Warren, MI — December 20, 2011 — Consumers Energy, one of the nation’s largest electric and natural gas utilities, has engaged Campbell Ewald to provide marketing and communications expertise for the company’s customer engagement initiative.

“We selected Campbell Ewald based on its strategic strengths, creativity and collaborative approach to increasing customer awareness and understanding of our brand,” said Pramada Reddy, Consumers Energy’s executive director of strategy communications.

"With our 125-year history, we have a huge commitment to Michigan and the 6.8 million people we serve. We will work closely with Campbell Ewald to develop and implement marketing and advertising strategies designed to build a closer relationship with our customers and communicate the full value of the products and services we provide."

Campbell Ewald’s first task will be to assess customer attitudes and perception of the full breadth of products and services that Consumers Energy provides. The overall goal of the marketing communications efforts will be to raise brand perception and understanding of the products and services provided to the utility’s customers in Michigan. First work is expected to break in fall 2012.

“We are proud to add Consumers Energy to our portfolio of clients that provide such vital services to families and businesses in Michigan,” said Bill Ludwig, chairman and CEO of Campbell Ewald. “We look forward to developing strategies and work that will elevate the recognition of what the company offers customers and what it does for communities throughout the state of Michigan.”

About Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.8 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

About Campbell Ewald
Campbell Ewald is a collaborative marketing communications agency that provides clients game-changing solutions. As one of the nation’s largest communications brands, Campbell Ewald is made up of a collective of thought leaders with innovative capabilities both traditional and specialized, including advertising; insights and solutions planning; integrated content strategy and development; social, relationship, retail and experiential marketing; interactive/digital; and strategic media planning and buying.

Campbell Ewald has offices in Detroit, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Miami and Washington, D.C. A part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG), Campbell Ewald partners with a score of national brands, including Alltel Wireless, Carrier, Chicken of the Sea, General Motors, Ghirardelli, Kaiser Permanente, LA INC., Olympic Paints and Stains, OnStar, USAA, the United States Navy, and the United States Postal Service.

Detroit’s very own Santa Claus, Myron Benford, has been spreading holiday cheer to less-fortunate children for the past 44-years on his “sleigh” created out of a 1992 Dodge Caravan. This year, Campbell Ewald helped Santa by filling his sleigh with toys and first aid kits as well as featuring his amazing act of kindness in our annual holiday card.  See the story at webelieve.c-e.com.

About Campbell Ewald

Campbell Ewald is a collaborative marketing communications company that provides clients game-changing solutions. As one of the nation’s largest communications brands, Campbell Ewald is made up of a collective of thought leaders with innovative capabilities both traditional and specialized, including advertising; insights and solutions planning; integrated content strategy and development; social, relationship, retail and experiential marketing; interactive/digital; and strategic media planning and buying.

Campbell Ewald has offices in Detroit, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Miami and Washington, D.C. A part of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG), Campbell Ewald partners with a score of national brands, including Alltel Wireless, Carrier, Chicken of the Sea, General Motors, Ghirardelli, Kaiser Permanente, LA INC., Olympic Paints and Stains, OnStar, USAA, the United States Navy, and the United States Postal Service.

BEACHWOOD, Ohio – Kalypso, the world's premier innovation consulting firm, released its top five predictions in innovation, product development and product lifecycle management (PLM) for 2012 today. The firm anticipates key trends in the areas of PLM technology, the cloud, social product innovation strategies, “reverse innovation” and consumer safety.

1. PLM adopts the cloud - With the recent release of new cloud-based PLM technologies from Dassault Systèmes and Autodesk, companies have a growing list of options for transitioning to cloud-based PLM systems. This, coupled with cloud-based energy savings and the potential to reduce cost of software ownership, will likely draw more companies to these solutions.

"In 2012 we will see a number of firms start exploring cloud-based PLM solutions, particularly small to midsize companies in industries like consumer packaged goods (CPG) that tend to be more green-conscious," said George Young, a founding and managing partner at Kalypso.

2. Social innovation practices get less cloudy - In Kalypso’s recent study on how social media is impacting innovation and product development, almost half (46 percent) of surveyed companies admitted that they are not sure which approaches work. Over one-third (36 percent) said they are challenged by a lack of internal expertise or best practices to follow.

"In 2012 we will see more clarity as organizations find tangible ways to take advantage of the power of social computing platforms to transform the way products are developed," said Bill Poston, a founding and managing partner at Kalypso. "Some companies will be dipping their toes into the field of social technologies and product development for the first time, while others will be developing more targeted strategies and metrics systems for their social product innovation programs."

3. Shift to emerging markets continues - Recent research reports indicate that as high as 40 percent of companies plan to shift foreign investments from developed to emerging markets in the upcoming years.

"With this shift in investment to emerging markets, we plan on seeing a large spike in ‘reverse innovation’ – developing products specifically for breakthrough markets," said Poston. "Furthermore, these products will then be at price points that are attractive to developed markets."

