SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI - February 15, 2009 - GreenLEAF
Marketing Inc. is an advertising agency with identity
crisis. The "crisis" is being immediately
associated with or mistaken as Greenleaf Companies, who
have recently been the subject of widespread press and
an ongoing investigation by several agencies including
the Missouri Attorney General, the Real Estate
Commission and the FBI.
"We have no choice but to change our name," said Ron
Marshall, president of GreenLEAF Marketing Inc. "The
minute you say the word 'greenleaf', smiles freeze, eyes
divert down and tension fills the air. As soon as
I follow up by saying 'We're not THAT Greenleaf,' eyes
lift up, smiles become genuine again and you can almost
feel a sigh of relief."
Marshall founded the
Springfield-based GreenLEAF Marketing Inc. nearly five
years ago. As of February 15, the company will be named
Red
Crow Marketing, Inc.
The company will continue to be a full-service marketing
and advertising agency specializing in brand development
with graphic design, television commercial production,
website design, direct marketing, and jingle production.
In its five years, the agency has created or helped to
promote brands such as Fairfield, Wyndham, RGG
Law, DOE's, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Ott's Salad
Dressings, Branson Creek and many, many more.
The similarities are not total coincidence. Marshall stated that before starting his
advertising agency, one of the principles of Christian
Brothers was his client at another business he managed.
"When I told him I was opening an advertising agency,
he informed me that he and some family members were
planning to open their own real estate-related business.
Since we were both starting out, he suggested we share
offices, copy machine, and bookkeeper to keep overhead
low. I'd known him for two years and never had any
problems, so I agreed. Unfortunately, I also
agreed to let them use the name Greenleaf for their
parent company. After only about three months, we
had some business disagreements and I moved out on my
own. I renamed my company Greenleaf Marketing,
LLC. I never had anything at all to do with their
real estate programs. My biggest error was keeping
the Greenleaf name after I left."
"For those who know us, or have done business with us,
there's no problem," explains Marshall, who was the
2006 recipient of the Springfield Ad Club's Anita
Ludgwig Award, which
recognizes the advertising agency professional who
demonstrates honesty, creativity, and, most of all, a
passion for great advertising. "But for all the people
who aren't familiar with us, it's natural to assume
we're the same or somehow connected. The names are too
similar; even the logos. Because we focus on
helping Springfield-area companies, not out of state
businesses, trust in the name is an important factor. I
believe the Greenleaf Companies saga will go on for at
least a few years, and the name Greenleaf is
tarnished. Any self-promotion we do under that name will
be a waste of time and money."
Marshall says that although the rebranding is
difficult on the surface, it's really allowed the agency
to refocus efforts on launching several new ideas with
renewed enthusiasm.
"We've got some amazing new marketing and advertising
services we're offering to our clients, including CORE,"
says Marshall. "After five years in business,
it's nice to hear people mention that they have heard of
GreenLEAF (Marketing), and that we do good work. And as
Red Crow Marketing, we'll continue to produce
high-quality work and maintain the good, ethical
business practices that we've always had."
For more information about Red Crow Marketing,
Inc. (formerly known as GreenLEAF Marketing Inc.), visit
our website www.redcrowmarketing.com or call us at
417.889.1658.
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