Posted by Elena del Valle on August 11, 2005
ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — First American Title Insurance Company announced the launch of an enhanced Hispanic marketing program in Orlando, Florida., designed to help increase homeownership opportunities within Orange County’s Hispanic community. The program’s goal is to address the specific needs of Hispanic homebuyers by helping real estate practitioners better serve this growing homebuyer segment.
The Orlando kickoff marks the expansion of First American’s Emerging Markets Program, a comprehensive program helping increase home sales to Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American and other traditionally under, served consumer segments-into Florida. The program has been successful in California, Arizona and other key regions across the United States.
"First American has proven itself to be a true industry leader in helping explain, simplify and increase access to homeownership," said John Sepulveda,chief executive officer of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). "We are proud to support the expansion of their innovative program into the state of Florida and we look forward to the continued growth of our partnership with them."
Hispanics, African-Americans and Asian-Americans are the fastest growing segment of homebuyers in the nation. First American has set the goal of becoming the leading provider of title insurance and real estate information services to this growth segment.
The Florida Hispanic Marketing Program will help breakdown the cultural, language and financial education barriers that often arise when Hispanics begin the homebuying process. It is comprised of consumer-focused outreach and educational events, specialized programs for real estate professionals, and the hiring and training of key First American staff to better service ethnically diverse communities.
"By working in close coordination with our industry partners, we can potentially create tens of thousands of new homeowners in the state of Florida," said Matias Correa, regional director of Emerging Markets for First American Title Insurance Company. "Over time, this strengthens both our communities and First American’s role as a trusted advisor among Hispanic homebuyers."
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 10, 2005
Santa Barbara, CA–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–August 9, 2005–The July/August issue of Hispanic Business magazine focuses on the 100 Fastest-Growing Hispanic Companies in the United States. Topics covered range from an examination of the leading entrepreneurs of the U.S. Hispanic economy to reports on finding capital for business growth. The 100 companies are chosen each year based on financial data submitted to HispanTelligence(R), Hispanic Business Inc.’s research division. At least 51percent of the ownership of each company accepted must consist of Hispanic U.S. citizens and must maintain headquarters in any one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C.
LatiNode Inc., Elias De La Garza Insurance and Diverse Staffing Inc. are the top 3 companies on the list. It is the second year in a row for LatiNode Inc. to hold the number one spot on the fastest-growing list. Founded by Jorge Granados, Olivia de la Salas and one other partner in 1999, LatiNode provides Internet voice-communications services to companies including AT&T and Bell South.
Also featured are the Top 50 Hispanic Exporters. Topping the list at number one is Brightstar Corporation, a company currently supplying cellular phones to Latin America. Not far behind are a number of food industry companies to keep an eye on, such as Quirch Foods (#2), Ruiz Food Products (#22) and Lopez Foods Inc. (#34). Rounding up the spectrum of stories in the July/August issue is a look at the rising price of television advertising aimed at Hispanics and what this means for U.S. marketers’ value of Hispanic consumers.
Special coverage went to the Hispanic Business magazine Woman of the Year Awards Gala (WOY) held at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas on June 22 and 23. Brigida Benitez was named 2005 Woman of the Year for her work with affirmative action cases taken to the Supreme Court. The four finalists were: Carmen Suro-Bredie, assistant U.S. trade representative for policy coordination; Deborah Gallegos, New York City’s chief investment officer; Sonia Maria Green, director of diversity marketing and sales for General Motors; and Janet Murguia, CEO of the National Council of La Raza.
Now celebrating a quarter century as a publishing and information services company, Hispanic Business Inc. is a leading source of information for and about Hispanic professionals and entrepreneurs. Hispanic Business magazine is the company’s flagship publication, and other products and educational services include: SúperOnda magazine, HireDiversity.com, and Hispanic Business Events including EOY (Entrepreneur of the Year) Awards Gala, Hispanic Business BOE (Board of Economists) U.S. Hispanic Economic Summit, and WOY (Woman of the Year). The entire top 100 article can be found on Hispanic Business’s web site at http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?fpa=0&id=24535
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Filed Under: Media
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 9, 2005
Miami, FL–(HISPANIC PR WIRE)–August 8, 2005–Terra.com, a leading U.S. Hispanic Internet portal, recently unveiled its latest enhancement to its interactive Auto Channel. Edmunds.com partnered with Terra, making this the first time that an integrated, co-branded automotive resource like Edmunds.com is recommended by a Spanish-language portal.
