Event Information

Join Ad 2 Madison on Wednesday, June 24 at 6pm as we welcome Fiskars and learn how the Finnish tools manufacturer successfully used social media to create a global and loyal user group called Fiskateers.  Suzanne Fanning, Fiskars’ Director of Communications, will tell us why the Fiskateers are now an essential part of Fiskars product-development cycle.  Founded in 1649 in Finland, Fiskars is one of the oldest companies in the world.  Today, the international company’s craft and garden products division is headquartered in Madison, Wis.

 

The night also will serve as our designated Annual Club Meeting in which we will spend a few minutes to vote in new board members for 2009-10 and amend our by-laws.  Food will be provided, along with a cash bar.

 

WHAT: Ad 2 Madison’s Annual Club Meeting with Fiskars

WHEN: Wednesday, June 24.  Doors open at 5:30pm, Speaker starts at 6pm

WHERE: Zanders Sports Lounge, 118 State Street (www.ZandersSportsLounge.com)

HOW MUCH: FREE for members, $10 for students, $15 for guests

 

Please RSVP ASAP!!
 

Suzanne Fanning is a senior level marketing communications executive whose innovative social media programs have been featured in Advertising Age Magazine, Fast Company, Forbes Magazine and on the cover of PR Week.  In addition, her successful marketing strategies have been published in several books including Groundswell by Josh Bernhoff and Charlene Li, Word of Mouth Marketing by Andy Sernovitz, Social Marketing in an Hour a Day by Dave Evans, and Secrets of Social Media Marketing by Paul Gillin.

 

Currently, Suzanne is the Director of Communications for Fiskars Brands Incorporated, a global consumer goods corporation.  Some of her key accomplishments in this role include $30 million dollars in free media placement (with Fiskars’ items prominently featured on NBC’s  The Office and The Today Show, ABC’s  Grey’s Anatomy, American Idol, Jon and Kate Plus 8, Project Runway, Extreme Home Makeover, Martha Stewart, Ellen Degeneres, and numerous other television shows, as well as in magazines and movies).

 

Her team’s efforts also resulted in the doubling of their web traffic in a year.  Not only did she introduce multiple new web initiatives and launch Fiskars Facebook and Twitter, but she also started a new worldwide, award-winning brand ambassador (social media) program that has exceeded every goal.  With over 6000 members (in all US states and 70 different countries) in just 32 months, the program has increased blogosphere chatter about the Fiskars brand by over 600% according to research by Umbria (data mining service).  It has given the brand a new way to interface with consumers and actually allows them to become part of the business strategy by giving input on new products, improvements, latest trends, etc.  According to The Viral Garden, the Fiskateer social media program is “the best social media program in existence.”