SPARK Publications Magazine 0213

v4.n1

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SPARK A

an occasional glimpse at SPARK Publications

Capturing shadows of thoughts before they’ve even touched the page.

OnThe Cover Shadow of a Thought Imagine the opportunity in a blank page. Its potential energy dancing about like a shadow. And what if shadows followed thought, containing all the potential of your personal evolution — an image of all that you’ve yet to become? And what if you could capture that shadow and make it something else, something LOVEly, something beautiful and ultimately still — you? And that’s what we strive to do each day. Capturing shadows of thoughts before they’ve even touched the page. Consider the page. Full of words, LOVEly words, and full of you and who you are becoming. Potential lies within each blank page of your life; it all starts — and ends — with you.

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Welcome We Love Our Clients!

If you are just tuning in: SPARK Publications is

At SPARK Publications, we love our clients. Their creativity, their dedication, hard work and loyalty… how do we count the ways? To start, for this issue of A SPARK Publication, we’re sharing the love. Our love manifests itself in three ways: Publications, Promotions and PR. It’s what you want, it’s what you need, it’s what we do.

a creative design firm.

Not a client yet?

We help professionals,

If we haven’t yet worked with you, let these pages serve as examples and inspiration for how we can be of service to you. Not sure how best to promote yourself or your business? Just call or email — we’d be happy to discuss the options and get the conversation started.

publishers, corporations and universities attract, educate and communicate to their audiences through creatively designed and marketable publications, engaging promotions and effective public relations campaigns.

Awards a-plenty We’re celebrating a lot of awards in the next few pages. These award-winning client projects have been recognized as top-notch by esteemed judges throughout the country. Not all of our work is entered and it doesn’t all win industry awards, however, each project is based on our client’s needs and visions. From there, we apply creative, effective and tightly targeted solutions with a sharp focus on the end result. Some projects start with a blank page, some start with just a thought; all start with a desire and need to reach a specific audience and capture their attention in a way that is both creative and effective.

That’s what we do.

Thanks for reading (and enjoying the colorful, shiny pages!), Fabi Preslar President, SPARK Publications

SBE Certified #25285

August 12, 2011

Dear Candidate, In March 1983, the City of Charlotte established a design or logotype to represent City

SPARKpublications.com | 3

Yes, Love indeed is a light from heaven, a SPARK of that immortal fire with angels shared.

Hannah Moore SPARK Publications loves you!

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hair down, SPARK some creativity and have a little fun, too.

What’s Inside?

This issue, we’re featuring several of our talented Publication, Promotional and PR clients, and — because we love them so much! — boasting (just a little) about their incredible successes. After all, we can’t toot their horns without acknowledging the talent our team has placed into each and every client project... Toot toot!

It’s What We Do:

6 Publications Magazines

Ballantyne Magazine . . . .

UNC-C Magazine . . . . . . .

LossPrevention Magazine .

Signage Solutions Magazine Lake Norman CURRENTS . .

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7 8 8 9 10

Catalogs Carolina Made . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Custom Books Josephine Hicks . . . . . . .

Terri Bennett . . . . . . . . .

Tana Greene . . . . . . . . .

Client Profile: Tamela Rich .

Chuck Inglefield . . . . . . .

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13 . 14 . 14 . 16 . 18

Promotions* Marketing and Graphic Design Project Profile: Perry’s . . . . . . . . . 22

*Promotional and Graphic Design services are the core of our work and are represented in each project and on every page of this issue.

20

Public Relations (PR) Getting the Word Out Josephine Hicks . . . . . . .

Client Profile: Tamela Rich .

Chuck Inglefield . . . . . . .

Project Profile: Perry’s . . .

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13 . 16 . 18 22

SPARKler Profile: Monty Todd . . . . 25

Shadow of a Thought Celebrating Our Clients Inside front and back cover

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SPARK Publications

It’s what we do.

Magazine Design and Production

Who can start a magazine?

■ For institutions, consultants, industry professionals, businesses and entrepreneurs, SPARK Publications becomes your own out-sourced creative department to design and produce custom magazines.

How does it work?

■ Whether you’re looking to start a new publication or wishing to redesign a current magazine, SPARK Publications is your partner. Together we’ll design and produce a professional, expertly designed magazine to engage and educate your readers.

■ From creative design to pre-press production, SPARK Publications works directly with your team to produce high quality magazines to suit your creative vision and mission.

Don’t have a team? We’ll draw from our network of professionals and help you select individuals to work with you and bring your magazine ideas to fruition.

■ Need to redesign, energize or refresh the look of your magazine? How about an attractive, readable, professional, kicked-up-to-thenext-level publication? That’s what we do!

How does SPARK Publications handle printing?

■ We stick to our strengths as designers and manage printing with no conflict of interest.

While we do not print in-house, we can help you select from our network of professional printers, or, if you prefer, SPARK Publications can work directly with your preferred printer.

Can my magazine be a digital or online publication?

■ Yes! Many of our publications have an online or digital component. Your ePub or online publication will go through all of our design and production processes.

Your final product can include several interactive features per your needs.

Call today to learn how we can add a SPARK to your magazine or catalog project.

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704.844.6080

It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Magazines

Ballantyne Magazine

CELEBRATING A COMMUNITY: Ballantyne Magazine is a lifestyle publication that celebrates the best of everything Ballantyne’s affluent community has to offer. Its goal is to enhance the lives of those who work, live, play, and stay within its bounds, and to provide coverage of its distinct culture as no other publication can.

“SPARK Publications wholeheartedly understands our vision and has been vital in seeing it come to fruition. They make the process of publishing a magazine effortless and enjoyable. We could not do it without them!”

— JJ Bissell, Publisher, Ballantyne Magazine

BALLANTYNE

BALLANTYNE magazine

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU IS TWITTER DEAD? THINK AGAIN BLOOMIN’ EASY SPROUT AN URBAN GARDEN

ECHO BOOMERS

THIS WIRED GENERATION SHAPES WAYS OF LIFE

PUTT WITH PANACHE YOUR GOLF GAME WILL LOVE YOU SLICES OF HEAVEN SAVOR BALLANTYNE’S BEST PIZZA

PLUS ARTS SURGE BALLANTYNE ORCHESTRA LEADS WAY UNBRIDLED PLEASURE CAMDEN EXUDES HORSES, HISTORY

BOUTIQUE FITNESS

WINTER

WONDERS

KIDS’ OUTERWEAR THAT’S IN A SURPRISING ORIGIN

GINGERBREAD

HOUSES PLUS

THE

’INSIDE TRACK‘ ON LOCAL ROAD

ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?

100 DAYS HEALTHY GLAM UP YOUR GIFTS AN EZ WAY

DOWN UNDER’S

WOW

TOWN KICKS OFF

BALLANTYNE magazine

TRANQUIL

SPLASH

CHILL

FOUNTAINS FLOW IN BALLANTYNE

OUT

WHO

DE-STRESS THE BEACH TRIP

MEET THE AMAZING MORINS

CHARM LOCAL FOOD

KNEW?

FARM

PLUS SWEET SUMMER:

SMOKY

MOUNTAINS

SUITING UP 10

SPORTS TAKE ‘FIRM’ CELEBRATING TEN YEARS 2000-2010 HOLD

HIGH

BALLANTYNE IMPROVEMENTS

Spring 2011 Vol. 11 No. 1

Winter 2012-2013 Vol. 12 No. 4

‘GOING HOME’

Summer 2012 Vol. 12 No. 2

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2/16/11 3:57 PM

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OOHS AND AAHS NANCY LOPEZ STILL WOWS ’EM

Ballantyne Magazine won a 2010 Gold MarCom Award in the category of Magazine Redesign and a 2010 Apex Award for Publication Excellence in the category of Most Improved Magazine following their redesign lead by Larry Preslar, Creative Director for SPARK Publications. The magazine went on to receive a 2011 Apex Award, and a 2011 Gold and 2012 Honorable Mention from the MarCom Awards.

UNSUNG HEROES ADs KEEP THE BALL ROLLING WELL, WELL, WELL! HEALTH BIG FOCUS IN PARK

11/13/12 3:25 PM

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5/15/12 5:51 PM

OH, MY!

GO AHEAD, IT’S GOOD FOR YOU. REALLY! PLUS TAR HEEL TREASURE SEAGROVE POTTERY

DEFT DESIGN JEFF FLOYD ELEVATES ‘PLACEMAKING’

WINTER 2010-2011 Vol. 10 No. 4

Ball Winter 10 - Cover.indd 991

11/15/10 11:39 AM

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It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Magazines THE VOICE OF LOSS PREVENTION LPportal.com | V10.5 September – October 2011

UNC Charlotte Magazine EMBODYING A UNIVERSITY: UNC Charlotte Magazine is targeted to donors, alumni and other friends of the university. The magazine’s vision is to provide its audience with entertaining, thoughtprovoking content that depicts the university as the dynamic force that it is in the Charlotte region and that embodies the university’s brand characteristics.

LOSS L OSS P PREVENTION RE R EVENTION

MAGAZINE

“I have found SPARK to be an excellent resource and a very thoughtful team player. Fabi and her team took great care in working with us on the redesign, and they have offered to provide additional services as needed.”

— John Bland, Publisher, UNC Charlotte Magazine

UNC Charlotte The magazine of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte for Alumni and Friends • v19 q1 • 2012

IMMENSE POWER Theatre project expands sense of hope

3/8/12 3:17 PM

UNC Charlotte Magazine received a 2012 Platinum MarCom Award in the category of Educational Publications.

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TEN YEARS LATER

WHERE WERE YOU ON SEPTEMBER 11TH? TEN LONG YEARS FOR ONE NYC FIREFIGHTER TRAINING MALL SECURITY ON TERRORIST THREATS

LPM 0911-A.indd 1

9/27/11 10:40 PM

“SPARK Publications’ willingness to go the extra mile in support of the launching of LPmagazine was critical to our success.

Their continued support helps us maintain the leading position in our industry.”

— Jack Trlica, Publisher, LossPrevention Magazine

A VOICE FOR LP PROFESSIONALS: LossPrevention provides in-depth, timely articles focusing on best practices and educational content critical to the growth of the retail loss prevention (LP) professional.

LossPrevention has been a SPARK client since their launch in 2001. In 2011, the magazine received a SPARKly redesign for its 10th anniversary that provided the magazine with a fresh, new look.

OBJECTS OF

UNCC-1Q12.indd 1

THE IMPACT OF 9/11 ON LOSS PREVENTION

LossPrevention Magazine received a prestigious 2012 Nichee Award and a 2011 Bronze BMA ProAd Award following their 2011 redesign led by Larry Preslar, Creative Director for SPARK Publications.

LossPrevention Magazine

It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Magazines

Signage Solutions Magazine Winning “Best in North Carolina” A NICHE FOR DIGITAL SIGNAGE PROS: Signage Solutions Magazine is an information resource for end-users of digital signage in retail, hospitality, education, stadiums and arenas, corporate environments, and more.

Its audience includes marketing professionals, owners, operators, and facility managers.

A colorful and contentrich magazine, Signage Solutions received the 2012 Best in North Carolina Award and a 2012 Gold Award from the BMA Carolinas ProAd Awards. The BMA Carolinas ProAd Awards recognize excellence in business-tobusiness marketing and design within North and South Carolina.

The magazine and its Publisher, Ben Skidmore, are based in Texas, and SSM’s cover designs and page layouts are produced

by SPARK Publications here in the Charlotte, NC area.