The “Guía de Compras 2005” links from Terra Autos, and includes the award-winning content on Edmunds.com, including True Market Value pricing, unbiased reviews, videos, ratings and expert advice.
Representing over 14 million users online monthly, Hispanics not only represent the fastest growing market in the U.S., but studies show they also spend more time on the Internet than any other group – approximately 16 percent more than non-Hispanics.
“Close to 90 per cent of Terra users claim they use the Internet as an information source for automobiles”, said Jose Luis Carrete, Director of Business Development at Terra.com. “One third of Terra visitors surf us daily. Approximately half of our users go to Terra Autos to scope out features and information on specific brands. Fifty seven percent visit the site for our photo galleries,” added Carrete.
“Car-shoppers who use the Internet for automotive research are likely to save money and be more satisfied with the purchase process,” according to Phil Reed, author of Edmunds.com’s “Strategies for Smart Car Buyers.”
The automotive industry marketers have long known that the Internet is a critical element for new car shoppers. Research indicates that two-thirds of all Hispanic households who purchased their automobiles in the last three years researched online before making their purchase. According to comScore Media Metrix, approximately 1.2 million Hispanics visit at least one automotive Web site every month. This fact is enticing to advertisers like automotive dealers and vehicle manufacturers who can benefit from this new Spanish-language partnership between Terra.com and Edmunds.com. This collaboration between Edmunds.com and Terra.com es projected to reach Terra’s more than 1.2 million registered users in the United States and 2.1 million registered users in Latin America.
Terra is a leader in Spain and Latin America in the three principal areas of its business operations: access, portal and value-added services. Terra’s network of sites spans Spain, Latin America and the Hispanic market of the United States, and via Lycos Europe, has a presence in Europe. Terra’s wide network of sites includes: Atrea.com, Azeler.es, Educaterra.com, Ifigenia.com, Invertia.com, DeRemate.com, Maptel.com, Rumbo.com, OneTravel.com and Uno-e.com among others. Terra Networks S.A. has its headquarters in Barcelona and numerous operating centers throughout the world. It trades on the Madrid Stock Exchange (TRR) and on the Nasdaq (TRLY).
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Posted by Elena del Valle on August 8, 2005
Brisbane, CA, August 8, 2005 – Informative, Inc., a leading provider of web-based solutions that allow companies to drive brand advocacy and word-of-mouth, launched a new Hispanic Brand Advocacy Solutions. The service offers marketers information on what is most important to their customers – in their own words – in the language they feel most comfortable – English or Spanish.
Informative’s Hispanic Brand Advocacy Solutions will provide tools to benchmark brand advocacy, determine the impact brand advocacy has on a business, identify and prioritize Hispanics most important thoughts and ideas. In addition, Hispanic Brand Advocacy Solutions will identifies some of the most persuasive and socially connected customers to leverage in word-of-mouth campaigns to increase brand recommendations and influence purchase decisions.
“Hispanic marketers have long wished for deeper insight into understanding Hispanic consumers – in their own words and beyond traditional focus groups where size is a limitation,” comments Richard Israel, VP Hispanic Solutions for Informative, Inc., and contributing author of the soon to be released book ‘Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, Understanding and targeting America’s Largest Minority’.
Using proprietary methodologies and patented technologies, Informative’s scaleable solutions propose to capture the collective wisdom and cultural experiences of thousands of Hispanic consumers — in their own words — and distill actionable insights that can immediately impact business. The results, they hope, will be better-selling products, greater customer acquisition, improved brand loyalty and word-of-mouth.
Informative is a leading provider of web-based solutions and strategic services that help companies engage and collaborate with their customers to capture and analyze their thoughts, ideas, opinions and perceptions. Companies, including 1-800-Flowers, Bose, Intuit, Kodak, LEGO, Procter & Gamble and Royal Mail, rely on Informative solutions to improve and innovate their products, create more relevant messages and marketing campaigns, and increase customer loyalty and evangelism. Founded in 1999, Informative is headquartered in Brisbane, CA. For more information about Informative, go to www.informative.com.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 5, 2005
Home Improvement, Grocery, Telecom, and Apparel Purchases at the Top of the List
COLUMBUS, OH — (MARKET WIRE) — 08/04/2005 — Just when marketers thought it couldn’t get any more difficult targeting ad dollars, African Americans and Hispanic consumers are adopting new media as an influence on their purchases, according to BIGresearch’s spring (May/June) Simultaneous Media Survey (SIMM VI) of 14,847 respondents. A higher percentage of African Americans and Hispanics than non Hispanic Whites say new media, such as blogging, instant messaging, and picture phones influence their purchase decisions for home improvement, grocery, telecom, and apparel, among other categories.
