GroupLevinson Public Relations

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Data Display Systems, a vertically integrated technology company with a SaaS business model. We serve the point-of-purchase display industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

We’d been in business for almost 50 years but never had a marketing strategy. I came in 2016, and we started branching out from our original retail-based business for point-of-purchase displays into other markets. We needed someone with branding, PR, and social media experience to develop a good marketing strategy.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GroupLevinson Public Relations created our three-pronged business strategy to market our three independent business segments. They got us on podcasts and articles and wrote press releases on new products. For example, we acquired a company during our engagement, and they got us into trade journals, a white paper, and an article in retail design.

They also worked on email campaigns and did a complete overhaul of our WordPress website. Additionally, they did posts and newsletters for social media, setting up our Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4–5 teammates throughout the project, but our main contacts were Leo (CEO) and the social media person.

How did you come to work with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

I found them online. I looked for PR and marketing agencies, and they came up on Clutch. Additionally, Leo was a union league member, so I met him there as well.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2020–January 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The marketing strategy put our organization on the right track. They recast our business from a single-focused retail point-of-purchase display business to a technology company with three distinct market and business segments. All in all, GroupLevinson Public Relations helped us tremendously.

How did GroupLevinson Public Relations perform from a project management standpoint?

They met deadlines and stayed on budget. We communicated through personal meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of their work was outstanding; GroupLevinson Public Relations did an incredible job on the marketing strategy, branding, and logo development.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing they could improve on was Google Ads. They tried to work on it, but they weren’t effective. Although to be fair, we didn't allocate the funding they requested or allow this to extend past three months.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The best advice I can give is to let GroupLevinson Public Relations do their job. Allow internal team members to focus on what they’re good at, and rely on GroupLevinson Public Relations’ opinion because they’re great at what they do.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior vice president for the Bank of Princeton located in Philadelphia. We were looking to expand out and do commercial lending in broader markets in Philadelphia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

We were opening a new branch in the downtown marketplace in Philadelphia and we hired GroupLevinson Public Relations to help us open up and introduce ourselves to the area.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve worked with us to develop some of the messaging and developing a strategy to get name recognition in the area. Directly in front of the new branch is a newsstand, and their team has been key to getting that newsstand for us and getting a contract for it to be in our colors with our name and information on it. They’ve ensured we have signage in the area. 

They’ve given us options and allow us to choose which strategies we like best for our budget and bank. They give us suggestions for advertising, marketing lists, and strategic placements and our marketing department picks what makes the most sense. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Leo (CEO) and Eve (Public Relations Director)

How did you come to work with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

They’ve had a terrific reputation for many years in the area. I’ve known of Leo for many years and we’re union league members together, so we’ve always had a passing relationship. When it came time to do the expansion, I narrowed my list down to a few players in Philadelphia. I wanted to make sure we’d get the right level of attention and someone who would know and work with us and give us new ideas. 

After talking to various options, GroupLevinson Public Relations was the best one to work with us. We’re a small bank in the scheme of everything, so it’s important to have a marketing and communication partner that relates well to us so we can have a good working relationship.

What is the status of this engagement?

Though our discussions started earlier, we started working with them in February 2020 and our engagement is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’ve been very pleased with their work. We’re opening another ATM facility in a couple of weeks and we’re doing bigger things to tie in our local branch, too. We’re looking forward to working with them in the future based on how things are going. 

How did GroupLevinson Public Relations perform from a project management standpoint?

We have great access to their team. They’re very creative people who do a really fine job. Leo is very attentive and we’ve had no problems. They’re accessible; I can pick up the phone to call them and their follow-up is impeccable. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a lot of interesting ideas for us to consider and we really appreciate that. They’ve been terrific. They’re communicative and open, providing us with a lot to think about and ways to attack the marketplace.

Leo has a very intelligent approach. He takes each project and does it on an individual basis, so I don’t feel like I’m getting someone else’s recycled strategy. Their work is new, fresh, and thought-provoking. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We have a working relationship and we’re not always easy as clients, but we hope to do a lot more work with them in the future. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive director of the Philadelphia Boys & Girls Choirs. We're an independent nonprofit that's been around for almost 50 years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

We needed higher visibility. Our boys choir needed new talent, and we were having big issues with recruitment. We wanted to heighten our visibility to increase the chance of more boys coming in to audition.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GroupLevinson helps us get high profile gigs. They've secured us tv appearances, spots singing at sporting events, which helps us with recruitment and promoting new talent. They help us figure out where we should perform a lot of the time and depending on the circumstances they're also involved in the logistics and the booking. They also help with all of our social media. They're in full control of our Facebook and Twitter accounts and run everything.

What is the team composition?

We have two points of contact from their team, one dedicated just to social media.

How did you come to work with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

We were looking for a new PR agency and one of our board members recommended them. We interviewed a number of agencies and we felt most comfortable with GroupLevinson.

How much have you invested with them?    

We've invested $90,000 over the course of three years.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2017, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

In terms of events, it's been really satisfying. We've been trying to get on national tv for years, and they managed to book us on The Today Show. In the past two years, we've had multiple appearances on The Today Show and its great visibility for us, and let's parents know who we are. As for sporting events, we had never performed for the Philadelphia Flyers, and GroupLevinson was able to book us to sing the national anthem for them. 

Those two things were crucial for recognition in this city. When we tried to book these events on our own, we couldn't do it because it takes a certain type of knowledge, tenacity, and dedication. They're very capable of stepping in wherever they're needed. Since working with them, our donations, ticket sales, and the number of children who audition have all increased.

