Duquesa Marketing, Inc.

www.duquesamarketing.com

Press Release

For Immediate Release

December 1, 2011

Contact:  Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

Novel New Line to Be Introduced to Retail Beauty Trade in Spring-2012 at Major International Venue

Alexandria, VA –  Dr. Barbara von Mettenheim, creator of Pedi-Flip announced today that her Beauty Product design atelier BvonM LLC has contracted the services of Melbourne, FL based Defined by Design to create essential Branding and Graphic Art visual elements for a Spring-2012 international market introduction.   

“I collaborated with my Managing Consultants at Duquesa Marketing to review a number of candidates for creative design work”, said Dr. von Mettenheim. “Pedi-Flip is a product that performs a specific, necessary task, but it also has a good bit of fun and whimsy attached to the design.  Linda Walding immediately grasped my vision and is a wonderful addition to our team”. 

“When my work product was being reviewed by Geoff Ficke of Duquesa Marketing and Barbara von Mettenheim I became very appreciative of the diligence they exercised in considering all of the submissions,”, said Linda Walding, President of Defined by Design. “I was of course thrilled to be selected to work on this interesting, exciting project”.

“My specialty is creativity and product design”, said Dr. von Mettenheim. “I am fortunate to have Duquesa Marketing acting as my Managing Consultants and Defined by Design handling Graphic Art.  This gives me the freedom to concentrate on areas where I can be most productive”.

Duquesa Marketing, Inc.

www.duquesamarketing.com

Press Release

For Immediate Release

November 5, 2011

Contact:  Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609 

Duquesa Marketing Appointed Managing Consultants For Dr. Nemi Rx Line of Medical Aesthetic Skin Care 

Award Winning International Branding and Consumer Product Development Firm to Launch Products in Spring-2012 

Florence, KY Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing announced today that his Firm has been retained to act as Managing Consultants for the creation, testing Branding and market introduction of Dr. Ajit Nemi’s line of targeted skin treatment products.

“Dr. Ajit Nemi MD MBA is a brilliant young doctor and researcher who has built a thriving Eye Care practice in the Atlanta area”, said Mr. Ficke. “His extensive work with patients provides Dr. Nemi with a sound basis to create products that solve the anti-aging, discoloration and puffiness issues that occur after intensive treatment and surgery has been undertaken”. 

“The products that Dr. Nemi’s research group developed and presented to us were amazing, and most importantly, his patients clamor for them after they are treated”, said Alexis Bruning, VP of New Product Development for Duquesa Marketing. “The medical research provenance of a line has become especially valuable in penetrating the skin care marketplace”. 

Duquesa Marketing is planning to launch Dr. Nemi Rx in Spring-2012. The Brand will be presented in an international venue and will enjoy strong sales promotional support. Pricing, sales channels and trade show schedules will be announced very shortly.

Duquesa Marketing, Inc.

www.duquesamarketing.com

Press Release

For Immediate Release

November 5, 2011

Contact:  Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

3 Sisters Restorasis® Will Unveil New Web-Site To Coincide With International Skin Care Line Launch 

www.RestorasisEssentials.com to Go On-line During Unveiling of Hydro-BioMimetic Regimen at COSMOPROF Hong Kong November 9-11 

Frederick, MD  Jeanne O’Connell MD, CEO of the Medical Aesthetic Sylvana Institute announced today that her new skin care Brand, 3 Sisters Restorasis will unveil its new web-site during the launch of the Hydro-BioMimetic Skin Care regimen at COSMOPROF Hong Kong, November 9-11, 2011. 

“We have worked closely with our Managing Consultants at Duquesa Marketing to co-ordinate the execution of our Business Plan, the launch of 3 Sisters Restorasis at COSMOPROF Hong Kong and the birth of the web-site at this specific time”, said Dr. O’Connell. “The web-site will introduce a wider audience to our novel products as we penetrate the international retail market at the hugely important COSMOPROF venue”. 

“3 Sisters Restorasis was born out the pioneering work Dr. Jeanne O’Connell and her sisters Kateri Delaney RN and Meg Comer have been undertaking at their clinic”, said Nancy Ficke, General Manger of Florence, KY based Duquesa Marketing. “They have perfected the first 100% organic, self-sterilizing, lipid complex and patient results have been amazing”.

