Big Babushka Branding

When The East Tennessee Historical Society (ETHS) came to Media South with a complex branding problem, our immediate reaction was “Russian nesting dolls!” (That’s what is so cool about solving visual identity puzzles. Solutions rarely require reinventing the wheel, but typically they involve looking at the wheel, or in this case, the dolls, in a whole new way).

Here’s the story. Basically, ETHS was trying to figure out how to add a complementary brand for the East Tennessee History Center–with which they were affiliated–without losing their own identity in the process. Our creative solution was to develop a set of brand and style guidelines positioning ETHC as the marketing "container," or big Babushka doll, for the entities “nesting” within (the East Tennessee Historical Society, The Museum of East Tennessee History, the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, and the Knox County Archives).

OK, so the result doesn’t looking anything like a set of Russian nesting dolls, but the theory is the same. The new ETHC logo (based on the Historical Society logo) frames the Center as the visual container housing this little family of related historical organizations.

We’re always up for a good brand and visual identity challenge, and love a chance to dive into the toy box for inspiration. So when you’re ready to get noticed, give us a call. In the meantime, check out our big Babushka solution for ETHS at www.EastTNHistory.org.

Pump Up Your Public Speaking

Take a guess about what American adults fear the most. Job loss? Hair loss? Weight gain? Nope, nope, and nope. According to the latest Gallup poll on the subject, we are most afraid of snakes, however, public speaking finishes a close second.

No matter what business you’re in, speaking in public probably comes with the territory—at least on occasion. If the thought of making a presentation in front of a live audience gets your sweat glands working overtime, check out the latest issue of Executive Highlights, a business magazine for C-suite execs designed, edited, and produced by Media South.

In “Pump Up Your Public Speaking”, Denise Graveline, president of Don’t Get Caught, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm, offers three easy ways for you to pump up your next presentation or speech. For more ideas on how to improve your communications skills, visit www.dontgetcaught.biz.

Our National Pool

If you’ve partnered with Media South, you know that we run a lean and mean operation. OK, more lean, than mean, but you get the idea. We’re actually pretty friendly, but we do keep fulltime staff and overhead to a bare minimum to offer the highest-quality corporate communications services at the lowest possible price.

The key to this strategy is having a national pool of experienced, talented freelance writers, editors, designers, and web and video specialists who enjoy working with Media South. Whatever your project or communications challenge, we have a team of experts on call who have what it takes to get your job done—on target, on time, and on budget.

A veteran member of our freelance pool, Maryellen Kennedy Duckett, is a featured contributor in this month’s issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine. Before you head out on your next business or pleasure trip, check out her Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Travel to discover 50 real ways to journey responsibly—and still have fun.

Live Clutter-Free!

We’ve been breaking out the sweaters around the office this week, because fall temperatures have officially arrived in East Tennessee (and we’re trying to save energy by keeping the thermostat set at 68-degrees!). Besides making us all look really spiffy in our L.L. Bean best, the cooler weather makes this the perfect time to dig into the piles of paper covering our desks and finally get organized. If you’re like us, and have been putting off an office overhaul for months because it was too hot, it’s time to come up with a better excuse or to start cleaning.

To help you get started, check out the latest issue of Business Review, a magazine for small business owners produced by Media South for First Tennessee. In the article “Stamp Out Stress: By Becoming Clutter-free and Organized,” certified professional organizer Mary Pankiewicz offers practical tips on how to conquer office clutter, and a quiz to help you see if the mess on your desk is causing you stress.

For more “Clutter Free and Organized Tips,” visit Pankiewicz’s website.