French/West/Vaughan Named Agency of Record for FIMC

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- French/West/Vaughan, one of the nation's largest independent public relations, public affairs and brand communications agencies, has been selected as PR agency of record by Sarasota-based FIMC. The company, whose innovative membership products provide home, auto and wellness benefits for millions of consumers, is gearing up to offer expanded services within the automotive aftermarket industry and partnering with FWV to heighten awareness within the trade.

In the midst of a grim economy, an increasing number of consumers are opting to delay the purchase of new cars, leading to a steady rise in the age of the average vehicle on the road. With 3 decades of experience providing auto benefit programs to financial institutions under the American Traveler Motor Club brand, FIMC was poised to meet the growing demand for auto repair. The company is now offering the same great benefits of the American Traveler Motor Club to automotive aftermarket retailers with programs that help them improve consumer loyalty, protect valuable customer relationships and increase sales with existing foot traffic.

French/West/Vaughan will provide strategic public relations counsel for the company, enriching FIMC's brand profile as a sales and marketing company dedicated to keeping its clients' service bays active.  In the automotive category, FIMC's core services include point-of-sale training, custom branded marketing collateral and fulfillment materials, web-based solutions, regulatory compliance and unrivaled customer service.

FIMC's CEO Scott Libertore sees the hiring of French/West/Vaughan as a savvy strategic move. "They bring more smart people to the conference room table with deep connections and a solid track record of success in the automotive aftermarket category," Libertore says.

"FIMC has been a visionary enterprise for decades, consistently pioneering new products and services," said Jack Glasure, FWV executive vice president. "I believe we'll complement their experienced sales and marketing team to help establish the brand as a dependable and profitable resource for automotive aftermarket retailers."

About FIMC

FIMC (Financial Insurance Management Corporation) develops, markets and implements innovative membership-based benefit programs for financial institutions, credit unions, employee groups, and automotive aftermarket associations and retailers. Established in 1974, the company's portfolio of private-label products, which provide home, auto and wellness benefits, serve over 2 million members across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. FIMC backs its clients with its extensive experience in customer service, point of sale training, regulatory compliance and marketing support.  FIMC offers products under The American Traveler Motor Club®, The Home+Auto Security Plan®, and The Everyday Essentials Collection™ brands.  For more information or to discuss opportunities, visit www.fimc.com or call 877.343.7521.

About French/West/Vaughan

French/West/Vaughan is the Southeast's largest public relations, public affairs and brand communications agency, independent or otherwise. National and international clients represented by the agency include the Coca-Cola Company, Wrangler, the Justin Boot Company, the International Gemological Institute, House-Autry Mills, U.S. Polo Association and Moe's Southwest Grill restaurants. The agency also offers award-winning advertising, graphic design, media planning and placement, and digital and social media marketing and monitoring services for a wide range of clients. FWV is headquartered in Raleigh and has offices in New York City, Tampa and Dallas. For more information, please visit www.fwv-us.com.

SOURCE French/West/Vaughan