Signage Solutions May/June 2012

The Technology and Solutions Magazine for Digital Signage, DOOH, Mobile and Place-based Digital Media

“Working with SPARK Publications has been a positive experience. Every project I work on with SPARK is met with enthusiasm and personal care that I would normally only get with an internal team. SPARK Publications has met and exceeded all the expectations that I have had from the beginning, and after two years of service, it continues to improve.”

— Ben Skidmore, Publisher, Signage Solutions Magazine

Signage Solutions www.signagesolutionsmag.com

September/October 2011

The Technology and Solutions Magazine for Digital Signage, DOOH, Mobile and Place-based Media

SAVING LIVES

Signage Solutions

Healthcare is one of the strongest candidates for a robust, multi-channel digital media network

THE RUNDOWN

The future of retail digital signage is here p22

PQ Media examines the global market and trends for the digital out-of-home industry. p24

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR

DIGITAL SIGNAGE INVESTMENT

ConneCting tHe

DuCks

November/December 2011

HERE’S YOUR SIGN

March/April 2012

The Technology and Solutions Magazine for Digital Signage, DOOH, Mobile and Place-based Digital Media

THROUGH INNOVATIVE USES OF DIGITAL SIGNAGE, UNIVERSITY OF OREGON INSPIRES VISITORS BY CELEBRATING ALUMNI

www.signagesolutionsmag.com

The Technology and Solutions Magazine for Digital Signage, DOOH, Mobile and Place-based Media

Signage Solutions

CONNECTING THE HYPE New interface, cable technology provide a new solution for hyperwall interconnects p18

Closing t looP the for Brands and Advertisers p19

get out!

Not All Digital Flat Panels Are Created Equal p22

Misunderstood and Forgotten The life of the lowly, small-screen monitor p22 Digital Signage Products & Solutions

•

Signage Essentials

•

Industry News

GOING ALL IN Casinos doubledown on digital signage p25

5/15/12 2:18 PM

NOTHING TO FEAR Digital signage equipment may seem intimidating, until you switch it on p39

www.signagesolutionsmag.com

www.signagesolutionsmag.com SSM 0512 Cover.indd 1

NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S BUS STOP Riding technology into the 21st Century’s urban transit system p28

SSM 0312 Cover.indd 1

3/23/12 4:45 PM

MARKETING

IN THE MOMENT

The roles of digital signage and interactivity in retail technology of the future SEEING THE LIGHT LED technology moves into the mainstream p19

Digital Signage Products & Solutions

SSM 1111 Cover.indd 1

TECHNOLOGY OF TOMORROW Integrating point-of-sale and digital signage p22

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE Recognizing what digital signage is —and is not p22 •

Signage Essentials

•

Industry News

11/22/11 6:34 PM

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It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Magazines & PROMOTIONS

Lake Norman CURRENTS EMBODYING PASSION: Lake Norman CURRENTS is an independent lifestyle magazine for and about the people who call Lake Norman home. Its goal is to embody the passion its readers have for the place they call home and to provide an excellent target

Currents

market for its advertisers to reach their audiences.

SPARK Publications provides magazine design and production for Lake Norman CURRENTS. We also designed and provide regular updates for their website.

A Davidson Victorian blurs the lines World Champ Dan Yarborough Creative consistency at Jeffrey’s

VOL. 3 NUMBER

MARCH 2012

3

WWW.LNCURRENTS.COM

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Promotions

Bill Thunberg talks Red Line Spring fashions you’ll love

NEXT LAKE NORMAN’S TOP MODEL 2/23/12 12:15 PM

“Working with SPARK Publications was a no-brainer for us. Knowing SPARK would be our design team gave us the confidence to enter into our magazine endeavor knowing our design would be top-notch and unmatched by our competition.”

— Sharon Simpson, Publisher, Lake Norman CURRENTS

Website design and monthly maintenance and updates.

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Lake Norman CURRENTS received a 2010 Gold MarCom Award, a 2011 Gold MarCom Award and a 2012 Silver ADDY Award.

It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Catalogs

Carolina Made Catalog

“After producing three annual catalogs for Carolina Made, Inc., SPARK Publications is considered our catalog family. Each SPARKler knows precisely, at any moment, the details and Carolina Made provides imprintable sportswear for the status of our project. Our project demands screen printers, embroiderers, marketing companies multiple revisions and last minute changes. and Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) distributors.

SPARK delivers an on-time project without The SPARK team launched a newly redesigned Carolina Made catalog in 2011, and has been honored to design its stress and complications. Our catalog is our catalogs for the past three years. number one marketing tool and we sincerely entrust it to SPARK. It has to be functional, CAROLINA MADE 2013 informative and eye-catching. SPARK has CAROLINA MADE helped Carolina Made produce a catalog that we are extremely proud of year after year.” $

CAROLINA MADE

imprintable sportswear for everyone

imprintable sportswear for everyone

CATALOG PRODUCTION — A STREAMLINED PROCESS:

2013

2011 Collection CM Main Cover.indd 1

11/19/10 3:09 PM

CM 2013 Main Cover.indd 3

12/7/12 4:41 PM

Unlike magazines, catalogs are an organizational and technical symphony of thousands of images, descriptions, prices and color options.

—Lori Helms, Carolina Made ■ The B2B customers had

such a positive response that the 2013 catalog added five new high-end designer/manufacturer lines.

SPARK Publications has streamlined and organized production processes, which, along with our creative design, bring all of the elements together into a final effective and beautiful product.

SPARKLY RESULTS FOR THE 2012 CM CATALOG:

■ Reorganized all product

descriptions and photos to provide uniformity ■ Created description boxes at the top of each page to concisely list common items and decrease page clutter.

■ Inset available color names within each product photo ■ Carolina Made’s customers agree that the new catalog format has been an effective tool for them to resale their products.

The 2011 Carolina Made catalog received a Platinum MarCom and the 2012 catalog received a Gold MarCom Award for Excellence in Catalog Design.

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SPARK Publications

It’s what we do.

Custom Books

With our roots in publication design, we at SPARK Publications understand that a book is a vehicle for sharing your message and communicating to your target audience.

