Kevin and Patricia Sinnott of Warrenville-based production company Sinnott Productions are gearing up for next spring’s year two of CoffeeCON, which they bill as the first coffee convention targeted to consumers (by contrast to industry driven shows like the Specialty Coffee Association of America Exposition and CoffeeFest).
“We plan to build on 2012’s success,” Patricia Sinnott says. “This will include even more exciting classes such as coffee and food pairings. Even more experts will be invited.”
Kevin Sinnott has long cultivated a reputation as an independent coffee expert, with appearances on Oprah, 20/20, and the Food Channel, the 2008 video Coffee Brewing Secrets, and the 2010 book The Art & Craft of Coffee.
The Sinnotts’ 2010 online 15-episode series Mission Coffee Can followed a group of students at North Central College in Naperville who traveled to Guatemala and developed a direct-trade marketing strategy for growers there.
Springfield-based coffeemaker manufacturer Bunn sponsored Mission Coffee Can, a finalist in the B2B category at the 2011 International Broadcasting Conference.
The Warrenville Tourism and Arts Commission afforded the Sinnotts a seed grant for CoffeeCON 2012, which hosted 1,200 attendees last February at IBEW Local 701 and featured headliners specialty coffee guru George Howell, and Intelligentsia VP Geoff Watts, who spoke on coffee sustainability.
The 2013 CoffeeCON, scheduled for May 4, will included an expanded, outdoor section on home roasting, more food offerings, art, music, poetry, and a coffee museum.
StoryClosers new branding for video unit
Beyond CoffeeCON, the Sinnotts are rebranding their video production unit as StoryClosers. “We believe that branded entertainment is the future and stories are a powerful way to close sales,” Patricia says. “It won’t be long before every major brand has its own TV channel and will be developing branded content.”
They focus on branded reality for its economy of production, with a sideline in comedic shorts and an emphasis on leveraging the content they produce through social media.
“It’s no longer just about creating a compelling piece of online video, but productions companies must know how to use social media to get public attention,” Patricia says. “We have been studying and putting into practical application social media techniques on all our current projects.”
Kevin also produces the online broadcast of services at Christ Church of Oak Brook, which are rebroadcast on Ch. 50 and WGN radio. “Kevin was brought into CCOB based on his experience of creating a network out of the former Total Living Network,” Patricia says.
“His mission is to build a nationwide audience around the charismatic Pastor Dan Meyer. This includes developing the look and feel, new formatting, staging, video clips and social media campaign.”
