R rally.  Sullivan and Weinfeld each had 3 hits and kept the offense on track before Dunlap’s late inning blast.  Sabrina Figueroa and Steph Burns added RBI’s as well.

The final standings were not available at the time of publishing, but DGWB with their 4-3 record has clinched a spot in the championship playoff round.  The team will begin a 3-game playoff series next Monday against either Y&R, PComm or Primary Color.

NOTE:  Despite Weinfeld, Betley and the two Wallaces being absent last week, DGWB recorded its easiest win of the year by defeating Rieches Baird in a forfeit.  Rieches Baird, now aware of DGWB’s Shared Values process, raised the white flag before even a pitch was thrown to avoid pending embarrassment. “We would have beaten them like the red-headed step child that they are” said Mark Weinfeld reached at his Boston hotel last Tuesday.

DGWB turns back the clock and turns back Alcone 14-2

Thomas pitches an old fashioned gem while offense enjoys best night of the season

May 10, 2009 – IRVINE – It was “Throw Back” Night at Harvard Park.  It had the feel of a vintage night at the baseball park.  Frankie “Sweet Music” Thomas was right at home in this atmosphere in his blue denim knickers and his high arc, slow curve that baffled the Alcone hitters all night.

Thomas held Alcone to two runs and six hits and no walks as he pitched a complete game in his first start of the season. “I was just grateful to get the start in Doug’s (Koegeboehn) absence.  I feel blessed to bring back to softball a sense of heritage from a game long ago… and I got to use my wooden bat” 

“Sweet Music was just on tonight” said Coach Weinfeld.  “He had them hypnotized at the plate which made it easy for us to defend against.”  The defensive effort by DGWB was also flawless on this oldtimers evening which included a game ending over the shoulder catch by the ageless Chris Scuro in leftfield which had people comparing it to Willie Mays’ great catch in the 1954 World Series. 

Courtney Betley, returning after a week hiatus, led the offensive outburst with a Ted Williams-esque night at the plate.  She was clad in the throwback attire and even had the high socks working as she had three hits and scored two runs.  Courtney’s socks were not Black or White, they were a definitive Red. 

Jesse Dienstag led the guys nostalgic offensive evening with 3 hits, 4 RBI and two runs scored.  “I was thinking about a better time when the Bronx Bombers dominated – a time when hustle and grit from likes of DiMaggio and Mantle were all the rage.  There was no one who have been caught dead taking HGH or some other ‘roid.  That was when it was a game.  Did you hear me Manny?” said a teary-eyed Dienstag after a truly Ruthian beer drinking effort in the post game lounge.     

Next week at 7:40 Harvard #1, the DGWBer take their 3-1 record up against a highly improved PComm team who lost in close one to the Ramrods last night. Stay tuned for updates on DGWB Softball now available at http://dgwbblogging.typepad.com/

"Meet the Volkswagens" Facebook App

Meet the Volkswagens is a new Facebook app developed by VW which purports to match users with the right car model based on data from their Facebook profiles. After you install the application, it churns through information like your date of birth, photos, likes, and educational history. It then spits out two matches.

The results (at least in my case) seem to churn out a pretty relevant match to the Facebooker’s personality and do so in a cool, interactive way. In a world where personalized products still seem to be gaining in popularity, this move for V-dub seems like it would resonate well with their social media-savvy target customers. Planning For Action (5/5/09)

Adidas Creates Free iPhone Guide to Berlin’s Street Art

Adidas is no stranger to the street culture scene, and their latest move seems right on target: the Adidas Urban Art Guide to Berlin is an iPhone travel guide listing Berlin’s best graffiti.

Users download the application for free, giving them access to a Google map of Berlin that’s pegged with the locations of its urban art masterpieces. The map can be navigated in several ways: "Find artworks nearby" provides users with a map of art works in their immediate vicinity; "Tour guide" calls up a curated walking tour of local urban art; and "Gallery" gives users the option to browse the city's street art and then seek out their favorite pieces. Users can click on each marked location to call up images as well as information about the piece, the artist and further references.

