Marketing Factory, Inc. Announces New and Extended Honda Business and Addition of Alpine to Client Roster
VENICE, Calif.--Feb. 13, 2003--Venice, Calif.-Based Entertainment Marketing Agency Named Producer
of Honda's "Civic Tour" and Announces New Honda Element Promotion
marketingfactoryinc. (MFI), the Venice, Calif.-based boutique entertainment marketing agency continues to win key national consumer accounts, adding more muscle to its impressive brand roster which has included several campaigns for Honda and Acura as well as past projects for Nestle USA, Vans Warped Tour, Yahoo!, Sony PlayStation, MP3.com and others.
MFI was recently again selected by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., and Rubin Postaer and Associates to drive their popular annual entertainment property -- Civic Tour. Based on MFI's successful creation and production of Civic Tour over the past two years, Honda and their advertising agency have renewed their relationship with MFI to continue bringing the best bands to fans across the country. MFI also created and will implement the 2003 "Experience the Elements" promotion, a new entertainment marketing program supporting the introduction of the 2003 Honda Element -- part pick-up truck, part SUV -- which debuted in December 2002. In addition, Alpine Electronics, makers of car audio and navigation systems, recently enlisted MFI to promote "Non-Stop Music" as Alpine's 25th Anniversary theme through an exclusive partnership with the upcoming Civic Tour.
"The new year is off to a great start with the extension and expansion of Marketing Factory's relationship with Honda and Rubin Postaer along with our new partnership with Alpine," said Rob Tonkin, President/CEO of MFI. "We are looking forward to continuing the tremendous success of Civic Tour and to producing innovative new entertainment programs for our national clients as one of the innovative forerunners in the growing entertainment marketing industry."
Created by MFI in 2000 to help Honda introduce the redesigned 2001 Honda Civic model to the contemporary youth market through music, Civic Tour will continue to align Honda Civic with hip teenage and young adult consumers through exciting concert events and unique promotions. Civic Tour has featured popular music artists blink-182, Everclear and Incubus. MFI spearheaded key marketing and production aspects of the tours, from developing the concept to securing premier music talent to implementing unique local and national online, television and radio promotions. Honda and MFI will announce the headlining acts and dates for Civic Tour 2003 in the coming weeks.
In March, Honda and MFI will launch the "Experience the Elements" national promotion, which was created by MFI to support the introduction of the new Element -- Honda's light-duty truck -- to young drivers with active lifestyles. The "Experience the Elements" radio promotion will give consumers the opportunity to win adventure prizes representing the four elements of the universe, including snow boards (air), surfboards (water), mountain bikes (earth) and hot concert tickets (fire), as well as a grand prize 2003 Honda Element being given away in all 20 key markets across the nation.
Based in Venice, Calif., marketingfactoryinc. is a full-service boutique entertainment marketing agency that specializes in merging music and popular lifestyle brands. Since opening in 1999, marketingfactoryinc. has enjoyed successful partnerships with national clients by developing and producing innovative entertainment marketing campaigns. In September 2002 the marketingfactoryINK division was created to specialize in independent PR services, providing entertainment and corporate clients with fully developed and implemented campaigns on a uniquely individualized basis. marketingfactoryinc. created and produces "Civic Tour" for American Honda Motor Company, Inc., and has also worked with Acura on promotions and production for the 2002 "Acura Presents Santana" among other Acura tours. New in 2003, marketingfactoryinc. added Alpine Electronics to its client roster. marketingfactoryinc. has also stretched beyond the company's stronghold in the automotive world to produce the mp3.com "Live" tour for Heineken in 2001, along with music marketing programs for Pioneer Electronics, Vans Warped Tour, Nestle USA, Spin Magazine, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Yahoo!, Sony PlayStation, Diamond Rio, Wherehouse Music, OP, EIDOS Interactive and Feld Entertainment.
Honda is one of the world's leading producers of mobility products including its diverse line-up of automobiles, motorcycles and ATVs, power products, marine engines, and personal watercraft. This diverse product line-up has also made Honda the world's preeminent engine-maker, with production of more than 15 million engines globally in 2001. On a global basis, Honda has more than 110 manufacturing facilities in 31 nations. Honda began operations in North America in 1959 with the establishment of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda's first overseas subsidiary. Honda began assembling motorcycles in America in 1979, with U.S. automobile manufacturing starting in 1982. Honda now employs more than 21,000 Americans in the design, manufacturing and marketing of its products in America. Honda currently builds products in 11 manufacturing plants in North America, with three major R&D centers in the U.S.
Alpine Electronics is the world's leading mobile electronics system supplier and an ISO certified corporation. Alpine specializes in an integrated platform concept for mobile multimedia with premium components for digital audio/video media playback, digital broadcast reception, security and satellite linked navigation. With research and development facilities in Asia, Europe and the U.S., Alpine is the global leader for mobile sound systems and in-vehicle navigation for both after-market and OEM factory installations. Alpine Electronics is a consolidated subsidiary of Alps Electric Co., Ltd., one of the world's premier manufacturers of electronic components for computer, communications and car electronics equipment. In 2003, Alpine celebrates 25 years of bringing premium mobile electronics systems to consumers under the Alpine brand. Visit www.alpine-usa.com to learn more about Alpine products or to find an authorized retailer.