Current & Recent Clients:

Veritable Quandary (VQ) 
Creating Awareness for an Institution, This Place is More than Just a Smokey Bar
A little red brick building in the heart of downtown Portland attracts tourists and neighborhood business executives for its unique combination of great food, warm company and unpretentious approach to hospitality. The mystery to the owner, chef and general manager was why it didn't garner sustained local media interest.

LAD communications was brought in help the VQ compete with other leading restaurants and widen awareness for its eclectic offerings.

We developed a strong positioning statement, created a media relations program and educated the management team about the value of an innovative, editorially savvy, PR campaign.

The campaign built new awareness for Chef Annie Cuggino's inventive menu and the restaurant's sophisticated wine program. Profiles in The Oregonian, Portland Business Journal and Portland Tribune, a new full review in a major local paper, and weekly listings of a newly developed wine program, television appearances on KPTV, cooking classes at Sur LA Table and a series of media tastings have successfully built sales and expanded the regular dining audience.

Vigne
Launching a Hip New Business
Vigne chose Little LAD's project-based service to launch its sophisticated new wine bar in Portland's chic Pearl district. A striking mid-century look combined with one of the most outstanding wine lists on the West Coast, gave Little LAD a lot of sizzle to sell. However, a modest start up budget required a very focused effort to get the momentum going.

Little LAD successfully developed press materials that strengthened Vigne's marketplace position as setting a new standard of quality for Portland wine bars. Through this process, Little LAD was able to demonstrate how the process of developing and staying on message assures more positive media coverage.

As Sara Perry describes in her Oregonian Tastemaker's Column " [Vigne] partners go one step further in the quest for quality: Their wine bar is the first in Portland to use Riedel glassware exclusively, including the crystal Vinum and the hand-blown Sommelier series."

Springfield Creamery and Nancy's Yogurt
Devising a PR Campaign for One of Oregon's Finest Natural Products
Nancy's turned to LAD comm to address the erosion of market share brought on by the continuing consolidation in the yogurt and cultured dairy products industry.

To compete with the competitors large sales and marketing budgets, LAD comm structured a strategic media relations campaign that focused on the quality, purity and heritage of this 40 year old family-owned and family-operated business.

We wrote materials that share the goodness of their story from an industry relations and consumer audience perspective, helped to launch the new look of Nancy's products and educated key audiences about Nancy's new soy products.

Erath Vineyards
Creating an Emotional Connection to a Wine Brand
LAD comm was chosen to develop a national media relations campaign positioning Erath as the leading producer of high quality, high value Oregon Pinot Noir. The public relations effort coincided with Erath's 30th Anniversary vintage and the launch of the winery's new packaging and brand identity.

The anchor of our integrated communications plan was to tap in to the emotional connection between the industry the brand. Digging in to the story behind this loyalty, LAD comm learned that those who have the opportunity to develop a relationship with Dick Erath carry a torch for this brand. Our strategy focuses on leveraging the special qualities Dick brings to his approach to winemaking and sharing as much of his personal touch with leaders in the industry, including distributors, retailers and media members.

LAD comm developed innovative outlets such as a CD Rom interview with Dick Erath and a tourism campaign that nurtured relationships with Portland Oregon Visitor's Association and resulted in placing a story over the AP News Wire. The media relations campaign was designed to help garner national recognition of Dick Erath as the ambassador of the pioneering spirit of the Oregon wine industry to build an identity outside of the normal wine press and break through to other consumer media.

LAD comm tapped into its network of top tier food and wine editors to effectively place Erath in media outlets such as Fine Cooking and Bon Appetit. From conducting media tastings in New York to placing a front page feature on story in The Oregonian, LAD comm has become an integral part of the winery's growing sales success story.

Anise Innovative Thai Restaurant
A Quick Survey Reveals More than a PR Strategy
Whether you're Kraft Foods or a small restaurant in Wellington, New Zealand the issues are the same. It's important to develop a relationship with your customers. And your spending needs to be done wisely no matter how big or small the budget.

New contemporary Thai restaurant Anise approached Catherine wanting help with an advertising campaign to bring more people through the door. Anise had received rave reviews about their stylish food, service and stunning décor. After some discussion, Catherine recommended that, rather than going straight into spending on what could be wasted advertising money, Anise take a look at whether there were any issues that needed to be sorted out that could get more people through the door.

