Craig S. Sorenson
& Associates LLC (The Company) is a full-service information technology
marketing and conceptual development nucleus. The Company has developed
numerous strategic marketing products, capitalizing on Digital Media and
Internet Commerce. These products, several of which have already been
implemented, provide immediate and residual revenue streams, and compound in
the development of parallel applications to a varied marketplace. Further,
product models serve as “templates” for future opportunities, streamlining
expansion, and reducing development and sales costs.
Emphasis is placed
on a stable medium, the CD-ROM, particularly Shaped CD-ROM’s, as a
vehicle to be distributed to targeted users. Operated in a Personal Computer,
the CD-ROM medium provides the opportunity to display compelling content,
including Full-Motion Video, Digital Sound, Multimedia, Animation, Rich
Graphics, extensive Data, Text and Interactivity. Additionally, the medium
provides a link to the Internet, inherently maintaining the ability to launch a
web browser and direct the user to a designated web site, with the click of a
mouse. This is a powerful tool in establishing a connection with a targeted
market.
The Company has
already established a presence in the marketplace by offering the Shaped CD-ROM
with an emphasis on a business card-sized product. In addition, The Company
offers related peripheral services, including Content Development, Programming,
Graphic Design, Video and Audio Production, Web Design, Short-Run CD
Replication, and Packaging Design. The Company provides turnkey solutions for
companies seeking to build and maintain an effective presence through Digital
Media and Internet Commerce, and maintains the internal capability to develop
its own products. In conjunction, The Company has, and will continue to create
alliances with peripheral service companies to provide Programming, Video and
Audio Compression Technologies, Database Development, Web Management and
Hosting, Video Production, Printing, and Packaging Design. The Company’s
ultimate goal is to provide the highest quality, most innovative combination of
product and service in the industry.
The premise of many
of the Company’s intellectual products involve the use of the CD-ROM as an
advertising medium, or marketable stand-alone tool, integrated with web-linking
capabilities, and on-line revenue opportunities. The pursuits of The Company
coincide with flourishing Internet E-Commerce growth, and commonality of
business and personal Computers and other Internet Appliances.
The Company is also
developing educational curriculum software, with a foundation of centralized,
web-based access. Working in conjunction with educators and private sector
industry leaders in Washington State, The Company is working toward
establishing mandates in the State Educational System, and provide networking
and server capabilities.
The Spoken
Gift Series Product Line
The Company will develop a unique
product line, referred to as the Spoken
Gift Series. A line of SIX CD-ROM (specifically “Shaped” CD-ROM) based
products provide inspirational and motivational content. The purpose of the
series is to provide turnkey and easily customizable interactive content models
for customer loyalty and corporate team building.
The premise of The Spoken Gift Series is to provide generic, universally adaptable
content to businesses seeking to reinforce customer relations, employee loyalty
and company branding. The intent is to arm the business with a product that may
be distributed and perceived as a “gift” by its recipient. The content provides
the recipient with elements of personal enrichment, fulfillment and insight.
The capability of the medium to incorporate motion and sound allows for a
powerful delivery of the message. Further, the interface provides various
prompts for connectivity, ultimately leading the user to a designated web site.
Business today and in the future will rely on the Internet as a major force in
sales and marketing. With the enormous growth of this platform, FINDING a
particular site on the Internet becomes more and more challenging. The Spoken Gift Series CD-ROM medium
provides a targeted opportunity to GUIDE the user to a designated site, through
a specific LINK, incorporated into the content of the CD.
Each topic in the series includes
corresponding packaging, labeling and content. While designed to be generic,
all of these may be customized to include individual corporate identity
elements.
The Spoken Gift Series consists of the following topics:
·
Attitude
·
Teamwork
·
Innovation
·
Integrity
·
Balance
·
Achievement
Each topic is
covered in a 3 to 5 minute spoken narrative. This audio base is embellished
with video and still photographic imagery, as well as original musical
composition. Incorporation of motion and sound are proven to be most effective
in captivating an audience, and have a profound emotional impact. Each
narrative will be carefully composed to best render a compelling message. The
narrative will be recorded at studio standards, by professional speakers, noted
for their delivery. The presentation will automatically start upon insertion of
the CD. User control allows for pause, rewind, fast-forward
and skip functions.
Navigational
Interface
Upon conclusion of
the presentation, a main navigational interface appears. Here, the user will be
provided with a series of SIX Screen Savers. Each screen saver includes a
photograph and text-based message pertaining to the topic. The user has the
option of installing the Screen Saver series on their hard drive. The series
may be programmed by the user to display in rotation on their monitor screen.
