Author Archive
It’s all about the hot fudge cream puff
“It was 31 years ago today I first opened the door to Premier Communications Group, equipped with a drawing table, typewriter and blind ambition. Although the tools and devices have changed, a few things have remained constant: the ambition is intact, still prefer black & white photography, and the annual Sanders hot fudge cream puff reward.” – Randy Fossano
Premier Creates Collectible Corvette Stingray Press Kit
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Press Kit
The excitement is still buzzing from Chevrolet’s surprise announcement of the return of the Corvette Stingray. Well, our engines have been revved for much longer, since we were selected to design and produce the press kit for the unveiling at the 2013 North American International Auto Show. After meeting and brainstorming with designers, engineers and the Chevrolet team, Premier began the design process last August. Not only were we challenged with producing a one-of-a-kind, “collectible” press kit, we were also tasked with including a unique surprise that would disclose that the seventh-generation Corvette would in fact be a Stingray.
For this iconic brand, we created a custom package fashioned of deluxe materials to reflect the sleek and luxurious feel of this seventh-generation vehicle. The new Corvette badge was emblazoned on the outer sleeve, which then led to the very first Stingray cue on the printed media book.
To reflect the historic nature of the vehicle, and introduce the Stingray with a collectible memento, we designed and manufactured a custom commemorative plaque featuring an actual fender badge from the all-new Stingray. Each plaque was individually numbered as one in the series of 2,014.
We are truly honored and thrilled to have been part of this amazing piece of history. And even more flattering, we learned that the autographed kit number 1 sold on eBay for an astonishing $4,300, with proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.
We have worked with General Motors on a variety of vehicle kits throughout the years, including innovative brands such as HUMMER and the Chevrolet Volt.
Congratulations to the Chevrolet team on redefining modern performance and bringing us along for the ride!
Thank You for Helping Us Color a Brighter Future
Now that the glitter and sparkle of the holidays are over, we want to thank all who watched our “Draw Outside the Lines” video. Through DonorsChoose.org, we were able to provide much-needed supplies that will spark creativity in local schoolchildren who are budding artists. Very happy teachers and students wrote with their appreciation. Often teachers are spending their own money for classroom supplies; but as one teacher noted, “this is one time where that won’t be necessary.”
Thanks for your participation in inspiring the young minds of our future!
Draw Outside the Lines
By watching our video, you’ll be helping us color a brighter future for local schoolkids as we donate essential art supplies to classrooms that will otherwise go without. It only takes a few seconds and costs you nothing.
As a fundamental design element, the crayon symbolizes the formative stages of children who might one day lead our very company into a new design chapter. Thank you for helping us inspire young minds.
Click here for updates on how you helped us spur creativity.
Message in a Bottle
Americans use billions of plastic bottles every year, at quite a cost to the environment. While they can be recycled – although not all plastics can be – that requires energy and raw materials. Oil and gas resources needed to create new products are in limited supply.
It would be difficult to avoid buying plastic all together. But if you really want to help the environment, take steps such as using filtered pitchers to replace bottled water, or choose from the many styles of reusable plastic, stainless or glass bottles available.
Another solution is to find a way to repurpose those bottles into something new. Many crafters have developed uses with amazing creativity. Equal parts water and oil plus a few drops of food coloring make a lava lamp. Slicing open the bottom of a soda or juice bottle leaves room for a skein of yarn. (Run the yarn through the bottle’s neck, tape the bottom back on, and your yarn stays free from tangles and pets.) Do some Internet and blog research to find instructions for making votive candleholders, coin purses, seedling greenhouses and more.
Premier Clients to Showcase Products at 2012 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week
In an industry where products cover luxury vehicles to street rods (and everything in between), the automobile aftermarket is about to shine its light on Las Vegas, a fitting setting for the white-hot, glitzy trends to be introduced at AAPEX and SEMA Show 2012. And some of the stars will be our very own clients!
More than 1,700 exhibitors are set to attend SEMA, widely acknowledged as the premier specialty equipment trade event in this industry. Products that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks will fill exhibits and attractions over two million square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
AAPEX represents the automotive aftermarket industry. Parts distributors, retailers, manufacturers and suppliers representing air conditioning, lighting, appearance chemicals, and paint and body are just a sampling of the exhibitors displaying their products at the Sands Expo & Conventional Center.