Our work with authors (or entrepreneurs turned authors) begins with a 360 degree understanding of a book’s mission and purpose.

At SPARK Publications, you are the boss and we serve as your guide every step of the way. You choose how much you’d like to be involved in your book’s planning and production. We have over fifteen years of experience in the publication business and can expertly advise you regarding the content, d esign, layout and editing of your book. And if you prefer hands-on participation throughout the process, we accommodate that, too. Either way, no phase of the project happens without your approval.

With our guidance, the end result is a beautiful book that effectively communicates your unique and specific message to your clients, prospectives and target audience.

Call today to learn how we can add a SPARK to your book project.

12 | SPARKpublications.com

What IS Custom-Publishing?

■ Our clients maintain all the rights to their books and control the overall outcome and profits. They are the publishers of their own books.

■ We’re the consulting and creative team, team managers (editors, proofreaders, indexers, illustrators, photographers), and print (or digital/ eBook) managers of YOUR Custom-Published book. That means you maintain 100% of the ownership — we work with you to make your book happen and make it look great!

■ Beautiful and efficient organization and design are critical in creating a marketable product. Our expertise is high-quality, high-design CustomPublished books that educate, entertain and englighten your reader.

Call today and learn how we can get that book out of your head and into the hands of your target audience.

BE HEARD!!

+ PROMOTIONS + PR What’s the use of a great book if nobody’s reading it? That’s where our Promotions and PR services come in. See Page 20 for details!

704.844.6080

It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Custom Books

If There’s Anything I Can Do: What You Can Do When Serious Illness Strikes

by Josephine H. Hicks

If There’s Anything I Can Do is born of Josephine Hicks’ own experience as a caregiver for her partner during almost four years with pancreatic cancer.

With poignant humor and gentle honesty,

Josephine has turned her experiences into a real-world guidebook for anyone who has ever wondered how to help and what to say during the universal experience of navigating disease.

Book Signings

PROMOTIONS

July 5 and July 7 at 1:00 p.m.

Below: Design and maintenance for an e-commerce enabled book webpage.

Here at the EES Booth.

Winner of a Gold IPPY Award from the Independent Publishers Association

Josephine Hicks

“Think of this book as a bird sitting on your shoulder, reminding you to pay attention to what the patient and family say (and don’t say), to listen deeply to your own responses, and to act in the most helpful and loving ways possible.”

- THE MOST REV. DR. KATHARINE JEFFERTS SCHORI “A wonderful pastoral care resource book, which deftly and yet sensitively displaces those understandable but often ultimately unhelpful human responses to personal crisis...Instead we are here offered a superb inventory of pragmatic tips and techniques.”

- DR. JENNY TE PAA

“Clergy and friends who want to help anyone facing serious illness will find it a tremendously helpful guide – both on a profound and practical level – on how to care for others when words fail.”

- THE RT. REV. STACY SAULS “The author’s gentle humor, and generous invitation into her own experience, will inspire you to be like the grace-filled community that supported her during the burdens and unexpected blessings of care-giving.”

- DAY DODSON, Executive Director, Evangelical Education Society of The Episcopal Church

Above: Design and production for posters announcing a book signing.

PR SUCCESSES ■ Charlotte

Article

Observer:

Business Journal: Business Brief and book announcement

■ The

Mountain Xpress: Two event listings

■ Charlotte

■ Black

■ Buddy

■ North

Kemp Cancer Support Center: Newsletter mention and speaking opportunity

■ Blumenthal

Cancer Center: Newsletter mention and book promotion within network

Mountain News: Book review and event listing Carolina Episcopal Diocese Newsletter: Article and review written

by Bishop Taylor in newsletter Road Books: Book signing and reading

■ Park

If There’s Anything I Can Do received a 2012 Gold IPPY Award from the Independent Publisher’s Association and a 2012 APEX Award for Publishing Excellence.

SPARKpublications.com | 13

It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Custom Books

Do Your Part: A practical guide to everyday green living explores the hundreds of ways we can create a sustainable way of living that is simple, convenient and cost-effective.

Author Terri Bennett is the founder of Do Your Part — a media company specializing in all things green. Terri writes a weekly newspaper column for McClatchy Tribune Information Services and her weekly video segments can be seen on News14 across the Carolinas.

Creating a World of Difference

by Tana Greene

In Creating a World of Difference, Tana Greene discusses her transformation from focusing on a successful life to focusing on a meaningful life.

Her book offers an insightful blueprint for other successful entrepreneurs and business leaders to transform their professional lives and the organizations they lead.

Do Your Part:

A practical guide to everyday green living

by Terri Bennett Do Your Part won a 2012 APEX Award for Publishing Excellence and was the recipient of the 2012 Gold Medal in the Green Living Category for the Living Now Awards.

Creating a World of Difference received a Pewter Award from the Gold Ink Awards and a 2012 Gold MarCom Award.

14 | SPARKpublications.com

From a little SPARK may burst a flame.

Dante Alighieri

From your vision to our concepts — let’s make SPARKs!

SPARKpublications.com | 15

It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Custom Books » PROMOTIONS » PR

PROJECT PROFILE:

Live Full Throttle: Life Lessons from Friends Who Faced Cancer An Interview with Three-Time National Award-Winning Author, Tamela Rich

The Accidental Advocate In 2010, looking for a good cause to champion as she planned her first cross-country motorcycle trip, Tamela Rich joined a group of American and Canadian women motorcyclists who decorated their bikes in pink swag and raised money for breast cancer charities.

She never expected that driving a motorcycle with a pink bra strapped across its windshield would encourage those touched by cancer to share their stories as she stopped for fuel, food and scenery. But they did, and their stories changed her life forever.

“Magnificent stories stories, movingly told, with compelling copy and striking photo spreads.

It’s a real page-turner.”

