Live Interview with Douglas Martin
Friday, January 2nd 2009 @ 9:58 AM
Join us on Tuesday, January 6th at 2 pm est. For what is sure to be an incredibly interesting interview with Douglas Martin of SmileVino
Please call
Dial in number: 1 (605) 475-6190 Access Code: 443728#
Biography of Douglas Martin
“Imitate or Innovate. Choose one of those paths Martinsan” was the directive bestowed upon Doug at the age of 16 from Akio Morita, founder of Sony. “One path promises riches, the other fulfillment” were his final words as he moved to his next conversation. Doug grew up in a corporate environment, his father being the Canadian president of Sony of Canada. Exposed through this connection to the wisdom of the East, soothed his restless soul. He chose innovation.
An entrepreneur at heart, Doug’s first significant venture was buying an Ultra light aviation distributorship in 1980. It was here, after losing his entire investment that Doug learned his most valuable lesson in marketing. More people wanted to look at airplanes, than buy them. So he rallied what little he had left and began producing air shows exclusively for this new category. Within a year, Doug and his partners were producing the largest shows of their kind in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Toronto, Vancouver and San Antonio. Rather than trying to sell aircraft for thousands of dollars, Doug sold thousands of tickets for $5. But giving the Show Program rights to a publishing company, who sold patrons a guide to the show for $10.00 plus they sold advertising space to the shows exhibitors taught him yet another lesson. Publishing was to become Doug’s next and longest venture.
What! Magazine launched in Canadian high schools in September of 1987 becoming the centerpiece of a 20-year publishing history with teens from coast to coast. As advertisers began embracing this new vehicle for teens, a void became apparent for creative advertising development for clients who wanted to reach the market, but didn’t know how to do it. A sister company was established as an advertising agency and began attracting attention outside the teen marketing community for the new approaches that were been taken to build brand relationships by Doug and his creative team. Soon Doug was been asked to lecture on his brand building and ultimately, Relationship Building platform. A staunch believer in the fundamentals of relationship building either corporately or personally, Doug articulated the Four core Foundations and created a formal seminar and publication entitled; EPIG™ Building and Maintaining Long-term Customer Relationships. The course follows the four basic principals needed to create positive, mutually beneficial relationships. Doug has brought this seminar forward through many University environments and corporate sales teams across North America.
Although much accomplished, Doug’s Crowning Jewell was created in February of 2005. SmileVino. A wine launched from the rolling hills and valleys of California’s best wine country. SmileVino was developed from the ground up with the sole intent of using Doug’s trademarked EPIG™ program. Apart from the captivating flavor of SmileVino Merlot and Chardonnay offerings, are several unique ways for consumers to engage with the SmileVino experience. Doug observed that the wine industry spent in inordinate amount of time and resources making the wine, all about them, and very little time recognizing that, to a consumer….it’s not about the wine at all, but about the occasion in which it is consumed. “Wine is an emotional libation” Doug recently stated, “ almost every bottle consumed is surrounded by a story, and a smile. The universal symbol of contentment”. “It about people. The moments they share, the love they exchange, the feeling and emotions which flow” SmileVino captures those moments through profiling 12 different women on each case of product and then stimulating an emotional moment for the drinker through an empowering hidden reveal behind the front label. Connecting emotionally with SmileVino drinkers is continued through a variety of involvement components ranging from short story contests to becoming featured on an upcoming label. But for Doug, the most spectacular connection is through the FridaySmile, a powerful graphic motivator sent to millions of subscribers for free each week to give pause, encouragement, reflection or fortitude to women around the world.
Doug focused on utilizing technology to market and streamline the company’s business affairs through outsourcing to specialized professionals. Almost every aspect of SmileVino International Wines Inc. is managed through networks of small entrepreneurial companies.
A remarkable product, a remarkable man. Buckle up.
