 JKW
@fairpoint.com | Another incorrect assessment I lead the marketing and advertising for FairPoint. And while the amount of incorrect information that is often conveyed online and in other avenues continues to amaze me, I normally assume that most rational customers and the public will also realize that you can't believe everything you read.
In this case, I do want to correct comments provided in the opening of this post. It refers to the hiring of the two marketing firms in Portland - ViaGroup and Garrand - as somehow tied to PR, image and characterizes the move as an unplanned effort. This is not correct. We released the announcement that we had hired these two firms since we felt it was a positive news story and further demonstration of our commitment to the businesses and the people in northern New England. However, coverage of that release has been twisted, as it is here.
We were using a large advertising firm in the past located out of Boston. When I moved into this role late in 2008, we evaluated that firm, and the marketing team moved to try to see if we could eventually find an agency in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine to take over the work. We wanted to have partners who live in our territory plus give the business to firms located in our states. The search and negotiation process started before we even converted any lines - January 2009. We talked to many firms and were excited to find two firms - located in Portland - who produced excellent work. So over the next several months, we negotiated contracts, ended our contractual relationship with the existing Boston-based firm and started working with these two new local firms this past summer. It had nothing to do with the bankruptcy filing, an image issue, or PR initiatives. We simply were replacing our marketing agency.
We are excited about both of these firms. They do great work and they will be great partners as we move forward. They already have been really helpful as we continue to work through marketing challenges that are even more difficult with inaccurate media and online coverage.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment and correct.
- JW |
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| I don't see where you actually correct anything here, other than to note that the hunt for these two new marketing firms began in January, right during the high point of the Fairpoint customer crisis, yet supposedly this has nothing to do with image or branding.
That doesn't really address the Maine's PSCs claims that you're completely ignoring them and refusing to pay consumer refunds.
It also doesn't address the fact that Fairpoint was, also in that same time frame when money was tight, still lobbying against the private-public partnership and the University of Maine's efforts to wire rural Maine... |
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 braynesPremium
join:2005-03-14
Waterville, ME | reply to JKW
We were using a large advertising firm in the past located out of Boston.
So what is it that you do?
Bruce |
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| He tells them what to do, I assume. But of course none of this is about brand image restoration. |
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