Contact:
Tara Powers, Brian Burch
(616) 233-0500
tpowers@lambert-edwards.com
bburch@lambert-edwards.com
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 19, 2008 – Zondervan, a world leader in Christian communications, is a finalist for the prestigious EFFIE award, the marketing industry's highest global honor, for the successful and effective marketing launch of Inspired By…The Bible Experience.
As an EFFIE finalist, Zondervan's marketing campaign The Bible has a Voice [LISTEN], which launched Inspired By…The Bible Experience, is considered to be one of the most strategic and creative examples of how a brand can successfully connect with customers. The EFFIE Award recognizes advertising effectiveness among American businesses. Criteria for the EFFIE Award include not only visual and creative measures, but also a marketing campaign's ability to produce outstanding results in the marketplace.
Inspired By…The Bible Experienceis currently the most successful audio Bible available. Worldwide sales have achieved more than 700,000 units to date in all formats, including audio CD, MP3 CD, and MP3 download. It has become Zondervan's fastest-selling Bible and was named 2007 Audiobook of the Year, the greatest honor in the audio publishing industry. The campaign has already earned the Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America and the Telly Award, honoring outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs.
"Inspired By…The Bible Experience is the most ambitious audio Bible to be produced, so the marketing plan to support it needed to be equally ambitious. Marketing a first of its kind product like this required meticulous planning, innovative creative strategies that took us from more typical Bible marketing and into new areas of execution," says Moe Girkins, president and CEO at Zondervan. "It is gratifying to see the work of our dedicated and talented marketing team recognized with such a significant nomination."
Zondervan is a finalist in the EFFIE's New Product or Service category. Past EFFIE winners include: Apple Computer, Schick, Coca-Cola, Lexus, Saab, Kellogg's, McDonald's, Epson, and JetBlue Airways. Since 1968, winning an EFFIE has become a global symbol of marketing achievement.
Inspired By…The Bible Experience(www.zondervan.com/tbe) was produced by Inspired By Media Group and features the voice talent of nearly 400 African-American actors, musicians, and religious leaders. Notable personalities include Forest Whitaker, Denzel Washington, Blair Underwood, Angela Bassett, Kirk Franklin, and Bishop T.D. Jakes. In addition to dramatic performances of the entire biblical text by leading artists and celebrities, the product also features Hollywood-style sound design created at Technicolor Studios and an original musical underscore featuring performances by the Prague Symphony Orchestra.
Zondervan, a
HarperCollins company, is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in San Diego and Miami, Zondervan conducts events and publishes its bestselling
Bibles,
books,
audio,
video,
curriculum,
software, and
digital products through its
Zondervan,
eZondervan,
Zonderkidz,
Youth Specialties,
Editorial Vida, and
National Pastors Convention brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by
Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan on the Internet at
www.zondervan.com (mobile site:
zvan.mobi).