— The 2012 APEX Awards for Publishing Excellence

Describe your initial vision for this project. What did you hope to achieve in terms of final product, promotion, marketing, etc.?

Tamela: My mission for Live Full Throttle: Life Lessons from Friends Who Faced Cancer was to encourage readers to embrace their mortality and wring the joy out of their lives. I wanted to give people whose lives have been touched by cancer (or any serious illness) hope that, despite their diagnosis or prognosis, their lives can be joyful and productive.

What led you to choose Custom-Publishing over other publishing routes?

Tamela: I decided to publish the book myself after walking through the list of questions I would pose to a client trying to 16 | SPARKpublications.com

“A marvelous, award-winning book opens doors that would otherwise be closed airtight against you. I am who I am; my experiences are my experiences, but I would never have been invited to speak to the groups I have spoken to if I hadn’t PUBLISHED a physical book.”

PROMOTION:

[TAMELA’S

probability that they would change the concept anyway, whether I was on board with their changes or not.

Who needs that kind of creative castration?

That’s why I’m freelance in the first place!

4. Platform. For a firsttime author planning to use a book as a means of building or growing a platform, the whole “come back and see us when you have a big platform” line is like telling a teenager they can’t take the car out at night because they’ve never driven in the dark.

In the time it would take me to convince a publisher that I have enough book buyers to warrant publishing it, I can just start selling the book.

From first SPARK to SPARK Publications: What was the timeframe from manuscript submission to books in hand?

Tamela: SPARK rocked the timeline. All in all, it was about two months after the finalized manuscript to get them in hand. Miraculously!

It was tight and we all hit our marks. Brilliantly.

E: Please styli

stically echo

the colors in

the book.]

Live Full Thro birth and e ttRle

ation by Transfogrm to Life Leanin In

$25.00 & Can ada; Release dateUS : January 2012.

In search of ela Rich — ta About Tam found tha cause, book a good Tamela Rich tionships with Speaker, hor Tamela Rich authorSeveral years ago,stra ined rela brink ed a Writer, Aut cted iness t her to the group of Canjoin krupt bus ban and Unexpest and brough discovered love adia nds n and frie American mot Motorcycli accept , a newly family and in ts . Thankfully her to lean in and e.

Tamela lives h raising money orcyclis ght of suicide , Nort for brea Charlotte family, stmotorcycling tau t came in failure’s wak cancer research n with her Carolina ive and ofte . Aftefor is a freelance r many lessonsis tha two years of nter-intuit in facing a where she les, books, artic ches for business hearingthe or g in cou writer of stories from peop and spee But leanin r on a motorcycle traveling tions enta forced into pres als. When rcycle, she knits met on the road le shescary, whethechallenge. profession moto of life ad the car, she by car inste ; if she’s driving learned how a , she daunting ve with ively Lea puls brus e; com the Rid with cancer had h lights. ng knits at stop Along for and Understandi ps e help ed Com survivors re-e Wisdom ness and community grou n from a their prioritiesxamine bothInsights, ks to busi transformation take and and their Tamela now spea of rebirth assumptions abou of a e themes the comfort pective. t how on thesrcyc retreat, ride from list’s pers to live their best l or spiritual g for the es you alon at a corporate, socia absorb, be inspired lives. moto She invit r, y to

- Tamela Rich, author of Live Full Throttle: Life Lessons from Friends Who Faced Cancer

make the same decision. It came down to: 1. Timing. I saw no reason to wait 12-18 months in light of the people I had waiting to buy it. I knew I’d be riding with the breast cancer fundraising group again in 2012 and they want to see this book NOW. 2. Greater profits. Even if a publisher picked up the cost of designing, editing and distributing the book, the hard costs (and hard tasks) of marketing it would be up to me. With the extra margin that CustomPublishing gives me, I’ll reap more of the financial rewards from hard-won sales than I would have realized with a publisher in the food chain. In other words, for the same amount of effort on my part, I’ll make more money.

3. Unconventional format.

Live Full Throttle is a hybrid of memoir and photo essay. At the end of each chapter, I provide exercises designed to help readers apply the life lessons.

An experimental format is difficult to sell to publishers, and I knew there was a strong

DESIGN NOT

PR SUCCESSES:

Live Full Thro ttle: Life Less From Friends ons Who Faced Can is a collection of stories from cer ultimate sink women facin hole with grac g life’s e, joy. The book includes 100+ humor, moxie and photographs page s of full-colo along with exerc of these stori ises following r es. each

Tamela shares these eight poignant lessons: • The Healing Powe • Gratitude Ease r of Joy s • Laughter Ligh Pain tens Tragedy • You’re Term inal • When to Figh Too, Embrace It t, • Art Restores When to Flow

• Relationships Are • Channel Sorro Fluid w Into Service

chai through le read ce room finds peop e an impact in and conferen setting that mak vated to or in any the away moti Lessons From ideas and come Into Life: lives. le, places, ays of at Leaning their own the peop ey begins and byw will meet The journ audience red on the highwaysyou go down your re Road, whe Tamela encounte a motorcycle! As es: res these them try ... on ore and cultu coun expl you will across the her trips road of life, phorical this meta s.

Throttle: of Live Full d the author ds Who Face Tamela is From Frien Lessons from Life Lessons Into Life:

Lean : itable spill Cancer and ng wobbles ng from the inev Everythi veri the Road. Visit her website at and reco om es.

Avoiding elaRich.c : as it com www.Tam travels on ers abound take uncertainty Blind corn and Follow her ich.com r best ride .TamelaR Ride you .Roadtrip www urs: deto Explore the lly providential. usua . y’re The ity, acks: the shortest for flexibil ds. the switchb mountaintop isn’t d nee Embrace que nee h.com. ding the way to the The safest understanto your group’s uni @tamelaric wing and speaking ions Tamela, kno ized presentatrates, and availability at tom ils, offers cusfor presentation deta ela Contact Tam

■ WBT Radio with Keith Larson ■ BMW Magazine ■ WBTV News ■ South Charlotte Magazine ■ Women Riders Now ■ Successes include over a dozen

speaking opportunities, including the celebrity Keynote at the 23rd Annual National Interdisciplinary Breast Center Conference (March 2013) — Las Vegas, NV

GRAND WINNER

Live Full Throttle received a Silver Medal from the 2012 Living Now Awards and a 2012 Platinum MarCom Award. Out of 3,400 entries submitted to the 2012 APEX Awards, it was selected as one of only 100 books to receive an APEX Grand Award.

