• Six Ways to Improve Your Spokesperson Skills

    Chris Shigas , VICE PRESIDENT Find the Right Message If you could tell the world one thing about your company, what would it be? Whether you are making a new business pitch, delivering your elevator speech, holding a press conference or chatting with a neighbor, there are...
  • The Evolution of Branding

    Jack Glasure , Chief Marketing Executive Natural Selection NOUN: The process in nature by which, according to Darwin's theory of evolution, only the organisms best adapted to their environment tend to survive and transmit their genetic characteristics in increasing numbers to succeeding...
  • 2084: Predicting the Future of Marketing

    Wendy McCarthy , VICE PRESIDENT   Inspiration is a funny thing. In 1949, George Orwell was inspired by Stalinist Russia. He wrote the novel “1984,” describing in haunting detail the taste of victory gin and the control of information by thought police. In 1984,...
  • Uncovering the Marketing Jewel

    Barrie Hancock , Vice President   What do an independent gemological institute, a new category of jewelry and a fine art jewelry designer have in common – aside from the obvious? They all selected FWV to identify their ownable selling propositions or marketing “jewels"...
  • Brand Marketing - So, What's the Secret?

    DAVID GYWN , EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER   I am constantly asked by associates, friends and even family, “What is the key to being a good brand marketing consultant?” My simple answer is… Traditional Planning, Culturally Relevant Creativity, and...
  • Changing Perceptions: Evolution of Iconic Fashion Brands

    CARRIE GRANDITS , GROUP ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Speedo is the world’s number one swimwear brand. It’s worn by top Olympians, aspiring Olympians and is a trusted, quality brand that mom buys for the whole family. People really haven’t thought of the brand as fashionable or sexy...
  • Virtual Marketing in Second Life

    Chris Shigas , VICE PRESIDENT In a world of rapidly changing communication technology, brands have to keep pace. You may read blogs, listen to podcasts and fast forward through television commercials on your DVR. French/West/Vaughan is exploring new mediums to build strong relationships...
  • Ten Years in the Blink of an Eye

    Lauren Taylor , EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & PARTNER As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, thoughts wander back to the beginning in April 1997 when there were four of us sitting in downtown Raleigh office space one quarter of what we have now. There was an element of anxiety...
  • Lessons from the People's Republic of China

    Rick French , Chairman, President & CEO I traveled to Beijing and Shanghai as a delegate of the Council of PR Firms to learn more about how PR is practiced in the People's Republic of China, as well as discuss with the Chinese government its policies regarding media censorship. It was a...