IIABNY Notes 67 Agencies Joined National Brand

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York Inc., the Syracuse-based trade association that represents 1,900 agencies and brokerages in the state, announced that the Trusted Choice(SM) national branding program has now grown to nearly 225.

The IIABNY launched a telemarketing campaign last fall, and since then 67 IIABNY member agencies and brokerages have joined. Stephen R. Zogby, executive vice president of Scalzo, Zogby & Wittig Inc. in New Hartford, NY, and James D. Sutton, CEO for James F. Sutton Agency Ltd. in East Islip, NY, who co-chair the Trusted Chair brand in New York, noted that once agents and brokers understand the value of brand marketing, they realize it makes sense for them to join Trusted Choice.

“The brand’s powerful message to consumers is that Trusted Choice agents and brokers provide a superior level of service to meet a wide variety of insurance needs,” they explained. “That message is currently being reinforced by a national advertising campaign that will continue through March on some of cable TV’s most popular news and information programs.”

Five additional series of Trusted Choice television ads will air in 2004—in April, June, August, October and December. Nearly 3,500 agencies and brokerages nationwide belong to Trusted Choice, which is also supported by 24 national, regional and strategic company partners.

“Trusted Choice is a national marketing brand created exclusively for members of the Independent Insurance & Brokers of America to help businesses and individual consumers identify independent agents and brokers as the preferred way to purchase insurance and financial services,” the announcement concluded.

Topics Agencies