"The mobility of many new media options appears to suit the multitasking lifestyles of African Americans and Hispanics more than Whites," said Joe Pilotta, PhD, V.P. Research for BIGresearch. "These media represent an extension of word of mouth and pose a serious challenge that marketers will have to deal with," said Pilotta.
Please tell us which of the following media influence your…
African
Home Improvement Purchases Americans Hispanics Whites
========================== ========= ========= =========
Picture Phone 2.6% 4.2% 1.4%
Instant Messaging 3.3% 5.1% 1.5%
Blogging 2.4% 3.8% 1.5%
African
Grocery Purchases Americans Hispanics Whites
========================== ========= ========= =========
Picture Phone 3.7% 4.7% 1.5%
Instant Messaging 3.5% 6.1% 2.4%
Blogging 3.6% 4.4% 1.8%
African
Telecom Purchases Americans Hispanics Whites
========================== ========= ========= =========
Picture Phone 5.4% 5.2% 2.4%
Instant Messaging 5.2% 5.6% 2.4%
Blogging 4.6% 4.7% 2.0%
African
Apparel/Clothing Purchases Americans Hispanics Whites
========================== ========= ========= =========
Picture Phone 3.4% 4.5% 1.3%
Instant Messaging 4.2% 5.2% 1.8%
Blogging 3.5% 4.1% 1.7%
"In any media plan, influence needs to be factored in to improve advertising ROI. The early adoption of new consumer-controlled media as a purchase driver by African Americans and Hispanics will disrupt traditional media plans as it shifts even more power to consumers from marketers. By creating a mobile shopping environment wherein a conference among a social network may result in a purchase on the spot, long term advertising effects may also be diminished," said Pilotta.
BIGresearch is a market intelligence firm providing analysis of consumer behavior in areas of retail, financial services, automotive, and media. The syndicated Simultaneous Media Usage Survey (SIMM) monitors more than 12,000 consumers twice each year to identify opportunities in a fragmented and changing marketplace including the media. BIGresearch’s methodology provides consumer information in the industry with a margin of error of +/- 1 percent. Complimentary findings are available at www.bigresearch.com.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 4, 2005
A study titled "The Future Use of The Spanish Language In The USA — Projected to 2015 & 2025" just released by Hispanic U.S.A. Inc. reveals information about the continued growth of Spanish-speakers in America.
The study challenges the assumption that the use of Spanish will decrease in coming years as succeeding generations of Hispanics are born and grow up in this country. The study projects that the number of Spanish-dominant and bilingual Latinos will increase by 45 percent over the next two decades, adding 12.4 million Spanish-speakers to today’s population.
Unlike other immigrant groups, even third-generation Hispanics – those born to Latino parents who themselves were born in the United States – will continue to speak Spanish in extraordinarily large numbers.
"We know that the number of Acculturated Hispanics will continue to grow, but what this study clearly shows, is that Spanish is here to stay, and in a big way. Our study has far-reaching implications from a marketing and media perspective. The fact is that Spanish connects on an emotional and visceral level with Hispanics in a way that English does not. We want to be courted in the language we make love in, for most of us, that would be in Español," stated Jose Cancela, Principal of Hispanic USA Inc.
The study, conducted by Roslow Research Group on behalf of Hispanic U.S.A., is based on a comprehensive analysis of Census data and national research by multiple internationally recognized institutions, which projects the use of the Spanish language through the year 2025. "We believe this study sets the record straight as it relates to the future use of the Spanish language among Hispanics here in the States," stated Peter Roslow, Founder of the Roslow Research Group.
The study indicates that by 2025, the number of Spanish-speaking Latinos in the United States will reach 40.2 million, up from 27.8 million today; two-thirds of Hispanics, five and older, will speak Spanish 20 years from now; on average, 35 percent of third-generation Latinos in the United States speak Spanish; the 18-and-older Spanish-speaking population will increase by 53 percent, to 15.2 million by 2025; the key 18-to-49 year old demographic will grow by 7.5 million, and will include 59 percent of all the Spanish speakers.
