Consumer Technology & B2B Technology

Microsoft  --  180+ projects over 14 years.  Projects range from product and brand positioning to competitive benchmarking, strategic planning, new product ideation & planning, agency reviews and selection, and sales & marketing strategy.  Proposed development of ergonomic keyboard which became the Microsoft Natural Keyboard, a $60 million+ business. Helped guide positioning of new versions of Microsoft Office, Project, Publisher, Front Page and many new products.

Sprint   --  40+ projects across multiple divisions over 9 years. Helped launch Sprint PCS, the Sprint entry into the wireless telecommunications business.  Other projects have supported long distance, local, calling card and internet access business units. Activities have ranged from strategic launch planning to branding, agency management, selection and performance reviews.

CompuServe Information Service/Spry/Internet Division  --  Broad project range across multiple divisions, including marketing strategies, promotion planning, research, agency review and selection.

Cox California PCS  --  The Cox entry into wireless PCS industry.  Project work included guiding the relationship between Sprint Spectrum and Cox, plus agency selection.

McCaw Cellular/AT&T Wireless  --  Nation’s largest wireless carrier.  Broad range of projects including strategic marketing planning, new product development and ideation, new product naming, training, staffing and communications planning.

ImageX.com  --  A leading B2B e-commerce company that revolutionizes business material printing by putting ordering, editing  and control online.  Strategic messaging, planning and public relations activities leading up to and following the Company’s successful 8/99 IPO.

XYPoint  --  911 Applications supplier to wireless telecommunications companies.  Complex sale involving outfitting Public Safety Units with enhanced 911 service, linked to the Wireless Carrier’s switching equipment and supported by taxpayer money.  Project  includes Strategic Business Analysis & Marketing  Plan, Research, Brand Name, and Sales Presentation.

HotCoupons.com  --  The original consumer couponing site on the Internet.  Strategy, planning and base-business interactions.

Consumer Goods & Services

Starbucks  --  A dozen projects over the past 4 years, including branding, agency selection and related marketing counseling.  

Money Mailer  --  Money Mailer is a leading franchisor of local direct mail services. MIG has worked with Money Mailer on several key strategic projects since 1998.

Dial  --  Series of projects in the detergent division ranging from competitive analysis, to developing a new products development process, to general strategic planning and analysis.

Dole  --  Projects in Foodservice and Consumer Products Divisions.  Developed new products strategies, commercialized new products, and analyzed existing business operations.

Kraft  –  Strategic planning and management review of the Cheese Division.

Royal Appliance Manufacturing Co.  –  The Dirt Devil company.  Identified new product opportunities, developed new product entry strategies, managed sourcing, R&D and  packaging.

InterTrend  --  One of the US’ largest Asian Advertising Agencies.  Business to Business efforts aimed at improving media department training, analysis, and staffing, plus better new business client pitches.

Paragon Trade Brands  --  Largest US manufacturer of private label  baby diapers. Projects involving sales presentations, strategic planning, competitive benchmarking, new products, and trade partnering.

Seattle Sounders  --  The Seattle A League professional soccer team.  Strategic review of operations, community involvement strategies and marketing efforts.

Sumitomo Bank of California  --  California’s 5th largest retail bank.  Series of projects including strategic analysis, consumer research, developing new retail banking strategies, agency review and selection, direct marketing, training, and advertising slogan development.

Smith & Hawken  --  High end mail order gardening equipment.  Designed and conducted strategic consumer research, reviewed operations, proposed turn-around efforts.

Weyerhaeuser Technical Center  --  Project involving new multi-use cotton-like fibers for industrial markets.  Investigated market potential, new product ideation/definition, planning and research.

Mercer Island Group Capabilities

We have assisted these clients and many others in a broad array of strategic and tactical efforts, in areas like: