The Art of Storytelling - What Brands Need to Know to Connect

NEW YORK, April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On a fresh spring day in mid-May, a roving band of filmmakers, cartoonists, journalists, anthropologists, singers, songwriters and keepers of brand secrets will assemble at a big gathering where they will share their worldly experiences on the art of telling great stories.  For those who attend, they will have the chance to discover how they too can make their products, brands and companies more meaningful in today's complicated and multichannel world.

Hosted by the masters of some of today's great new forms of consumer engagement -- Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners and its Influx Consulting Group – the not to be missed "Art of Storytelling" conference will be held on Wednesday, May 23rd in New York City. The day will explore compelling brand narratives and strategies to gain and keep the attention of today's hard to reach customers and prospects.

"Marketers at one time were seen as spinners of great tales that captivated the attention, loyalty and trust of the consumer," explained Ed Cotton, Director of Strategy and Innovation of Influx Consulting.  "Our conference is designed to provide strategies and ideas on inspiring brands to get back to storytelling basics in order to take advantage of the unique opportunities they have to connect with their customers."

Hard truths will also be revealed at the conference when Influx, together with Argus Insights shares its findings from a recent proprietary study that outlines new models and new ways to think about consumer connections. It identifies social media engagement models that will transform the way brands develop conversations with consumers, and how brands identify opportunities to connect more meaningfully to consumers. The study offers a depth of insight into consumer-driven engagement models identified through actual social media behaviors evidenced today.

Throughout the day, singer, songwriter, bluesman Patrick Sweany will share his songs and his perspective on songwriting and storytelling.

Conference sessions include "The Art of Storytelling," "Empowering the new Consumer Tool Set,"  "Redefining the Customer Experience," and "Evolving the Brand Ecosystem." Speakers include New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss, Warby Parker co-founder Neil Blumenthal, Pepsi's Global Head of Digital Shiv Singh, Percolate co-founder Noah Brier, Anthropologist and Author of Culturematic Grand McCracken and many more.

Event Details: http://influxinsights.com/conference/

Date: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Time: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Location: Sentry Centers
810 Seventh Avenue - Midtown West, NY

About Influx Strategic Consulting

Influx explores the intersection of brands and the social, consumer and cultural forces that influence them. By exposing untapped opportunities between brands and consumers, Influx can imagine new models of interaction. The end result is brand transformation and newfound momentum that propels brands toward growth.       

About Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners

BSSP (www.bssp.com) is a full-service marketing communications agency based in Sausalito, CA, providing services in advertising, online marketing, Web development, data analytics, integrated communications planning, brand identity, design and strategic brand consulting. In 2010, Adweek named BSSP Small Agency of the Decade. BSSP is one of the largest independent agencies on the West Coast and is known for providing highly creative, fully accountable marketing solutions to a broad array of marketers including MINI Cooper, Priceline, Columbia Sportswear, SOREL, AT&T Interactive, Isis mobile payments, Greyhound, Electronic Arts, Mission Foods, El Pollo Loco and Nokia.

For More Information Contact: Toni Lee, 203-246-7524, [email protected]

SOURCE Butler, Shine, Stern & Partners