Although a growing audience appreciates street art, few traditional guide books make any mention of it. So this is a smart move on behalf of Adidas, getting the brand straight into the hands of its target audience, while reaffirming its street credentials. Springwise (5/6/09)

Coke Launches Cool New Cans For Summer

 
Coca-Cola has introduced 5 limited edition can designs for summer. This appears to be a much less-expensive way to incorporate some cool new design into your mega-brand…certainly cheaper and less complicated than Pepsi’s latest design strategy. You gotta love the can with the aviator shades! Design You Trust (5/7/09)

Ritz-Carlton Takes Flight on Lufthansa

On May 1, Ritz-Carlton began lending the culinary skills of their chefs to Lufthansa flights embarking from their 18 US gateways to Germany as part of partnership that seeks to deliver a seamless brand experience. The idea being that business and first class customers can stay at one of the luxury chain’s properties and then board an airplane while still enjoying the same level of service. For Lufthansa, this represents an opportunity to further their “Star Chefs” program that began in 2000 as way to elevate the flight experience by bringing in top international chefs to provide location specific cuisine. PSFK (4/29/09)

People Will Give You 56 Seconds Online

The average time for a site visit in March of 2009 was 56 seconds. This puts tremendous demands on the efficiency of web design, meaning designers have to make sure people get what they need as quickly as possible. Perhaps this is why most websites look the same.

It also calls into question the depth that people want to go into to learn more. It's not uncommon for clients and agencies to think about putting long form content and long copy into areas of their website, but with this research, one has to wonder if any of this material ever gets read or watched. Influx Technology (5/4/09)

Twitter Quitters Post Roadblock to Long-Term Growth

Currently, more than 60 percent of U.S. Twitter users fail to return the following month, or in other words, Twitter’s audience retention rate, or the percentage of a given month’s users who come back the following month, is currently about 40 percent.

To understand why this poses a problem for Twitter, check out the chart above. By plotting the minimum retention rates for different Internet audience sizes, it is clear that a retention rate of 40 percent will limit a site’s growth to about a 10 percent reach figure. To be clear, a high retention rate doesn’t guarantee a massive audience, but it is a prerequisite. There simply aren’t enough new users to make up for defecting ones after a certain point. Nielsen 4/28/09)

The Curse of the Class of 2009

The bad news for this spring's college graduates is that they're entering the toughest labor market in at least 25 years.

The worse news: Even those who land jobs will likely suffer lower wages for a decade or more compared to those lucky enough to graduate in better times, studies show.

For example, a man who graduated in December 1982 when unemployment was at 10.8% made, on average, 23% less his first year out of college and 6.6% less 18 years out than one who graduated in May 1981 when the unemployment rate was 7.5%. For a typical worker, that would mean earning $100,000 less over the 18-year period.

The impact on wages could be just as severe this time around, says Ms. Kahn. That's because of the depth of this recession and the possibility that the unemployment rate may approach the 10.8% level not seen since the early 1980s. The rate hit 8.9% in April, the Labor Department reported Friday.

If I were graduating this year, I would seriously consider post-graduate school. Wall Street Journal (5/9/09)

Volvo Dealership Loans Bicycles Instead of Cars

After noticing that many customers dropping off cars for service chose to use their own bicycle rather than their courtesy loaner car, Clive Brook, a Volvo dealership in Yorkshire, England, came up with the idea of offering bicycles instead of cars. The scheme started in April 2009 with two mountain bikes, complete with safety gear.

The initiative has advantages for both parties. Bicycles are cheaper for the dealership to buy, service and insure, and customers get that little nudge that might convince them to travel by bicycle more often. And within its community, there are green points to be gained by the dealership. Springwise (5/7/09)

Koegeboehn Goes Boom!

Solo shot in last inning proves to be game winner as DGWB holds on for a 7-6 victory

MAY 4, 2009 – IRVINE – It may forever be referred to as “The Shot heard ‘round the Salton Sea,” but Doug Koegeboehn’s lead off line-drive homer to centerfield in the final inning Monday night has the makings of an instant classic.  After a night of frustration where DGWB (2-1) left seven runners stranded on base, the single run in the bottom of the 5^th inning lifted them to victory over the winless Rauxa Star team.