“We are now ready to provide the amazing benefits our patients have realized from being treated with 3 Sisters Restorasis formulae to consumers who require serious attention to damaged, abused, aged skin”, said Kateri Delaney, Clinical Director of 3 Sisters Restorasis. “Pricing, sales promotion and our unique Dermal Restor-Imaging program will be introduced to the international Retail Cosmetic trade at COSMOPROF. Our line will be displayed at Spa Soul, Booth 3E-S1”.

Duquesa Marketing, Inc.

www.duquesamarketing.com

Press Release

For Immediate Release

November 5, 2011

Contact:  Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

Duquesa Marketing Appoints Defined by Design to Develop Graphic Art for Pedi-Flip Cosmetic Accessory 

Packaging, Display, Branding, Web-Site and Trade Show Visuals To Be Produced to Support International Product Launch in Spring-2012 

Florence, KY     Nancy Ficke, General Manager of International award winning Branding and Consumer Product Design and Development firm Duquesa Marketing announced today that her group has appointed Melbourne, FL based Defined by Design to create Graphic Art elements for the launch of Cosmetic Accessory Pedi-Flip. 

“As Managing Consultants for the Pedi-Flip project we reviewed a number of candidates to assist us in creating the visual Branding elements we will need to take the line to market”, said Mrs. Ficke. “We were most impressed by the vision Linda Walding and her firm Defined by Design brought to the project”. 

“Dr. Barbara von Mettenheim, founder of BvonM LLC and creator of Pedi-Flip has crafted a wonderful, simple, elegant solution to a problem that many women experience”, said Alexis Bruning, VP of New Business Development for Duquesa Marketing. “The Graphic Art element for this project is crucial to ultimate success and Defined by Design is proving to be a wise creative choice”. 

Duquesa Marketing will be announcing shortly an aggressive launch calendar for the Pedi-Flip line of Cosmetic Accessories. The Brand will be introduced in an international venue and will enjoy excellent sales promotional support. The Business Plan is for a Spring-2012 roll-out.

Duquesa Marketing, Inc.

www.DuquesaMarketing.com

Press Release

For Immediate Release

November 4, 2011

Contact:  Geoff Ficke 

BvonM LLC Appoints Defined by Design to Produce Graphic Arts Elements for Pedi-Flip Cosmetic Accessory

Novel New Line to Be Introduced to Retail Beauty  Trade in Spring-2012 at Major International Venue 

Alexandria, VA   Dr. Barbara von Mettenhiem, creator of Pedi-Flip announced today that her Beauty Product design atelier BvonM LLC has contracted the services of Melbourne, FL based Defined by Design to create essential Branding and Graphic Art visual elements for a Spring-2012 international market introduction.   

“I collaborated with my Managing Consultants at Duquesa Marketing to review a number of candidates for creative design work”, said Dr. Von Mettenheim. “Pedi-Flip is a product that performs a specific, necessary task, but it also has a good bit of fun and whimsy attached to the design. Linda Walding immediately grasped my vision and is a wonderful addition to our team”. 

“When my work product was being reviewed by Geoff Ficke of Duquesa Marketing and Dr. Barbara von Mettenheim I became very appreciative of the diligence they exercised in considering all of the submissions,”, said Linda Walding, President of Defined by Design. “I was of course thrilled to be selected to work on this interesting, exciting project”. 

“My specialty is creativity and product design”, said Dr. Von Mettenheim. “I am fortunate to have Duquesa Marketing acting as my Managing Consultants and Defined by Design handling Graphic Art. This gives me the freedom to concentrate on areas where I can be most productive”.

Duquesa Marketing, Inc.

www.duquesamarketing.com

Press Release

For Immediate Release

October 20, 2011

Contact:  Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

Armenicus Life, Inc. Appoints Harrington Product Development to Act as Project Design Engineer

Firm to Manage Prototype Creation and Manufacturing Elements For Spring-2012 Market Launch of New Jewelry Accessory Product Line

White Plains, NY  Anna Kazanchyan M.D. founder, CEO and inventor/designer of lifestyle simplifying Consumer Products for her company, Armenicus Life, announced today that she has engaged the services of Cincinnati, OH based Harrington Product Development to manage manufacturing of her new line of Jewelry Accessory Products.   

