Work Hard Play Hard: HOW Magazine Features Team at Midwestern Design Firm C3

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-— The team at Midwestern design firm C3 has all the fun, creating toys, books and other goodies craved by kids across the U.S. In the 2009 HOW Business Annual issue just released, HOW finds out why C3 has the country’s top restaurant chains eating out of its hand.

More than 60 of the nation’s most competitive names in dining look to C3 to produce more than 60 million toys every year and provide crayons, activity books and cups for the restaurant industry. They create the fun stuff your kids leave on your living room floor. C3 develops effective marketing programs that drive brands to keep their youngest customers engaged beyond movie tie-ins. They deliver presentations that make busy executives stop, connect and have fun. With national and global expertise they lead marketing, purchasing and franchisees to collaboration. They have a unique business model. Unlike traditional design firms that invoice by hour or project, C3 sells the products it designs and has a great portfolio to show for it which is featured across the eight-page spread in HOW.

Kids-smart brand marketing has made C3 one of Kansas City’s most successful agencies. “Kids don’t drive themselves to the restaurant, so we work hard to create programs that are fun and meaningful to families,” says Chris Evans, C3’s executive creative director. “The programs have to be on-target, age-appropriate and well-produced.” C3 makes programs from concept to consumer and they touch every stop along the way. These stops include a high importance on safety and quality insurance.

One of the greatest strengths of a restaurant concept is you have a kids’ agency who is fully engaged in your brand and a meaningful partner to your business. How is your brand engaging this influential segment and turning your youngest customers into fans for life? According to the U.S. Census, there are approximately 36 million kids between the ages of 3 and 11. The buying power of the 3 to 11 year old is estimated to be $21.4 billion in 2010. Restaurant operators estimate $136 million is waiting to be spent daily by families at restaurants. Kids choose where the family dines 34 percent of the time and are consulted 91 percent of the time. (Sources: U.S. Kid’s Market, Mintel, and NPD/CREST, Kids and Teens Eating Habits Report, Mintel, Youth Markets Alert, Understanding Kid’s Menus, Technomic).
About C3: C3 (Creative Consumer Concepts) is one of the largest kid-smart, brand marketing agencies in the U.S. serving the restaurant industry. The company provides research-based recommendations and award-winning products to its clients. C3 was founded on six centers of excellence: kids, design, toys, promotions, distribution and charity. http://www.c3brandmarketing.com
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