call us at 914 301 9419
welcome.
Marketing Mentors Inc. is an
integrated marketing consultancy
with a unique focus: uniting
marketing and sales to create
larger, more diverse streams of
revenue.
20 years of sales
experience have taught us –
and dozens of clients have
proven – that our new paradigm
is not only necessary, but
game-changing.
Marketing Mentors was founded in 2006 by Steven Amiel. Steve spent over 25 years in the printing industry and has deep experience in all facets of the business, including manufacturing and sales, all while successfully building and later selling three printing companies. Steve was at the forefront when the industry changed and was quick to embrace new technologies such as digital printing, web to press solutions and the internet.
Today Marketing Mentors advises companies large and small in their quest to differentiate themselves from their competitors, improve lead generation and teach the sales skills needed to effectively sell higher value products and services. Technology has changed the playing field and the value of the printed page has been reduced to a commodity product. At the same time, technology now provides printers the ability to offer complimentary products and services from data management and the internet to fulfillment. The current generation of successful salespersons do not have the skills needed to identify, sell and manage this process.
Marketing Mentors helps printing companies create the marketing strategies that track success by using smart cross marketing tactics, lead scoring and data tracking. We can act as your in-house marketing department in providing a variety of services that you may have wanted to pursue but lacked the expertise in areas such as corporate branding, collateral creation, and logo design. Additionally, we act as your back office to provide these same services to your customers.
Marketing Mentors provides top notch sales training that has generated phenomenal results for our clients.
Steven Amiel, founder and CEO.
Steven built and sold three successful printing companies during 25 of the most volatile years in the industry.
When digital technology exploded on the scene, he quickly adapted and transformed his business from a conventional printing operation to the more profitable world of solutions-based selling. He is now passionately committed to helping other companies make that same, crucial transition—harnessing the power of technology to expand the value proposition and open up new markets.
Steven not only has the experience and vision to guide companies effectively, but the compassion and insight that come from years in the trenches.
Brett Levenson, VP Campaign Development.
Long before most people knew what “IT” even meant, Brett was innovating and developing complex websites and video applications.
Based on his expertise in video encoding and compression, Brett worked with AOL’s advanced web development unit and launched Myte Design Studios, a web development firm. His experience includes basic web development in HTML, DHTML and AJAX and advanced web and application development in PHP, ASP, C#, C++ and Java. He designs databases using MySQL, MSSQL and OpenBase.
Lew Sabbag
Lew Sabbag spent 25 years as a successful print broker by continually helping his customers integrate the latest technologies and solutions into their supply chain and marketing programs. Through his relentless focus on providing the added value he could offer his customers beyond the printed page, Lew made a successful transition from print broker to business communication specialist helping ad agencies, Fortune 500 clients and particularly those organizations with an entrepreneurial focus achieve success. Lew has managed all facets of output and products, including offset, screen, flexo, digital, and electronic applications to direct mail, large format, promotions and collateral. More recently he’s overseen today’s newest initiatives in areas such as web2print and cross-media deployment.
Lew has also applied his experience and expertise with global giants like Procter & Gamble, Gillette and Fidelity Investments as well as supporting major advertising agencies with clients in diverse sectors, including fashion, automotive and government.
Lew has a particular affinity for understanding what works best for a particular client’s needs and budget and tailoring the added value solutions that guarantee success.
The case studies below are great examples of how our work has improved the businesses of our customers.
Kodak Roadshow Case Study
“Thank you for your superb sales leadership this year.
My team has been retrained, their confidence level is way up, and we are looking at some exciting projects in 2009.”
Gary H Smith
President
Prime Digital Printing
Dayton, OH
“The webinar was very good. I had the whole sales team there and I think we all got a lot out of it. It was good to have the team listen to an industry expert, instead of just management saying the same old things.
Do you have plans for another subject soon? Please let me know.”
Carmine Iannacchino
LandmarkPrint
Stamford, CT
“As always, your involvement was invaluable. We have furthered (3) great prospects as a result of your participation. Moreso, the follow-up summary letter that you attached is very comprehensive and provides us a guideline for further action steps...This will be valuable as we'll be able to point to this meeting as we move forward to further emphasize our value proposition.”
Larry Evans
District Sales Manager
Southwest Region
Kodak Graphic Communications
“This is great stuff and testament to the work that's gone into building the Connect the Dots events. Big thanks to you and the entire team that have invested time and effort to grow this effort. Additionally, it's clear that the local team did a fantastic job driving attendance and partnering to support the event and maximize the value.
It's evident that we have a very solid formula brewing here.”
Don Whaley
Director Marketing Center
US&C Region & Vice President Graphic Communications Group
Eastman Kodak Company
Norwalk, CT
“On a plane to Norwalk reading the playbook in detail. It is REALLY, REALLY good. There is stuff in here that even a veteran can use, and I love the approach. I can't wait to see the iGen one!”
