Check out some of Bon’s Eye Marketing’s latest work. Our firm recently created a four-page promotional section for PPD – a pharmaceutical Clinical Research Organization with global reach. The section ran as an advertorial insert in July’s (first) issue of The Greater Wilmington Business Journal, with some 15,000 copies distributed.

Throughout the process, our team collaborated with PPD’s marketing department to create an insert that conveys the CRO’s professionalism and success. The company wanted to showcase its 25 years of industry leadership.

Aside from designing the layout and other graphic elements, Bon’s Eye wrote several articles for the piece. With PPD now planning to print additional copies for marketing purposes, we thank them and the Business Journal for the chance to tell their story.

With Bon’s Eye Marketing’s editor-in-chief, Marita Bon, at the helm of their public relations efforts, the New Hanover County Aboretum had another successful event. Arboretum in the A.M. brought more than 400 people through the gate. To learn about the education and outreach showcase, read below. If you missed out on it this year, mark your calendars for 2011.

Arboretum holds tool sale, family activities at new garden event
Both grownup and junior gardeners will find plenty to do at the newest family-focused outdoor event to hit the Wilmington area.

Arboretum in the A.M., 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 24 at the New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive, will feature hands-on gardening projects, demonstrations and workshops. The agenda also includes a used garden-tool sale offering top quality equipment at bargain prices, as well as a full slate of children’s activities. Admission is free.

New Hanover County Extension Agent John Wooldridge, head of the planning committee, hopes to accomplish several goals. “We wanted to provide an education event on the grounds of the Arboretum that was available to everyone – a fun morning for people of all ages,” said Wooldridge, who oversees NHC Extension’s commercial horticulture programs.

“In addition, we wanted to hold a celebration of spring gardening that will show off all the resources provided by the New Hanover County Arboretum and Cooperative Extension.”

Besides providing practical tips and demonstrations for turf management, raised vegetable beds, container gardening and herb growing, extension experts will be on hand to answer participants’ questions. Meanwhile, youngsters will keep busy with an adventure scavenger hunt, sunflower-potting sessions and garden-themed crafts.

“Parents can enjoy the presentations knowing that their youngsters are having fun,” Wooldridge said. “Yard sale enthusiasts in particular will find the used garden tool sale a highlight of Arboretum in the A.M.”

Persons interested in donating equipment to the sale can contact Valerie DeSanti at vdesanti@ec.rr.com or 470-8180. Proceeds will benefit the New Hanover County Arboretum.

To learn more about Arboretum in the A.M. call 798-7664. Visit www.gardeningnhc.org for general information on Arboretum programs.

About the Cooperative Extension
The New Hanover County Cooperative Extension gives county residents easy access to the resources and expertise of N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University. Through educational programs, publications and events, the agency delivers unbiased, research-based information to New Hanover County citizens.

About the Arboretum
The Arboretum, home to a wide variety of plants grown in the coastal area, as well as to emerging trends in plant material, occupies seven acres in the heart of New Hanover County. In its role as the Cooperative Extension’s “horticulture laboratory,” the Arboretum boasts a knowledgeable staff and many volunteers, all working to make the gardens beautiful and educational.

Every week, business owners and managers alike come to Bon’s Eye Marketing seeking an effective Web site for an affordable price. Usually, they want five things:

•    A great-looking design that conveys their company’s professionalism and credibility.
•    A clean, persuasive message that sounds like it came from them, not some stuffy writer.
•    The capability to add pictures, news, messages, etc. at their own leisure.
•    The ability to show off their products / services.
•    Oh yeah, all this without breaking the bank.

Huh, considering so much goes into developing a quality Web site, this seemed like a pretty tall order. Still, after hours of brain wracking, we think we’ve come up with a solution to deliver these businesses the online presence they deserve.

