After repeated attempts including personal visits, two registered letters plus an attorney demand letter, Sczepanik had no choice but to confiscate his own property. The bus was picked-up on a Sunday morning while the restaurant was closed and placed at Texas Pride Barbecue in Adkins, Texas. The 75-year-old Sczepanik acquired the bus in 1979 and still runs the Top Hands. The group has the distinction of being the longest continually active country and western band in America. “I have the title,” said Sczepanic, a band member since 1967, “it’s my bus, James never bought it from me.” According to the Top Hands manager, James White was supposed to restore the bus, something that was never done.

As for Texas Pride Barbecue’s owner Tony Talanco, they now find themselves in the middle of this Texas stand-off. “I agreed to take the bus because I’m a good friend of Ray’s and an avid collector of Texas memorabilia,” stated Talanco, “to be honest it was sad to see the bus in such poor condition, however, we look forward to bringing it back to it’s former glory.” The 1948 Flxible bus now sits on the edge of Texas Pride’s dance floor and has quickly become an impressive addition to a complex that boasts a 1200 sq. ft. music memorabilia room.

Originally used for the Texas Top Hands, it wouldn’t be uncommon in the late forties and fifties to see it rolling down the highway to the next honky tonk. At their prime, the Top Hands, starred in the 1948 Western “Echo Ranch,” and backed up Hank Williams, Sr. just before his death.  Their resumé includes performances with stars Tex Ritter, Hopalong Cassidy and Gene Autry. In 1992, the group was inducted in the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame.

“Texas Pride Barbecue has always been a destination for locals, but we felt that there was an opportunity to share authentic Texas food and music with a wider audience this summer. The region hosts millions of visitors from all over the world and we feel that ‘The Texas Experience’ will give everyone a chance to feel the pride of being Texan,” stated Tony Talanco, owner of Texas Pride Barbecue. “We promise that our complex, with a playground, antique shop, tattoo studio and gaming area will have something for everyone,” concluded Talanco. 

Texas Pride Barbecue has been a longtime favorite of locals and visitors but was placed in the spotlight after Guy Fieri from the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” showcased the restaurant. The restaurant features traditional slow cooked mesquite barbecue, sides and must-have desserts. Additionally, the facility has hosted numerous Grammy-award winning musicians, local entertainers, fundraisers and several events including motorcycle rallies.

About Texas Pride Barbecue and Entertainment:
Texas Pride Barbecue has been a family tradition beginning with owner Tony Talanco’s immigrant grandfather in 1924 who sold barbecue and Italian food from his filling station on Castroville Road. The culinary complex, located in Adkins, Texas boasts a 1950’s replica filling station, a 17,500-square-foot pavilion complete with stage, a 2,000 square foot dance floor, children’s playground, tattoo studio, antique shop and gaming area. The menu includes slow cooked mesquite meats, sides and desserts, additionally, Texas Pride features live entertainment. 

In addition to providing the branding for the promotion, the team created press releases that were distributed to local event calendars, writers and bloggers. Furthermore, we utilized YouTube by recording videos from the owner of ALAMO Beer.

Check the videos out here.

“Overall, the promotion was a success in that it created a branded event that can be generated for as long at ALAMO Beer Company wants it to. The foundation was created and it only allows us to continue to expand and enhance our client’s brand in the market and their relationship with consumers,” stated Andrew M. Anguiano, CEO of Drew Advertising, “we are definitely excited about our potential for ‘Siege Week’ in years to come.”

Coincidently, the national beer publication Draft Magazine featured ALAMO Golden and Spec’s liquor ran an advertisement on the front of San Antonio’s Express-News the same week. Generating, unintended but welcomed momentum to our campaign.

Visit Draft Magazines story, “10 Touristy Beers” here.

CLICK TO ENLARGE BREAKDOWN

MissionFest began as a church festival and under Drew Advertising’s marketing efforts it is quickly becoming a Fiesta signature event. In just two years, the event has doubled in attendance, doubled it’s sponsorships and netted $41,000 in it’s 2012 effort. Shattering previous fundraising efforts.