We are very fortunate that our marketing communications work here in Motown has a longtime connection to the automotive industry. For over 30 years, Premier Communications Group has been servicing automakers and Tier 1 and 2 automotive suppliers with dynamic press kits and powerful marketing materials. We are pleased to have supported some of the biggest industry names as part of their greatest achievements. We wish all of our clients attending AAPEX and SEMA much success!
The Pumpkin: A Multifunctional Fall Treasure
Practically a symbol of fall’s bounty, pumpkins sit as décor atop porches and Thanksgiving tables alike. But they are far more versatile than traditional holiday decorations and can be creatively used in a number of ways.
The most familiar tactic is to scoop out the seeds. Season and roast them as snacks by themselves or stir into a brittle. Save them to grow your own pumpkin. Dry them and make mosaic tiles to use in kids’ crafts.
Boil or bake the flesh for fresher and tastier puree to use in pie, soup and baked goods. (Puree can even be made into a body scrub!) Chunk it and serve in a vegetarian casserole. Use the stringy “gut” pieces to simmer a stock that, together with diced pumpkin, serves as key ingredient in a savory pasta sauce. The flesh can be roasted for brewing pumpkin ale. Recipes and tutorials galore are available online for repurposing pumpkin.
A word of caution: Uncarved pumpkins can stay fresh for months depending on how they’re kept. But be careful with pumpkins that have been outside for a while. It’s not advisable to use carved jack-o-lanterns for food or personal hygiene applications, as the inner flesh may dry out, spoil or sour after sitting out for a day or two. The compost pile is usually your best bet for all your carvings.
The Clear Benefits of Glass
Glass has served as a universal packaging container for centuries. The glass in many items never wears out – it can be recycled over and over without losing its strength. In fact, 90% of recycled glass is used to make new containers, as well as kitchen tiles, countertops and wall insulation.
Many glass manufacturers rely on a hefty supply of recycled crushed glass, or cullet, to supplement raw materials needed. Using cullet is more economical, and it saves the environment, cutting mining waste by about 75%. Curbside collection helps dramatically in meeting the demand. Bottle deposits have also aided in getting consumers to return beverage containers for refund rather than tossing them in the garbage.
Food, soft drink, beer, wine and liquor containers represent the greatest source of glass generated and recycled. Help repurpose bottles and jars into new containers by participating in collection programs. Recoup your beverage bills by returning the empties for refunds. Today’s Miller Lite could be tomorrow’s Michelob.
Streamline Waste
Many schools and government offices follow recycling programs to promote materials reuse, recycling and waste reduction – from dual-sided copying to buying remanufactured equipment. Other businesses and organizations are getting on the bandwagon too.
Besides their corporate sustainability measures, retailers such as Target and Kohl’s provide collection barrels for plastic shopping bags – no matter whose brand is on them – to encourage guests to join their efforts in waste reduction. Some stores have stations for electronic items as well.
Parks and zoos will often have separate receptacles for trash and recyclables. When frequenting these establishments, be sure to use the recycling containers available rather than throwing items in the trash.
You can do your part by employing a “reduce, reuse, recycle” mentality in your office. Cutting down the waste stream at work makes environmental and economic sense.
Yes You Can
Aluminum can be recycled into many different products, such as tractor-trailer and car bodies, gutters, siding and more. However, aluminum cans usually become new aluminum cans. Recycling aluminum does not reduce the quality of the metal, so it can be recycled indefinitely. In fact, 75% of all aluminum produced since 1888 is still in use today.
With their constant demand, manufacturers are able to have an aluminum can back on store shelves quickly. Producing new cans from recycled aluminum saves 95% of the energy used to produce cans from ore, known as bauxite. And the cost savings are significant, even when taking into consideration the expense for collection and separation.
If it applies to your state, be sure to return your cans to a retail store for the deposit refund. Otherwise, throw any nonrefundable items in your recycling bin to keep this valuable resource out of landfills.
