Windsor/Detroit – Sep 7, 2017 – Douglas Marketing Group (DMG), an international marketing and communications firm with a 25+ year history of award-winning creative initiatives in a variety of business and consumer categories, is pleased to add several new awards to its collection.

A long-time leader in the development of wide-reaching healthcare branding campaigns that incorporate community education and fund development, DMG’s most recent awards encompass bold messaging in the areas of mental health and senior and community services.

DMG received a gold Summit Creative Award in the Complete Branding category for the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) of Windsor-Essex County. VON is longest-serving home and community health care charity in Canada. From launch event to visual and written messaging across a variety of communication channels, including fund development materials, direct mailers, website banners, online advertising, media and public display materials and banners, DMG succeeded in positioning VON of Windsor-Essex as the center of community care, with opportunities for strategic partnerships with complementary community groups to further expand VON’s social service message and capabilities. Of special note is DMG’s “It’s time we cook for you!” packaging and positive messaging for VON’s Meals on Wheels food delivery program.

Kay Douglas, DMG founder and president, commented on the VON campaign.

“With VON of Windsor-Essex, we welcomed the challenge of finding the right mix of communication tools to reach both a senior audience and those who care for them, as well as niche groups such as military veterans and charitably-minded individuals and community groups,” Douglas said. “The Summit Creative Award affirms our success in effectively tapping into multiple new and traditional messaging platforms, and we are grateful for the recognition.”

In the area of community mental health, DMG worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association of Windsor-Essex to create the Sole Focus Project – Take a Stand for Mental Health (http://solefocusproject.ca), winning a bronze Summit Creative Award in the Integrated Campaign/Not for Profit category and a previously announced Platinum Hermes Creative Award and a Gold Aster award for “Total Advertising Campaign in Healthcare Education.”

Designed to increase mental health awareness and community support for a mentally healthy region, as well as to create a legacy fund for education, training and treatment, t he Sole Focus Project was launched in two parts – through a teaser and reveal campaign – and engaged participation from local leaders across business, media, community, sports and more.  In the teaser campaign, identities were hidden by green shoe “soles” until the official campaign launch. From there, recognizable faces were revealed across the region through billboards and social media. The strategy behind the creative was to profile the people of Windsor-Essex as strong ambassadors for the cause. Broad reach through traditional and online channels was further magnified through communication partners in a variety of business and community sectors. Ultimately, people across the region were sharing their stories using #showyoursole, sparking important conversations and creating visible impact across the region.

DMG’s proprietary marketing brand management software and visual roadmap, DMG Big Picture Landscape® and its companion software,  ROIAlly®, the strategic marketing return on investment budget tracker, were used for the award-winning campaigns.  As an example of the power of the software to help clients meet marketing and fundraising goals, The Sole Focus project has already grown from two strategic partnerships to 23, enabling the client to more rapidly reach their fund development goal. Douglas notes the progressive adaptation of both software tools by CMHA have been tools for success.

“Not-for-profit organizations are recognizing the importance of streamlining and creating tools that expand a consistent message efficiently,” Douglas said. “The use of technology-based management of campaign materials, while tracking use and outcomes, must become the standard for organizations competing in the marketplace for awareness, funding and donations.”
With an early focus on technology, DMG’s proprietary software and trademarked and licensable marketing campaigns have been a key agency differentiator throughout the firm’s 25+ year history.  In addition to healthcare and community outreach and education, DMG uses its signature online/offline marketing strategies to reach target audiences in business, manufacturing, spirits, tourism, hospitality, and food production and processing. Boasting an international presence in both Canada and the U.S., the firm is also a thought leader in cross-border marketing initiatives. DMG is a multi-year winner of the Summit Creative, Aster, and Hermes Creative awards in categories including packaging, consumer websites, business to business websites and video production.

About Douglas Marketing Group  
Celebrating a quarter century of providing art- and technology-infused, relationship-based marketing solutions, Douglas Marketing Group (DMG) is the visionary behind the marketing brand management software and visual roadmap, DMG Big Picture Landscape® and its companion software, ROIAlly™, the strategic marketing return on investment budget tracker. With offices in Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Amherstburg and Welland, Ontario, the full-service marketing and communications firm offers international reach and local appeal. Learn more at http://www.experiencedmg.com