“We reviewed all options with our Managing Consultants at Duquesa Marketing”, said Dr. Kazanchyan. “After interviewing Rick Harrington, and seeing his work archive, we knew he was well suited for the many tasks we need to accomplish in order to be ready for the launch date Geoff Ficke of Duquesa Marketing has targeted”.  I am building Armenicus Life to provide a line of Consumer Products that address everyday problems  that vex people. The line of Jewelry Accessory Products we will launch in Spring-2012 is the “alpha” project but will be quickly followed by others”.

“Anna Kazanchyan is very professional and disciplined in her approach to the project”, said Rick Harrington, President of Harrington Product Development. “And, of course, I have worked with Geoff and Nancy Ficke and the Duquesa Marketing team on a number of fashion projects, so there is excellent synergy to unleach our collective creative energy”.

Duquesa Marketing, Inc.

www.duquesamarketing.com

Press Release

For Immediate Release

October 20, 2011

Contact:  Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

dP Design Engaged by Armenicus Life, Inc. to Create Graphic Art Visuals for Spring-2012 Product Launch

Novel Line of Jewelry Accessory Products to Be Introduced to Retailers in United States and International Markets

White Plains, NY  Armenicus Life, Inc., a Consumer Product consortium, announced today that is has retained the services of Cincinnati, OH based dP Design to create a full package of custom Graphic Art elements for the Spring-2012 retail introduction of its Jewelry Accessory line.   

“Our Managing Consultants for the project, Duquesa Marketing, have used dP Design for a number of upscale fashion projects”, said Dr. Anna Kazanchyan, founder and CEO of Armenicus Life. “We needed a Graphic Arts firm that could provide a full menu of services, have strong creative instincts and be able to maintain the launch timeline that we have set. dP Design is a great fit on all fronts”. 

“I have worked on a number of fashion projects with Nancy and Geoff Ficke and their Duquesa Marketing team”, said Diana Puppin, President of dP Design. “They are very enthusiastic about the Armenicus Life project and Anna has given me  solid direction to take in creating the Branding visuals”. 

“The purpose of every Consumer Product that Armenicus Life introduces is to address simple problems people face in everyday life”, said Dr. Kazanchyan. “We have an aggressive schedule of follow-up launches that will roll-out over the next 18 months”.

by: Geoff Ficke

Trying to Win on Low Price Is Always a Losing Proposition for Small Consumer Product Marketers 

Last week my Consumer Product Development and Marketing Consulting firm reviewed a multi-use child safety line of merchandise targeting the Juvenile/Infant category. This was a start-up Company with modest sales. The products were well engineered, nicely packaged and offered consumers fine features and utility.

The ownership group partners were keen on selling Wal-Mart and other big box stores. They had undergone a long, slow kabuki dance with the Bentonville giant for months. The hang-up, as always, was pricing. The merchandise staff at Wal-Mart wanted significant packaging changes, AND, significant price reductions.

If their demands were to be met, the product margins would be deflated to the point of no profitability. 

We see this situation all too frequently. There is an understandable lust on the part of new Companies, start-ups and Entrepreneurs to push their goods into national chains as quickly as possible. The law of large numbers would seem to insure that this is the quickest path to gaining deep market penetration and profits. Alas, for small businesses, this is almost always not a successful strategy. 

By the time we met with this Juvenile Product manufacturer they had exhausted much of their available resources and were not close to receiving the hoped for purchase orders from any of the big box stores they had approached. A decision they had taken to try to compete on a low price Sales Model was boomeranging on them. They simply could not compete with high volume producers on price. Having a better mouse trap is great if the item is positioned where quality, product performance and Unique Selling Proposition can be beneficial. This is typically in specialty stores, independent and service oriented retailers where product can be well displayed and detailed to consumers by knowledgeable staff. 

The opportunity to grow a Brand and penetrate a market category first locally, then regionally and finally nationally is usually the safest, most prudent strategy for new Consumer Product Marketers to utilize. Unless Sales Promotional Budgets are large, and they rarely are for start-ups, the turtle will beat the hare in this type of race. Marshall your resources! Maintain your margins! Allow for needed Sales Promotion, Marketing and Branding support that will be required to support your products. 

