Years ago, as a young hospitality publicist pre-marlo marketing, I remember proudly delivering a report full of media placements as thick as a phone book (remember those?) to a client. "Look at this!" I excitedly proclaimed. "Over a million impressions in a month!" He looked at me, with an eye roll at my youthful naivete, and replied "These impressions mean nothing if my dining room is empty." It was a career-defining moment that remains a key reason behind my intense desire to prove to our clients that good marketing, in whatever form, must deliver ROI, and ultimately, is why we've evolved over the past 16 years into the full-service integrated agency that we are.

 

It was the memory of that moment that inspired me to begin marlo monthly. A t a time when traditional media relations was the only tool a publicist had at their disposal, I wanted to find a way to reach consumers in an authentic way beyond just getting an article placed and hoping they would read it and take action as a result.  marlo monthly has gone out every month since the first issue in January of 2005.  Over a span of 185 issues, its original intent has remained the same: bring news from our clients in the worlds in which we play -- hospitality, CPG, and lifestyle -- directly to the consumer.

But at a time when the worlds we represent (not to mention the world in general) have flipped upside down, we've decided to use this space to openly and honestly share the impact it's had on us, and turn to you, our friends and readers, for input, ideas and support.

So consider yourself forewarned: this issue is going to be all about us. If you've read any of the posts I've shared on our social channels, you know that we have been heavily hit by current events. That we've had to lay off staff for the first time in 16 years. That I took on a client that required travel at a time ill-advised to do so . With two-thirds of our business still in the hospitality space, we've lost clients that -- even when they start to reopen -- will likely not be able to afford marketing as they could before.

When the economy safely reopens and we are finally able to "turn on the lights" we will have to start over in rebuilding the company it took us 16 years to build. So today, we humbly ask for your help; you'll find an email in a clickable link in every section below, don't hesitate to use it. We welcome any advice, guidance, ideas or counsel -- openly, authentically, and transparently -- just like the company I've built; for those of you who personally know me, you know it's true when I say I can't be anything but.