Rotation programming may be set by hour or day. Additional screen savers will
be offered, via a web-based download site. Users must register to access the
site, creating a database harvest capability.
MP3 Player
The user will be
provided with the option of installing a unique, software-based MP3 player. The
MP3 Player includes a 3-dimensional, responding interactive human-like
“character”, which moves kinetically, and responds verbally. The player will be
designed using a proprietary voice-control option, allowing the user to command
its functions by oral command. The functions include: play, pause,
fast-forward, rewind, track selection, volume, balance, bass, treble, and file
selection. The MP3 player may be installed onto the computer’s hard drive. It
is provided at no cost, but the user must register the player to activate it.
This is done by clicking on a link, guiding the user to a designated web-site (www.spokengift.com) where profile
information is submitted. The user is also exposed to a library of other
products, including categorized MP3 information-based files and PDF format
e-Books, which may be purchased online and downloaded. Upon registering, the
user is sent an email, providing the activation code. This system provides a
database harvesting capability, which may be used to analyze registrars, or
open the way to permission-based future communication via email or direct
contact.
Customization
The core product may
be easily customized with corporate branding and links. Intro spots may be
placed on the front end of the main presentation, graphics and links on the
navigational interface, voice control web links and graphics may be built into
the MP3 Player. The database harvesting capabilities inherent in the MP3 Player
and Screen Saver download may be offered to clients as well.
Research has
determined opportunities for The Spoken
Gift Series are bright. The series provides a unique marketing mix, whereby
the product fits comfortably into the advertising specialty/customer loyalty
market, as well as internal corporate employee faithfulness and team building.
Initial marketing
strategy includes distribution of product samples to significant Advertising
Specialty Companies, and Marketing Companies. In addition, direct contact with
Fortune 1000 Companies will be made, promoting both generic and customized
product offerings.
The product itself
serves as an effective marketing tool, informing and guiding the prospective
client back to the source. On-line information and purchasing capability will
streamline sales and reduce administrative expenses.
As product sales and
revenues grow, the product will be introduced to the retail marketplace. Gift
and Card stores will stock the product for consumer purchase. This version of
the product will be generic in nature, and packaged to accommodate easy mailing
or delivery.
Each Spoken Gift Series product inherently
contains links and connectivity back to the Spoken Gift website: www.spokengift.com. This will stimulate
sales from recipients who see merit in the use of the product for their own
objectives.
While emotionally
captivating and visually stimulating, the Spoken
Gift Series is considered to be in the realm of the audiobook.
The audiobook is currently an estimated 1.6+ billion
market. The market realized growth of 39.6% from 1995 to 1999 (Gowrie, 1999)
the demographics for the audiobook industry includes
men and women between the ages of 35 and 64 and the median income of the
typical audiobook listener was $54,900 in 1999.
•
Newspapers have a life span of 20 minutes.
• People
read the same 20% of a newspaper, 80% of the time.
• Only
3% of flyers distributed are looked at or read
• 70% of
recipients of Free Advertising Specialty products
will purchase goods
or services from a firm giving the item
(Ogilvie, 2001)
According
to Jupiter Media Metrix, most online retailers do not
recognize customer loyalty, and retailers are not utilizing available tools and
data to foster online CRM. The study found that 45 percent of online shoppers
choose e-commerce sites due to word-of-mouth advertising, but only 7 percent of
online retailers are using tools to help them capture such customers. Jupiter
officials note that by identifying loyal customers companies could decrease
consumer acquisition costs and boost average order size by as much as 60
percent. In turn, firms will be able to better track the pass-along rate of
marketing emails. (www.internetretailer.com)
[Internet
Retailer (
The typical company
gets 65% of its business from its existing customers
(Business
Success, Vol. III, 1990 White House Office of Consumer Affairs)
The promotional products industry saw
nearly 18 Billion in revenues in 2000, up from 8 Billion in 1995. The industry
consists of over 24,000 significant companies, 500 of which exceed 2.5 Million
annually, and comprise two-thirds of all sales.
(
The initial phase
markets include:
B2B and Consumer E-commerce Companies
Literally hundreds
of thousands of business exist that can benefit from the direct interface power
of the Spoken Gift Series, as a
customer development/loyalty vehicle, and as a means of guiding users to their
web site.
The challenge of
cultivating business relationships with service-based businesses (i.e.: real
estate, finance and insurance) often involves selling personal integrity.
