April Nomination: O'Neil Turns 100 – Nabs Nomination

If you need to take a lesson in Promotions 101, step out of that lecture hall and zip your scooter downtown to O’Neil Printing. The company, which orchestrated its 100-year anniversary gala in March 2008, shall prove itself quite the erudite professor.

For a state whose existence dates to 1912, the story of a native company turning 100 years old is nothing short of extraordinary. “Planning for the 100 year celebration of O’Neil started 18 months in advance of our event,” says Tony Narducci, President of O’Neil Printing. “We wanted to create a mark that would be memorable and one that would accommodate multiple media for its use.”

And not only does that mark appear on the usual arrangement of letterhead, business cards and company attire, but O’Neil thrust the brand upon the masses with pins, coasters, electro-lounge CD funk (courtesy of Mr. Cato, the colorful purveyor of the stochastic method) and even a commemorative poster series – the artwork for which was contracted by five lucky creative agencies in the Valley.

Their March 27 anniversary bash, of course, took the theme to more extravagant heights with branded napkins, cookies, hats and die-cut mailer invites. The spotlight piece, however, was a 78-page, slipcased hardcover book recounting the history of the company – opening on the sepia-toned days of typesetting and pointing the way toward another 100 years of print excellence.

Though the main story to tell is of O’Neil’s superior promotional depth, its dedication to improving our environment is no less remarkable. O’Neil is FSC certified, a noteworthy distinction from an organization that ensures sustainability, wildlife and stream preservation, biodiversity and legal logging practices. Low-voltage florescent lamps overhead provide the light needed to inspect press sheets—the ink on which is a special formulation entirely free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). End result: outstanding print results that don’t mess with Earth’s atmosphere. And not only does the company recycle much of the waste it produces in daily operations, it initiated an incentive-based system to encourage carpool, rideshare, public transportation, alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles or bicycle commutes. Now, over 20% of its employees enjoy a green ride to work every day.

As the first official nominee for the First Annual Oddy Award, Keane Creative is proud to recognize the solid promotion of O’Neil Printing’s centennial anniversary. If you’d like to explore an interactive timeline of the company’s rich history, visit www.oneilprint.com. After that, be sure to go to www.theoddy.com and tell us about YOUR bright idea. There are, after all, 11 months left until the winner is announced…