Marketing to the Gay Community

Originally posted Oct 3, 2006

Read the full article here.

In the ever-striating competition between big business competitors, many larger firms are looking for the next “un-tapped” market to sink their teeth in. This race for the best product is one of the reasons why the United States’ economy is so successful.

This is what we call competition and it drives most markets of today. It all started when Henry Ford invented the assembly line and soon after, many other adopted this new technology. The cell phone craze is another example.

Many cell hone companies are fighting for exposure because Mexico is a county that has yet been touched by the cell phone boom. Another market that is just beginning to be explored, and the one that we will talk about in this article, is the over criticized and under estimated gay and lesbian market.

One morning, driving in his car on his way to work, David Morganlander heard an ad aimed at gay man looking for a date. After hearing that commercial, it did not take Mr. Morganlander too long to decide that the time was right for national advertisers to target gays and lesbians on a larger scale.

Larger than they ever had before! In just six quick and easy months, Mr. Morganlander was president of marketing firm Qtopia Media. Mr. Morganlander’s newly formed company was designed to help other companies and their advertising agencies reach out to gay and lesbian potential customers and consumers.

By creating this firm, he joins an ever-growing roster of companies serving an increasingly large group of advertisers keen to reach the gay and lesbian audience. Like in the previous example of cell phones, the reason for advertisers' interest is the annual buying power of the approximately 15 million-strong gay and lesbian population.

This incredible number adds up to $485 billion, according to marketing firm Witeck-Combs Communications. In a suburb of Chicago, Ill., Oak Park real estate agent Donna Karpavicius decided to specialize in marketing to gays and lesbians.

Read the full article here.

Happy Birthday Wishes

Well...another year down and some would say another year wiser.

Though today is actually the day I turn the big three-one, yesterday some of my co-workers pitched in to purchase a gift certificate to my favorite coffee shop, Coffee Emporium and even decorated my cubicle withe flare.

Cincinnati Police Fight Crime With Computers

Read the complete article here.

Top 7 Entertainment Weekly Options for the Downtown Cincinnati Dweller

Living downtown Cincinnati offers a plethora of different options when it comes to entertaining yourself. The things in which you involve yourself greatly depend on your interests.


Art lovers may spend most of their spare time at the Cincinnati Art Museum or the Contemporary Arts Center. Those eclectic theatre goers may sharpen their thespian teeth at Playhouse in the Park or maybe @ The Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati.

My tastes are a bit more inhibited. I tend to stay within my budget and attend ongoing events where I can get the biggest bang for my buck while being able to hand out with friends.


Monday – Neighborhood Night @ Nicola's
Nicolas offers a great happy hour on Monday night for downtown residents.

Tuesday – Visit your neighborhood library
Cincinnati Public Library has just taken a large hit in its budget. Show them how much you love then and visit your local branch at least once a week. Plus it’s free!


Wednesday - Part in the Park
I, personally, have never been to one of these, but I hear that it’s a lot of fun.


Thursday - Karaoke @ Below Zero
On the other hand, I have attended this event and would not be too far put out by saying that it is the best karaoke in Cincinnati!

Friday – Hang out with your neighbors at your local hole in the wall
Friday nights are synonymous for letting go of your weekly frustrations. What better way to do it than with your neighbors. My pick is Milton’s on Sycamore and Milton streets.


Saturday - Movie Night on the Square
Great way to use Fountain Square and grab a beer at the same time.

Sunday Mornings @ Coffee Emporium
What better way to spend the last day of your weekend than with a cup o’ jo and reading the paper and this neighborhood coffee shop.


So what do you think?

Cincinnati's 1st Gay BINGO

Last night Cincinnati held it's first ever Gay BINGO @ The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati. The turnout was amazing. At the end of the night, every single seat was filled raising money for both Stop AIDS and The Ensemble Theatre. Here are a few pics from last night. Look for the rest of the night's photo on facebook.

My New Favorite Weekday Breakfast Place

Located just north of Media Bridges @ the corner of Race St. and Central Ave., here is where you can get one of the best breakfast sandwiches without having to spend 30mins waiting or breaking your piggy bank.

While you are in there, don't forget to pick up coupons for 50% off any of my services @ ION Consultants.

Totally Joe: A Book Review

Originally publishd Oct 5, 2006

Read the entre article here.

I first heard about this young adult book when I was looking over the list of books that won a Lambda Literature Award in 2006. This whimsical view into the life of a gay/questioning 12-year-old boy is conveyed by way of diary-like year long school assignment that called for the main character (Joe) to create an entry for each letter of the alphabet.

Without any pictures, one must use their imaginations to picture the purple hair, pierced ear rings and funky dress, bottomed out with checked shoes (well you do not have to imagine the checkered shoes, they are pictured on the front cover). You will also have to imagine the attractiveness of Joe’s on again off again pre pubescent love interest described in the book.

The cast of characters that surround Joe definite compliment his sometimes-degenerative appeal. A new age Rat Pack or Breakfast Club of the next generation is what I envisioned. A group of slumped over misfits who are bored with their current school situation and make fun of their teachers and classmates with witty banter and over analyzed rhetoric.