We work with many small and micro-brands and start-up Companies. Focus and discipline are often the most difficult traits for these anxious, ambitious Entrepreneurs to harness. Advising them to avoid a low price strategy seems to go against the grain of accepted business orthodoxy. However, unless large scale production volumes can be employed to drive down costs, do not get involved in selling on low price alone. 

Many multinational Consumer Product Brands sell by initially employing an Exclusivity Strategy. They will introduce a line in limited distribution at high price points. As Sales traction takes hold, the product is introduced in different mass market Branding concepts at lower price points in broader distribution. It is always easier to come down in price than to go up. The Exclusivity Strategy creates consumer desirability for a product. Calvin Klein, Liz Claiborne, Estee Lauder, General Motors, Nine West, Diageo, Fortune Brands, Procter & Gamble, Unilever and many other great Consumer Product Marketing giants repeatedly use this technique. 

Being small actually offers the advantage of nimbleness. Large enterprises do not move fast. No matter how successful, when bureaucracies grow they become sclerotic. Use agility, quickness and energy to your advantage. “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”, as Muhammad Ali so famously chirped when describing his boxing style. Do not allow large Companies production scale and low pricing to dictate your margins. It is suicidal to attempt to compete on their field of play.

Duquesa Marketing, Inc.

www.duquesamarketing.com

Press Release

For Immediate Release

October 18, 2011

Contact:  Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

BvonM llc Announces the Appointment of Duquesa Marketing to Act as Managing Project Consultants 

Product Development, Branding, Sales and Marketing to Be Executed to Prepare for Spring 2012 Market Launch 

Alexandria, VA   Dr. Barbara von Mettenheim, Founder of cosmetic accessory design firm BvonM llc announced today that her firm has engaged the services of Florence, KY based Duquesa Marketing to act as Managing Consultants for the development and market launch of her novel line of Pedicure Accessory products. 

“I had cast a wide net for a consulting firm that could free my time to enable me to solely concentrate on creating products”, said Dr. von Mettenheim. “When I met the group from Duquesa Marketing I immediately knew I was in the right place, with a team with the right beauty industry experience and vision to take my product though the birthing and launch process to market success”. 

“We met Dr.Barbara von Mettenheim and were struck by her drive, passion and enthusiasm for the creations she presented”, said Alexis Bruning, V.P. of New Product Development for Duquesa Marketing. “Her pedicure accessories are the types of products that offer real solutions to common problems in a simply elegant format that makes our job so exciting”.

“We will be announcing shortly a schedule of events that will support the launch of the products,” said Dr. von Mettenheim. “Branding, sales promotion, pricing and distribution will be developed by Duquesa Marketing in the next few months. The line will be available for shipment in early Spring-2012”.

Duquesa Marketing, Inc.

www.duquesamarketing.com

Press Release

For Immediate Release

October 17, 2011

Contact:  Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

Duquesa Marketing to Act as Managing Consultants for Development of New Jewelry Accessory Product Line 

Firm to Handle Product Development, Branding, Marketing and Spring-2012 Retail Market Launch for Armenicus Life, Inc. Creations 

Florence, KY   Nancy Ficke, General Manager of award winning international Consumer Product and Branding firm Duquesa Marketing announced today that her group has been contracted to act as Managing Consultants for the new line of jewelry accessory products created by Armenicus Life, Inc. of White Plains, NY. 

“Dr. Anna Kazanchyan, founder of Armenicus Life and inventor/designer of its products, approached us with her simple, elegant solutions for problems every woman with a wide assortment of jewelry confronts”, said Mrs. Ficke. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to manage the development and launch of this useful, fashion forward line”. 

“The Armenicus team develops concepts that provide “Solutions that Simplify”, said Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing. “The jewelry accessory products are only the first in a robust pipeline of products on which we will collaborate to bring to market”. 

Duquesa Marketing is a one-stop, turnkey service provider for Inventors, Entrepreneurs, Small and Micro-Businesses and Multi-Nationals that market Consumer Products. For over 40 years the Company has worked with clients from around the world to bring their ideas to retail markets and consumers.