SPARKpublications.com | 17

It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Custom Books » PROMOTIONS

Holy Cow, You’re Retiring!

by Chuck Inglefield

Featuring a fun and quirky cow theme, Holy Cow, You’re Retiring! gives readers tools to keep them in control of their financial destinies each and every year of retirement…no matter how many years that is. Author Chuck Inglefield is the President of Inglefield Retirement Solutions, a Charlottebased wealth management firm.

SPARK Publications created all design and production for the book’s Platinum Award-Winning Marketing Campaign: ■ Custom-Published book ■ Website with ordering page and book preview ■ Promotional postcards ■ Business cards and letterhead ■ Retractable banners ■ Book launch invitations

Promotions

Website

DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR PRESERVING YOUR LIFESTYLE IN RETIREMENT?

YOU SHOULD The true story of how to make your retirement savings last. www.HolyCowYoureRetiring.com

www.iRetirementSolutions.com • Retirement Income Planning • Investment Management • Long Term Care & Legacy Planning Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC

Entertaining and informative hardcover book (176 pages) 18 | SPARKpublications.com

Retractable Banner

Holy Cow, You’re Retiring! was the recipient of a 2011 Gold MarCom Award for Book Design and a 2011 Platinum MarCom Award for its creative Marketing Campaign.

It’s what we do. » PUBLICATIONS » Custom Books

SPARK Gives Back:

BCC Rally Reflections and Just Olive Over the years, SPARK has had the pleasure of providing pro-bono services to various locally owned non-profit organizations. Our President, Fabi Preslar, has personally given back to the community since the first week of launching SPARK Publications. As a company, we continue in this tradition of service by producing pro-bono work and reduced rate projects for non-profits each year.

Just Olive

by Jade Doheny

BCC Rally Reflections To celebrate their yearlong fundraising for breast cancer research, BCC Rally (Ballantyne Country Club) wanted to create a book to attract more and bigger sponsors the following year. SPARK Publications contributed all content organization, design and pre-press production for this beautiful 90page book to showcase the organization’s 2011 fundraising efforts.

Full color, 90 pages, soft cover.

BCC Rally Reflections received a 2012 Platinum MarCom Award in the Pro-Bono Category.

In early 2012, SPARK Publications donated our design and production services to Charlotte Parent Magazine so they could honor the winner of their Young Authors Competition with a Custom-Published book. Jade Doheny, a talented, home-schooled 1st grader (age 7!) won above all 485 students from area public and private schools. Her adorable whimsical book tells the story of Olive, a gifted young owl who is adopted by a family of red birds. All text and illustrations were completed by the author herself.

Hardcover, full color, 24 pages

SPARK Publications designed the pages with a fun children’s font and the author’s illustrations were composited with colorful textured pages to provide a finished professional children’s book in the same flair the author intended.

Just Olive received an Honorable Mention in the Pro-Bono Category from the 2012 MarCom Awards.

Jade Doheny SPARKpublications.com | 19

SPARK Publications

It’s what we do.

Public Relations (PR)

I started the company, wrote the book, made the fan page... now what???

SPARK PR!

As your creative partner, SPARK Publications knows your project and your business from the inside out. Since we know your vision, we know just how to promote it! We collaborate with clients who require Public Relations campaigns with integrated marketing components.

We’re connected to the local media market and we target and tightly position each PR campaign to meet our clients’ unique and specific goals.

There’s no need to shout from the rooftops when you know your audience like we do.

Our clients have received local, regional, national and international awards, have appeared on television and radio, have written articles for or been featured in local newspapers and magazines, and have hosted highly successful media events. All it takes is a little SPARK — a little SPARK Publications, that is. :)

SPARK PR Services:

Press Releases, Media Attention, Article Opportunities, Social Media Implementation, Award Applications, Consultation

Call today to learn how we can add some SPARKle to your Promotions and Public Relations campaign.

20 | SPARKpublications.com

704.844.6080

It’s what we do. » PROMOTIONS » PR

BeeSmart Owned by award-winning entrepreneur Julie Bee, BeeSmart Social Media offers social media marketing services that help small businesses share their unique stories, communicate with their target audiences, and generate customer loyalty. Their strategy and implementation allows businesses to expand, enhance and grow their brands through online channels such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

SPARK SERVICES PROVIDED:

Logo Design; Collateral Material Design (business card, letterhead); Digital Marketing Design; Speaker Sheet; Press Packet; PR Services

PR SUCCESSES:

■ Business Leader Top 50 Entrepreneurs 2011 ■ Finalist: 2011 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Best Young Entrepreneur ■ Finalist: 2011 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, Best New Company ■ Charlotte Business Journal ■ Canvas Magazine

Julie Bee Chief Connector 704-361-6805 julie@juliebeeinc.com PO Box 1978, Indian Trail, NC 28079

Bee P resen tatio ns

SPARK SERVICES PROVIDED:

Logo Design; Label Design; Collateral Material Design (letterhead); Postcard and Invitation Design; Website Design; PR Services

PR SUCCESSES:

■ Lake Norman CURRENTS ■ Charlotte Business Journal ■ Lake Norman Citizen ■ Lake Norman Woman Magazine

introducing

Prom o

• Peo

Business Card and Letterhead Design

Cake Expressions by Lisa specializes in wedding cakes and special event cakes customized in the style or theme of your special day or celebration. Cake Expressions Academy offers cake construction and decorating classes and private decorating parties where you can “Have your cake — and make it, too!” Both businesses are owned and operated by awardwinning pastry chef Lisa Toohey.