This whimsical account of adolescent life was written by James Howe, author of many other adolescently gay themed novels geared toward young adults, yet again brings to light the fears that many confused homosexual teenagers agonize over everyday the decide to walk out of their house and navigate through the world of high school, in this case junior high school.

Howe's previous written book, The Misfits actually inspired ‘No Name Calling Week’, a middle school and high school project for schools around the country sponsored annually by GLSEN and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Read the entre article here.

Newly Published! Michael Jackson: A True American Tragedy

Read the entire article here.

The Monday Morning After...

Monday mornings are always hectic here at the office which is why I treat myself with eating out for breakfast.

This morning, I tried Enzo's on Race St. For the first time in addition to my normal Coffee Emporium run.

I learned about Enzo's when I attended a photo signing which was held there this past Friday of some images of OTR, a photo montage being sold to raise funds for The Over-the-Rhine Chamber.

I am so ashamed I had not been there sooner.

Another bummer came yesterday @ Second Sundays on Main.  Though it was an amazing turnout and the weather was wonderful, my team lost in our attempt to win The Drag Races which were held there as well.

Maybe next year.

The Beloved Margaret Garner Seminar

I am anouncing the new seminar/talkI am offering. For more information, click the following link or just read the post. http://ionconsultants.googlepages.com

Using the pieces Beloved, written by Toni Morrison and its adapted screen play and musical, this seminar examines the pivotal role in which Cincinnati played in the capture, expedition, and treatment of African Americans during the mid 1800’s.

During this eye-opening seminar, you will discover the truths and fiction in the story of Margaret Garner, a runaway slave, whose capture threw Cincinnati into the thrawls of national news, establishing some of the bases for legislation challenging the definition that a slave was property.

About the Presenter:
Kareem A. Simpson – Owner and operator of ION Consultants, and published author.

Published articles include (but not limited to):
“History of Jazz in Covington, KY” (The Covingtonian), “History of James Bradley” (The Anchor), and soon to be released Encyclopedia of Northern KY (“Rag-Time” Entry).

Scholarly Writings include;
“Information: The Perfect Economic Good” and “African Americans Capitalizing on the Changes Occurring in Academic Libraries”

Presented to the following organizations:
Beckfield College, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gateway Community College, General Public, Holmes Alternative School, Kenton County Public Library staff, KY Association for Blacks in Higher Education, Two Rivers Elementary School and the Urban Learning Center.

If you are interested in having this seminar presented to your group or organization, please visit our website @ http://ionconsultants.googlepages.com or call 513.885.6740.

25% off Resumes, Cover Letters, Business Plans and More!

http://IONConsultants.googlepages.com

Do you want to recession proof your resume?

Do you need a professional and concise business plan?

ION Consultants can give you the edge that you need!

It does not matter if you just need a new or revised resume, or something larger, like a professionally produced economic development plan for your small business, ION Consultants can assist you in person (or via email/phone) to bring your accomplishments to light.

Resumes ------------$40 ($30 w/web discount)

Cover Letters ----- $20 ($15 w/web discount)

Business Plans -----$100 ($75 w/web discount)

We believe in the power of a great first impression which is why ION Consultants’ emphasis is on quality and results, while working within your budget.

For additional information, please visit us at:

http://IONConsultants.googlepages.com

You can also follow us on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/business/dashboard/#/pages/ION-Consultants/108622460796

And send us a tweet at:

http://twitter.com/IONConsultants

You can also read our blog @ http://iwillwriteit4u.blogspot.com

CityBeat Shows Little Love for Michael Jackson

In a print journal that boasts being one of the un-fettered voices of the city, you would think that CityBeat would have given more headlines given to the passing of, the way that Berry Gordy put it, "the greatest entertainer of all times."

But this may not necessarily be a bad thing.

In an upcoming article of mine, I am delineating the way that we ("we" being the public) tied the hands of media to dissect ever art of Jackson's life. Though the man may have strived to be the greatest entertainer ever, he did not ask for what came with the fame.

Over the past week or so, people's facebook and twitter status' (including mine) have shown how we felt for the fallen star.

CNN and Time Magazine have been capitalizing on the public display of mourning, giving more example of the tradegy-ization of Michael Jackson.

Al Sharpton put it so eloquently at the singers memorial @ the Staples Center when he professed to Michael Jackson's 3 children that his father was not strange, but it was strange what their father had to deal with throughout his life.

It may be oxymoronic that I continue to blog about the death, but, just like Michael Jackson, I too am only human.

Maybe I will write about this in Thursday night's writing workshop @ InkTank.

RedBox vs. Netflix: The Next Big Showdown

Over the past few months I have been seeing these red boxes popping up in local grocery stores around the Greater Cincinnati area.

In what seemed to be a systematic ploy to get me to begin using them, several of my friends and coworkers have admiting to poppin' in a buck for a movie as opposed to traveling down the street to BlockBusuter, Hollywood Video or their local branch of the public library for their movie selections.