Catherine developed and implemented a survey of a small number of diners in Anise's target audience i.e. aged 25 to 55 years old, upper income brackets, and adventurous food enthusiasts.

A range of themes was explored including the food, decor, location, table arrangements and service.

The result showed that of those who had been to Anise, the service and food were given top marks, but views on the table arrangements were completely polarized. Over half had a problem with sitting at the large communal tables at Anise, commenting on things like a lack of privacy and noise.

Anise has now replaced some of the communal seating with small tables to cater for those who prefer an intimate dining experience. The response has been extremely favorable with an immediate increase in turnover. This is something that no amount of advertising could have fixed.

Emporio Coffee
Media Attention Promotes Upscale Status of Roaster
Breaking through the highly competitive coffee market to establish its own market share, boutique coffee roaster Emporio Coffee sought advice from Catherine Cordwell to develop a marketing plan.

Aimed largely at cafes, specialist food outlets and restaurants, Emporio focused on communicating their consistency in superior roasting and their personal reliable service. To help create greater awareness of Emporio, a strong emphasis was placed on garnering media coverage in influential New Zealand publications. As a result Catherine helped Emporio gain extensive articles in influential publications such as Urbis, Cuisine, New Zealand House & Garden and The Dominion.

A year later and Emporio had exceeded their sales objectives and are continuing to grow their reputation as a consistent supplier of premium freshly roasted coffee.

P.S. I Love That
Sharing Our Expertise to Help Inspire Young Women
We were extremely inspired to learn Debbie Watson's personal story. We decided to work with Debbie as a pro bono client after learning how she transformed her life experience as a single mom into an entrepreneurial business that empowers young women to "use your life." We work with Debbie promoting her product line to national teen magazines as a way of shining a brighter light on her initiative with the aim of attracting attention from an international cosmetic company. We would like to see P.S. I Love That form a strategic partnership that allows Debbie to reach a wider audience with her positive messages about career development for young girls.

Kombucha Wonder Drink
Pitching a Hip New Product to Our Personal Media Contacts
Inspired by Steve Lee, a visionary entrepreneur and a modern-day oracle of tea, LAD comm targeted top style and food editors of trend-setting publications to tell the health and well-being story of Kombucha Wonder Drink.

Sagebrush Classic
Developing an Identity for a Culinary Fundraiser
This annual culinary fundraiser in its 14th year has raised nearly one million dollars for the Deschutes Children's Foundation, attracting celebratory chefs such as Mark Miller of Coyote Café in Santa Fe, Roberto Donna from Galileo in Washington, D.C. and Jeremy Sewell of the Lark Creek Inn, Larkspur, CA.

LAD comm prides itself in having extensive and current contacts in the food and wine media world and was brought on to reach out to national writers and develop increased visibility for this exclusive event.

Big Fire
Developing a Brand Name
Long time winemaker and friend Rob Stuart approached Lisa Donoughe when he started his own winery in late 2001. Launching a brand from a well-known winemaker with a great reputation and shoestring financing, Marketing Director Trish Rogers was saddled with the challenge of creating a brand name that could call attention to itself yet still have specific meaning. Donoughe led the informal creative brainstorming process by sharing a three-hour walk on a rainy Oregon Sunday morning. By the end of the journey Trish and Lisa had a vision. A brand that would speak to the hip urban target audience yet convey the passion for winemaking and Oregon that Rob and Maria bring to the winery everyday. By the end of the walk Big Fire was born.

Urban Wineworks:
Urban Wineworks is Portland's first downtown winery, tasting room and retail store. Located in Northwest Portland, an area rich with restaurants, art galleries, fashion and furniture stores, Urban Wineworks opened on November 16, 2000, in a newly remodeled building specially designed to accommodate tasting and sales of wine direct from a small local vineyard. Urban Wineworks also offers customers wine education events, and even the chance to create their own custom blends. For more information on the winery, call 503-226-9797.

Cristom Vineyards:
Cristom Winery is situated in the Eola Hills winegrowing region of the Willamette Valley AVA. The winery produced its first vintage in 1992. With a commitment to traditional Old World techniques as such whole cluster crushing and native yeast fermentation, winemaker Steve Doerner leads a new generation of Oregon winemakers. His wines are celebrated for their balance, elegance and depth of complexity. LAD communications is honored to help share the winery's local popularity with a wider audience. Visit the winery online at www.cristomwines.com.

