Small Business Marketing Company, Smart Simple Marketing, Named 2015 Diverse Supplier of the Year

Western Region Minority Supplier Diversity Council (WRMSDC) recognizes Bay Area firm above hundreds of small businesses in Northern California, Hawaii and Nevada.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) May 20, 2015

The Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (WRMSDC) has selected a San Francisco bay area small business marketing company, Smart Simple Marketing, as its Supplier of the Year for 2015 (Class 1).

The organization, which champions the use of minority-owned businesses in the corporate procurement process throughout Northern California, Hawaii, and Nevada, handpicked the Emeryville-based marketing firm from among hundreds of minority owned businesses in the region.

At an awards gala held Friday, May 8, 2015, Smart Simple Marketing was honored along with top Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs) and corporations such as Kaiser Permanente, Pacific Gas and Electric, and MGM Resorts.     

“Smart Simple Marketing knows how to make the unknown a reality,” said Alli Bernstein, Diversity Markets Program Manager for Google, Inc.   

“Working with them has allowed us to provide web education to over 600 small business owners, resulting in over $5 million in economic impact for their businesses and communities since our Academy program launched in 2014.”

The wife and husband-owned marketing firm was recommended for the award by Oracle, one of Smart Simple Marketing’s Fortune 500 clients.

“This is our first admission in nominating or recognizing any supplier for their outstanding ability to successfully work and adapt with a fast- paced, always changing and evolving high tech Fortune 500 Company,” said Nino Campos, Oracle’s Supplier Diversity Senior Program Manager, in a statement nominating Smart Simple Marketing, a company that “has made monumental leaps and has taken courageous steps in creating new best practices for Oracle and for the industry.”

Oracle is not alone in its acknowledgement of Smart Simple Marketing as the go-to company for digital marketing and supplier diversity. Silicon Valley giants and major corporations like Google, Intel, Verizon Wireless and Constant Contact also work with Smart Simple Marketing to cultivate ongoing relationships with Diverse Suppliers in their respective industries.

Nominees for the Class 1 Diverse Supplier of the Year Award must demonstrate consistent sales growth, exhibit an active commitment to MBE-to-MBE purchases, provide high quality products and services, and make a significant contribution to community growth and development. Since 2006, Smart Simple Marketing has worked with hundreds of small businesses in some 63 different industries, helping them create multiple income streams, develop lucrative joint ventures, engage their target markets, and establish themselves as experts in their chosen field.

In addition to their overall contributions to small business advocacy, Sydni Craig-Hart and Wil Hart have emerged as leaders in the field of supplier diversity, fostering mutually beneficial relationships between Minority-owned Business Enterprises and leading corporate clients.

“Smart Simple Marketing found a way for Verizon to stay top-of-mind for our customers” said Erica Sevilla, Multicultural Marketing Specialist for Verizon Wireless.

“They helped build a foundation for ongoing communications with prospective customers by developing a turnkey newsletter that doubled email open rates and click-through rates within weeks.”

Smart Simple Marketing’s advocacy of diverse suppliers dates back four generations, when Sydni Craig-Hart’s great-grandfather, Thomas B. Davis, built the first-ever “by colored people, for colored people” apartment complex in Pasadena in 1954.

Because of discrimination, many black people found it challenging to find suitable housing. Thomas Davis funded the construction and maintenance of the first diverse housing complex of its kind by leveraging his personal home, land, and savings. Because he rented to tenants based on their personal character and the referrals of those he trusted, his business thrived for 13 years with zero tenant evictions.

Continuing the tradition of entrepreneurship and service, Craig-Hart’s grandmother sold cheesecakes to Los Angeles restaurants and later started a cleaning business with her husband, Sydni’s grandfather. Sydni’s father was a self-employed tax agent and small business owner who taught Craig-Hart to remove the word ‘can’t’ from her vocabulary.

“Were it not for the outstanding example my family set, including a work ethic based on honesty, integrity, hard work, and tenacity, as well as their instilling in me the confidence that I could accomplish anything I set my mind to, we wouldn’t have our business today, or have received such a prestigious award from the WRMSDC” said Craig-Hart.

As an undeniable small business leader with a talent for helping entrepreneurs create success on their own terms, and a passion for connecting MBE’s with the corporations that need them most, Smart Simple Marketing has positioned itself at the forefront of the fast-growing diversity in technology sector in California and throughout the United States.

About Smart Simple Marketing

Smart Simple Marketing is a Content Marketing Agency and full service Marketing Consulting firm. We specialize in helping build small businesses and assisting corporations with marketing B2B to smaller businesses. We are a Woman-Owned and Minority-Owned Small Business and understand the opportunities that can come with this designation. Smart Simple Marketing specializes in custom marketing solutions for small business owners and technology companies. Not only does Smart Simple Marketing offer strategic consulting and done-for-you strategies, we teach workshops and offer keynote speaking. For more information, contact us at Info@SmartSimpleMarketing.com.