How did GroupLevinson Public Relations perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very laid back, but very organized at the same time. They follow a very client-centric model; if I need something written up or to have a quick phone call, they get right on it. We're one of their smaller accounts but I never feel like I'm being treated like a small client. We have monthly in-person meetings to go over the social media results from the previous month.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It's a very low-key and low-stress relationship, which makes it very effective. I've dealt with very large PR firms in corporate America and there's a lot more moving parts and constant upselling. That type of hype isn't effective and isn't something that we as a nonprofit need. GroupLevinson actually gets what we need, and helps us with fresh ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We're an art client that produces music, and there's terminology and knowledge that comes with our work. If there’s anything at all that could be improved, it's their knowledge of our specific niche.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be very open about what's going on, where you're heading, and what's on the horizon. If things change, it's important to keep them in the loop, so they can make the most with the information they have. Even though they might not be in your office, it's a good thing to keep them in the loop.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Principal of Construction Claims Consultant and Expert Witness at Resolution Management Consultants. We work in construction, handling project management as well as dispute avoidance and resolution.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

We needed an outside marketing agency to help us with our brand and business exposure. We were looking to broaden our audience. We wanted to get clients to understand that we have a lot of knowledge about construction, not just project management. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They redid our entire website to make it more user-friendly and visually appealing. They assisted in content creation by drafting articles, social media posts, and updates. They also redid our business cards and logo. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Leo (CEO, GroupLevinson Public Relations) and 4-5 members of his team. Different people focused on different areas. Eve (Public Relations Director, GroupLevinson Public Relations) handles our LinkedIn and Facebook. Another team member reaches out to different publications so we can get more press exposure. 

How did you come to work with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

I met Leo through the Union League. I talked to others who had used his firm. We hadn’t previously considered hiring a PR firm. However, after some discussion, we realized this was the best way to address the challenge at hand. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested a little less than $200,000 so far. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing relationship began in June 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We have seen an uptick on LinkedIn and our website, as well as recognition by clients who wouldn’t have known who we were before. Our improved web presence also gives us additional credibility with clients who find us through referrals. 

How did GroupLevinson Public Relations perform from a project management standpoint?

Leo did an incredible job managing our resistance to change. He is helpful and cognizant of the fact that things change quickly. When court deadlines are suddenly mandated, all non-billable and administrative work falls to the wayside, including social media and web updates.

Leo and his firm have been great about staying on top of it and recognizing when we need additional support handling our PR strategy. We communicate at least weekly through email and meet monthly for at least an hour.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Our business is unique. We have had business development people come to work for us, thinking they know what to expect, but don’t. Leo’s firm has done a great job of understanding the nuances of our business.

We can’t share certain information such as a client’s specific problems on jobs. If there’s a big claim, the last thing the client wants is to see us put that out on social media. A lot of people we talked to didn’t understand the importance of confidentiality in our business. We wouldn’t get hired if clients thought we were going to air their problems in social media. 

However, Group Levinson Public Relations understood that. They were able to construct articles and social media posts that spoke in more general terms and were easy to be understood while avoiding mentioning specific clients. 

Leo and his team do a great job of understanding the uniqueness of the dispute avoidance and resolution side of our business. They’re excellent at presenting solutions that incorporate our feedback, making us feel heard and understood. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve had little cause for concern when working with Leo’s team. It’s not fair to put it as criticism, but the only situation there has been any concern about internally was to be sure when writing up any articles or social media posts, that things aren’t written in absolutes. 

We’ve struggled with that initially. However, within the past year, Leo’s team has done much better at understanding that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I have already recommended Leo to three firms. My advice to them was to put aside your initial concerns and reservations. Meet with Leo’s team and let them explain what they can do for you. Recognize there will be things you disagree with; explain why you think there are problems and they will help you work it out. 

The more you share with his firm, the more you’ll get out of them. I’m of a completely different mindset than I was before working with them. They’ve become invaluable to us.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the president and CEO of a Philadelphia-based Italian Ice company called Rosati Ice. We’ve been in business for over 100 years. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

We wanted to increase our brand recognition in the local market because Rosati Ice hadn’t done any PR campaigns for about 30 years. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Leo (CEO, GroupLevinson Public Relations) advises us and provides feedback on any PR decisions we make. The first big project Leo took on was promoting our 100 Years celebration in 2012. He does outreach to local news organizations and has come up with taglines to use on our advertisements and merchandise. 

What is the team composition? 

My main point of contact is the CEO, Leo. 

How did you come to work with GroupLevinson Public Relations?

Leo actually sought me out because he had experience doing PR for similar businesses and he had some ideas for how to increase Rosati Ice’s visibility.

I decided to meet with him, and we just hit it off. We’ve cultivated a personal and professional relationship over the course of our engagement. 

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent around $200,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2011, and our relationship is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

I can’t tie the work directly to sales, but it has certainly had an impact. Over the past decade, Rosati Ice’s sales have almost doubled.

Our brand recognition in the community has increased, and we’ve been featured in a number of news stories, including “FYI Philly” on WPVI-TV. Leo also helped us become the first non-dairy based product to be featured in Dairy Foods Magazine where we were given a 12-page spread.  

How did GroupLevinson Public Relations perform from a project management standpoint?

Leo and I typically work together in person since our businesses are in close proximity to each other. He is great at understanding the direction we want to take and building out a more detailed strategy from there. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Leo is great at taking my feedback and refining our ideas until they fit the needs of the business. He’s also very persistent and relentless when it comes to accomplishing goals. Nobody can do what he does better than him. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

No, he’s been spot on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Give GroupLevinson Public Relations as much information as needed for them to understand your business and goals. Be open-minded when exchanging ideas.