It’s the oldest cliché in the book – no one plans to fail, they simply fail to plan. At MAI, our strategic planning process covers exploration, research, targeting, technology and creative development to eliminate guessing games farther down the line. The result is a solid strategy based on an upfront understanding of your markets, competition, objectives…and, most important, your prospects and their mindsets.
With more than 30 years of B2C and B2B experience, MAI has mastered every form of advertising media – from print and broadcast to online and direct. We believe successful campaigns start with a well engineered creative platform – the springboard, if you will, to a successful, results-driven campaign.
MAI has been designing and producing permanent and semi-permanent merchandising displays since its founding in 1981. From simple countertop units to entire store-within-a-store brand presentations, MAI has the vision, ingenuity and resources to design and build displays that motivate people to buy. We also know how to develop and produce complementary sample sets and boards. We can handle all or any detail of your merchandising needs – from initial concept through drop shipping and inventory management!.
Your corporate communications strategy needs to be synchronized with your customer-facing communications. MAI can help you build an integrated approach that resonates with all your corporate communications channels – from business partners, dealers and re-sellers to employees and investors.
Your brand represents who you are and what you do. It should reflect all the attributes of your company along with the benefits it delivers. MAI can help establish your brand and corporate identity, then pull it through to everything you do. We’ll also guide the logo development process and set the brand guidelines to ensure consistency in all your communications.
MAI understands that effective graphics – just like copy – always need to tell a story. Whether it’s a logo, brochure, package or a multimedia presentation, the “look” has to be just right. We collaborate with the best talent in the greater Chicagoland area to bring you award winning work that’s delivered on strategy and on budget.
MAI develops, designs, manages and hosts websites and microsites to meet specific client objectives. Our in-house team of programmers, designers and marketers works closely with you to define your business needs and provide whatever capability you need, including e-commercing.
Put MAI’s production expertise to work for your company. We understand the ins-and-outs of print, online and structural production and have long-standing relationships with a wide range of resources to ensure top quality output and outstanding value for your production dollars.
Custom literature fulfillment application streamlines complex kitting requirements and backorder management.
Multi-media presentation and website helps launch new healthcare plan.
Innovative training program builds brand awareness and loyalty among purchase resale sales staffers.
SPIFF program designed around rewards for incremental sales and exciting VIP Race Trip prizes.
Effective, economical merchandising unit helps Metroflor capture more sales.
Unique store-within-a-store showroom concept delivers brand loyalty for Mohawk tile and stone products.
Efficient, creative and cost-effective production capabilities save the day for Pure Fishing.
Sophisticated sampling device helps establish Wilsonart Contract Flooring identity among architects and designers.
New Hand Scraped product launch makes a big impression with retailers.
Event marketing makes a lasting impression on Wilsonart Flooring distributors.
Red Label product launch enthusiastically received by distributors, dealers and consumers.
Database facilitates communications and sales support activities with 14,000+ retail dealers.
MAI’s MARCOM group specializes in advertising, graphic design, web development, social media and direct marketing. We work with a variety of companies representing diverse industries. Although everyone here enjoys wearing their “creative hat,” we always remind ourselves that the work we produce has to…well, produce. In others words, our work isn’t a success if it doesn’t sell something or convince someone to do something.
MAI’s team members all share a common interest in trends, selling and helping clients reach their goals. Due to the unique nature of MAI’s overall business structure, our MARCOM team can sometimes make suggestions about tying campaigns with other areas of a client’s business that are outside the communications arena – but that are intricately connected – in order to improve the bottom line. That’s an advantage most other MARCOM groups can’t offer.
MAI has been successful (and has had a lot of fun) at crafting unique programs, honing approaches, watching and documenting results and helping clients uncover new opportunities.
Our long-lived client relationships speak for themselves and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate how we can help you.
Since 1981, MAI has been successfully delivering effective, integrated marketing communications solutions. We’re specialists in creating relevant, highly targeted communications for business-to-business, business-to-consumer and employee audiences.
From strategic planning and creative design to production and execution, MAI can help you accomplish your marketing communications goals quickly and efficiently. Among the many services we provide:
Strategic Planning / Branding
Advertising
Graphic Design
Production Services
Interactive
Every project MAI has handled has been special to us – and we remember the details with amazing clarity. Of course, there is always so much more to the finished visuals than meets the eye…and we would love to share some of the back stories on these visuals with you sometime. Meanwhile if you’re interested in seeing our caliber of work we are capable of delivering, shoot us a request here!
"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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