I.The truth matters. And it sells product.
The field of advertising has received some criticism for being rife with misplaced priorities and hubris.
Clients often contend that agencies are more frequently concerned with advancing their own interests —
financial or creative — rather than doing what is best for the client.Agencies often contend that clients are closed-minded and not willing to take the kind of risk that would set them apart from their competitors.
Thus agencies and clients sometimes don't listen well to each other.
As a wise man once said “When all mouths talk, no ears can listen.”
Not an epiphany by any means, but this is one of the fundamental reasons we sought to create our own unique environment that could draw upon the strengths of traditional ad agencies,
yet leave behind their weaknesses — to create an environment where the relationship with our clients is based on a foundation of trust.
The truth that matters most to both parties is the accuracy and relevance of the message to the consumer.
II.Great design matters. And it sells product.
“Great design” used to be the domain of a few highbrow brands and consumers with big bank account balances,
as well as designers with big egos and chunky black glasses.
But recently design has undergone a much-needed democratization.
Thanks to design-forward brands like Apple and Target, people have started to realize that the stuff they buy doesn't have to be ugly,
it doesn't have to come in an ugly package, and its visual communication doesnąt have to be ugly either.
As more people realize and demand it, brands in every category have started to catch on.
We couldn't be happier.
We've spent our careers carrying the flag of beautiful, egalitarian, brand-serving design, trying to convince people that there is not one facet of visual communication that good design can't improve.
And thank goodness, we're finally starting to fit in.
III.Passion matters. And it sells product.
As avid athletes and core outdoor enthusiasts, we have also found that we do the best work for clients whose products we can be passionate about,
whose products we use and whose products we may take in trade.
Sure, selling financial services may pay the bills, but it doesn't motivate us to get out of bed in the morning
and do the hard thinking that leads to great ideas that will help our clients' businesses grow and prosper.
We've been very purposeful about focusing our client list to businesses in the Sports, Recreation and Travel categories.
We believe our professional backgrounds and personal interests allow us to create relevant, compelling brand communications that speak authentically and passionately to our clients' consumers.
IV.Our clients' success is key to our
long-term success.
By now you may have seen a pattern emerge in our philosophy.
That our core belief is that effective advertising and design, at the end of the day, is about helping craft effective communications that help our clients sell their products.
Selling product is a result you can measure, but we consider this table stakes.
What keeps us up at night is the passion to find ideas that will not only sell your product, but convince your consumers to convince their friends to buy it.
Not once, but many times over many years.
In industry speak, this is brand loyalty and brand evangelism.
To us, this is the true measure of success.