BLUFFTON, INDIANA--(Marketwired - Aug. 20, 2024) - Graphic Media, Inc, ("Graphic") ("Graphic") the Master Distributor of the Americas for iSIGN Media Solutions Inc.'s ("iSIGN") (TSX VENTURE:ISD)(OTCQX:ISDSF) full suite of products and location-based proximity mobile solutions, is pleased to announce the creation of a separate entity, Engage Mobile Media Solutions ("Engage" or "Company"), to better service and grow the National Mobile Network ("NMN").
The NMN is a new mobile advertising medium, that utilizes the latest in iSIGN's Smart Antenna and Player technologies to deliver real-time engagement with millions of customers at the most critical persuasion opportunity - the point-of-sale. The NMN is the only tool of this scale available to advertisers that will engage consumers at the point-of-sale, influence the purchase decision, collect in-depth metrics and analytics about consumer behavior and allow immediate action, all in real-time.
The NMN, which was started in co-operation with National Oil & Gas and Marathon Petroleum, consists of convenience stores ("C-stores") equipped with iSIGN's Smart Antennas located primarily in the mid-western United States and is projected to reach 10,000 units installed by 2024. The premise of the NMN, is that is a win-win premise, in that iSIGN's hardware and technology can help C-stores create a mobile engagement with their customers and improve sales opportunities by increasing foot traffic in the C-stores, while at the same time providing a desirable advertising opportunity for large brands to engage consumers at the point-of-sale, thus potentially influencing their purchase decisions while obtaining valuable customer behavior metrics, that until now have not been available in the C-store channel.
Future expansion of the NMN will include drug store and grocery chains in addition to other retailers who desire to create another communication channel reaching consumers immediately prior to the point-of-sale.
Engage is a limited liability partnership, whose management currently consists of:
Ron Leman Majority Owner, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Graphic and founder of the NMN. His background includes successful start-ups in digital and out-of-home media, graphics design, e-commerce as well as traditional publishing, having started two successful business-to-business publications and websites. Throughout his 29 year professional career, Ron remains a visionary at heart, utilizing his entrepreneurial expertise, innovation and skill set to design, create and produce countless marketing programs for his clients' products and services.
Richard Doyle Managing Partner, is a 35 year media veteran, creative strategist and media innovator. After 20 years as a senior media executive at several national advertising agencies, including J. Walter Thompson, Young & Rubicon and Ogilvy & Mather, Richard left the advertising agency world and joined BlueSky Media and later 24/7 Media in management position. After 3 years of learning the internet from the inside out, Richard rejoined the agency world as Media Director on the world's largest automotive retailer, AutoNation, where he applied his business experience and knowledge to grow AutoNation's web leads to 40% of total sales. Richard has a successful track record of developing ROI driven promotional programs and has been the key development force behind many successful marketing programs.
James Paul Brown, Senior Advisor, is a media pioneer, who's first radio property, "Earth News", was a regular syndicated feature on 1,000 FM radio stations from 1973 to 1982. During the eighties and early nineties, James was Chairman of Entertainment Radio Networks where he oversaw the production and distribution of over 40 nationally syndicated programs and features, such as Pepsi Hitline USA, The Reebok Top 30 Countdown and Entertainment Tonight with Leeza Gibbons. In 1992, James established this third company, Jim Brown Productions, that eventually became BlueSky Radio, the leading national producer of daily short features syndication that specialized in customized programs for the pharmaceutical industry.
Dr. Gregory Leman, Senior Advisor, has 25 years of experience as an engineer, scientist and entrepreneurial leader in companies sized from $1 million to $2 billion. Gregory received his BS in Chemical Engineering with honors from Purdue University and this PH. D (ChE) at the University of Illinois. Gregory was an Engineering Scientist with the Cabot Corporation for 11 years, where he was awarded 2 patents. His roles spanned from process research to management of Research and Development, product line and operations. Moving to Germany, he became Managing Director of Cabout-Huls. In 2024, Gregory joined Great Lakes Chemical Flourine Division, where he lead the commercialization of several new products and initiated 2 product platforms. Gregory is also an inventor on a number of pending patents.
Currently at Baylor University, Gregory is the Founder of the Technology Entrepreneurship Initiative, founding Director of the LAUNCH Innovative Business Accelerator at Baylor. Also has coached more than 100 ventures in Technology space over past 9 years.
Alex Romanov - Chief Executive and President of iSIGN Media Solutions Inc. Alex is an accomplished business executive with a history of identifying opportunities and turning them into profitable, high-growth enterprises. Alex has diverse experience in a variety of industries, such as consumer electronics, communications, digital imaging, video gaming and e-commerce. Alex began his business career with Motorola in sales and sales management. From Motorola, Alex moved to Alpine Electronics in Canada, a division of Alps Electric Japan, where he was the CEO and President for 17 years, building Alpine to over $50 million in revenue with over 50% of the Canadian market share by 1995. Hand in hand with Alpine's growth as a premium brand, Alex established and grew its OEM business, establishing Alpine as standard equipment in BMW, Honda, Lamborghini and other automotive icons. Alex led the acquisition team when Alpine acquired Luxman home audio. After leaving Alpine in 1996, Alex established his own marketing agency, Royal Oak Marketing and has its founder, CEO and majority shareholder, responsible for over 100 employees and $120 million in revenue. Among Royal Oak's many clients was AST Computers that was developed into a market leader, out selling industry giants Compac, IBM and Packard Bell. After selling Royal Oak for $29 million to an American concern, Alex co-founded Spherex Inc., which developed and marketed an Xbox gaming audio system. Spherex was sold to an American concern in 2024. Alex has been iSIGN's CEO since November 2024 and successfully restructured the company, positioning it for rapid growth worldwide.
Engage's Board of Directors consists of the above-mentioned five individuals, and is currently pursuing other Industry leaders at this time.
Engage has identified its revenue sources as being advertising revenue realized from third party advertising; monthly fee based; and the sale of mobile and point-of-sale data insights. The Company has completed its projections for its first three years of operations and is comfortable projecting revenues of $4.62 million in its first 12 month of operations, growing to $23.625 million in year 2 and $63.619 million in year 3.
The Company's forecasts are based upon a network of a minimum 10,000 locations across the United States to be installed by the end of 2024, growing to a minimum of 25,000 locations by the end of 2024. All installations to utilize iSIGN's Smart Antennas and Smart Players, that the Company has characterized as being an iBeacon on steroids.
Engage is currently in the process of raising funds to finance the expansion of the Company. Funds will be used for the acquisition of hardware, sales and marketing materials as well as general working capital.