June 4th, 2010

BARC welcomes two new members to our creative and account services departments. These two new hires will help support the three new accounts we have added to our agency roster this year: Tree Top, Rinnai America, and Ménage à Trois wines.

Michelle Latorre, Art Director, brings over nine years experience in delivering exceptional graphic design solutions for a variety of clients including: Sprint/Nextel, Salesforce.com and UnitedHealth Group.  When Michelle is not busy in our creative studio, she enjoys finding a sense of calm in her yoga studio.

Hilary Rieger, Account Executive, joins with four years in providing outstanding Account Service, most recently working on the Safeway O Organics and Eating Right brands.  In her free time, Hilary loves to travel and has even climbed pyramids in Egypt!

We are excited to have these two join our team and look forward to continuing a year of growth throughout 2010.

June 4th, 2010

Nicole Robbins, Account Executive, is also our resident “foodie” who knows all the hot spots in San Francisco. She is the person we consult for all restaurant suggestions, so we have encouraged her to share her favorite picks with all of you. This is the first monthly edition of “Nick’s Picks.”

Some people eat to live; I on the other hand live to eat!  Since I’m constantly being asked for restaurant recommendations, I thought I’d start a list to share with everyone.  I plan on updating this list throughout the year with new favorites, but below are my top five restaurants for dinner in San Francisco. Happy Eating!

Range – Undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in the city (the Michelin review agrees) but it is unpretentious, inexpensive and simple.  Start with one of their great cocktails and don’t forget the chocolate soufflé for dessert!

Delfina – Favorite Italian restaurant in the city.  Recommend the calamari over white beans and the burrata for appetizers. The profiteroles for dessert are a must (or skip dessert and walk to bi-rite for ice cream, but that’s another review).

Luella – Neighborhood gem in Russian Hill.  Right off the cable car line so ambience is spot on.  Best coca-cola braised short ribs I’ve ever tried.

RNM – Located in the Lower Haight.  Tried almost everything on the menu at least once, musts are the pulled pork on tostada with crème fraiche and the wild mushroom pizza for appetizers.

Frances – A new comer to the SF food scene and one of the hardest restaurants to get into, unless you consider a three hour wait manageable!  Put your reservations in now as I see this restaurant getting more press throughout the year.  Musts are the chickpea frittes and the green garlic chicken.

Until next time…

March 3rd, 2010

San Francisco agency celebrates their 20th and continues the winning streak amid the overall economic recovery

SAN FRANCISCO, February 5, 2010 – BARC, a San Francisco-based integrated marketing agency celebrated 20 years in business by adding three new clients to a roster that includes such recognized names as Smuckers, Dole, Sutter Home, and Warner Bros., among others.
BARC was selected after a competitive agency review by Tree Top, a Washington-based agricultural cooperative owned by over 1000 apple and pear growers throughout the Northwest. Tree Top, #1 apple juice in their markets and the #2 brand in the U.S., chose BARC to help design and implement consumer promotions and in-store shopper marketing leveraging its 50th anniversary celebration.
Brooke Goodrich, Tree Top’s Senior Marketing Manager, said, “What BARC brings to the table is the kind of packaged goods experience you usually find only in the bigger firms—but without all the management layers.  We know we’re getting partner-level attention from day one.”
Atlanta based Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of giant Japanese appliance manufacturer Rinnai Corporation, selected BARC to develop strategic initiatives to leverage their participation in the 2010 HGTV Dream Home and Green Home programs. The company is the leader in tankless water heaters in the U.S, as well as the leading manufacturer of gas appliances.
The third new client is Ménage a Trois, a wine produced by Napa-based Folie a Deux.  Menage a Trois currently has three blends, a Red, a White and a Rose, plus a new Chardonnay. BARC has been signed to develop a Holiday 2010 in-store promotion.
BARC Chief Executive John Randazzo said, “It’s exciting to start 2010 with three new clients to complement our on-going client relationships. 2009 was certainly difficult for clients and agencies alike, but we’re definitely seeing increased spending of marketing dollars and that may reflect a rebounding economy.”
BARC was founded 20 years ago by John Randazzo, who remains as President/CEO following the arrival in 2008 of a new management team that includes Brian Gillespie, VP Creative Director, and John Anthony Randazzo, VP Management Supervisor. Brian and John joined BARC from The Integer Group Denver where they collaborated on in-store and shopper marketing programs for P&G’s Family Care business.

BARC has been a PROMO Top 100 agency for 16 consecutive years. The independent firm has developed integrated communications programs addressing every major retail channel from grocery to mass merchandisers, hardware to office supply, convenience to on-premise and food service. The agency’s definition of promotional marketing encompasses any activity that can influence the sale of a product or service, regardless of the medium.
(For information contact John Anthony Randazzo (415) 992-4838)