UniWorld Group
 | |
| Industry | Advertising |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | New York, New York, USA |
Key people |
Monique Nelson, CEO Byron Lewis, CEO Josie Penzes, EVP/GM Charles Morrison, EVP/GM |
| Website | www.uniworldgroup.com |
UniWorld Group, Inc., a multicultural ad agency headquartered in New York with satellite offices in Detroit, Atlanta and Miami, is the longest-standing minority-owned ad agency in the U.S.
History
UniWorld Group, was founded in 1969 by Byron Lewis, Chairman and CEO, who pioneered the concept of multicultural advertising before its potential was widely recognized.[1] Mr. Lewis’ vision of the viability of ethnic marketing has now been realized, with African Americans, Hispanics and Asians representing the fastest growing segments in population growth, income growth, and small business growth in U.S. society. Today, UniWorld Group boasts an ethnically and socially diverse staff with expertise in African American, Urban, Hispanic and general market advertising.
UniWorld Group relocated to Brooklyn in September 2009.
The Work
The UniWorld Group has created award-winning work targeted to African American, Hispanic American, multicultural, GLBT and general market consumers; for the following categories: pharma, diversity practices, healthcare, public relations, digital, branded entertainment, promotions and event marketing.
In 1980, UniWorld Group created Unimundo, in response to the burgeoning U.S. Hispanic population. The agency then produced the industry’s first bilingual advertising, as well as the first Latino-targeted campaigns for brands including AT&T, Eastman Kodak, Burger King and Lincoln Mercury. It has also created public service ads and promotions for The Partnership for a Drug Free America, the Ad Council, Colorectal Cancer Research and the African Burial Ground National Monument.
With African Americans and Hispanics comprising more of the growing, active user segments of the Internet and mobile devices http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/12-Wireless-Internet-Use.aspx, UniWorld Group expanded capabilities to offer a suite of digital, social networking, and mobile services targeting the multicultural and youth markets.
Clients
- Burger King
- Lincoln Mercury
- Colgate-Palmolive Company
- The Home Depot
- ConEdison
- 3 Musketeers
- Daily News
- Target
- Marines
- AARP
- Ford
- HSBC
- Welch's
- Time Warner Cable
- United Healthcare
Timeline
- 1969- Byron Lewis opens UniWorld Group, Inc. with one account: Smirnoff Vodka. Billings are $400k.
- 1970- UniWorld creates groundbreaking campaign and slogan for the movie Shaft.
- 1971- UniWorld lands first media strategy assignment for Kenneth Gibson, the first black Mayor of Newark, NJ.
- 1974- Lewis creates Black radio series Sounds of the City, for New York’s WBLS-FM. Gross Billings reach $1M.
- 1975- UniWorld creates first TV spot for Avon.
- 1976- Lewis partners with National Black Network for the first on-site black radio and press coverage of Democratic and Republican presidential conventions.
- 1977- UniWorld Entertainment, a production company is created.
- 1978- General Foods (now Kraft Foods) becomes a client.
- 1979- UniWorld acquires first Hispanic account for Avon.
- 1983- $30-million contract signed with Burger King, largest contract to date.
- 1984- UniWorld creates Jesse Jackson’s first presidential campaign. America’s Black Forum (ABF), a TV offshoot of the 1976 radio program, is nationally syndicated. Also Kodak signs on for a 4 million dollar contract.
- 1986- Lincoln-Mercury and Eastman & Kodak (AA and Hispanic) become clients.
- 1989- UniWorld moves to current location in SoHo.
- 1990- Colgate-Palmolive becomes a client.
- 1993/94- Over fifty general market commercials developed for Burger King.
- 1995- With an $11 million contract for Mars, 3 Musketeers becomes Uniworld’s first general market agency of record account.
- 1996- Ford Motor Company hires UniWorld to launch new campaign.
- 2000- One of the last 100% Black-owned companies, UniWorld joins WPP. Named "Agency of the Year" in Black Enterprise Magazine.
- 2001- The United States Marine Corps becomes a client.
- 2002- Healthcare division launched.
- 2005- "Aloud" Campaign created for HSBC, UniWorld’s first GLBT advertising campaign.
- 2006- Time Warner Cable enlists UniWorld for "Power of You" launch.
- 2008- UniWorld creates the first commercial for the United States Marine Corps to directed towards an African-American market.
- 2009- UniWorld moves to Brooklyn, NY
References
- ↑ Jet; 07/26/99, Vol. 96 Issue 8, p24, 2p, 5 bw.
- "Black Enterprise Titans of the B. E. 100's : Black CEOs Who Redefined and Conquered American Business" by Derek T. Dingle- New York: Wiley- Interscience, 1999. Pages: 94-114. (Retrieved on January 11, 2009)
- UniWorld Group (Retrieved on February 1, 2009)