Intangibles are more difficult to promote. Word-of-mouth has been a driving
force in the success of a service professional. The Spoken Gift Series provides the ability to “personalize” the
initial contact, opening the door to great opportunity. There are currently over
700,000 real estate professionals in the
Network Marketing Companies
Over 1000 network marketing concerns exist, and the
numbers are growing rapidly. The majority of formidable
Advertising
Specialty Companies
Over 24,000 firms in the
Business
Alliances
The Company has aggressively pursued, and successfully established alliances with key software developers, manufacturers, content consultants, and distributors, ideally suited to the success of the Spoken Gift Series.
Dr. Quinnett is a clinical psychologist, with over 35 years of
experience in the field of human behavior. The CEO and Director of QPR
Institute, Dr. Quinnett is considered a national
authority on suicide and depression. Dr. Quinnett has
written seven books, published in several languages, and distributed around the
world. His writings include psychological topics, as well as motivational,
guidance, ethics and antidotal content. Dr. Quinnett
is a well-traveled public speaker who has conducted engagements for large
groups, and provided narrative services for numerous audio-based projects. Dr. Quinnett will provide clinical content development,
corresponding script development, and narrative talent.
Dr.
States is the medical director of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, a
corporation dedicated to improving the health of adolescents, young adults and
their families through clinical methods and community education. Dr. States is
an internationally known climber, successfully ascending routes in
He
integrates his mountaineering experiences into his clinical work and seminar
series. For the past 15 years, Dr. States has traveled throughout the Northwest
teaching parents and professionals strategies to facilitate healthy families,
communities, and industries. These seminars have a unifying theme that promotes
understanding and peaceful conflict resolution. Dr. States will provide clinical content
development, applied to various subjects, including Balance, Change, and
Integrity.
Milton Creagh: (KREE uh)
Mr. Creagh is the president of Creagh
& Associates (C & A), a customer-oriented management training firm with
over 20 years of experience. C&A specializes in the areas of diversity,
team building, substance abuse prevention, work/family balance, leadership dynamics
and personal potential development.
Milton Creagh speaks to over 200,000 people annually and has been
a guest on CNN, TBN, Fox On Family, BET’s Screen Scene, and The Ananda
Lewis Show. He has been featured in The Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, Rockford
Register, Daytona News Journal, Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Salisbury
Post, Kansas Capital-Journal, Emporia Gazette, South Idaho Press and hundreds
of other newspapers around the country. Mr. Creagh
has also appeared in Upscale, Jet, Belle, and Right On! magazines.
Value Added Resellers (VAR’s)
The Company has
established numerous Value Added Resellers (VAR’s) representing The Company’s
products and services around the globe. VAR’s are currently operating in
several domestic markets, as well as internationally. VAR partners are
systematically pre-qualified, and receive distributor pricing on product. These
companies we be able to offer The Spoken Gift Series as another product to their clients.
The Shaped CD-ROM is a product that has evolved considerably since its development in 1997. Initial versions were the result of a patented, proprietary process, whereby a standard 5” diameter CD-ROM was “cut” to a desired shape. The product functions in most standard computer CD drive trays. As information on a CD-ROM is read from the center of the disc outward, a wide variety of shaped CD designs are possible. The essential design criteria dictates that the shape must incorporate at least two contact points where the edge of the disc aligns with the retaining edges of the CD drive tray.
A popular derivative of this process was the “Business Card” Shaped CD-ROM. This product is 80mm from side to side, and 53mm from top to bottom. The sides are rounded, and fit into an 80mm recess that is present in most CD drive trays, designed to accommodate 3” “mini discs”. The most popular format is capable of storing up to 50mb of digital information, and is commonly referred to as the “saddle card”. The product is light, small and convenient, replacing the standard “printed” business card. The product is small enough to be mailed for the price of a standard letter, cutting burdensome postage costs normally associated with printed materials
New processes of creating Shaped CD-ROM’s, particularly the business card format, introduced product that was Molded, as opposed to cut, resulting in a more stable medium. New business card shapes, including a rectangular format, became available. A retaining ring is molded into the card, for positioning in the drive tray recess. The new format offers more similarity to the standard shape of a traditional printed card.
In addition to the Shaped CD-ROM, recordable versions are also available in several formats. Shaped CDR’s may be recorded using most standard CD writers, widely available in the consumer market. CDR’s are currently available in Full Size, 3” Mini, 50mb “Saddle” card and 2.5” x 3.5” Rectangular card formats. Laser and Inkjet printable adhesive label sheets are also available.
