Sometimes when people ask me what I do, I say, “I order pens.”

That’s a simplification, but an accurate one. I manage the “outside” items AB&C buys for our clients: printing, billboards, displays, giveaways — that sort of thing.

I’m that annoying person who insists on facts: when, where, how much, what color, what size.Read full post...

How does an ad agency not become the shoemaker’s child?

By doing its own advertising and marketing. As a 43-year-old agency that expanded into the city of Philadelphia — known for cheesesteaks, relentless sports fans and a statue of Rocky at the steps of the Art Museum — AB&C wanted to be noticed. And kick-ass print ads alone weren’t gonna cut it. Giving back to the community in some way seemed like a bright idea. So we came up with a way to help a local business grow, which in turn would help the community grow: a competition — just like the Hunger Games — to find a great business with an innovative idea. The reward? A year’s worth of free marketing services. (OK, it was nothing like the Hunger Games. That would’ve gotten us noticed for all the wrong reasons.)

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Nobody has to tell you times are tough. Budgets are tight. And senior execs at your hospital or health system likely believe your efforts to attract physicians and advance practitioners are getting more expensive. And to an extent, they’re right — because they only look at recruitment as an expense.Read full post...

It’s been said that good fences make good neighbors. On the flip side of that, particularly in the advertising industry, open doors create an atmosphere where misunderstandings are prevented and teamwork can flourish.Read full post...

Pete Merzbacher and Philly Bread will receive a free year of marketing services from AB&C.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Philly Bread is the inaugural Philadelphia business winner of the Lightning in a Bottle Competition, which was announced in a live awards ceremony held on Thursday evening at the Quorum at the University City Science Center. The competition for city businesses was the brainchild of Aloysius Butler & Clark, a full-service marketing communications agency.

Philly Bread, located on North 5^th Street, is in the initial stages of introducing an improved English muffin, dubbed the ”Philly Muffin.” The company was awarded a year’s worth of free marketing services from AB&C as a result of the competition.Read full post...

Web Health Awards

PHILADELPHIA, PA — AB&C, a full-service marketing communications agency, earned gold, silver and bronze at the Health Information Resource Center’s 16^th annual Web Health Awards. AB&C’s website for Westside Family Healthcare’s Celebrate 25 Years campaign won the gold award. The Delaware Office of Highway Safety’s DUI prevention campaign and the American Nurses Association’s NDNQI® site both earned silver awards. Finally, bronze was awarded for the agency’s own website, MissingPhysician.com, which enables health systems and hospitals to calculate revenue lost through unfilled physician positions.

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Pull up your favorite beach chair, grab a drink with a little umbrella in it and take a look at some tourism creative from, you guessed it, those cool characters at AB&C.

Print ad: Southern Delaware

Print ad: Southern Delaware

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Rev. Nicholas Waseline (left) and Rev. Roberto Balducelli (right)

WILMINGTON, DE—In honor of the legendary Rev. Roberto Balducelli, the 2014 St. Anthony’s Italian Festival Cultural Committee will honor Dr. Jack Varsalona with the Rev. Roberto Appreciation Award. Father Roberto, a beloved figure in the Wilmington community for more than half a century, died last year on the eve of his 100^th birthday. St. Anthony’s created this award, named in his honor, to recognize local leaders in the Italian-American community who promote the Italian culture. The Wilmington parish will present the inaugural award to Dr. Varsalona—the president of Wilmington University—at the Italian Festival’s Gala Concert, which will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, at St. Anthony’s on 9^th and Scott in Wilmington.Read full post...

Wilmington’s Favorite Festival Set for June 8 to 15

WILMINGTON, DE — St. Anthony of Padua will host its 40^th annual Italian Festival, beginning Sunday, June 8. For 2014, the Festival is highlighting the Ascoli Piceno, a town in the Le Marche region of Italy. Many Italian-Americans in the St. Anthony’s Parish and the Wilmington area can trace their heritage to this region.Read full post...

# 11 – I can write my blog with pen and paper if I want to.

The hashtag #agencylife has come into the advertising scene with a clear purpose — to let our friends who chose a profession in finance, medicine or law know that we’re having more fun at work than they are. Being quirky, spontaneous and fun breeds creative intelligence here at AB&C, and it’s important to showcase that. If you visit the popular blog http://thisadvertisinglife.tumblr.com/ it’s apparent that your #agencylife experiences are similar to everyone else’s.Read full post...

Bear, DE — Traditionally held in July, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Family Carnival will now open on Monday, June 9, and run through Saturday, June 14, at 345 Bear Christiana Road in Bear. On-site admission is $5 for ages 13 to 64, free for seniors, and free for children under the age of 12 (must be accompanied by an adult). Discounted passes are available in advance, with weekly passes for $10 and Mega-Passes (which include unlimited rides) for $35. Starting May 3, the parish will sell these passes at its office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and after each mass. On-site parking is free.Read full post...

Abington Health, a healthcare system with locations throughout Montgomery and Bucks counties, conducted research showing that consumers and employees had low awareness of the advanced and complex services available throughout the system. After many brainstorming sessions and concept meetings, Abington Health and AB&C found a solution to the problem and the “Power” campaign was born.Read full post...

With no speaking notes for nearly 30 minutes, Durant spoke from the heart with a humility unseen and unheard of in today’s professional sports world.

By textbook and tradition, we in PR are in the business of influencing, and frequently, outright changing perceptions.  We try to inform and educate. Sometimes we are given great stories to tell; more commonly we’re asked to elevate the mundane or, perhaps too often, gild the less positive aspects of a situation.Read full post...

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Lightning in a Bottle Competition is gaining momentum in Philadelphia. The competition is searching the city for businesses that can help Philly grow, and offering a free year of marketing services to the winner. Current entries reflect a wide spectrum of industries. Businesses with a viable product, an innovative way to create new jobs, a service to benefit residents, or similar ideas, can enter at LightningInABottleAward.com.

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