Tom Minthorn is an award-winning marketing strategist and copywriter. Since 1999, he has worked as an independent consultant to develop communication strategy and write business-to-business marketing copy. Mr. Minthorn's b-to-b clients include companies that range from global giants such as Intel, Microsoft, and Polycom to mid-sized companies and fast-growing startups. His benefit-oriented copy resonates with business and technical audiences.

Prior to going out on his own, Mr. Minthorn held senior creative positions for industry-leading companies Zones, Inc., Manus Direct Response Marketing, Unicover Corp., and Omaha Steaks. During those years, he developed direct marketing programs and advertising campaigns for prominent brands such as Apple, Autodesk, Fleetwood First Day Covers, HP-Compaq, Holland America Cruises, IBM, Kenworth Trucks, Microsoft, National Wildlife Federation, Omaha Steaks, Paccar Parts, and Peterbilt Trucks.

Minthorn Direct | Marketing Communications 1999 - Present
Owner and Sole Proprietor

• Has provided copywriting services to dozens of companies on hundreds of well-received marketing pieces, primarily for business and technology solutions.

• Wrote online demo for Microsoft Office Live Workspace that industry analysts cited as an example of outstanding technology advertising.
• Drove demand for PCs preloaded with genuine Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Small Business 2007 by developing effective "to- and through-" partner BOM elements in the Microsoft Small Business PC campaign for the company's Small and Medium Business (SMB) solutions group.
• Developed Microsoft OEM Channel Marketing campaign elements to help channel partners drive demand for Windows XP Professional from small businesses. Campaign elements included direct mail, e-mail, mini-site, retail Point of Purchase, and retail sales force handbook.
• Wrote well-received white paper for the Microsoft Application Platform - Microsoft's enterprise product stack. This cross-group effort required collaboration and message alignment between five functional areas within a large Microsoft group (no easy task!). The paper showed how the Application Platform enables IT teams to create dynamic solutions that drive business performance.

• Driving force behind Mac/PC Zone national catalog/trade pub advertising that helped Zones, Inc. increase sales from $25 million to $500 million in three years. Annual marketing budget $20 million.
• Developed look, feel, and messaging for all Zones catalogs and trade pub ads. Provided day-to-day creative direction to in-house creative teams for 300 catalog pages per month. Oversaw cross-functional catalog team of 120 in marketing, creative, merchandising, and accounting departments.
• Developed branding, marketing, and merchandising strategies for Zones e-commerce website launch that drove sales from $0 to $50 million in twelve months.

• This Seattle-based company became one of the top 25 U.S. direct marketing agencies during Mr. Minthorn's tenure. Manus was the DM agency of record for Autodesk, Holland America Line, and Paccar Parts.
• His creative team won two coveted Silver Echo awards in the Direct Marketing Association's international competition for creative excellence.

• Wrote and directed a heavy volume of mass-market print ads and direct mail featuring Fleetwood First Day Covers, Fleetwood Collector's Plates, collections issued by the National Wildlife Federation, and collections of postage stamps issued by China, France, Israel, Germany, and Sweden.
• Wrote ad so powerful that one insertion in TV Guide generated $400,000 in sales and overwhelmed the company's ability to process orders.

• Successfully positioned fine-quality meats from the company's restaurant supply division as consumer gifts and business incentives in national print ads, catalogs, and direct mail.
• Helped launch the company's thriving direct marketing division (2007 sales exceeded $320 million) and made Omaha Steaks a well-known brand.

© 2009 Minthorn Direct. All rights reserved.