In addition, the study gives a detailed breakdown of the expected growth of Spanish-speakers in the top 25 Hispanic markets in the country. The projections show striking across-the-board increases of 40 to 55 percent in every one. Los Angeles leads the way in numbers while major cities such as Boston, Las Vegas and Austin top the charts with an expected 55 percent growth in each. San Diego, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta are close behind.
Hispanic U.S.A. Inc, founded in January of 2005, is a full service Hispanic Market Consulting Firm whose mission is: "To make it easy and profitable for our clients to understand and market to Hispanic USA, by providing direct insight accumulated over 25 years of hands on experience in the National Hispanic market."
www.hispanicusa.net
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 3, 2005
Los Angeles, CA–(HISPANIC PR WIRE – BUSINESS WIRE)–August 3, 2005–Todobebe announced today an integrated marketing program with direct mail and Internet components including new TV personalities and events tied to serving the Los Angeles Hispanic market. As part of the integrated package, Todobebe will target 835,000 homes in Hispanic neighborhoods with a collectible bi-lingual direct mail supplement about pregnancy and parenting, with tips & useful hotline numbers, a message from the U.S. Surgeon General, and special sponsor promotions.
The direct mail supplement will be distributed two days prior to an August 13-14 NBC/Telemundo Health & Fitness Event in the Los Angeles Convention Center, where Todobebe will host a pavilion dedicated to pregnancy and parenting. The Todobebe pavilion will provide a venue for Hispanic parents to win prizes at baby crawling contests, meet Todobebe TV hosts and celebrity parents, and to learn from experts about pregnancy and childcare.
As part of the integrated push in Los Angeles, new co-host Ninette Rios will join Todobebe TV show co-hosts Jeannette Kaplun and Maggie Jimenez. The show airs nationally on the Telemundo Network at 11:30 AM PT every Saturday. Ninette, a mother herself, is a resident of Los Angeles and will participate in two special Todobebe episodes taped locally at an amusement theme park and ongoing segments at other area hot spots.
Todobebe Speakers at NBC/Telemundo Health & Fitness Event August 13 and 14 include: Tina Zweygardt, Yoga for Parents, Cristina Perez, Attorney & Former Host of La Corte de La Familia – Balancing Family & Work, Jerry Aguilar, Financial Consultant for Primerica – Financial Planning for your child, Cecilia Mercado, Parenting Coordinator, Fiesta Educativa – Your child and the issues of disabilities, Dr. Julian Alfaro, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital – Childcare, Ana Nogales, Nogales Psychological Corp – Love and sex for a Latin couple, Dr. Rosaly Correa, Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality,and Aidee Bautista, Mexican American Community Foundation – Child Nutrition and Nutritional Games.
Todobebe is an integrated media company dedicated to providing information about babies and pregnancy to Spanish speakers worldwide through Internet, television, events, radio, custom publishing, and grass roots outreach. Todobebe’s TV show airs on the Telemundo network and the company’s weekly radio show and daily tips air on 16 radio stations in Latin America. Its Web site hosts 400,000 unique visitors per month, and a rapidly growing global online Club Membership of 250,000 registered Spanish-speaking members who are planning, expecting and raising babies. For more information about Todobebe visit http://www.todobebe.com .
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Posted by Elena del Valle on August 2, 2005
NEW YORK CITY –Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc. published the 2005-2006 edition of The Source Book of Multicultural Experts (ISBN 0-9666315-7-9), which includes multicultural market information and an advertorial list of multicultural experts. Published in a desktop handbook size, The Source Book of Multicultural Experts ($59.95) is available free of charge to journalists.
More than 200 companies and organizations are listed with full contact information including a partial list including description of services. In September 2005, an excerpt of this year’s edition will be posted at www.multicultural.com/experts. Currently, the 2004/05 listings are available for viewing.
The book contents are comprised of paid listings and editorial content. Paid listings include: Cross-reference listings of companies by business type (e.g. ad agencies, large corporations, professional organizations, seminars, research firms) and industry area of expertise (e.g. financial services, entertainment, telecommunications). Market sections are sponsored by leading advertising agencies. This year’s cover, was designed by section sponsor Prime Access, Inc.
