Kudos to Casa Gallardo Mexican Restaurant for stepping up to the plate and providing lunch for more than 800 volunteers who joined the effort to help cleanup tornado-ravaged Bridgeton on Saturday. Casa Gallardo, a client of St. Louis PR Agency Geile/Leon Marketing Communications, stepped in to replace the food provider originally scheduled for that day, but cancelled mid-week. With just three days notice, Casa Gallardo’s Bridgeton location got to work planning the “big feed” and without missing a beat, delivered 800 delicious, ready-to-eat lunches to the hungry volunteers right on time Saturday. Gracias, Casa Gallardo!
Author: Geile/Leon
Casa Gallardo To Cleanup Volunteers: “Lunch is On Us!”
Casa Gallardo—the Original Mexican Restaurant in St. Louis—and a client of Geile/Leon, a St. Louis PR agency, will say “thank you” to hundreds of volunteers this Saturday with a free lunch. The volunteers are working to help cleanup parts of Bridgeton, hit hard by the Good Friday tornadoes on April 22.
The restaurant’s Bridgeton location will prepare and deliver 800 ready-to-eat box lunches to the parking lot of Grace Church, where Service International is directing the relief efforts. From there, the lunches will be delivered directly to the volunteers in the field.
By the way, cleanup workers are still needed for work on Saturday. Just show up at 8:00 a.m. with old clothes, gloves and boots.
Grace Church is located at the intersection of McKelvey Rd. and Creve Coeur Mill Rd. in Maryland Heights. The lunches will arrive at 11:00 a.m.
Treat Mom to Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch in Branson
What better way to say “I Love You” to Mom than by taking her to Level 2 Steakhouse, at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, for a Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch? The Branson Convention Center is a client of St. Louis PR Agency Geile/Leon Marketing Communications.
Braised Newman Farms Pork Shank or Blackened Hawaiian Snapper are just the main courses! Chef-attended carving stations and so much more! Make you reservation today athttp://www.level2steakhouse.com/contact.html
Here’s the complete menu!
Imported and Domestic Cheese Display
Served with Honeycomb and Crackers
Charcuterie Display
Missouri Salami, Smoked Wild Game, House Cured Proscuitto, Lonza Diavolo and Chicken Liver Pate
Served with Fresh Baked Bread, Cornichons, Pickled Radishes and Stone Ground Mustard
L2 Hors d’ Oeuvres
Seared Ahi Tuna with Sweet Chili Mayo and Charred Pineapple Salsa
Spring Time Bruschetta
L2 Deviled Eggs with Seared Beef Tenderloin and Avocado Mayo
Cold Seafood Display
Oysters on the Half Shell, Green Lip Mussels, Shrimp and King Crab Legs
Served with Cocktail Sauce, Champagne Mignonette and Lemons
Salads
Spring Salad
Fresh Greens, Bibb Lettuce, Pineapple, Strawberries, Toasted Coconut and Vanilla Vinaigrette
Asparagus Salad
Served with Sectioned Oranges, Grilled Bell Peppers, Red Onions, Shaved Parmesan and Avocado Aioli
Infrared Salad
Infrared Grilled Mushrooms, Zucchini and Yellow Squash, Pearl Onions, Charred Hereford Beef, Blue Cheese and Tomato Pesto Tossed with Toasted Foccacia Croutons and Sea Salt
Main Course
Ragout of Braised Newman Farms Pork Shank with Fresh Spring Peas, Mint,
Roasted Tomatoes and Fresh Spinach Parpadelle
Blackened Hawaiian Snapper with Mango Beurre Blanc
Red Potatoes with Caramelized Onions, Gruyere Cheese and Bacon
Fresh Steamed Vegetables with Extra Virgin Olive and Balsamic
Breakfast
Scrambled Eggs with Cheddar Jack Cheese and Chives
Eggs Benedict with Ham, Sautéed Spinach and Roasted Tomato Hollandaise
Breakfast Potatoes
Black Pepper Bacon and Maple Sausage
Belgium Waffles with Strawberry Compote and Whipped Cream
Sliced Seasonal Fruit
Fresh Baked Muffins, Danish, Pan au Chocolat, Coffee Cake and Breakfast Breads
Action and Carving stations
Chef Attended Omelet Station
Eggs and Omelets Prepared to Order
Eggs, Egg Whites or Egg Substitute, Diced Ham, Smoked Salmon, Sausage, Bacon, Diced Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Onions, Peppers, Spinach, Cheddar Jack Cheese and Feta Cheese
Chef Carved L2 Prime Rib
Rubbed with Herbs and Spices and Slow Roasted
Served with Horseradish Sauce, Fresh Baked Rolls and Rosemary Au Jus
Sea of Greens
Chef Attended Fresh Greens Cut to Order
Served with Kalamata Olives, Cipolline Onions, Roasted Peppers, Baby Carrots, Radishes,
Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Baby Green Beans, Balsamic Red Onions, Diced Bacon, Shredded Cheese
Served with Pesto Buttermilk, Vanilla Vinaigrette, Blue Cheese Dressing and Raspberry Vinaigrette
Mimosa, Bloody Mary Station
Bloody Mary Station
Olives, Celery, Pickled Asparagus and Cucumbers
Mimosa Station
Pineapple Spears and Strawberries
Dessert
Chef’s Dessert Display
G/L Client Branson Convention Center Featured in Magazine Article
As the Branson Convention Center, a client of St. Louis PR Agency Geile/Leon, prepares to welcome some 4,000 ladies to the Phil Waldrep Ministries’ Women of Joy Conference, check out this terrific article in the latest Rejuvenate magazine www.rejuvenatemeetings.com/2011/04/27/come-together/ on how to plan for city-wide religious meetings. G/L worked with the publication’s editor on the story, which resulted in an outstanding placement for the convention center and BCC Assistant General Manager, Bill Tirone, who is quoted often.
