Laura Engel
making ideas happen
    • smart
    • creative
      • New Product Development
      • Original Art
      • Brand Identity
      • Package Design
      • Print & Digital Advertisements
      • Television Advertisements
    • connected
    • fun
      • Event Planning
      • Financial Analysis
      • Public Speaking
    • giving
    • available

    smart

    Flattery is nice, but to get my attention, say or do something smart.

    I have always appreciated intelligence. In social and business settings I generally gravitate to the philosophers, artists, entrepreneurs and executives in the room. I want to meet the person that can write elegant code, the kid with the clever business model, the artist that can design for beauty and function. If you are a philosopher that can deconstruct conventional wisdom and also articulate your vision for a reconstruction of the status quo, I want to know you.

    As far back as I can remember I have always wanted to know the details of another person’s mind. When I was 23 years old I was fortunate enough to meet Orville Redenbacher. I sat next to him at his 81st birthday dinner. I asked him what he attributed his success to because quite frankly he didn’t have a very flashy marketing campaign and just like me, had grown up a poor farmer in Southern Indiana.

    Orville told me that he made it to Purdue University on a scholarship and his family had agreed to send him away if he studied corn. Growing up in the corn belt I can appreciate the pressure his family put on him. He had to return home with knowledge of how to produce more yield for their crops. He decided to focus not on the plant, but on the kernel itself. Through his research in college he determined that if you could dry the kernel to a precise moisture level, every kernel would pop. Orville built a popcorn empire on his knowledge. Smart.

    I think that the time that I have put into my career has proven me well. I have a strong knowledge base in direct marketing, advertising, consumer package goods and business development. Business is my family’s corn and I am determined to increase the yield by studying the small kernels of knowledge and building on it. I think that is smart.

    How my smarts can benefit you:

    • Email Marketing

      Sending out emails is the number one way to generate revenue through online and digital marketing. Beyond campaign management, it is important for brands and marketers to understand everything from cadence and frequency, to open rates, click through rates, attribution, opt-out and how all of this interacts to affect delivery rate and conversions. Savvy consumers are demanding more content and relevant messaging. Brands need to understand segmentation and what actually drives sales. Privacy, hashed emails and third party list management can have some marketers feeling overwhelmed. I can help you navigate this immensely important, ever changing landscape and help you drive sales in all platforms with a dedicated email plan.

    • Direct Mail

      Print is not dead! There are still print vehicles that generate revenue week over week, month over month and year over year for many brands. Print can support digital and social media.

      I have always focused on print advertising campaigns that do more than just enhance an omni-channel platform, but produce a positive return on investment for every dollar spent. The right product, the right offer and most importantly, the right print media – can and will – drive sales through all channels while making a profit.

      I have over 25 years’ experience in direct mail catalogs, newspaper advertisements, Sunday FSI’s, credit card syndication, shared mail and postcard mailings. Let me help you decide if print is right for you.

    • Direct Response TV Advertising

      The “As Seen On TV” industry has enjoyed phenomenal sales with hits that have become part of the fabric of America. The lure of selling 5, 10 even 20 million units via television keeps the television marketers driven to find the next big item.

      I have personal connections with the best of the best, including Allstar Marketing, the maker of the Snuggie™, Top Dog Direct, marketers of Be-Active™, and OnDemand, the folks that brought you Secret Hair™. With just one phone call I can put you in touch with the product development contact at the company that best aligns with your innovation. Coupled with insider knowledge on royalty rates, license deals and complete buy-outs, I can help you strike the best deal possible for your product or concept.

      Want to go it alone? I can pull together an independent team of professionals to help with the entire creative process including script and film production as well as recommend your partners for media buying, telemarketing, web development and fulfillment. Ask me how.

    • Intellectual Property

      I have learned everything I know about Intellectual Property management through the school of hard knocks. With over 35 patents, copyrights and trademarks under my belt, I have had (often the unfortunate) first hand experience of:

      • Patent Research
      • Patent Application
      • Utility vs. Design vs. Provisional Patents
      • Patent Infringement
      • Patent Defense
      • International Patents

      Not sure if I can help? Would a front page article in the Wall Street Journal about fighting Chinese pirates knocking off one of my patents put your mind at ease? It’s a lively read and available for free. Just contact me and I will send you a copy along with other articles about me and my products in the Chicago Sun Times, Today’s Chicago Woman, Crain’s and CBS Evening News.

    • Retail Distribution

      With over $150 Million in sales representing over $350 Million of retail sales, I have a keen understanding of sales distribution.

      • Mass Market
      • Independent Retailers
      • Online Retailers
      • Specialty Markets
      • Grocery & Drug Stores
      • Non-Traditional Markets

      From niche marketing to mass markets, I have experience you need to get your products on the shelf. Ready to talk?

    • Public Relations

      The power of the written word is fully realized when a press release elicits an article in a magazine, newspaper, television show, website or blog. When your product or service receives publicity, good or bad, there is an implied endorsement, giving instant credibility. The best way to achieve press is to provide content in the form of a press release. Great content and a compelling position can get you noticed. And the best thing of all – press begets press.

      Knowing how to leverage the written word is a skill that has served me well for many years. I can help you unlock the power of words so you get the press that you deserve.

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    What Do You Need?

    Strategic Partnerships
    New Product Development
    Marketing / Advertising
    Event Planning
    Public Speaking
    Financial Analysis
    New Business Development
    Original Artwork
    Increased Revenue
    Fundraising
    Laura Engel

    Experience!

    20 Years • 10,000+ Contacts • Fortune 100 • Fortune 500 • Fortune 1000 • Independent • Specialty • Mass • International • Print • Direct Response • TV

    Contact Laura

    773-454-7112
    laura@lauraengel.com
    Laura Engel is on LinkedIn

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    773-454-7112 | Email Me