The Idea Boutique™ Hits Homerun with 42% Increase in Traffic on Newly Designed Website

Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Inc., the agency of record for The Resort Collection of Panama City Beach, recently designed a new website for Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort, a signature property of The Resort Collection. The website launched May 11, 2009 unveiling a fresh image with rich photography, enhanced graphics, clean design, easy navigation and a wealth of information encased within a branding message of “Happiness.” A short two months since the website went live, there has been a 42% increase in site traffic and 33% increase in online reservation bookings compared with the prior two months.

“Everyone needs to hear some good news and know that all is not doom and gloom,” said Lisa Burwell, president and founder of Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising. “Cornerstone’s vice president of creative services, Bob Brown, did an outstanding job crafting this beautiful site along with the rest of the Cornerstone and Resort Collection team. This surge of business for Edgewater serves as a reminder that an investment in image pays off even in hard times.”

Paul Wohlford, vice president of sales and marketing for The Resort Collection, said,  “We are thrilled about the results we are experiencing and glad to see that our guests find the new site to be as helpful and refreshing as we do.” He added that the branding message, “Happiness is…” communicates that now, more than ever, people need to take a break from the stresses of daily life and enjoy themselves on a vacation and is part of the marketing terminology, “deservability.”

The cover story of VIE’s Spring 2009 issue, “Share the Beat,” highlighted the work of the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness (JRI). The JRI is a non-profit organization formed in 1995 by James Redford two years after his liver transplant in 1993. Share the Beat, an event that uses the power of music and story telling to raise awareness and funds for the benefit of the transplant community, was first conceptualized by the JRI in 2003. The first performance was in Los Angeles and has since traveled to Salt Lake City, Sundance, Omaha and Atlanta.  The JRI’s goal is to educate the public and to raise awareness about the need for organ and tissue donation through film, educational outreach and the web. 

After seeing the cover and article in VIE, the JRI was so impressed with the way Share the Beat was portrayed that they asked Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising (CMA), the publisher of VIE, to reprint the article and cover to use as a mini-magazine for their promotional purposes.  CMA’s Art Director Eric Shepard created the back cover design for Share the Beat (pictured above). President and founder of CMA, Lisa Burwell said, “We were so moved by Share the Beat when we attended the Atlanta event. It is an honor to add an organization that is making such a difference to our clientele.”

Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Inc., publisher of VIE, was recognized by the Emerald Coast Advertising Federation for advertising excellence at the 2009 ADDY Awards & Gala on Saturday, February 28th at the Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village in Destin, Florida.  Cornerstone won 37 ADDY Awards – 10 Gold, including 1 Judge’s Choice Award, and 27 Silver. Taking home the most    awards and the most golds, it was certainly a successful night for Cornerstone’s The Idea Boutique. The 10 Gold ADDYS awarded to Cornerstone were won for three local businesses – 30A Resorts, Café Thirty-A and VIE – People + Places magazine – and North Carolina-based Sky Carolina. The 27 Silver ADDYS were secured for Southern Theatres, L.L.C., owner of The Grand 16 at Pier Park, The Resort Collection of Panama City Beach, VIE – People + Places magazine and Cottages for Kids.  

Lisa Burwell, president and owner of Cornerstone  said, “We were thrilled to have had interesting and varied clients last year and we count it a blessing that we were able to continue to grow the company in an economic downturn. Our creative team led by vice president Bob Brown and creative director Eric Shepard along with graphic designer Hui-Ting Tang did an outstanding job along with all members of the Cornerstone team.” 

Congratulations, Cornerstone!

Here are just a few of the award-winning entries.