Oh, and welcome Women of Joy to the Ozarks, and best wishes for a wonderful conference!
Ozzie Steps Up for Dining Out For Life
John O’Connor, Account Manage for Geile/Leon Marketing Communications, a St. Louis PR Agency, spent the morning escorting St. Louis Cardinal Hall-of-Famer Ozzie Smith on several media interviews. For the 10th straight year, Ozzie is Honorary Chairperson for the annual Dining Out For Life event, which takes place Thursday, April 28. More than 130 area restaurants will donate some or all of their sales that day to Saint Louis Effort for AIDS, the area’s oldest AIDS service organization.
In addition, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay presented a proclamation to Saint Louis Effort for AIDS naming Thursday, April 28, “Dining Out For Life Day in St. Louis.”
In the photo, from left to right, Dawn Thornton, Geile/Leon Marketing Communications, Mayor Francis Slay, City of St. Louis, Kathy Leonard, VP, Public Relations, Geile/Leon Public Relations, Matthew Palmer, Director Development and Operations, Saint Louis Effort for AIDS, Ozzie Smith, Honorary Chairperson, Dining Out For Life.
QR Codes: Friend or Foe?
Way back in 2007 I attended a conference in Houston. The topic was consumer engagement, and I met Tim Williams, who is an author and partner of Ignition Consulting group. In his presentation, Tim kept talking about QR, or Quick Read, codes. They were all the rage in Asia and Europe and could be found on billboards, print ads and mass transit stations. A user scans these little 2D barcodes with their mobile phone and then they’re directed to really cool web content – videos, coupons, etc. I was so excited to take this idea back to the agency, do more research and pitch an idea to a client. On the flight back to St. Louis my head was swirling with ideas and applications for my clients. I have yet to sell a QR idea.
I digress. This post is not about my enthusiasm for QR codes. It’s to educate. Like all “new” technology, marketers and advertising agency folk have the responsibility to understand the application of the technology for their brand strategy and marketing communication goals. Remember, Facebook is not for everyone, neither is broadcast TV or print advertising.
The Pros
QR codes can be effective tools to push new content and create unique experiences for customers. Done correctly, a QR code can do wonders for brand engagement. Take Macy’s for example – they have really jumped on the QR code bus, devoting national TV spots to inform customers on how to use these little codes to unlock designer’s secrets from Tommy Hilfiger and Bobbi Brown. Macy’s also developed a lot of content to support the use of a QR code – key when you actually care about the consumer and not just pushing your next big promotion. Macy’s Campaign
The Cons
For all of their benefits, QR codes pose a lot of challenges. First, people don’t “get” them. Without some sort of tutorial, your customers might not know what to do with this 2D code. And even if your customer knows what to do with them, they might not have a QR reader installed on their phone. Or the reader they have installed doesn’t work with that code. But let’s say your customers “get” QR codes. And when they scan your code and are directed to your content the experience is bad — the website isn’t optimized for mobile use, or there isn’t a unique call to action. They walk away with a bad taste in their mouth and are less likely to scan another QR code.
Are they here to stay?
If you do a Google search on QR codes, you’ll see the jury is definitely still out on their longevity. But, done correctly and within a context that fits with your brand strategy, QR codes work.
Don’t have a reader? Text 2DGO to 368674 with your smartphone and you’ll be provided with a number of 2D barcode readers that work with your phone.
I’m on a deck!
What could possibly be better than enjoying the Clayton skyline from the new rooftop patio of the G/L office? Short answer: nothing, or maybe having a cold brew in hand. Regardless, this new patio is going to be perfect for afternoon brainstorms or casual client meetings. Is it a crime to get a slight tan while finishing up your timesheet or writing eloquent copy for a website? No, it’s not a crime, not even a misdemeanor. We might even do a little pre-work day yoga every now and then. So put on your “flippy floppies”, grab a cold drink, and swing by for a little rooftop fun. Ad agencies in St. Louis are known for having cool and creative spaces. We just stepped up our game, like 8 stories above street level up.
How to write a blog that someone will actually read
It’s common knowledge that the blogging craze has spread like Bieber Fever across the world wide web. You can find blogs on literally every subject known to mankind. You can even find blogs on writing blogs -this particular post, for instance. But what is the secret to getting people, your target audience in particular, to read and engage with your blog? Well G/L, a St. Louis ad agency, is about to bring your blog up to speed.
Step 1: Know Your Audience
Understanding the audience you’re blogging to will exponentially help your tone, content selection and style. You want to blog about information that is new and interesting to them. If you’re blogging about your passion for TV hit, M.A.S.H., your audience may be slightly older and male skewed, so include phrasing and content that is relevant to them.
G/L Client Puts Money in “The Closet” For Worthy Cause
Geile/Leon, a St. Louis PR company , is happy to announce that one of our clients, Heartland Bank, has donated $2,500 to the National Council of Jewish Women’s Kids Community Closet program. The program delivers new clothing to children in crisis or emergency situations, right to their school. Closets are in place within several St. Louis City and County elementary schools.
Pictured from left to right:
David Minton, President and CEO, Heartland Bank
Debi Feit, Co-Chair, Kids Community Closet
Ilene Ordower, Co-Chair, Kids Community Closet
Sherri Goldman, Co-Vice President, Community Service
Ellen Alper, Executive Director
Marlene Hammerman, National Board Member
Branson Convention Center “Tending Big Flocks”
Geile/Leon, a St. Louis Public Relations agency , is pleased to announce a terrific media placement for one of our clients, the Branson Convention Center. A very nice piece in the new Small Market Meetings magazine, on the religious meetings market, and how the Branson Convention Center is gaining a solid reputation as a leader in this space.