CMG Policies Regarding Press Relations

A major benefit of CMG membership is receipt of CMG Color Forecasts -- including actual colors and color notations – early enough to program them into production and marketing cycles. Manufacturers and marketers counseled by CMG members thus gain a distinct advantage. Because they have the benefit of trend information two to three years in advance, they stay ahead of the planning curve and on trend in the marketplace.

Thus CMG Forecasts and CMG color notations (i.e. specific color formulations and color chips) are proprietary to members and are not provided for reproduction in the media, on the Internet, or in any other published format.

However, CMG recognizes that print and broadcast media usually want to know what’s coming up next, rather than what’s coming up in two to three years. With more than 1,000 color experts participating in CMG’s rigorous process, and with a track record of nearly 40 years of "getting it right," CMG is a trusted resource for the press. CMG works cooperatively with the press and is happy to work one-on-one with journalists seeking to create specific stories about color.

CMG’s policy for working with the media follows:

1. Color trend information is released seasonally by CMG. This includes end-of-year forecasts that cover major color trends for the coming year and upcoming seasonal trend information covering spring, summer and fall color trends of interest to both contract and consumer press.

2. CMG’s color trend information is released in a timely manner via e-mail release to the press. Any member of the press wishing to be included on CMG’s e-mail list should subscribe here or contact Sharon Griffis, Director: sgriffis@colormarketing.org. 

3. CMG is also pleased to offer the press photos of colorful products and settings from member companies to illustrate these trends. Sample J-peg images accompany the e-mail press releases, and higher resolution images are available via CD. For upcoming CDs of trend images, or other images, please contact Amy Larrabee (see above.)

4. It is understood that members of the press using CMG trend information will credit Color Marketing Group as the source of the information.

5. CMG will make every effort to provide color trend information enough in advance to correspond with editorial deadlines. It is understood and agreed, however, that when such information is provided in advance (for example, to monthly or bi-monthly magazines), release dates will be respected.

6. Because CMG member Workshops are proprietary and confidential, CMG’s Spring and Fall International Conferences are not open to the press. Requests from individual journalists are considered from time to time. All such decisions are made by CMG’s executive director.

   While filming is not permitted, CMG recognizes that TV and film producers may wish to illustrate CMG’s process in identifying color forecast and trend information. On rare occasions, a film crew may be permitted to visit a CMG Conference. Such decisions are made by the executive director, who establishes ground rules for the specific situation. In no event is any crew ever permitted to film anywhere at CMG Conferences unless accompanied at all times by a CMG staff member.

7. CMG is also pleased to offer color experts from among its membership who are knowledgeable, articulate spokespeople for the many intriguing facets of color, including experts who appear frequently on television and/or radio. Journalists who wish to interview color experts, or TV producers looking for exactly the right guest for a specific color segment, are invited to contact: