Month: February 2019

OCBJ talks to loanDepot’s Tammy Richards

Posted on February 28, 2019 by - Client News

Foothill Ranch-based loanDepot LLC, the second largest non bank retail mortgage originator in the U.S., recently spoke to the Orange County Business Journal and said that its new “mello smart loan” digital mortgage process trims the often time-consuming and frustrating loan application process to as few as eight days.

“We’ll see savings of up to 50% of the typical cost of a loan,” loanDepot Chief Operating Officer Tammy Richards said in an interview.

“Development can come from anywhere,” Richards said. “It doesn’t need to come from a valley. Quality comes from the deep understanding of the mortgage industry that we have.”

Read the full article: LoanDepot, United Capital turn to software (Orange County Business Journal)

Local Entrepreneurs: This is your big break.

Posted on February 22, 2019 by - eNewsletter

The Academy Awards are on Sunday, but we’re more excited about the prestigious business award, EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year®, which kicks off March 8th when applications are due. For the past 33 years, Entrepreneur Of The Year® has been recognizing leaders who demonstrate extraordinary success in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment.

Awards are a vital component to the success of a company’s overall communications plan. An award of this caliber has the ability to raise awareness among media and the thriving Los Angeles business community. As the proud PR partner for the competition, OWC has delivered impactful media coverage for both winners and nominees for the past 10 years.

Entrepreneurs who have participated stay connected with each other. Some even go on to become judges. Here are the top five reasons to compete:

  1. Accreditation: Becoming a semifinalist, finalist or winner helps to validate your company with investors, customers and current and prospective employees
  2. Exposure: Awards can help introduce you to new customers, M&A opportunities and private equity or venture capital investors
  3. Recognition: Awards celebrate business leaders and publicly recognize the contributions of the team, thus enhancing employee morale
  4. Mentoring: Continued education and networking opportunities exist with peers to accelerated growth
  5. Public relations: Awards provide a fast-track to being spotlighted by the media to promote a company’s mission and increase brand awareness

We encourage you to self-nominate or nominate a fellow entrepreneur to ensure that the awards reflect the diversity and vibrancy of LA’s business community. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 8, 2019. Learn more or submit a nomination today. It will require time, but reflecting on your business and how you got where you are today is worth the exercise.

Don’t let the essay portion of the submission stop you, we can help!

The Tangent Agency’s Marc Becker on the costly road to the Oscars

Posted on February 19, 2019 by - Client News

Making an unforgettable movie is not the only requirement to win the prestigious best picture Oscar. Add millions of dollars for TV and digital ads, plus actors’ travel, hair and makeup for events to promote their work on the busy film campaign trail.

If the race is close, as it is heading into Sunday’s awards ceremony, studios must dig deeper to gain an edge with the roughly 8,000 voters in the Academy for Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Studios also are trying out new experiences, said Marc Becker, chief executive of The Tangent Agency, which works with Hollywood studios on marketing campaigns. Netflix, for example, put together an exhibition of “Roma” costumes and props.

“They have always wined and dined people,” Becker said of awards campaigners, “but now they are immersing them even more in the world of the properties.”

Read the full article: Want to win an Oscar? Spend millions on the film campaign trail (Reuters)

CompoSecure’s Jonathan Wilk on the coolest limited-edition credit card designs

Posted on February 12, 2019 by - Client News

Several technologies exist to replace the physical credit card, such as mobile wallets and wearables. Yet traditional credit cards remain as popular as ever. Jonathan Wilk, CEO at CompoSecure, one of the largest producers of metal credit cards, agrees.

“We’re seeing more and more issuers differentiating themselves in this competitive market with unique and/or limited-edition cards that generate instant excitement with consumers and build brand loyalty over time. Some issuers are using these designs for launches to attract new customers, and we’ve even seen certain cards designs be ‘trending’ on social media.”

Read the full article: The Coolest Limited-Edition Credit Card Designs (The Points Guy)

The Tangent Agency’s Marc Becker talks Sundance and Amazon with THR

Posted on February 5, 2019 by - Client News

After sitting out last year’s Sundance market entirely, Amazon returned with a roar, spending some $47 million on five films — more money than any other studio has ever shelled out in a single year at the festival. With Jen Salke at the helm, the studio spent some $47 million on five films — more money than any other studio has ever shelled out in a single year at the festival.

“We will see the big streaming platforms flexing their spending muscles to continue acquiring content, but as we all know if the subscriber numbers and the return on investment isn’t there, these high prices aren’t sustainable,” says marketing consultant Marc Becker, whose Tangent Agency works with all of the major studios. “That being said, the way streaming services are going to rise to the top is by having the best content.”

Read the full article: Sundance Wrap: Amazon Takes Control of an Explosive Market (The Hollywood Reporter)