For Immediate Release

Arends Wins Top Honors in Web Marketing Association’s 2007
Internet Advertising Competition

March 26, 2007 – Arends, a b-to-b brand marketing agency based in suburban Chicago, has won the coveted Best in Industry award in the Web Marketing Association’s 2007 Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) for “Discover the Freedom of Precast,” a compelling online experience for architects and engineers.

Taking top honors for “Best Microsite / Landing Page” in the Construction Industry, the Arends entry showcases award-winning architectural achievements using precast and prestressed concrete. The microsite is part of an integrated branding campaign, created by Arends, to reposition the building material in the minds of architects.

The winning entry, created for PCI – the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute – can be experienced by visiting www.pci.org/ideas. Promoted through a print ad campaign, the microsite is “an ideas page” featuring interactive roll-overs, striking architectural images, and links to learn more via case studies, downloads and other resources on the PCI web site.

“This is a significant honor for both PCI and our Arends brand strategists and creatives,” remarked John Arends, president/ceo of the Oak Brook, IL – based agency. “The competition is fierce for Internet Advertising Awards from the WMA,” Arends added. “The win recognizes our ability to help clients grow market share through high-impact, online solutions, within branding campaigns that leverage both traditional and digital marketing technologies and media.”

The precast rebranding initiative began during 2006, with a print campaign featuring spread ads in leading architectural publications. The strategic direction and creative components were based on the results of one-on-one, motivational customer research conducted by Arends that gleaned key insights from architects across the industry.

“The research revealed that architects’ perceptions of precast concrete were limiting its usage and growth potential,” explained Rick Sebok, vice president, strategic services at Arends. “Reaching out to architects – in this new way – is enabling PCI members (manufacturers of precast) to influence the material selection decision of the construction process at an earlier stage.”

About Arends
Arends is a full-service, business-to-business brand marketing agency with focused expertise in commercial building products, manufacturing, technology and transportation. Arends creates brand growth strategies and executes integrated marketing programs for both category leaders and challenger brands.

About the Internet Advertising Competition
The Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards are produced by the Web Marketing Association to honor excellence in online advertising. IAC Award entries are submitted by advertising and interactive agencies and corporate marketing departments worldwide.

Contact:
Rick Sebok, rick.sebok@arends-inc.com, (630) 990-0220