Statistical highlights from the expert-written Source Book articles (based on Census 2000 results) include insights on diversity markets. African American households with annual incomes that exceed $75,000 now stand at 14 percent, comparable to the Hispanic market at 15 percent. The percentage of the general market stands at 28 percent. Asians boast the highest household income level of all groups in the U.S., and they also have the highest level of educational attainment (44 percent holding B.A. degrees or higher) and among the strongest rates of business and home ownership.
The average Filipino household in the U.S. has a household income of $59,000, a $35-billion market. In-language communications are crucial for effectively reaching foreign-born Hispanics. According to Simmons Research, 75 percent of U.S. Hispanics prefer to speak Spanish. The gay consumer marketplace represents some 15 million ethnically diverse consumers (age 18+) with combined buying power of $610 billion annually. The Census results provide corporate America, advertisers, retailers and marketers information to understand the value of developing business plans that attract ethnic consumers.
Many companies listed in The Source Book have also been profiled in Multicultural Marketing News, a bi-monthly advertorial newsletter published by Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc. and in the emailed newsletter, MMRNews. "We decided to publish the first Source Book of Multicultural Experts because of the volume of calls we were getting from reporters seeking diverse sources for stories and from marketing executives looking for experts to help them reach ethnic customers," said Lisa Skriloff, publisher, The Source Book of Multicultural Experts and president of Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc.
Multicultural Marketing Resources, Inc. is a NYC-based public relations and marketing company representing experts in marketing to multicultural markets, businesses owned by minorities and women as well as corporations with diversity and multicultural advertising news. Now in its eighth year, the 2005-2006 edition is an updated and expanded edition of The Source Book of Multicultural Experts, first published in July 1998. The Source Book of Multicultural Experts costs $59.95 + $3.50 shipping (+$5.17 tax for NY state addresses). Details at www.multicultural.com
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Filed Under: Books
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 2, 2005
Latin rocker Elan releases the follow-up to her breakthrough debut album "Street Child", which featured guest appearances by Grammy Award Winning guitarist Slash (Velvet Revolver & Guns N Roses), Grammy Award Winner and Beck producer Brian Paulson, David Immergluck of The Counting Crows, legendary Mexican composer/arranger and former Herb Alpert, Paul Anka musical director and Latin Grammy Nominee Eugenio Toussaint, Alan Weatherhead of Sparklehorse and mixed by Grammy Award Winning engineer Jeff "The Pirate" Poe (Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Santana).
"With the release of ‘Street Child, Elan fans brought down three national servers in Central and South America with e-mail requests for her first single, ‘Midnight’, jamming phone lines in most radio stations for days on end…" reported Rafael Villareal. "Midnight" smashed English language radio play records, gaining the top spot on the charts and not relinquishing its position for up to twenty weeks in some Latin American territories.
Also awarded the Rolling Stone En Español "People’s Choice Awards" in 2004, for "Best new Latin Artist" and "Best Latin Solo Artist" Elan had four top ten videos on MTV Latin America, Telehit, MTV Australia and Channel V. Upon its release to Australian radio (released through Festival Mushroom Records), "Midnight" was the second most added track, across the boards, all formats, nationwide (second only to Eminem).
The Mexican born singer/songwriter made a name for herself by being the first internationally
successful Latin American independent artist as well as the first female Latina to begin her career with an English language album written completely on her own.
Posted by Elena del Valle on August 1, 2005
Sara Valenzuela
Sara Valenzuela, the former lead singer of Mexico’s popular alternative-pop act La Dosis, steps forward with a new solo album "Lado Este," released in the U.S. on Nacional Records July 26, 2005. Valenzuela is joined by prominent musicians such as Marc Ribot (Elvis Costello; Tom Waits) and Melvin Gibbs (Rollins Band; Marisa Monte). Lado Este (“East Side”) was produced by Dougie Bowne (Iggy Pop, Cibo Matto, Arto Lindsay). Similar in style to Julieta Venegas, Suzanne Vega, or Ely Guerra. A solo debut from former lead singer of La Dosis, it features prominent guest musicians Marc Ribot (Elvis Costello; Tom Waits) and Melvin Gibbs (Rollins Band, Marissa Monte). Lado Este includes the first video/single “Para Continuar.” For more information about Sara Valenzuela and Lado Este visit www.NacionalRecords.com or www.SaraValenzuela.com