Logo Design Julie

te Eff ectiv e Busi

ness

Effective Strategy, Smart Connections beesmartsocialmedia.com

Cake Expressions

Logo Design

Conn e

ction

Social ple Do Bu capita l is yo siness In a entrep tough econ ur most With Pe po o re worke neur or bu omy, some werful cu ple d hard of your rren sines your best as cy. custom to build. s owner ar sets Conne e ever be ers an cting the relatio as an d fo pr re os ns . Ev on the fa ct rem en in an pects is m a person hips you’ ve or shares age of ains: e impo al level Pe sm every how to mak ople do bu art phon rtant no with w conn ection e the mos siness with es and soci than t of bu al matte siness other peop media, rs.

10 So le conn and H cial M ections . Julie and w Social ow to edia M hy is A customMedia is void Th takes on e it’s us ers and cr e of the be m ed co eate st way rr cu ectly For s stom er loya to attrac tediou many busin . t ne lty, bu s t only w but do obligatio ess people n; , so when n’t un media dersta they know cial med ia nd its th its be strategy fo real va ey’re supp seems like ne r puts he fits first ha small busin lue. Julie osed to us a sp e nd es r ec it, ses an ializ discus sharp wit . In this humor d has ex es in soci ses th an d pe al so and ho e top 10 so cial media ous conver rienced cial shares w to avoid sa ex becom media m pertise to tion, Julie media strategies istakes ing a work an you, no strategy th d solutions social med businesse as she sm at will ia t at yo have for effectiv horror stor ake u. your custom ely manag y. She The ing ers la Disco 5 Gold ughing social ver so en R with beco me ob cial media ules of So solete strate Like gies th cial Me techno it or not, . at won dia so ’t confus logy, howev cial media media e marketin er, it will co is here to st g ay before often caus reps. The ntinue to ch . Like an es y co strate they go to books on nstant ev ange, impr other olutio gy pr the su ove an n covers for small int. Julie Bee sp bject to be of social d busin co networ 5 social m es ec edia ru ses. In th ializes in me obsole k yo is u te so • Qua le lity, no use and no s that will witty pres cial media en • Crea ho matte t quan te r whe ld true no tation, she • Be pa a social tity n you m use it. matter wha • Use tient (inve edia plan t co • Hav mmon se st at least e fun!

6 mon nse ths)

•

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Don’t miss our Grand Opening!

Have your cake – and make it, too!

February 3rd, 2013 11am - 3pm

A2

Cake Expressions by Lisa Logo Brand Design Academy using Cake Expressions Font

15905 Brookway Dr. Suite 4106, Huntersville, NC 28078 Minutes from Birkdale Village off Northcross Drive

704.241.0637 • www.cake-expressions.com/academy.html

Grand Opening Postcard

Website Design Facebook Cover Image

SPARKpublications.com | 21

It’s what we do. » PROMOTIONS » Marketing & Advertising Design » PR

PROJECT PROFILE:

Perry’s 2012 Expansion Marketing Campaign SPARK Publications provides Marketing and Advertising Design and Public Relations services for Perry’s Fine, Antique and Estate Jewelry.

If you’ve heard that Perry’s has moved, then we must be doing our job well!

d.

Perry’s is expanding and in February we will open the doors to a new, innovative shopping experience and location.

Same Gem, New Setting

Yup, we’re Golden.

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A three night event was scheduled for the grand opening. Boxed invitations with handwritten labels and a touch of sparkle were a sneak peek into Perry’s VIP Grand Opening Night event.

The Media Night invitations were sent in square envelopes and hand addressed. Their media partners came out in droves and were impressed with the luxurious reception they received. In turn, they wrote many articles and features about the new Perry’s store.

Golden Reputation • “Good as Gold” Service • New Golden Digs

thPark, at Sou PERRY’s ron Road, 4400 Sha NC 28211 e, Charlott .1391 704.364

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Direct Mail Moving Postcard

Perry’s is expanding and in February we will open the doors to a new, innovative shopping experience and location.

Perry’s at SouthPark, your favorite Fine, Antique and Estate jeweler, invites you to step into a truly unique shopping experience. Our multi-dimensional services will include: a unique shopping experience, confidential appraisals and selling of your gold and estate pieces, and extensive educational resources – all in a comfortable luxurious atmosphere with impeccable service.

HOLIDAY SHOPPERS TAKE NOTE:

Perry’s will be at our SouthPark Mall location through the end of the year.

Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-7:00 Sun 1:00-5:00 SouthPark, 4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28211 704.364.1391 • 800.339.0734 Learn about our giveaways:

www.perrysjewelry.com

facebook.com/PerrysSouthPark

@PerrysSouthPark

New Location in February: The Gold Building across from SouthPark Mall– 6525 Morrison Blvd. Charlotte NC 28211

Full page magazine ads announcing the upcoming new location.

Perry-FullPage ExpanAd-2.indd 1

Same Gem, New Setting

The 2012 Perry’s Expansion Marketing and PR Campaign received a 2012 APEX Award for Publishing Excellence and a 2012 Gold MarCom Award.

22 | SPARKpublications.com

In celebration of 34 years as one of the nation’s finest antique and estate jewelers, Perry’s at SouthPark is expanding.

In February we will open our doors to a new, innovative shopping experience and location.

Perry’s buys and sells rare and collectible coins and collections.

11/8/11 9:39 AM

Perry’s is Moving!

New Location in February: The Gold Building across from SouthPark Mall 6525 Morrison Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28211

Not just jewelry: Perry’s sells, buys and consigns a variety of unique and valuable silver, collector and estate items.

Perry’s at SouthPark, your favorite Fine, Antique and Estate Jeweler invites you to step into a truly unique shopping experience.

Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-6:00 Buy Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-6:00 Stop by or schedule a confidential appointment.

704.364.1391 800.339.0734

Our new multi-dimensional services will include: • A distinctive shopping experience, • A new state of the art 4,000 square-foot showroom, • Confidential appraisals and selling of your gold and estate pieces, • 12 private offices, • Extensive educational resources, • Luxurious, personal bridal services …All in a comfortably elegant atmosphere with impeccable service. Perry’s at SouthPark – we’re all the jewelry store you’ll ever need.

www.perrysjewelry.com For more information on our grand opening events and giveaways please visit our pages on facebook and Twitter

Perry-SP-2pgExpanAd.indd 1-2

Learn about our giveaways:

facebook.com/PerrysSouthPark

@PerrysSouthPark

12/13/11 12:07 PM

Two-page spread magazine ad that ran in three different local magazines to announce the move and introduce a few new services.

The 2012 Perry’s Expansion and Move received local and regional attention.

PR SUCCESSES: Print: ■ Carolina Bride ■ Charlotte Living Magazine Television: ■ Fox Carolina ■ WCNC Radio: ■ WBT Radio These billboards announcing the move ran in 12 prime locations for six weeks. (This stunning rock of a ring brought many curious customers to PERRY’s and SOLD!)

As Perry’s transitioned into their new location, the design transformed from their old look and colors (dark green and gold) to their new branding (elegance, light green and platinum).

A micro-site was built to announce the move and its grand opening events while the new major website was in its redesign and planning phase.

www.perrysjewelry.com

New Business Cards Perry's Business Cards-0712.indd 1

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12/3/12 2:09 PM

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Web: ■ Charlotte Style Magazine Online ■ Charlotte Observer Online (2 articles) ■ The Charlotte Weekly Online ■ Cinhte Magazine Online ■ WBTV South Charlotte Website: “Perry’s at SouthPark to Hold Grand Opening this Friday”

1/4/12 Br at 6525 off Perry ’s en Building – the Gold exchange it for $100jewelr y. ul and tif au be or services uthPark – .

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Stay Tuned: The 2012 Perry’s Expansion Campaign is being featured in INSTORE Magazine, a national magazine for the jewelry retail industry as a profile for effective marketing campaigns.

12:14 PM

PM

Multiple gift cards were1/4/12 12:14 and donated for d 2 .indgenerated t Card R2 www.perrysjewelry.com Allegro Gif SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION various charity functions. This brought many new customers to SPARK designed and completely produced all content for the new PERRY’s location. this special section that ran in The Charlotte Observer.

6525 Morrison Blvd.

Charlotte, NC 28211

704.364.1391 • 800.339.0734

Perry's Tabloid R4.indd 1

1/20/12 4:57 PM

SPARKpublications.com | 23

Enthusiasm is the kindling SPARK that marks the difference between the leaders in every activity and the laggards who put in just enough to get by.

Anonymous

Woo hoo!!!! Go SPARK team!!

24 | SPARKpublications.com

SPARKler Spotlight:

Monty Todd

Senior Designer, Magazine Whiz, & Nice Guy to Boot!

Monty’s role at SPARK Publications is to work with clients to achieve: ■ Beautiful

magazine, catalog, and specialty book design and production

■ Printer

communications and coordination

■ Web

design and updates

■ Eye-catching

Hometown: Stanley, NC — a Carolina boy, through and through!

Hobbies: Landscaping, handywork, traveling, vegetarian cuisine, indie music, spending time with his lovely wife, Allison, and their canine daughter, Emmie Lou. Fun Fact: G’day, mates! Monty is our resident Australiaphile! Having traveled to Australia in the past, he is a big fan of Australian culture and music.

Monty Todd is SPARK Publications’ fabulous Senior Designer. A Charlotte native, Monty joined the SPARK team in fall 2011 with years of stellar magazine and graphic design experience.

Prior to working for SPARK Publications, Monty served as a graphic designer for a large regional newspaper as well as for several local magazines. Coming from a daily newspaper, Monty is deadline driven and highly accurate.

Organized and efficient, he has an eye for clean, fresh design.

What’s one favorite SPARK project that you’ve worked on recently?

Monty: The PRIDE Magazine covers are always fun AND challenging to design. A magazine cover should have impact and get noticed at a glance. The latest January cover was particularly cute with the three Gore Boyz!

PRIDE Gore January-February 2013

The Men's Issue

Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

Presents

the

Monty’s Quick Bio

A Little about Monty

promotional design

BOYZ

Emmie Lou

Health and wealth in the new year PM 0113.indd 1

Getting to know Rodney Monroe

2013 CIAA Calendar inside this issue 12/20/12 11:28 AM

SPARKpublications.com | 25

• gorgeous

• engaging

Publications

• effective

Promotions

PR

it’s what we do.

SPARKPublications.com

publication

SPARK

A Meet the SPARKlers!

an occasional glimpse at SPARK publications

Chief SPARKler/ President:

Humor Coach/ Director of Creativity:

Mag Dude/ Señor Designer:

Logo Lady/ Director of Artsyness:

Word Bird/ PR Gal:

Fabi Preslar

Larry Preslar

Monty Todd

Brenda Cole

Amy Trainor

700 Matthews Mint Hill Road Matthews, NC 28105 • (704) 844-6080 All text, content, planning, concepts, design and product photography for A SPARK Publication is Designed and Produced inhouse by the SPARK Publications team.

26 | SPARKpublications.com

Awesome SPARKler Headshots by: Lobiondo Photography

We LOVE our clients!

SPARKpublications.com | 27

i want one Where’s YOUR Company’s Magazine?

SPARK Publications can design and produce a print or online newsletter or magazine just like this one for you or your company, event or product.

Contact us at: info@SPARKpublications.com or (704) 844-6080

Do It Now!

View our SPARKly work at www.SPARKPublications.com 704.844.6080 | info@SPARKpublications.com | SPARKPublications.com