Small Footprint, National Prominence

In 1987 the landscape of NCAA basketball was not even aware of the tiny Jesuit university in Spokane, Washington. The Cinderella story of that Final Four was Providence College, coached by a young upstart named Rick Pitino. The championship ultimately went to powerhouse Indiana, defeating UNLV 97-93 to claim the title.  Gonzaga wasn’t even a blip on the radar of Division I basketball back then.  The Bulldogs went 18-10 that year under coach Dan Fitzgerald, placing 2nd in their conference.  It may not have looked like much, but a foundation was being built which would impact the national scene in just a few short years.

They built slow, steady, and strong.  In fact it would be seven years before they even made the NCAA tournament in 1995, only to get bounced in the first round.  It was hardly an auspicious beginning for the school with big dreams and a bunch of potential.  Then came their moment to turn heads at the ball as Gonzaga was the Cinderella story of the 1999 tournament – complete with a Sweet Sixteen victory they made it all the way to the Elite Eight. Not bad for a school tucked in the middle of nowhere.

1987 also marked the year Chuck Woodstock founded a company designed to take control of the time callers spent on hold.  Businesses nationwide were not aware of this powerful and personal advertising medium that existed on their very own phone system. Nationally, businesses were focusing their advertising efforts through radio, television, billboards, magazines, and in something called a newspaper.  On-Hold Concepts didn’t even register on the national radar when compared to those mass marketing vehicles. However, the foundation was being created for the one medium that allows you to speak directly to your customers, one at a time: On-Hold Advertising.

On-Hold Concepts also built slow, steady, and strong; growing their local presence in the Northwest, down the west coast and then across the nation. Within a few short years, the Cinderella story of advertising budgets nationwide was providing businesses with direct access to their customers, something mass marketing cannot do. Advertising that is intimate, targeted, and personal. Not bad for a medium tucked in the middle of your phone system.

Fast forward to 2017. Gonzaga made their first Final Four appearance, and made it all the way to the title game. Those of us in the Pacific Northwest couldn’t be more proud of the ‘Zags. But what I found interesting is that even with the decades of NCAA Tournament success the school has enjoyed, the national audience still had trouble even pronouncing the name of the school. Media guides had to include pronunciation guides for announcers.  It is strange that a program with decades of national prominence was still relatively unknown.

On-Hold Concepts, now known as Woodstock Media Group is celebrating 30 years of helping businesses grow by harnessing the power of a captive audience.  Even with decades of success in every major industry across the country, there are some businesses nationally that still don’t quite understand on-hold advertising or grasp the impact it can have to reinforce your image with every call. 

Don’t worry. Your media guide, complete with pronunciations is on its way.

After decades of success, Gonzaga finally turned the heads of the national media this year. Even with its small footprint; it proved what a powerful program it is. On-Hold Concepts has been turning heads since 1987.

Put US on hold and you will find out just how powerful your on-hold advertising can be.

Tom McTee, Super-Genius