“When we were in our early meetings it was important for us to capitalize on our unique positioning, we are the only event at a mission,” continued Anguiano, “we quickly decided to move the festival back to the church (it previously was at Mission County Park) and become a destination event.” The move proved to be a good call for the small parish community.

Drew Advertising was instrumental in the branding of the event, consulting on entertainment and developing a comprehensive promotion calendar that placed the event on television, radio, print and web.

“Our company enjoys donating and being a part of our community,” concluded Anguiano, “that’s how we started. Contributing to good causes is good for business.”

To see video from last year’s MissionFest Click Here. Visit MissionFest on Facebook Here.

This year marks 177^th anniversary of the siege and battle of the historic Alamo.  The Alamo is one of the Texas’ most visited tourist attractions and enjoys being a cultural icon to many Americans. “Our company respects and values what the Alamo signifies and anytime we highlight our beer it gives us an opportunity to create awareness to wider audiences,” states Eugene Simor, president of ALAMO Beer Company, “This year will mark the first year our company commemorates the siege and battle. We look forward to making this an annual ritual that combines history and allows us to bring our community together.”

In August, San Antonio City Council approved a measure allowing ALAMO Beer company to move forward and acquire land to build a 25,000-square-foot microbrewery. The project will be part of an $8 million dollar investment.

Among the many changes in the last few years is our approach to web-based marketing and consumer outreach. Our comprehensive marketing approach to both components allows us to more accurately target prime prospects and deliver brand messaging accurately and efficiently.

Content is king. Drew Advertising, has been an early adopter to creative content development. You see it here on our website. We have moved away from a traditional web format and are developing a more interactive, social media linked and content driven site. Providing our clients opportunities to increase their SEO & SEM plus allowing us to share with businesses of all sizes how we think. Markets are not stagnant, neither should we.

Continuous communication and easy to understand marketing outlines give clients control of their marketing team. “We work for you,” is a clearly understood principle with us and our vendor partners. Constant dialogue allows us to build better plans and better billing systems. 

We believe in innovation. Our teams are constantly figuring out ways to better serve our clients, providing maximum ROI. We are always looking for tools to keep our clients competitive in the marketplace.

Finally, we are not a contractor, we are your marketing team. Our goal is to build marketing objectives with your company and execute our tactics. Delivering results and creating lasting relationships. We are in business, just like you. We both need to win.There is no magic bullet in marketing, but a good team can provide you with the arsenal you need to be competitive.

We hope that you consider or reconsider Drew Advertising for your future communication needs. If anything, check back to our site and get the latest marketing information. We are truly invested in your success, whether you’re a client or not.

So what makes a good commercial? That can be debatable and usually depends on a myriad of factors. However, good TV commercials contain similar qualities and are usually created by the world’s largest brands. The consumer has been painstakingly researched, the messaging has been carefully analyzed, directors have been interviewed and selected, scripts written, actors reviewed and chosen, shooting sites picked, sets and wardrobe decided upon and calendars set. Phew! Just to get on TV requires so much work but that can only mean one thing…the consumer, YOU, are that important!

Here are some things you should look for this Super Bowl Sunday when viewing your million dollar commercials:

1. Entertained: Was it interesting to hold your attention for more than 5 seconds?

2. Comprehensive: Could you easily follow what was being said?

3. Emotional: Does the commercial create an emotion that causes you to the react to the brand?

4. Memorable: Do you even remember what company was trying to get your attention?

5. Actionable: Will you purchase the product or visit the website or talk about it to friends?

Well that’s it. Of course, communication scholars will dissect the commercials and can probably add a few hundred things to my list. But at the end of the day, the consumer is the boss. YOU will be the deciding factor. So enjoy the million dollars it took to reach you and appreciate the barrage of commercials on Super Bowl Sunday. I almost forgot, enjoy the football game that happens in between. I know I will!

This is the most incredible time of the year for folks like us. Everywhere you go brands are fighting for your attention. Whether it be the holiday themed displays at Starbucks, or the clever liquor billboards adorning highways or the Facebook ad asking for a donation. We are in marketing paradise! The good, the bad and the ugly. You might say this is the Super Bowl of marketing! So in this clutter of messaging who wins?