A dollar does sound tempting for one nights' cinematic satisfaction, but the rub comes when it is time to return the film.

I have never been the best at returning things on time. Library books and movies have always been my biggest vice, which is why Netflix is so convenient.

No late fees and can return them when you want.

In fact, I have two films from the postal based movie company which I have been hording for the past few weeks and one that I have had for several months....pathetic, I know.

Though this is a great idea and I feel that it will do well, I am not sure that we will be seeing his little red boxes in t Pendleton area any time soon.

Only Just A Week Away

I last installment of the the Harry Potter series The Half Blood Prince will be out in just a few days and I plan to be front and center.

VP To Pay The Queen City A Visit Thursday

Vice President Joe Biden will come to Cincinnati on Thursday to see how $1.6 million in federal stimulus money will be put to work at a Northside development project.

I wonder what sound bites we are going to get.

Can A Public Library Go Private?

Read more here.

The Monday After..

This past weekend was a bit too short, but aren't all of them?

FRIDAY- July 3
Though Friday was technically a holiday, I made the ever damning decision to work the entire day because I had no plans until later that night....big mistake. There was very little time to get home and get ready for the first event of The Equinox.

The night, held at the former an soon to open Hamburger Mary's was great! It was a nice mix of out of towners and old faces that remembered the hay day of Hamburger Mary's before it was turned into Universal Grille.

I loved the was that the staff hammed up the fact that the building was still under construction by dawning construction garb as the served us.

SATURDAY- July 4
After a full day of recovery, I hit up one of the best bloody mary bars in town at The Pub in Hyde Park. Check it out any weekend before 3pm...you will not be sorry you did.

Later that it it was off the the big Equinox shin-dig. The Grand Ballroom of The Millennium Hotel was decked out in swooping shades, back lit with red lights which faded to blue, then to yellow and so on.

The night was way to short...as most are. Great music and fun friends whom I had not seen in awhile all helped the night to be perfect.

SUNDAY-July 5
A whole lot of nothing...can you blame me?

Announcing "Beloved Margaret Garner" Seminar

I have added a new seminar.

For those who are not familiar with the story, Margaret Garner was a slave in Northern KY who escaped to Ohio.

Upon her capture, she murdered some of her children who escaped with her, throwing Cincinnati into the midst of a major court battle trying to iron out the definition of a slave; property or human.

Her story is most famously depicted in Toni Morrison's Beloved, and in the film baring the same name.

If you are interested in having this seminar presented to your group or organization or for more info about the seminar, click the following link:

http://ionconsultants.googlepages.com/seminars

Ocho Cinco's Twitter Account Goes Dormit

Over the past few weeks I have noticed that Chad Ocho Cinco's tweets have been pubished in several print journals including The Cincinnati Enquirer and Sports Illustrated.

Since I have yet to add a celebrity to the list of those whom I follow, I thought that Chad would be as good as any to begin following.

Unfortunatly, since I added him to my list, he has been noticable abscent.

US Marines Open A New Offensive in Afghanistan

I never remembered the Army being like this when I was in, but then again...I was a lowly Korean linguist stuck in Texas.

Hit The Road Jack

And don't you come back no mo'.

Fat chance...

CNN announced that former Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin will be stepping down from her position as Alaska's Governor.

Maybe she is helping her daughter raise her grand daughter....

GLSEN's Puttin On The Ritz

Cincinnati's CityBeat posted our city's GLSEN Prom.

Watch it here.

Pendleton Neighborhood Council Meeting: Monday, July 6, 2009

For more information about location, visit our website here.

My Summer Video Plans...Whats Yours?

Just days before analog television went digital, I decided to get rid of my cable television and opt just the survive on local television and Netflix. Here are the next 5 vids in my Netflix que....any thoughts or suggestions?

Issues 101

Bolt

Batman: Gotham Knight

Serial Mom

Gone Baby Gone

Hyundai's Latest Offer: Cheap Gas!

I guess I missed the boat on this one.

I purchased my Hyundai Elantra over a year ago, but am thinking about upgrading to a new auto with this deal.

CNN reported today that Hyundai has a new promotion which allows new owners to lock in gas prices @ $1.49 for an entire year ---- of a grand cold money.

Things that makes you go hmmmmm.......

Mario Does Cincinnati

Mario Lopez toured Cincinnati today and actually visited the Reds game this evening. He was filming a spot for EXTRA tonight.

Here are some pics that I found on the web....he is too much!

Cincinnati Man Dies of Swine Flu

Well it was inevitable.

It did not take 20 years like Samuel Clemons had predicted, but the length of time was significant.

The Enquirer reported today that the first Ohio death from the swine flu was reported here in Greater Cincinnati in Butler County.

Read the article here.

Street Car Movie Screening @ The Carnegie

Over @ Somewhere Over-The-Rhine are words about a great opportunity to find out more about streetcars around the United States and GM.

I plan to attend and hope to see you there!