02-05mill

Greetings...Seasonal Style!

This is our 12th holiday season in business. A dozen doses of decking the halls and doing our best to make it a season of celebration for our clients.

Holiday wishes come in many shapes and sizes, and our sleigh’s mission is to deliver educated and ready-to-buy customers to our clients all year round (not down the chimneys, of course). And to get ready for that process, our elves could challenge any chubby guy’s crew to the north of us. Though his famous helpers rely on some magic, we do it the old fashioned way, working hard and utilizing our workshop of creative tools.

We seldom find the time to sit around the fire roasting chestnuts, but we do take a few moments now and then to hoist a few cups of cheer. It’s one of the great joys of being in our business—the thrill of something starting as a mere need or want, nurtured through to a defining concept, and then crafted and wrapped with messaging and graphics, delivered with care and bringing smiles once opened by curious folks. Direct mail, brochures, websites or video, there’s always a process of anticipation and discovery that we hope leads to active play with our clients.

Thanks to all of you out there, who one way or another, support us as family, friends, suppliers, clients and alliance partners. You give us a chance to play like kids, work together as a closely knit team, create things every day—and enjoy helping our clients grow their businesses at the same time. Our wishes are fulfilled.

Have a great holiday season with those you love—and even those who you have yet to love.

Gotta go, they’re delivering the truckload of mistletoe I ordered...

Tim Padgett
tim@peppergroup.com

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“A good conscience is a continual Christmas.”
—Benjamin Franklin

“Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone.”
—Gertrude Stein

Popular Holiday eCards!

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to take advantage of our complimentary offer to make you an eCard to send to your friends and family.

Just pick your favorite and follow the directions!

http://www.peppergroup.com/holidayecards.html

CONGRATULATIONS!

Pepper Group would like to congratulate Wheeling Auto Center for having their website chosen as one of AutoInc.'s Top 10 Automotive Repair websites. The site will be featured in the January 2006 issue of AutoInc. magazine, the official publication of the Automotive Service Association (ASA).

Wheeling Auto has had an ongoing marketing relationship with Pepper Group over the last several years and we are proud to have been involved in the creation of their winning site and to have helped Wheeling Auto become one of the premier auto centers in the Chicago Suburbs.

Client Spotlight: Fitbug

Good news, my fellow Americans...Mexico may soon become the fattest nation on earth. But for now, the USA sits firmly in the lead. It’s really no laughing matter because inactivity and fast food diets can lead to obesity, diabetes, lost productivity in the workplace and broken springs in your sofa.

But whether we want to lose weight or just get a little more fit, we feel that we need to torture ourselves on a treadmill, spend 2 hours a day in a gym, or eat cardboard. It’s just not true. In fact, the most successful results for healthier living come from just the smallest changes—like walking more.

Enter Fitbug–a complete solution that works wonders. There is a smart little device, the “bug,” which monitors and records your daily activity. Then, a virtual trainer provides totally customized advice, feedback and encouragement. Fitbug continually reminds you how many calories you’ve burned and how you’re doing with your goals. You set the pace, Fitbug keeps you on track. It’s easy, it’s discreet, and it doesn’t add time to your already busy schedule.

Pepper Group has been working quickly to launch this remarkable system, developing a unique identity, some very cool packaging, and a comprehensive marketing plan including corporate and web-based sales tactics.

It will be available for purchase starting Monday, December 5^th. Looking for a perfect gift? Want a New Year’s resolution that will be kept? We love this thing and highly recommend it. Check it out. It’s www.myfitbug.com.

Stacy Speaks: "O"–The Value of Good PR

Those who doubt the value of good PR obviously weren’t paying attention when Oprah announced her list of Favorite Things this year. Anyone who can make a $498 sweater, a $690 jacket, and a $2,200 diamond watch sell like hotcakes is certainly doing something right, but so are the companies that actually produce and sell the products.

Sure, you could argue that Oprah deserves much of the credit. Her unimaginable influence has a history of making products sell out in minutes, websites overload and crash, and sales skyrocket beyond belief. Case in point: 70% of Dell’s plasma TV sales for the 2004 holiday season happened in the two weeks following its appearance on Oprah’s Favorite Things. Other items that made the list last year were backordered until April!

So what’s the moral here? Well, there are two. First, if you are planning on buying a “Favorite Thing,” you better also plan on watching the episode from a store. Second, if you can get your product on Oprah, you will find that the audience members won’t be the only ones jumping up and down and crying with joy.

However, in the meantime, there are a few simple rules you can follow to ensure your PR campaign—however big or small—is effective.

There may be few thrills that surpass making the Oprah’s Favorite Things list, except perhaps winning the lottery. But whether it's Oprah's Favorite Things or something completely different, scoring a major endorsement or partnership through smart marketing and PR can change everything! But unlike the lottery, winning this game is more about skill than luck.

Stacy Olah
stacy@peppergroup.com

Rich’s Ramblings: Happy Holidays vs. Winter Blues

As a native of the northern Midwest, I’ve come to accept strange and unpredictable weather patterns as the norm. Come winter, residents of warmer climates shake their heads in disbelief at our weather reports, wondering how anyone could live under these conditions. And at a time of year that is supposed to be festive and full of good cheer, the onset of cold temperatures and gray skies leaves more than a few of us downright depressed.

There is a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that afflicts some 15 million Americans. It is a serious condition that can be debilitating for those who suffer from severe cases. Light therapy is a common treatment that has proven effective for many. If you, or someone you know, may be suffering from this disorder, it’s best to consult a physician regarding treatment options. Fortunately for most people, the more common variety of winter blues can be minimized with a few simple changes in lifestyle.

Here a few tips that can help melt away those winter blues:

Get out in the daytime. Bundle up, take a walk, start a snowball fight, or go sledding and you’ll benefit from the sunlight (even on cloudy days) and the exercise.
Get out in the nighttime. If you’re lucky enough to live in the Chicago area, there are almost unlimited entertainment options available (as opposed to hibernating in front of the television). Fight the blues with the Blues by heading to one of our many famous Blues nightclubs, or go see Blue Man Group before it closes (hey, it could happen).
Eat right. I know everyone gets tired of that bit of advice, but overindulging in those holiday sweets can really create some nasty mood swings, so limit your cookie intake.
Sleep consistently. With the shorter days and longer nights of winter it can be easy for your sleep patterns to get out of whack. Set regular times to go to bed at night and get up in the morning and you’ll definitely improve your energy level.
Be nice. Sounds trite, but most people feel better about themselves when they help others feel better. From simply being kind to co-workers and family members to volunteering for charity organizations, there are many ways to bring a little more sunshine into the lives of those around you.

So enjoy the holidays with your friends and family, and remember, make the right moves to ditch those winter blues.

Rich Adkins
rich@peppergroup.com