4. PLM becomes ubiquitous in consumer packaged goods industry – CPG companies have traditionally lagged behind other industries in adopting PLM to drive innovation, despite an industry focus on product and process innovation. However, critical industry factors over the last several years, such as supply chain and raw material cost fluctuations and regulatory compliance, have caused a shift in the industry that has led to an influx of CPG companies adopting PLM as a core business process.

"Over the next 18 to 24 months, PLM will cease to be a competitive advantage in CPG," said Young. "Just as ERP was a competitive advantage at first, we're going to see the same thing happen with PLM in CPG."

5. Failure to keep consumers safe leads to criminal prosecutions – As numerous product recalls have demonstrated over the last several years – most recently with this year’s cantaloupe recall – product quality and safety issues can result in much worse things than lost revenue. Particularly in the world of food and beverage product safety, manufacturing executives who fail to meet regulatory standards may face jail time.

"The recent criminal prosecution of executives from the New Jersey-based dietary supplement companies QLF and ASN is just the start of criminal prosecutions for violating food or beverage safety," said Young. "As we look ahead to 2012, we expect to see at least one large food company put in jail for this very reason."

About Kalypso

Kalypso is the world's premier innovation consulting firm, helping clients improve performance, drive profitability and create sustainable results by delivering on the promise of innovation. The people of Kalypso are leading business professionals who combine unparalleled expertise in innovation, product development, and product lifecycle management (PLM) with a depth of experience in the consumer goods, high technology, manufacturing, medical device, life sciences and retail industries. For more information, visit http://kalypso.com. Follow @KalypsoLP on Twitter and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/KalypsoLP. 

(TRAVPR.COM) THAILAND - December 14th, 2011 - Last year the 2011 trade show did exceptionally well with the number of public attendees numbering over 5,000, many of whom had come from overseas. The organisers of the 2012 event, Expoline Ltd., aim to make the Balkanica Wedding Expo trade show bigger and better yet with more exhibits than ever before.

The Balkanica Wedding Expo trade show 2012 will bring together the leaders in the wedding industry both in Bulgaria and overseas, primarily from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Serbia but now opening up to include wedding professionals from other European countries. Attendees of the trade show will then have a great opportunity to ask questions of the experts and to see what’s new on the wedding scene for 2012.

The exhibits will showcase bridal dresses, veils, shoes, bridesmaids’ dresses, flower girl and mother of the bride outfits, formal wedding suits for groom and best man as well as wedding accessories and decorations. There will also be exhibits of christening clothes and accessories.

Those attending the Balkanica Wedding Expo trade show and who wish to stay in a hotel Sofia City Centre will enjoy the experience of a centrally situated hotel perfectly suited to corporate and business requirements. Demand for accommodation at this time is expected to rise so early booking is recommended.

About DirectRooms

DirectRooms is an independent discount hotel reservations company based in Asia. Established and online since 2000 with over 55,000 hotels worldwide.

For further information please contact Lek Boonlert:

Email: lek@directrooms.com
Tel: + 66 (0)76 241 145
Website: http://directrooms.com

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PRESS RELEASE TAGS:      
Balkanica Wedding Expo, Sofia, Bulgaria      
 
CONTACT INFORMATION:      
Contact Name:     Lek Boonlert - DirectRooms
Phone #:     +66 (0) 76 241 145
Email:     lek@directrooms.com
Web:     http://directrooms.com

(TRAVPR.COM) THAILAND - December 14th, 2011 - The Zermatt Horu Trophy is one of the most prestigious and largest open air curling tournaments in Europe, if not the world, and offers teams not only a fine competition but also the pleasure of playing against a backdrop of the most stunning Swiss scenery and the incredibly life-like ice sculpture of a curler in motion.

Curling is rising in popularity throughout the world and in 2012 it is expected that the 21st Horu Trophy will attract around 70 curling teams from Switzerland and all across Europe who will take part, playing across 17 curling lanes to compete for the impressive title of 21st Horu Trophy Champions.

It is expected that the Zermatt 21st Horu Trophy event will once again be well attended by visitors and curling enthusiasts from Switzerland, Europe and Canada as well as past champions, local officials, sportspeople and the media.

The Natureisbahn ice rink is situated right in the centre of Zermatt city centre so visitors choosing hotels in Zermatt City Centre will find it a convenient location for the ice rink and other city centre attractions. Zermatt City Centre has a wide-ranging choice of hotel and chalet accommodation suited to both business and leisure stays.

The evenings in Zermatt offer some wonderful traditional Swiss and European fine dining options along with typically Swiss ambient cafes and bars where one can breathe in the fresh clean air and enjoy the optimum in relaxation in this wonderful location.

About DirectRooms

DirectRooms is an independent discount hotel reservations company based in Asia. Established and online since 2000 with over 55,000 hotels worldwide.

For further information please contact Lek Boonlert:

Email: lek@directrooms.com
Tel: + 66 (0)76 241 145
Website: http://directrooms.com

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PRESS RELEASE TAGS:      
21st Horu Trophy, Zermatt, Switzerland      
 
CONTACT INFORMATION:      
Contact Name:     Lek Boonlert - DirectRooms
Phone #:     +66 (0) 76 241 145
Email:     lek@directrooms.com
Web:     http://directrooms.com