Rauxa scored two unearned runs in the top of the 5^th to tie the game and come all the way back from a 6-1 deficit.  Franklin Thomas, who relieved Koegeboehn in the 4^th got the win and nailed down the victory by retiring Rauxa in the top of the 6^th with the tying run on left on third base.  “They’ll be firing off the shotguns in the desert tonight” yelled an ecstatic Koegeboehn as he raised a bottle of Jack at the post game press conference.  “I haven’t been this happy since Wienerschnitzel’s 3 for $3.33 promo lifted their sales up double digits.”

Koegeboehn was seen running out to his truck between innings and apparently retrieved his old Dan Ginsberg signature bat that he keeps on the gun rack.  “I keep it there so my neighbors in Coolidge Springs won’t steal my beer cooler out of the truck bed anymore.”

DGWB had no trouble getting runners on base with Skyler Wallace, Brian Sullivan, Steve Elliot, Jesse Dienstag and Sabrina Figueroa reaching safely each time up.  But a series of frustrating plays left many of them on base at the end of each inning.  Elise Wallace left two runners in scoring position in the first inning when she easily beat out a grounder to short, but was called out for failing to touch first base as she raced by.  “I grazed it with my toe.  You could see the scuff on my new shoe” she said while pleading her case to the umpire to no avail.  Mark Weinfeld also was left in frustration when he batted in the third with the Wallace’s on second and third.  He squared up a sizzling line shot up the middle –the only thing between it and centerfield was the Rauxa pitcher’s face.  Acting in self defense, the panicked hurler snared the line drive to end the threat.

The DGWBers will take their sunburned necks out to Harvard Park #2 next Monday against the Alcone FPO’s (1-2) at 7:40PM.  Stay tuned for updates on DGWB Softball now available at http://dgwbblogging.typepad.com/

Arctic front blows in and freezes DGWB bats

Offense is colder than the chilling night air in 10-2 defeat at the hands of a robotic Primary Color team

APRIL 17, 2009 – IRVINE – What a difference a week makes.  Last Monday, amid the fanfare of Opening Day and a hot Santa Ana wind, DGWB looked like a mighty team of destiny.  Last night, in the frigid night air that felt more like an Alaskan Polar blast, the DGWBers shivered and shriveled and looked more like huddled clan of doom.

A week ago, the DGWB men posted 13 hits in 17 at bats. But tonight the testosterone-less bunch managed only two hits, both off the bat of the well-insulated Mark Weinfeld.  “I don’t know if I have ever had an ‘0-fer’ in my entire life… in anything” said a noticeably agitated and frosty Skyler Wallace after a hitless evening. 

Primary Color, playing with the zest of an accounting firm, seemed to go about business without regard to the Siberian conditions.  They posted four matter-of-fact runs in the first inning building a lead that was seemingly never in doubt for the rest of the evening.  They lethargically went through the motions against a wild and icy Doug Koegeboehn, who looked uncomfortable in his first stint on the mound this season, “I had trouble finding the strike zone tonight.  It is just hard to pitch with frostbite on the fingertips” noted a quivering Koegeboehn.  Primary Color was intent on working methodically for their walks making sure Koegeboehn threw at least two strikes before they would take the bats off their shoulders.

Despite an otherwise punchless offense, Courtney Betley and Erica Jason made their season debuts with some stellar defensive gems on the infield and four solid hits that helped produce the two DGWB runs.  Franklin Thomas, also making his first appearance, was an old school throw-back with his fossil-like bat made of an ancient material that came directly from a tree.  “I have never seen anything like that.  It was just weird” noted catcher Jonnell Hungerford.  The odd, grainy wooded stick unfortunately didn’t help him at the plate either. Greg Jason’s plate appearances were (the rest of this sentence was removed to prevent unrelenting ridicule and harassment of a valued team member).  “Keep your day job” said Jesse Dienstag after Jason’s second at bat.

DGWBers hope the thaw will rekindle their bats against a winless Rauxa Star team next Monday night at 7:40 at Harvard Park.  Stay tuned for updates on DGWB Softball now available at http://dgwbblogging.typepad.com/

DGWB’s 2009 Team starts like the “Cardiac Kids” - comeback to win opener 10-9.

