Assist-2-Sell nears AOR pick

By Michael Bush PR Week USA Sep 6 2007 09:53

RENO, NV: Real-estate firm Assist-2-Sell is preparing to hear final pitches for its first-ever AOR search.

Lyle Martin, co-CEO of Assist-2-Sell, said the seven-figure account will be awarded to one of two finalists within the next few weeks.

Martin said this sizeable boost in PR and marketing activity is a huge shift for the company.

"In today's market, most companies are cutting back on marketing," he explained, "so we recognize that as an opportunity to get more bang for the buck."

The company also started a franchisee-sponsored advertising fund a year and a half ago.

"[Before that,] the resources weren't there," noted Martin, "and we essentially took most of the year to build the fund up and get it to a substantial amount so that we could be a player in the arena."

Martin said the focus of the work, expected to roll out on January 1, will be to help the real-estate franchise expand its branding efforts from the local level to the national stage.

"We have been branding Assist-2-Sell one office at a time in local markets," Martin said.

"If you don't have an Assist-2-Sell office in your neighborhood, you're not going to be familiar with us."

The company has over 620 offices in the US and Canada.