Our clients are as diverse as our service offerings.

Tramac and Geith

Tramac and Geith are leading brands in the construction equipment attachments sector.

Challenge
Generate editorial interest among trade publications for stories about construction equipment attachments like breakers, grapples, and thumbs which are very niche and, arguably, "un-sexy" products.

Solution
Interviewed national sales staff to uncover unusual customer stories, "how-we-solved-the-problem" feature stories, and other lessons from the field. The best were developed for pitching to trade pubs.

Developed new product innovation stories (e.g., a "value-priced" hammer for Doosan excavators combining the quality, engineering and leadership of Tramac with Doosan's value approach.) The first of a series.

Established a thought-leadership program utilizing guest-expert, bylined stories, the first discussing the importance of breaker maintenance.

Aggressively pitched national media sources prior to the 2010 National Demolition Association Show.

Results
Generated nearly 40 placements in national online and offline publications in less than a year of active media outreach.

Arranged four 1-on-1 meetings between reporters/ editors and Geith/Tramac staff to discuss new products at the National Demolition Association Show. Not only generated publicity at the show, but built and enhanced relationships for future media relations activities.

Services Provided
Case histories, press releases, media relationship-building, story pitching, trade show media management and media training

Parking Company of America

Parking Company of America (PCA) is one of the largest, private, family-owned parking companies in America, providing superior service to hotels, healthcare facilities, restaurants, airports, retail establishments, and property management companies.

Challenge
Despite 40 years in the business, PCAÕs messaging was neither consistent nor compelling. Finding and telling their unique story was the goal.

"We did an assessment of our business that showed our strengths were day-to-day operations and historical focus," says Susana Chavez, executive VP of family-run PCA. "But our marketing efforts were weak. We really needed help to get our marketing on track."

Solution
The top priority was development of a marketing communications plan, focusing on correcting the misperception that PCA worked only in surface parking. Then, to increase awareness in a highly competitive industry, FMC created communications materials, including print collateral and a web site, neither of which PCA had.

"We interviewed a lot of companies, but Flashlight really 'got' what we were doing in the first meeting," Chavez says. "They not only presented us in a clear, concise way, but also in a new and powerful way that captured what our company is all about."

Results
Focused, consistent messaging points became the foundation for all of PCA's communications. These provided the basis for development of the web site, print collateral and advertising. One of the first uses of the new messaging platform was in a profile article in an Atlanta business publication.

"From day one, Flashlight was extremely resourceful, uncovering the details of what was happening in and around PCA," Chavez says, "They used those details to create messaging and materials that articulated our strengths."

Services Provided
Communications strategy planning, message points

Utilities and Analyses, Inc.

Utilities Analyses Inc. (UAI) is an energy cost auditing company working for some of America's largest companies. They analyze energy spending, existing contracts and all available energy options, then negotiate with utility companies for more favorable rates and terms.

Challenge
To better understand what made UAI unique, Flashlight interviewed a number of their clients. Competitors were also analyzed to better isolate UAIÕs key points of difference. Key findings were melded into a new, more plain-spoken messaging platform with supporting "proof points." A comprehensive marketing communications plan was developed that UAI could implement over time, using either their own internal resources or Flashlight.

Solution
Interviewed national sales staff to uncover unusual customer stories, "how-we-solved-the-problem" feature stories, and other lessons from the field. The best were developed for pitching to trade pubs.

Results
The new messages were woven into web site copy, sales collateral, and a corporate capabilities PowerPoint presentation. UAI is using the suite of tools to market themselves with a tighter, clearer story focused on the "what's-in-it-for-me" benefits for customers.

"We appreciate your approach in listening to communications. Throughout our process, I found your team to be very client-oriented, listening and seeking to understand our key issues." – Kevin Shaw, President

Services Provided
Marketing communications strategy planning, key message points, web copy, sales collateral, search engine-friendly copywriting

Georgia Partnership
for Excellence in Education

Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE), a non-profit, non-partisan organization of business, education, community and government leaders seeking to shape policy and reform public education.

Challenge
Drive traffic to the site and keep it fresh.

GPEE had launched a new website to promote best practices in public education, education research and issues, and provide the latest education news.

"After its launch, the site expanded to the point where I was spending 75% of my time maintaining content, and my background in site management was limited," says Communications Director Bill Maddox. "We needed someone with the expertise and time to devote to the site so that it would continue to be the resource we had envisioned."

Solution
Flashlight's web experts took over daily site manage- ment, providing ongoing content, plus counsel on overall website strategy, site structure, and industry best practices.

"The site is a much better product than it was before FMC," Maddox says. "Their expertise far outdistanced our in-house capability, and we now contact them on a variety of website-related issues that they either solve or interface with the Web provider for ultimate solutions."

Results
Site traffic has increased each year, Results and the site was awarded the Georgia School Public Relations Association Golden Apple First Place Award two years in a row. More importantly for Maddox, he's now spending more time on other priorities.

"Flashlight gave me back the flexibility to devote time and energy to more strategic communications issues that need to be addressed," he says. "They offers professional expertise, and has a professional network at their disposal, yet they also offer a personal relationship with a 'teammate' attitude."

Services Provided
Web strategy consultation, web content development