NEW BRIGHTON, MINN. – Recent studies show that employers spend nearly $760 billion a year paying employees to “goof off” on the Web. But for Risdall Marketing Group (RMG), the money spent to have employees online searching and navigating has helped them become the top Web development agency in Minnesota.

“Search marketing and the Internet have helped local companies become global,” said John Risdall, CEO and COO, RMG. “The only way to reach that goal for our clients is to live, breath and experience every interactive aspect in our own environment.”

With consumer online spending up about 25 percent since 2005, fully embracing the Internet has become a way of life at RMG.

As part of the agency holiday party, RMG employees were given a half day and $100 budget to make the most creative online purchase. Quickly returning with a unique and wide variety of Internet finds, employees voted on the top purchases.

“The Internet permeates everything we do at the agency,” said Ted Risdall, chairman, RMG. “As Minnesota’s most wired agency, our internal and external project management systems keep us on top of nearly 4,000 client assignments per year for our 300 plus clients.”

Contest entries included odd online finds like “The Wizard of Oz” theme furniture in the shape of Dorothy’s legs, to practical items like a spa gift certificate for one employee’s wife who recently had a baby. The RMG contest was complete with cash prizes and gift certificates to RMG client Twin Cities Originals (TCO) restaurants.

About Risdall Marketing Group
Founded in 1972 as Risdall Advertising Agency, Risdall Marketing Group has annual capitalized billings of $153 million and over 60 employees. Headquartered in New Brighton, Minn., Risdall is heralded as one of the oldest and most successful agencies in the Twin Cities market and is recognized nationally for its leading-edge interactive marketing capabilities. The full-service agency embraces an integrated approach offering marketing, advertising, public relations, promotion and collateral development, traditional and interactive media, research and fundraising capabilities.

Anne Cloeter
Risdall McKinney Public Relations

John Risdall
Risdall Marketing Group
651.286.6702
651.286.6746