Bon’s Eye Marketing presents the LIVE 3 deal. This new service gives companies all the benefits of a high-end Web site FOR ONLY $1,300. It also includes the first 12 months of hosting on the house, a three-week turnaround time, and our coveted $3 SUPER SIZE SPECIALS – which lets you pick amazing upgrades for only three bucks a pop! Yes, we’re fast-food junkies.

Bon’s Eye can offer these reasonably-priced Web sites because of a new layout system we’ve created that streamlines certain processes and makes labor time more efficient. With today’s average site usually costing upwards of $3,000 or more, we’re very proud to offer this alternative for those on a tighter budget.

For more details, just click here. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions.

Thanks!
Bon’s Eye Marketing

Area non-profit organizations need volunteers, and local young professionals are willing to help – if asked. Knowing this, three businesses have joined forces to bring these two groups together.

On Feb. 18, Greater Good Productions, Self-Help and Bon’s Eye Marketing will present “HAVE A HEART: What are YOU doing for the Greater Good?” The event, slated from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Self-Help Center (272 N. Front St.), will feature interactive booths showcasing the work and needs of more than 20 nonprofits. There also will be cocktails, food and live music.

The plan is to attract a new crop of volunteers for these organizations – people with creativity, energy and passion to help them grow.

“As in many cities, nonprofits in Wilmington suffer from a lack of participation from young people – the next generation of committee chairs, board members and directors,” said Katie Lucas, owner of Greater Good Productions. “Why is this? Maybe current leaders aren’t connected to younger people. Perhaps they’ve never been asked. Maybe they don’t know how badly their skills and talents are wanted.  Sometimes – too often – young people who might otherwise serve simply don’t know what’s out there.”

In fact, more than 600 non-profit organizations call the Cape Fear region home, each with their own individual mission to make southeastern North Carolina a better place to live. They rescue turtles or care for abused children. They feed the hungry, mentor troubled youth, or simply dance. While the whole community benefits from the effort, in many cases, only a handful of volunteers carry most of the workload.

“HAVE A HEART” aims to change this. To bring in potential volunteers, the event organizers have partnered with the Wilmington Young Professionals Network and Port City Young Professionals. Both groups are making “HAVE A HEART” one of their official events for the month of February.

“We try to support local businesses and nonprofits as much as possible,” said Jackie Willse, who started the Wilmington Young Professionals Network. “Since a lot of young professionals are early in their careers or just starting their own businesses, money isn’t always as easy to spare, but we love to give our time.”

Nonprofits scheduled to be in attendance include: American Red Cross, Brigade Boys & Girls Club, Cameron Art Museum, Cape Fear Literacy Council, Cape Fear River Watch, Inc., Cape Fear Volunteer Center/ Big Buddy, Carolina Canines for Service, Communities in Schools, Community Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington, DREAMS Center for Art Education, Girls on the Run of the Coastal Carolinas, Historic Wilmington Foundation, Kids Making It, NC Coastal Land Trust, Rape Crisis Center of Coastal Horizons, Sunburst Foundation, The Dance Cooperative, Inc., WHQR 91.3FM Public Radio, YWCA Lower Cape Fear, Guardian Ad Litem Program and Cape Fear Green Building Alliance.

“It is our hope that, by the end of the evening, young people will find a new and meaningful way to connect to their community, and in doing so, help nonprofits make Wilmington a better place,” Lucas said. “No one is doing it for the money; we’re all doing it for the chance to make a difference.”

Greater Good Productions is a full-service event production company that helps positively impact the community through special events.

Self-Help is a 30-year-old non-profit lender based in Durham, with a mission to make credit available to underserved people – women, minorities, rural residents and nonprofits. Self-Help merged in 2009 with the Cape Fear Credit Union, which has branches in Wilmington and Leland. Self-Help owns 16 commercial office buildings in North Carolina, including 272 N. Front St., where it offers single-office leases up to full suites for affordable prices.

Bon’s Eye Marketing helps clients reach their target audience by making them more credible, professional, likable and trustworthy by creating first-class traditional, online and guerilla marketing strategies and tools.