Case Studies

FIRST SECURITY BANK'S Grand Openings:
FSB selected us to create, construct and manage their new grand opening campaign to open 40 new in-store branch offices. We developed a system that included a custom-built signage program, point-of-sale displays, an event that included a cash booth, a wheel of fortune and a traveling popcorn machine. The event had a "Hollywood Premier" look and feel that even included a red carpet and special costuming for branch employees.

All First Security was required to do was to give us the dates and addresses of future grand openings. We took over from there. We had the crates of materials delivered to the site prior to the event, including clear instructions in print and on video of how to set up the event in many cases we traveled with the event and set it up personally. After the event, we had everything disassembled and brought back to us to be cleaned and prepped for the next event.

Many times, various branches would only want a certain component of the event to use for a promotion. In these cases, they would contact us and we would manage the elements requested, including delivering them and picking them up. When Wells Fargo took over, we continued the program by retrofitting the elements to be Wells Fargo branded.

Financial Institution's "Closed Signage" Program:
As simple a task as it may seem to have a sign that identifies when a branch office would be closed, when you manage 300 plus branches and have more than bankholidays, it gets surprisingly complex. With First Security Bank, we managed their entire program, from creating the look and feel of the signs to production and fulfillment. First Security's marketing department received a signs program that was affordable, efficient and hassle-free.

We managed the order process, production and shipping to each branch. Each branch received a specific number of signs for each holiday along with counter cards and the hardware to hang the signs. When more was needed, they contacted us directly, making it an easy job for FSB.

Our signs program has grown from 300 packages of signs to over a thousand packages each year. We now manage this program for nearly 300 banks and credit unions. Orders of holiday signs average between 1,100 and 1,500 each year. But, we're always working to provide even better service. Last year we implemented a program where orders could be made online.

WELLS FARGO'S Monthly Promotional Campaigns:
If you think all bank branches are pretty much created equal, they're not. Not in a marketing sense anyway. In-store branches have distinctly different marketing requirements. We have a long, successful history of creating smart, effective campaigns for in-store bank branch campaigns that result in new depositors and increased account activity. To cite examples, we created and produced a monthly and bi-monthly promotion for the in-store branches of First Security Bank (recently acquired by Wells Fargo Bank). Each promotion included full color posters, light box posters, point-of-sale displays, tent cards, contest entry boxes and entry forms, and instructions for assembly. We packaged and mailed each promotion to over 40 branches throughout the western United States. Whenever possible, we created a package that would hold all the components. Since we are online with various shippers, shipments are picked up from our dock.

FIRST SECURITY'S Annual Employee Training:
First Security Bank also hired us to create and implement the annual employee training/incentive program to be used systemwide. This program included establishing a theme, a weekly lesson and test, a rewards program and an inter-branch contest. We created and produced the program and managed the fulfillment of each weekly mailing to the managers of the over 300 branches.

FIRST SECURITY'S Seasonal Promotions:
In addition to the regular monthly or bi-monthly mailings to the 40 in-store branches, we managed the seasonal promotions to the entire network of over 300 branches. These promotions included the creation, production, fulfillment and acquisition of incentive/promotional items. We assembled the elements then packaged and shiped the complete campaigns to all the branches. Some of these promotions were as simple as a few posters and counter cards. Others were as complex as custom produced displays, gift items, prizes, various unique sign systems, training videos, etc. Again, all the components came to our warehouse and were packaged and shipped to branches throughout the western U.S.

PRIME OPTION MASTERCARD'S Roadside Kit:
Prime Option, a credit card company, asked us to develop an incentive program to revitalize a segment of their cardholders base. We responded by designing a mail campaign that offered an incentive of a free roadside kit for those cardholders that had not previously used their MasterCard. We put together the kit using components from Asia and the US. By putting the kit together ourselves rather than simply buying a standard kit, we saved the client about $7.00 per kit. With 30,000 kits being produced, the savings added up.

All the components were delivered to our warehouse, where crews assembled the kits and boxed them ready for shipment. As cardholders responded to our direct mail campaign and used their MasterCard to make qualifying purchases, we received their data electronically from which we generated shipping labels and fulfillment reports. Each evening UPS picked up the outgoing packages. Shipments could be as small as one or as many as several thousand. The program was slated to last 90 days, but due to its success, was extended to run nearly 6 months.

PRIME OPTION MASTERCARD'S Door Hangers:
Another promotion for Prime Option MasterCard included a mailing with a fulfillment program attached. The promotion consisted of holiday door hangings (Halloween Skeleton, Thanksgiving Turkey and Christmas Snowman) to encourage cardholders to activate their cards prior to the holiday season. It also required the hand assembly of packages to be sent to the cardholders who activated their cards. Like the roadside kit, electronic data files were sent to us, enabling the fulfillment of these door-hanging kits as cardholders qualified. Unlike the roadside kits where one or two could be sent daily, we held and batched groups of 200 or more to take advantage of postage savings. Again, this was a 90-day promotion.

PRIME OPTION MASTERCARD'S Cookbooks:
Prime Option asked us to develop a loyalty program for their regular cardholders. We put together a gift idea that involved producing a custom cookbook to be given to cardholders as an acknowledgement of their one year anniversary. This required the production of all the cookbooks in December with the fulfillment taking place throughout the year.

Each month we would package and mail between 20,000 and 50,000 cookbooks. The package included the cookbook, a newsletter explaining the gift, the mailing information card and a protective cardboard card. We had to carefully design the package and shipping materials to keep the entire package under 16 oz., allowing us to retain the postage at the standard rates. The client saved tens of thousands of dollars.

Because we anticipated that the cookbook would generate inquiries, both about the gift and the recipes we presented in the cookbook, we included our toll free number for customers to call if they had questions.

PRIME OPTION MASTERCARD'S Music CD:
The CD program for Prime Option was similar to the cookbook loyalty program, though it required more hand assembly and additional response on the back-end. This mailing offered customers a free music CD if they used their Prime Option MasterCard, or they could get a discount on a JVC CD player. It also included an option for a tape instead of a CD if they preferred. We arranged for the direct sale of JVC CD players, all the order taking and the credit card processing here at Merrell Remington. This was a year-long campaign with between 20,000 and 50,000 CDs mailed each month. We handled customer responses throughout the year. We're still receiving inquiries and orders from the CD mailing. back to top