John Vannucci
Solution Sales Manager, Digital Printing
Eastman Kodak Company
Rocky River, OH
"I've bought and sold capital equipment most of my business career, and I've never seen a company that had the marketing savvy to provide their clients with any more than technical training and, of course, service programs.
Steve Amiel has not only helped upgrade our sales staff's understanding of our total position in the market place, but in addition, he has also helped our clients understand what's available through us to help them market themselves and grow their business.”
Jim Ponstingle
Watt Printers/Mail Marketing
Cleveland, Ohio
Steven Amiel speaks at the Brooklyn Business Summit
The Brooklyn Business Summit provides existing small business owners in New York with the opportunity to learn how to improve their businesses through incorporating principles of sustainability, shoring up their balance sheets, and attaining additional financing.
Steve presented on the challenges of marketing and selling in the new information age and the best practices by which to overcome them. Read the testimonial sent by the summit and view the PowerPoint presentation.
Marketing Mentors Engages with MIller's Professional Photography to Develop Cross-Media Marketing Campaigns
Marketing mentors has been retained by Miller's Professional Photography, the country's largest printing service for professional photographers to assist in their marketing efforts. Miller's has over $100 million in annual sales.
Canvas Magazine - Making integrated marketing work for you and your customers.
In an article for Canvas Magazine, Steven Amiel, CEO of Marketing Mentors, Inc., offers up constructive insight for print companies. Read more...
Kodak Graphic Communications Group
Integrated Marketing Campaigns, Sales Training and Business Development
Pitney Bowes
Integrated Marketing Campaign
Canon
Reseller Business Development Program
Hain Celestial Food Group
Integrated Marketing Campaign and ECRM Strategy
Unimac Graphics
Sales Training, Branding and Business Development
Kennickell Print and Global Marketing
Sales Training, Branding and Integrated Marketing
Servigraphics
Sales Training, Branding and Integrated Marketing
Prime Digital
Sales Training, Branding and Integrated Marketing
Indros Group
Marketing and Sales Mentoring and Business Development Program
Watt Printers
Sales Training and Business Development
In our experience, looking to find the magic “sales rep” that understands solution selling, has a book of business and can impact your bottom line from day one is unrealistic. As a matter of fact, without addressing all of the factors that affect selling in today’s marketplace, management makes it that much harder to be successful.
Making the transition with your sales force from a conventional print environment to include digital/multi-touch services requires the same time, patience and commitment to change as converting to a digital work flow. Besides the tactical knowledge they need to learn about physical products, services and applications, solution selling requires new soft selling skills and qualities:
- Learning the sales and marketing nuances of prospects’ industries -- and where your company provides greatest value.
- Better time management. Today, salespeople must manage more prospects at a time, nurturing a lead until the right moment to close the sale.
- Presenting to groups and multiple departments.
- The ability to write good meeting summaries, proposals, and other communications to keep your ideas on your prospects radar. (No meeting summary generally means no action. Prospects simply forget, and move on.)
- Project Management. Unless a sales rep can support their customer with strategic thinking and tactical help, your solutions might appear to bigger headaches than the problems you are trying to solve.
These aren’t skills they can learn at a convention or a two-day seminar. They require individualized, on-going support to learn a variety of new sales skills and adopt new sales habits- until working smarter and faster becomes second nature.
This support must come from print owners and management and be aligned with every other department of the business to ensure the company’s profitability, sustainability, and success.
With that said, there will be only a percentage of your sales force that will have the willingness, motivation, and energy to successfully make the transition.
Part of your job in management will be providing an environment to help all of your sales reps succeed.
The other part of good sales management is looking at new, innovative ways of team selling and compensation that acknowledges the limited capability of most sales people.
Specific Deliverables
Two days a month for six months: on site continuing education, and sales and marketing.
Corporate
- Audit and updating of customer and prospect data base
- Review of current equipment, products and services
- Determine unique selling propositions and most profitable applications and solutions
- Determine industries, corporations and prospect profile
- Provide Lead Nurturing Spreadsheet
- Monthly meeting with management- review and align benchmarks and results
Marketing
- Audit of current brand and marketing efforts
- Develop 6 month marketing plan, including:
- Any creative necessary- PPT, Brochure, DM, Web site etc.
- Lead generation campaigns and process
- Telemarketing/voice mail scripts
- Nurturing process and touch points
- Individual Goal Assessment
- The new customer: what they buy and how they buy
- Overcoming the fear of selling something new
- Developing greater levels of productivity to build a bigger, fatter pipeline
- How to create and grow your business by understanding your customer’s business
- Improve critically important prospecting, qualifying and presentation skills
- Teach the skills and process to develop and manage a deep pipeline of profitable opportunities and prospects
- Nailing the sale. What it takes to get the prospect to sign on the dotted line
- Vertical market education modules
- Integrated marketing education modules
- Customer appointments
6 hours per month- 12 months
- Review all meeting summaries and proposals
- Support in the development of Powerpoints and presentations
- Available for conference calls and presentations with customers.
- Sales follow up support with reps- compliance with their commitment