Unfortunately, we won’t know who the big money winners are until the numbers come out in 2013. Sad face. But rest assured there will be winners and losers. If Black Friday was any indication, there will be some BIG winners this year. So how does a product, retailer, restaurant or service, BIG or small, become a winner this holiday season? Let’s start with the basics.

Make sure you’re playing. With all the free (not including man hours) and inexpensive tools in the marketplace to promote your brand you better be doing the best you can to pump your information out! But wait! Before you spend your valuable time ask yourself a few vital questions. Does your website, social media and other marketing tools clearly state what it is you are offering and is it easy for consumers to buy your product? Either in person or online? If it’s hard to purchase or seems confusing your marketing will never work.

Make sure you deliver. Nothing hurts any advertising effort like a product or service that doesn’t perform. Don’t blame us (marketers)  if your receptionist is rude or your employees don’t know exactly what your company does or they can’t close sales. Plain and simple, make sure that when a customer comes in the door or buys your product that it delivers. Nothing can thwart a marketing effort like underperformance.

Don’t get discouraged. “Consistency over Time” can be your friend during a bad holiday season for your product or service. This might not be your year, but if you went down your marketing checklist and still didn’t have the results you were hoping for, don’t turn back, learn and move forward. This is when consumer feedback can come in handy. Listen to what they’re saying and adjust. Get ready for the Spring Sale, but don’t stop pushing your product or service. Don’t give up just yet!

So who is the big winner? You could be! Just remember these simple steps and if you’d like to dissect your marketing efforts there are several tools and resources available online and through company’s like ours.

Just remember, the most important marketing tool you have is your own enthusiasm! So keep up the good work and let’s go make a million!

Bubble Bath Carwash will be opening it’s second location on 7102 San Pedro (next to Pier One Imports). The grand opening weekend is scheduled for October 26, 27 and 28. The festivities will include a ribbon-cutting on Friday, October 26 at 4 p.m. with the San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce. Saturday the carwash will host “Wash For the Cure” in partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. Half of the days proceeds will be distributed to both groups. The conclusion of the weekend will be a raffle on Sunday, October 28, where one patron can win a half a year of free car washes. Other prizes will be awarded throughout the weekend. Bubble Bath Carwash is open daily from 8 AM till 9 PM.

“We are excited about opening our second location in San Antonio and continuing our commitment to breast cancer research and awareness,” stated Nick Lopez, Director of Operations. Bubble Bath Carwash donates one penny with every carwash at it’s Babcock location and will continue to do so at the San Pedro car wash. Bubble Bath has donated thousands of dollars to both groups over the years and “Wash for the Cure” will elevate those efforts. “Breast cancer has effected our immediate family is the sole reason why we support both these groups,” concluded Mr. Lopez, “being able to provide a great service is important, being involved in the community is equally important. We will continue to do what it takes to be very good at both.”

Bubble Bath Carwash is no stranger to the carwash business and the new location signifies continued growth for the company. Part of the expansion is attributed to competitive pricing, attention to detail and innovative products. The new location on San Pedro will feature San Antonio’s first-of-its-kind Bubble Drop and Carnauba Fire Wax Drop called, “Fire and Ice,” a service that will be expanded to the Babcock location. Other features include tire shine, wax, spot free rinse and free vacuuming.

Ole Avocado is celebrating National Guacamole Day on September 16 by giving guacamole enthusiasts a chance to win H-E-B gift cards, branded items and a guacamole mashing kit throughout the month. The “I LOVE MY GUACO” photo contest is currently underway and ends September 30, 2012. Guacamole lovers are encouraged to share how they use guacamole, take a picture and submit it for a chance to win. To enter participants can visit the company’s Facebook page and click on the “I LOVE MY GUACO” tab or go to the company website at www.oleavocado.com.

“We know that people love their guacamole so we want them to show us. It’s great to share our excitement about avocados and guacamole with our fans and have them share it with us,” stated Jesus Sebastian, CEO of Ole Avocado. Ole Avocado guacamole is a San Antonio born company that is currently sold in H-E-B.

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