Weaving form, function and the brand promise together, MAI works to help clients develop engaging branded environment solutions.
Our expertise includes:
- Strategic planning and concept development
- Design and prototyping of new components
- Refinement of existing products
As the clearinghouse for all merchandise connected to a client's branded environment, MAI is diligent about overseeing all aspects of production – from managing reorder points for merchandise to ensuring materials arrive at their destination undamaged and on time.
MAI manages your branded environment merchandise like it's our own. We provide customized reporting and management tools that give you real-time access to order activity, inventory levels and more.
Our central Midwest location in suburban Chicago guarantees shorter transit times and lower shipping costs – no matter what the order destination:
- Pick/pack/ship
- Warehousing and inventory management (including receiving and cycle counts)
- Supplier integration, insurance and legal management
- Returns / replacement management
MAI taps both domestic and global resources to source and procure merchandise. We take 100% responsibility for quality control and timely merchandise delivery. And because we serve as a single point of contact, you'll save time and money.
Whether orders for merchandise are placed online through custom ordering portals or via telephone, MAI's integrated customer service center ensures secure and safe processing. Our central Midwest location offers optimal time zone coverage as well as:
- Co-op fund management
- Claims processing
- Shipping and delivery coordination
- Email / chat management
Our in-house team of IT specialists works with clients to establish their specific program reporting needs. We make it easy for you to monitor and track all program-related activity as well as your program's ROI.
MAI offers white glove installation services upon request. This can include assembly of branded merchandise, installation of special fixtures, unpacking and removal of packing materials – whatever it takes to make the delivery and set up smooth!
Unique store-within-a-store showroom concept delivers brand loyalty for Mohawk tile and stone products.
Every brand has a story to tell. Our branded environment solutions allow you to strengthen the brand experience across physical environments by letting people interact with your brand in physical spaces. MAI can extend the brand experience to stores, offices, exhibits, trade show and events – and provide all the back end support you need to analyze program effectiveness.
Whether you need a partner to help manage an existing branded environment program – or to assist in the creation of an entirely new program – MAI has the resources you need to create an integrated solution. Our team can work with you from concept through program implementation and management – or offer the flexibility of taking on responsibility for managing inventory, distribution and reporting for your existing program.
As a single point of contact for managing branded environment programs, MAI saves clients time and frustration while delivering bottom line savings and outstanding control.
Branded environments have a lot of moving parts. The challenge is to keep them all synchronized – and that’s where MAI shines. We know how to procure, warehouse and distribute branded materials better than anyone else. Our expertise makes managing your brand strategy across multiple physical locations simpler. In fact, MAI serves as a single source partner for clients who previously engaged with up to five different suppliers to get the same job done. Our turnkey services encompass:
Creating a branded environment is one thing. Managing it effectively – and keeping the people who need your branded environment materials satisfied – is an entirely different manner. One of the unique advantages MAI offers is the ability to offer a total solution with integrated contact center and fulfillment services for seamless management of:
Before partnering with MAI, every one of our branded environment clients struggled with being able to know exactly what was going on with their programs. Because they were working with multiple suppliers, it was easy for things to slip through the cracks or be mis-reported.
MAI’s talented team of IT professionals eliminates those kinds of hassles by working with clients to develop the customized tools, procedures and reporting modules you need to make good business decisions. Our approach puts you in complete control of your program with:
Keeping the components that comprise your branded environment program fresh and relevant is key to its ongoing success. MAI can assist in this area in several ways by tapping into our vast array of domestic and global resources. Our services extend to:
When you utilize MAI’s design and procurement services, you gain added peace-of-mind knowing that we take full responsibility for quality control and timely merchandise delivery. As your single-source contact, MAI will also save you time and frustration while improving your bottom line.
"The Bridgestone Firestone purchase resale program was initiated in 2000. The main objective of the program was to provide automotive dealerships, muffler and brake shops and general service stations with the support tools they needed to sell Bridgestone Firestone tires to end users."
- Bridgestone Americas
"We rely on MAI, an established provider of call center and fulfillment services, to deliver efficient service and unparalleled customer satisfaction. MAI has proven to be an excellent outsourced solution and a true business partner. The company’s background in marketing communications and brand support ensures we are being represented at the highest level possible."
- Tim Holody, Seta Corporation
"MAI recently completed its fifth season as Figi’s outsourced call center partner. We have gained incremental efficiencies year-over-year with regard to the program ramp up – not only from a human resources perspective, but from a technology and telephony standpoint as well."
Darcy Tudor, VP & Program Manager, MAI - Figi’s Gifts in Good Taste
"MAI developed, produced and monitored a direct mail initiative on behalf of ColeTaylorBank which has served the needs of Chicago area business for more than seven decades. The program achieved a 1% response rate and resulted in a sizable new account win, as well as valuable exposure to a group of highly targeted prospects."
- Cole Taylor Bank
"MAI had the I-PASS customer service/transponder fulfillment program up and running in half the time originally projected for start up. Within 90 days, call volumes increased 250% in response to a planned increase in tolls for customers without I-PASS transponders. Because MAI built the program for scalability, the increased demands were quickly taken in stride."
- Illinois Tollway Authority
"The information collected was invaluable in developing an advertising campaign that exposed the realities of the issues surrounding the‘health services’ provided by Planned Parenthood. I had the opportunityto monitor the survey calls on several occasions and was impressed with the Marketing Alternatives staff members assigned to our project. The interviewers were polite, respectful and very professional."
- Steven Brody, Executive Director, Dubuque County Right to Life
"MAI has always provided good reporting and it just keeps getting better. My team loves it. The best part is, they realize the relevance and value of the information that is now available and it’s being used to strengthen and improve our business."
- Nancy Barbee, Assistant Marketing Manager, Domino Foods, Inc.
"Firestone Complete Auto Care customers enjoy the convenience of scheduling service appointments online thanks to MAI’s creative thinking and outstanding IT capabilities. Not only do customers enjoy a higher level of service, we are now able to identify – and resolve – store issues that have resulted in lost opportunities in the past."
- Jim Stahulak, Manager, Database/Internet Marketing, Firestone
"Shipping product to customers quickly and accurately is a vital part of our business. MAI takes great care of all of our shipping needs, so I can focus on everything else that needs to be done. When we have a shipment with special requirements, we always know MAI will handle it without a problem."
- Christy Kaskey, Owner, Kaskey Kids, Inc.
"MAI conceived, designed and produced the Mohawk Tile Bottega within-a-store program. From creative through warehousing, fulfillment and installation, MAI acted as a single-source partner to make this concept materialize into reality."
- Mark Lorberbaum, Mohawk Industries
"MAI’s flexibility was a contributing factor to Mustela’s success in growing its business in the U.S. and Canada. Their active and forward thinking saved time and money while fostering great relationships with our retail customers."
- Amie Youngs, Senior Logistics Manager, Mustela US
"Excellence is the standard at Standard Coffee and we expected no less from our partnership with MAI. We’ve heard only positive feedback about them from the Standard Direct customer base – they truly handle our business as if it was their own."
- Stanley W. Eilers, Standard Coffee
"The lead qualification program MAI put together for Wilsonart Flooring helped our sales team enormously with time management. By prioritizing the leads, salespeople could focus on the strongest opportunities which, in turn, helped close more sales."
- Tammy Weadock, Wilsonart Flooring
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