Automotive Group Signs PR Deal With Berkman
As Stoorza Communications completes its move into new offices, the official date is still being finalized for Matthews/Mark’s move into Stoorza’s former 18th floor home at 225 Broadway.
Both marketing firms are remaining in Downtown San Diego.
Matthews/Mark is planning to be in its new offices within the first two weeks of December, said Jim Matthews, the company’s chairman and CEO.
The building at 225 Broadway has been called the Home Savings Tower and is now becoming recognized for its new NBC logo. Local affiliate KNSD-TV is expected to begin broadcasting out of new ground-floor studios there in December.
As of last week, Stoorza has moved into new offices on 610 W. Ash, better known as the old Burnham building, said Stoorza President John Spelich.
According to Matthews, his company’s lease was up in its current building at 6th Avenue and C Street.
The company has been in the C Street building for about 13 years. In that time, it had expanded from half a floor to two floors, he said. It now occupies 19,600 square feet.
However, the space wasn’t used as effectively as it could, Matthews said. Also, in renewing the lease, the company would have to pay more for rent, he said.
As a result, Matthews/Mark had been looking at new spaces for a couple of months.
The single floor at the 225 Broadway building is 14,835 square feet, Matthews said. He wouldn’t disclose how much the company will pay for rent, but did say the new suites will save the firm a “significant” amount compared to what it would have spent at its C Street offices.
Matthews is planning to make some changes to the new offices, but not as many as there could have been.
At various times, Stoorza has run an advertising practice, as well as the public relations work it’s always done, out of the 18th floor office.
As a result, there are enough conference rooms and brainstorming areas, Matthews said. The changes will involve tearing down some walls and opening up the suite a little more, he said.
He also plans to make the atmosphere a little “warmer,” Matthews said.
As for Stoorza, the new offices on West Ash will be about 4,500 square feet, Spelich said.
Both Stoorza and Matthews/Mark have had layoffs this year.
Stoorza’s downsizing was larger and more complex. It sold its political consulting practice in San Diego and its offices in two other California cities to the managing partners who ran them.
The different actions brought the official number of employees down from 90. As of last week, there were 12 employees, Spelich said.
Last month, Matthews/Mark confirmed it had laid off five employees. The company has 54 employees, Matthews said.
Now, he said, the company is looking forward to the future and sees Matthews/Mark’s move as a good sign in the current, struggling economy.
“We’re happy that we’re able to do this,” Matthews said, noting, “it represents growth in a different manner.”
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Status Chart:
Berkman Communications recently signed new public relations client Cush Automotive Group. No financial details were released. Berkman is expected to help launch Cush’s eighth dealership, Cush Aston Martin. Mentus signed Biocom, the regional group of life science and medical device companies. The PR and marketing firm will be handling public relations for Biocom’s annual CALBIO summit conference, which is planned for April in San Diego. Mentus said it also signed Elitra Pharmaceuticals, Eunoe, GeneOhm Sciences and Idun Pharmaceuticals. All are based in San Diego, except Eunoe, which has headquarters in Redwood City. Del Mar-based graphic design firm Goss Keller Martinez recently signed to do projects for: local pharmaceutical company Attenuon; locally based Genteon, Inc., which develops and manufactures scientific instruments; and Allergy-Free, a Houston-based company that sells products designed to reduce exposure to indoor allergens. California CEO recently released a new rate card. According to the company, it is lowering prices for locally owned and operated California companies. The magazine is owned by Fivash Media Group in Seattle, but has editorial offices in San Diego and Fremont.
Saucy Project:
Locally based Nautilus Design recently designed and handled project management for two 35-foot-tall models of Heinz ketchup bottles.
In June, Heinz struck a marketing deal that names the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new stadium Heinz Field and gives the company the right to promote its brand and products.
The models are being placed beside the stadium scoreboards, and when the team gets within 20 yards of scoring, the bottles are designed to tilt downward and would-be ketchup starts to flow, with an urge for the team to “pour” on the points.
Nautilus’ New York office managed the project, but the company’s home office in La Jolla did the research and design.
The deadline for the next Media & Marketing column is Nov. 21. Rodrigues can be reached at (858) 277-6359, Ext. 107, or via e-mail at trodrigues@sdbj.com.
