Collegiate Advantage press release written by Glenn Gutmacher

This press release was written for Collegiate Advantage, now a division of Student Advantage. Click here to return to Glenn's list of published articles.

Boston-based College Marketing Firm Ranked Fastest-Growing U.S. Promotion Agency
PROMO 100 Rates Firm 1st in Growth, Overall Rank #23; Up From 2nd in Growth, #52 Overall Last Year

NEWS RELEASE
email: info@ca.shore.net
Contact: Glenn Gutmacher, CA, 617-xxx-xxxx, x314
or PROMO magazine, 203-761-1510

Boston, MA, 6/22/95 - Collegiate Advantage, Inc. (CA), based here, capped another banner year with the #1 growth ranking in the PROMO 100 survey. This industry yardstick, now in its third year, is an annual ranking of the nation's agencies specializing in promotion/marketing, as opposed to traditional advertising agencies which derive the bulk of their income from commissions on media placements. Results are based on comprehensive financial reports and qualification forms from each agency applying, as well as interviews with agency principals and clients.

CA enjoyed growth of 421% between 1992-94, the period measured by the industry trade publication, PROMO magazine, which compiled the rankings for its June 1995 issue. This is particularly notable since the agencies ranked #2 and #3 in growth each earned only one-seventh of CA's net revenue. In last year's rankings, based on 1993 year-end figures, CA was #2 in growth and 52nd overall in the PROMO 100 poll.

"Actually, the firm has grown every year since we started it in 1988," said CA president, Paul Tedeschi, 27, who co-founded the now-national agency while a student at Boston University, and whose 30 full-time staffers' average age falls below his. "But we're excited about our back-to-back leadership in growth in the PROMO 100 list, which has helped make the entire marketing industry aware of us. Our achievements prove that youth need not be contradictory with marketing savvy and experience."

Tedeschi attributes the firm's success to its unique focus on the college market. "The nation's 13 million college students represent over $50 billion in disposable income, and the last chance to cost-effectively impact brand loyalties before adulthood," he said. "Through our innovative, proven programs on campus, we have generated real results that lead to long-term relationships with our clients and the colleges."

CA programs include: Promotional tours and on-campus festivals; Movie screenings and Lecture series; Field representative sales programs; Student representative programs; Comedy shows and Sporting events; National media placement in college newspapers, radio and TV; Sponsored programs syndicated on college radio and TV; Online/internet marketing (World Wide Web, Usenet, etc.); as well as Mall and Sports promotions, Sampling programs and other off-campus marketing. Current clients include: Barnes & Noble Bookstores, Citibank, Conde Nast Publications (Details, Mademoiselle), L'eggs/Sara Lee Hosiery, Rolling Stone, Sprint and Timberland, among others.

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