As the nation’s leading manufacturer of high-quality, American-made tools for the HVAC trade, Malco Products, SBC engaged Bellmont Partners to develop and implement a multi-faceted communications strategy leading up to the debut of a game-changing new product line.
The Minnesota-based company kicked off the introduction of this new tool line by celebrating the grand opening of its new manufacturing facility in DeWitt, Nebraska, at a plant that had been shuttered a decade earlier when its former owner closed the doors and moved its manufacturing operations to China, meaning loss of jobs for this small village of 500 people. The re-emergence of manufacturing in this part of the state was not only a celebration of good-paying jobs coming back to American soil, but also served as the perfect launchpad for Malco’s newest product—the Eagle Grip locking pliers—which will make its official debut at the National Hardware Show in 2019.
Developed messaging around the new product line, the broader company and plant opening, to support internal and external communications including media relations, employee, customer and other stakeholder communications, and events.
Reintroduced Malco to trade and consumer media, generating coverage in or working with outlets including the Associated Press, Industry Week, Contractor, Industry Today and more, as well as on-site media support at the plant opening event.
Drafted and submitted award nominations and bylined articles to strengthen the company’s thought leadership position. As a result of this renewed effort, MSP Business Journal named Malco its 2018 Medium Manufacturer of the Year.