(Coldwell Banker Canada) "Portraits" Campaign Launch

COLDWELL BANKER^® “PORTRAITS” CAMPAIGN PAINTS NEW PICTURE OF WHAT TODAY’S CONSUMERS WANT FROM A REAL ESTATE FIRM

Integrated Marketing Campaign Gives Voice to Founders ‘Coldwell’ and ‘Banker;’ Underscores That Innovative Online Tools Plus Local Agent Expertise Is the Key to Real Estate Success

 Burlington, ON (March 3, 2008) – Most consumers know what to expect from real estate commercials: manicured lawns; smiling children; pretty picket fences; and the ubiquitous “sold” sign.  Today, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC will start breaking through that clutter as it unveils the first commercial within its new integrated marketing campaign. The off-beat and entertaining television spots feature portraits of the company’s dynamic (albeit deceased) founders, Colbert Coldwell and Benjamin Arthur Banker, who started the company back in 1906. 

Coldwell and Banker inject equal parts of humour and contemporary insights on the real estate market in the spots that started airing the week of February 27.  The spots will air on U.S. national networks and will be seen here in Canada via cable and satellite transmissions, as well as traditional broadcast in markets receiving U.S. network signal. The commercials represent the first phase roll-out of a multi-media marketing campaign which leverages the strength of years of Coldwell Banker tradition combined with pioneering excellence in online real estate.  The campaign will reach an even broader Canadian audience online, through an integrated and highly-targeted launch, featuring unique online experiences.

“Today’s buyers and sellers are empowered like never before by both online tools and access to experienced real estate experts who can guide them through each step to home ownership,” said Charlie Young, chief operating officer, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.  “With this new campaign, Coldwell Banker^® is communicating with consumers in a way that the real estate industry has never seen before.  It is essential for us to show consumers that by choosing Coldwell Banker, they are getting the best of both worlds: easy-to-use online tools and experienced on-the-ground agents equipped with depths of local knowledge.  By bringing the founders into the 21st century, we’re able to bring to life the 102-year-old Coldwell Banker heritage and our thirst for effective innovation across all our marketing channels.”

“This is the first time that a Coldwell Banker marketing program has had such a global scope,” said Gary Hockey, president Canadian operations, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “Through an extensive online component, this campaign will bring Canadian consumers, and prospective customers from around the world, a powerful yet entertaining message about our respected international brand.” 

The television spots feature witty and playful posthumous conversations between the painted portraits of Coldwell and Banker, who wax poetic on topics ranging from current interest rates to a raucous 1940s office holiday party.  Throughout it all, the company’s founders underscore the integral value of combining technology and the “human element” in the real estate equation.

The “Portraits” campaign will also come to life through a variety of online initiatives.  Visitors to http://www.coldwellbanker.com/founders  can tour the “virtual office” of Coldwell Banker to uncover more about the company, play portrait ping pong or even challenge one of the founders to a staring contest.  The microsite was created and executed by Kinesis Marketing, longtime interactive marketing agency of record for Coldwell Banker.

Given that the founders were eager networkers even back in their day, consumers may also see them pop up on popular social networking sites.  Coldwell and Banker will use their profile pages to list their interests, and keep their friends up to date on their “status.” 

 

About Coldwell Banker®
Since 1906, the Coldwell Banker® organization has been a premier full-service real estate provider. In 2008, Franchise Times magazine's prestigious Top 200 issue ranked the Coldwell Banker system No. 1 in real estate for the ninth straight year and 12th among franchisors in all industries. The Coldwell Banker System has approximately 3,500 residential real estate offices and approximately 100,000 sales associates in 47 countries and territories. The Coldwell Banker System is a leader in the industry in residential and commercial real estate, and in niche markets such as resort, new home and luxury property through its Coldwell Banker Previews International® division. It is a pioneer in consumer services with its Coldwell Banker Concierge ® Service Program and award-winning Web site, www.coldwellbanker.com. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Each office is independently owned and operated.