Marketing. Public Relations. Internet.

Our clients choose First Experience Communications because they trust us and they rely on our 25+ years of knowledge and counsel in these core areas – business-to-business and institutions – to help them address critical communication and marketing challenges. We subscribe to an Integrated Marketing Communications approach by using the following tools: advertising, public relations, direct marketing, internet/web, and market research.

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Mission Statement

First Experience Communications was created and incorporated in February 1983, by Ira W. Yellen, as an agency that would assist profit and non-profit organizations in fulfilling their communication and marketing needs. The company was founded on the principle that good interpersonal communications is the key to lasting client/business relationships. The company’s name was inspired by Ira during his involvement in the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Centennial Project. He developed a photography and art show of Ellis Island’s history and the immigrant experience. His participation in this historic project was sparked by his father’s and grandparents’ entry into this country through Ellis Island. While recording immigrants’ oral histories who came through the Island, a common phrase was repeated over and over – “My first experience in America was…” Wishing to pay tribute to these pioneers and his family, he chose the name First Experience when he incorporated the company. The name continues as a reminder that we are discovering better ways to serve and assist one another to improve the lives of all.

First Experience Communications promotes the products, services, and best interests of our clients and community to their audiences, through leadership in the field of professional communications and by exemplary quality, creativity, service and integrity.

Our approach and commitment is to help fulfill business and marketing goals and objectives. Our specialties – niche marketing, brand development and implementation – are tied to an organization’s goal of marketing and promoting its products or services. Our approach integrates institutional goals with stakeholder perception and needs via a strategic marketing communications process.

Values

We are a full-service integrated marketing communications firm. We counsel clients in creating and implementing marketing plans based upon their business goals.

• Our marketing capability is based upon our capacity to create programs supported by marketing objectives, strategies and plans. These programs are then implemented and coordinated, using a comprehensive range of services to produce the support needed to achieve maximum results.
• Our staff has a broad range of experience in all areas of marketing, advertising, public relations and related fields with emphasis on business, industrial, educational/non-profit, and high-tech products/services.
• Our clients include companies and organizations that are leaders in their field. Although we help clients market a wide range of products and services, our primary focus involves products/services marketed to end-users through distribution channels, direct-sell, and other delivery channels.

Philosophy

Our philosophy evolves around the concept by determining what motivates distinct audiences to use a product or service. This strategy is based upon:

• Analyzing issues and policies affecting stakeholders
• Identifying vulnerabilities that may threaten a good name
• Managing day-to-day communications to the various internal or external audiences
• Recommending ways to build positive reputations
• Working with clients to implement communications strategies and tactics to take advantage of opportunities or solve problems
• Developing training programs to facilitate the flow of information
• Evaluating communications programs and suggesting ways to improve future effectiveness

We practice a distinct and tested communication theory by:

• Understanding the sequential effects which motivate humans in order to promote our clients products and services:
  • awareness
  • understanding
  • attitude and
  • behavior modification
• Taking the psychological and emotional characteristics of individuals into account
• Using the language of targeted audiences by creating effective value messages and ideas
• Finding and working with partners who subscribe to your organization’s philosophy and who become trustworthy messengers

Our Logo

Our current logo evolved as a rebranding exercise to more accurately reflect the present and future positioning of our company. Abstracted F, E, and C letterforms are created from a series of concentric circles. Concentric circles offer strong metaphors with regard to the communications industry – such as the target and beacon.

Universal symbols – circle and square – represent a contemporary, timeless approach. The deliberate alignment and sizing of the circles imply strategy and reason. By leaving them unfinished, they symbolically remain open to potential and collaboration.

History

FEC was created and incorporated in February 1983 by Ira W. Yellen as an marketing firm that would assist profit and non-profit organizations in fulfilling their business and marketing goals and objectives. The company was founded on the principle that good interpersonal communications is the key to lasting client/business relationships.

The company’s name was inspired by Ira’s involvement in the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Centennial Project. He developed a photographic, art and audio/visual show of Ellis Island’s history and the immigrant experience of arriving and settling in America. His participation in this historic project was sparked by his father’s and grandparents’ entry into this country through Ellis Island. While interviewing immigrants (50 who settled in CT) who came through Ellis and recording their oral histories, a common phrase was repeated over and over — “My first experience in America was at Ellis Island…” Wishing to pay tribute to and honoring these pioneers and his ancestors, he chose the name First Experience when he incorporated the company. The name continues as a reminder that we are discovering better ways to serve and assist one another to improve the lives of all.

Ellis Island Holiday Card (2005)

From an apartment in Rocky Hill, Ira started the company with $100 in savings and much support from his wife, Gail. The first several years were a struggle and to supplement income, Ira used his photography skills and taught photography classes along with commission work in portraiture and architectural photographs. Early on most of Ira’s work was design jobs for mostly non-profits. In 1985, he saw an opportunity to grow the business with the advent of desktop publishing. He was an early adopter and beta-tester for Apple’s MacIntosh. With this new digital technology, Ira saw a great opportunity to expand the business. He was able to land some very large institutional accounts such as the State of CT. With the additional income and a growing need, he was able to hire staff and move to a 100-year-old Craftsman-style house in Wethersfield in 1987. But after taking over two of the three upstairs bedrooms as office space, it became apparent that the business had outgrown 105 Ridge Rd. and in 1988 he leased space at 3011 Main Street, Glastonbury. As new jobs and opportunities rose, additional staff, space and business structure were developed and the evolution from a design/graphic agency to a comprehensive marketing communication agency evolved. Ira purchased the building in 2001 and sold it in 2005 when FEC moved to a Class A office building in another part of town.

In June 2002, FEC opened the First Experience Studio. This venture was designed to focus upon how creativity and our use of it solve client’s marketing communication issues. It also allowed FEC to feature people who use creativity in their marketing communication efforts. Three to four shows were featured on a yearly basis. The studio closed in 2005 due to the sale of the building. The studio attracted a diverse audience of over 1000 during its three years of operation. Ira continues the tradition of promoting creativity by having a studio in the Canal District, Open Square, Holyoke, MA.

Our Heart is in the Community