Services
The Company provides
related peripheral services to clients, on a per-hour or per-project basis.
These services include:
Conceptual
Development
Market
Consulting
Content
Development and Production Services
Web
Development and Management Services
Programming
Video Compression
3D
Video Production
The Company
currently maintains a qualified staff of multimedia developers, video experts,
conceptual and marketing professionals, web designers, and programmers. The
Company is equipped with state-of-the-art production equipment and software. In
conjunction with internal capabilities, The Company contracts with various
outside resources to provide other related services. These capabilities and
facilities are ideally suited to the development and evolution of the Spoken Gift Series.
Sales and Marketing
With target markets defined, The Company will embark on an aggressive campaign to introduce and promote the Spoken Gift Series.
The Plan
The digital explosion has opened the door to countless new innovative marketing solutions. Providing these “solutions” is the basis for The Company’s business activities. The sales & marketing plan for the Spoken Gift Series utilizes all traditional avenues of sales, including:
· Direct Sales
· Telemarketing
· Direct Mail
· Internet
· Business & Personal References
· VAR (Value Added Resellers)
A prospect database will be established. Printed literature, along with packaged sample shaped-CDs, will be used to promote The Spoken Gift Series. Additionally, a comprehensive web-site will be developed, and search engine registration will be executed.
The Spoken Gift
Series Master Vehicle
The Spoken Gift Series Master Vehicle is the package of printed information and promotional materials, representing the entirety of The Spoken Gift Series products, sent to potential prospects. It incorporates print, digital and Internet technologies to provide a complete marketing and sales presentation about The Company and its products
CD-Card
The heart of The Spoken Gift Series promotion is a proprietary, shaped CD-ROM (CD card). The sample will be packaged and labeled with the corresponding Spoken Gift Series topic. The CD card will contain:
· A demonstration of the fully functional Spoken Gift Series product.
· a multi-media overview about The Company and the Spoken Gift Series in general;
· listings of advantages and benefits;
· contact links to the Spoken Gift Series web site and email.
As a promotional disc, the CD stands as a representation of the very product it promotes. Its content reflects the highest levels of quality, creative innovation and technical adaptation.
Print
The flagship of the Spoken Gift Series print information is a multi-page, 5”x6” 4-color, high gloss, promotional literature designed as a stand-alone, or to accompany and support The Company’s digital, multi-media, CD-Rom presentation.
The Company’s printed package includes:
· Introduction Letter;
· an Overview of The Company;
· Description of Services;
· Listing of Spoken Gift Series Products;
· Information on Content Development;
· Pricing Sheet; and
· Sales and Purchase Agreement
In addition to Master Vehicle insert materials Spoken Gift Series printed peripherals include:
· Master Vehicles Letterhead/Envelopes
· CD Card Mailer Sleeves
· Business Cards
· Promotional Flyers
· Labels and Packaging
Internet
A critical cog in the marketing mix is on-line exposure,
via The Spoken Gift Series web site.
The site will be completely designed, registered and maintained by The Company,
with internal web design and management professionals on staff.
VAR (Value Added
Resellers)
An aggressive effort will be implemented to build a
network of VAR (Value Added Reseller) relationships with companies, throughout
the world. These companies act as independent agents, in concert with their own
business activities, representing The Company and its product line. VAR’s have
already been established in numerous cities around the
To facilitate the VAR program, The Company will establish a wholesale price schedule applicable only to the VAR program. VAR partners benefit from the additional revenue opportunity, as well as being able to provide access to the latest marketing avenues to their clients, customers and associates.
Pricing
The Spoken Gift Series incorporates valuable content. As value is placed on the printed words of a book, so too are the spoken words and visual embellishments of the product. As such, more latitude is available for significant margins.
The product is in direct line with the current capabilities of The Company. All design, manufacturing and sales requirements for the Spoken Gift Series are currently in place, and have an optimum advantage in cost savings.
Both as an audiobook and a specialty advertising product, the Spoken Gift Series will realize margins that are not as easily dictated by competition. Content is both proprietary and copyright protected.
Pricing will be based on acceptance in the market of audio-only products, and slightly higher, touting the enhancements of visual, interactivity, connectivity, value-added components, cost of distribution, response value, and customization capacity.
Investment
An Investment opportunity will be made available to a limited group of interested parties. Please direct inquiries to:
Craig S. Sorenson
President
Craig S. Sorenson & Associates, LLC
208-704-1199