After blowing a 8 -1 lead, Scuro’s highlight reel catch proceeds game winning hit that sinks Ramrods

APRIL 10, 2008 – IRVINE – Chris Scuro showed up for Monday’s Opening Day match-up hoping to get a chance to show off his power.  He hardly envisioned that he would be carried off by his teammates after legging out a 65-foot delicately placed ground ball that produced the game winner.  Scuro’s hit put DGWB back in the lead after the Ramrods woke up to score 8 runs in the bottom of the 6^th inning to take a 9-8 lead.  “It just proves that it ain’t over until it’s over” said Coach Weinfeld after the game.

Dean Dunlap lead off the top of the 7^th with a double and scored the tying run on Jesse Dienstag’s clutch one-out double to right center.  With Dienstag on second and two-out, Scuro’s produced his third hit of the night, a high chopper deep in the hole between shortstop and third.  Ramrod’s shortstop fielded the ball and tried to no avail to get the speedy Scuro first.  Dienstag, a long time student of the game, running on contact seized the opportunity as the shortstop’s throw went to first base and never stopped at third and kept going to score the go ahead run.   “After having blown that big lead, I wasn’t going to be left standing on third at the end of the inning,” said Dienstag after the game.   “As I have said, softball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical" added Weinfeld, “and if you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else."

Dunlap, with help of a web-gem by Sabrina Figueroa at third base,  shut down the Ramrods in the bottom of the 7^th to secure the victory and redeem the hope for a successful DGWB summer.  

In the previous half inning, DGWB watch a dominating 8-1 lead go by the wayside as the Ramrods – a code moniker for the team formally know, but never sponsored by the Detroit agency, Doner – kept pounding hits as if awakened from a deep sleep.  “We were just kind of going through the motions, so I just disrupted the inertia” said Ramrod 3^rd basemen, Heidi Rogers.  Roger’s made her first appearance after a 3 year hiatus that included having two babies, three accounts and a strained hamstring.

After Roger’s and the rest of the Ramrods, scored their 8^th run to take a 9-8 lead, with one-out, Doner’s Randy Gudiel crushed a mammoth drive to deep left field.  Scuro raced back nearly to the 250 ft sign on the left field wall and snagged the drive over his right shoulder.  Scuro’s catch seemed to break the funk the DGWBers had fallen into and restore order. 

“I have been following his Tweets and analyzing his tendencies for the last month” said Scuro of Gudiel.  “I knew where that ball was going before he even swung."

In building a commanding 7-0 lead, DGWB frustrated the Ramrods with great defensive plays by shortstop Brian Sullivan, centerfielder Skyler Wallace and Dunlap on the mound, who snared a liner to start a double-play and stymie a Doner bases-loaded threat.  Wallace joined Dunlap and Scuro with a 3-hit effort.  Jonnell Hungerford and Steph Burns also added key hits in chalking up the early lead. 

 Last year, DGWB started the season with a narrow one-run victory over the eventual league champion Graphic Industries.  "This is like deja vu all over again." said the elated Weinfeld in the post game interview. DGWB continues the 2009 summer campaign next week at Harvard Park.  Stay tuned for updates on DGWB Softball now available http://dgwbblogging.typepad.com/  or on our Facebook page.

Numbers don't lie

Edleman, the publisher of the annual Trust Barometer study, has just released results from the latest installment.  Over 4,000 individuals in 20 countries participate in the survey and are asked about their trust in  business, government, media and nongovernmental institutions.

The results indicate that in the U.S., trust in all four categories has decreased since last year, with trust in business declining from 59% to 36%.  Worse yet, of the 77% of those who refused to buy a company's product or service, 72% of them criticized the company to a friend of colleague.

The study goes on to say that honest, frequent communication with customers is one of the most important factors in creating a company's reputation.

If you've following this blog for any period of time you know that I frequently speak about the importance of communicating what your company stands for in an effort to reach out and begin a meaningful dialog with your customers.  Given the continuing slide in trust in the business sector, the idea of communicating values and doing so frequently becomes even more vital in building trust and ultimately, long-term relationships with your customers.

As we've discussed in past communications, a bad business relationship is like a bad personal relationship in that perhaps the worst thing that can happen is that the two disgruntled parties remain in the relationship only to tell all their friends how horrible life is.  And now our theory is being played out by the numbers. 

The point is trust matters.  Healthy relationships result in healthy profits.  Every relationship (personal or business) thrives in an environment of constant, open and honest communication. And day by day, as results of new surveys are exposed, you don't simply have to take my word for it.