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Let's Eat Out Menus Magazine

2011 SAWIB WinnerCompany: Let's Eat Out Menus Magazine, LLC Spotsylvania, VA U.S.A.
Company Description: Let's Eat Out Menus Magazine is the only changing interactive two-dimensional restaurant resource publication that transports the reader into the kitchens of local restaurants without leaving their home, office or hotel. Being able to watch brisket coming out of the smoker and sushi being rolled into the shape of a dragon all from the printed menus in the magazine has helped restaurants succeed.
Nomination Category: Company/Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Most Innovative Company of the Year – Up to 100 Employees

Nomination Title: The Talking Magazine

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated company during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):

The Talking Restaurant Magazine , Let’s Eat Out Menus, is the only interactive, two-dimensional publication that allows a viewer to go ‘inside’ a restaurant without leaving their home, office, or hotel room. This innovative use of technology has bridged the gap between the power of print and the entertaining and engaging video commercials similar to those on television, allowing the restaurant to ‘come alive’ and let the viewer get to know them on a more personal level.

The magazine is comprised of full page menus of area restaurants complete with mouth-watering descriptions, eye- catching photographs , business information, and a Quick Response Code which allows the viewer to wave any smartphone over and instantly transports them inside the restaurant. Engaging videos of brisket being pulled from the smoker, sushi artfully rolled into a dragon, and shrimp-n-grits being plated has replaced plain old text and copy stating those things in an advertisement. Monica knew that if a picture said a thousand words, than a video said a million and that seeing is believing when it comes to food, how it is prepared and presented.

Going where print along could not; Let’s Eat Out Menus Magazine merged the two worlds, creating a new and changing message each week from the restaurants. This keeps it fresh, fun and informative for the viewer and not stale or old, as print alone does. The restaurant industry has struggled to reach their target audience with more than an advertisement in print or media. The consumer who lives, works or visits and area also struggled with the lack of comprehensive dining information and had to deal with scattered ads and collected menus in all shapes and forms. Monica Van Cleve, Co-Founder and Creator, developed a solution in a publication that everyone wanted, used, and kept. Monica’s entrepreneurial passion, persistence and perseverance landed her contracts with all major hotel chains for guest room distribution, an accomplishment on its own merit and a testament to it being a great consumer resource. An innovative feature that is unique to The Talking Magazine is the magnetic back which allows the publication to be placed on the kitchen refridgerator or office filing cabinet, in sight and at hand but out of the way.

The company started with one territory and two people in 2009 and has grown over 200% serving six territories and shows no sign of slowing. In an era of publishing and printing companies shuttering and long standing magazine titles closing shop, Let’s Eat Out Menus Talking Magazine is thriving due to being innovative and relevant. The success of this publication by bringing print, what one can hold, and touch, and intergreting it with animation video, what one can see and believe, is why we feel merits Let’s Eat Out Menus Magazine’s nomination for this years Stevie award for Most Innovative Company of the Year.

List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your entry. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:

htttp://www.letseatoutmenus.com
http://www.pageturnpro.com/Lets-Eat-Out-Menus/30313-Lets-Eat-Out-Menus/index.html#1
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/102010/10302010/585024
http://www.prlog.org/11011244-monica-van-cleve-named-as-finalist-in-7th-annual-stevie-awards-for-women-in-business.html
http://salesandthecitydc.blogspot.com/
http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/how-to-guides/how-to-market-brand-and-build-a-successful-restaurant/
http://www.i-newswire.com/daughter-creates-new-business-concept/36549

Provide a brief biography of the person or persons who lead the nominated company (up to 100 words):

Monica Van Cleve is the Co-Founder, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of The Talking Magazine- Let’s Eat Out Menus. Her publication is the first to bridge the gap between printed restaurant menus and changing interactive restaurant video and is distributed by contract to hotels, homes and offices. Monica Van Cleve travelled the world and lived in China while attending Clemson University. Ms. Van Cleve’s personal commitment to the success of independent restaurants has provided hundreds of hours of restaurant marketing consultations, resource materials and trade magazines free of charge. Monica holds a B.A. in Chinese Language and International Business.

Choose one (even if both apply):

The CEO (or other principal manager) of this company is a woman, and at least 40% of the management team is comprised of women.