Jamba Juice®:
Jamba Juice® Company is the industry leader in blended-to-order smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, nutritious hot soups and healthy snacks. An extraordinary health experience unlike any you've ever tasted.

Jamba is enticing fruit and vegetable flavors, vital nutrients and total convenience: everything you need to live an active, healthy life. Best of all, Jamba can go anywhere you do!

There are more than 330 company and franchised/licensed stores across the country -- Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming as well as in select Whole Foods Markets, on college campuses and at airport locations nationwide. Jamba Juice acquired Zuka Juice and has converted all of Oregon's stores over the past six months. LAD communications is helping communicate Jamba's core messages and build brand awareness among Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, residents.

Kruger's Farm Markets:
Like a typical entrepreneur, Don Kruger started out with great energy and tons of optimism. Today, Kruger operates Portland's two favorite specialty produce markets and is about to embark on his next great adventure: his own farm.

Located just minutes outside of downtown Portland, Sauvie Island is a major agricultural region where Don is now in charge of a sixty-acre farm. Don and his team of farmers are growing a wide range of produce to be sold through his markets. This is the first time Portland consumers are able to have farm-fresh produce grown specifically by a farmer for his own retail market. This vertical integration provides consumers with built-in quality control. View Taste Makers "The pie's the limit for the produce king" article in The Oregonian.

In addition to Don's new role as farmer, he expanded his retail reach in 2000 and opened an indoor farmer's market in Boise, Idaho. Don's creative vision is to combine small merchants (fish, meat, cheese, produce, etc.) under one roof, providing the shopper with the best of all worlds.

Lucy's Table:
Everything on Lucy's Table is fresh from the Pacific Northwest. But true to owner Peter Kost's Greek and Italian heritage, the Portland restaurant is a celebration of the robust flavors of the Mediterranean.

When Peter and his wife Kelly decided to open up shop in Portland, in the fall of 1999, they took a deep breath and jumped into unknown waters. Originally from Seattle, this sister city was all new to them. Quickly garnering appreciation and respect from restaurant critics and local diners, Lucy's Table has become one of the Northwest's most popular dining establishments. LAD communications promotes the special events and exciting flavors of Lucy's Table.

Mother's Bistro & Bar
As passionate about slow cooked brisket as she is about perfectly seared foie gras, Lisa Schroeder is a mother, chef, and business owner who craves good food. With the opening of Mother's Bistro & Bar, Lisa's version of what restaurant dining should be has come to life in Portland, Oregon.

With over 20 years of experience in the food and restaurant business, Lisa brings not only great-tasting "real food" to her impressive menu, but also an extraordinary amount of business expertise. As a chef/owner along with her partner, Rob Sample, Lisa focuses on cooking regional homemade favorites and refining them with classical cooking techniques.

Before relocating to Portland, this native New Yorker worked as Chef – Entremetier at Le Cirque and Chef de Partie (hot appetizers) at Restaurant Lespinasse, both located in New York City and recognized as two of the best restaurants in America.

The New Organics Company:
Established in 1997, The New Organics Company is the fastest-growing, multiple-category, national manufacturer of certified organic foods. The company's goal is to make available great-tasting, organic products that are pesticide- and preservative-free. Currently marketing 39 certified organic products in 12 categories, the company has aggressive expansion plans. In 2000, New Organics launched 90 additional items, including a line of children's foods in conjunction with Paramount, under the Richard Scarry label. New Organics products are found in over 3,000 retail locations. Visit www.neworganics.com for further information.

On behalf of The New Organics Company, LAD communications runs a public health issues management campaign, launches new products, and promotes the company's celebrity chef program and national recipe contest.

Wildwood Restaurant & Bar:
As part of Cory Schreiber's communications team, LAD works to help promote the ideas of environmentally centered cuisine. Cory is an Oregon native whose family has lived and worked in the state for generations. His celebrated restaurant opened nearly six years ago and is appreciated for its Pacific Northwest cuisine, wonderful wine and spirits selections, and lively dining room. Last year, Schreiber's Cooking from the Source cookbook was published by Ten Speed Press, offering not only recipes but also reflections on his life and his family who have worked closely with Oregon farmers for decades.