Today, we learned Fort Worth Weekly’s Best Of 2011 issue named us the critic’s choice for Urban Redevelopment/Smart Growth!   

A huge thank you for thinking and voting for us - we are so honored! Be sure and check out the Best Of issue - the cover is awesome - and look for Schaefer Advertising under Best Of: Culture.

Chef Jon Bonnell proves that he’s one of the best chefs in the country. Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine received a Zagat Food Score of 29 out of a possible 30.

Only 30 restaurants in the country – and only four others in Texas – share that high of a score.

And, USA Today noted that Bonnell’s is the top restaurant destination in Dallas-Fort Worth for business travelers. 

That’s huge! So excited for Jon and his staff. And, so glad that we now get to be part of the team!

– Lynaia

So in my first post on the blog (pressure is on) I wanted to look at one of my favorite aspects of working in the advertising industry – the advertising agency culture. Working in this field you are surrounded by bright, energetic, talented individuals who are constantly trying to solve problems in a creative way. You are encouraged to dream big and yet the smallest idea might be the key component to success for your clients. So brainstorming and ideation is a must. That being said, agencies go to great lengths to ensure their employees have the optimal environment to grow their ideas. This includes everything from having open floor plans to encourage collaboration, keeping snacks on hand for brainpower, alcohol in the fridge to take the edge off of looming deadlines and off-site activities for team building. Our industry is charged with coming up with big ideas at a furious pace and it is not an environment well suited for everyone – but those who do thrive in this kind of culture tend to embrace the challenges and love the journey.

Ad Age has recently posted the Best Places to Work in 2011 and although Schaefer Advertising wasn’t one of them (we didn’t put our name in the hat, because we didn’t qualify due to our size) it is obvious that our agency embodies many of the characteristics of the winners. Check out some of the employee confessionals from the winning agencies here, I have no doubt that one day Schaefer Advertising will join the ranks of Best Places to Work by Ad Age. Stay tuned.

Nick

We haven’t actually won anything (yet!), but our swanky new home has captured attention again.

Our circa 1914 building has been nominated for a Historic Fort Worth, Inc. 2011 Historic Preservation Award. Winners will be announced on September 21. (Fingers crossed!)

The Fairmount National Historic District also featured the building in its August newsletter, giving some details on the history as well as techniques and features used in the restoration. Want a peak inside our place? Check out pics from our open house or the feature in 360 West Magazine’s August issue.

– Lynaia

Setting: Blanchard Schaefer agency lunch

Table Conversation:  “Would you rather have the power to fly if you could only fly 2 inches high, or be invisible all except for one hand?” - Kristin Moreno

Answer:  “That’s easy!  I would choose to be invisible.  I would just put my hand behind my back!” - Ken Schaefer

An interesting white paper from Webtrends and Adgregate Marketers was passed around the agency: The Effect of Social Networks and the Mobile Web on Website Traffic and the Inevitable Rise of Facebook Commerce – It’s a fascinating mouthful.

The study examines what level of promotion is necessary for an organization’s website vs. their Facebook page. Much time could be spent discussing different facets of this article, but I’ll focus on one quote:

It is time for brands and retailers to understand that surviving online is no longer about all-in-one websites, but measuring and improving performance in all the social mobile and web entities.

I am in total agreement. Every organization for-profit and not-for-profit needs to make a shift and be more dynamic, enter social networks and be active participants.

Does this mean the traditional website is done, finito, terminado? No, not necessarily. Personally I’m a fan of the traditional page that provides standard organizational history, contact information, etc. 

That said, I am also quick to judge—or discredit—an organization if their involvement on social networks is weak or absent.

So, how do you judge an organization? Is it more important that an organization has a traditional website?  That it’s involved in social networks? Or, like myself, do you prefer the combination?

~Kristin

Introducing Fort Worth Dish Out

This is a new, unique opportunity to get involved in community, meet some new people, eat a great meal and  help to fund innovative and creative projects in our great city. The grassroots initiative is part of a larger network around the world called SundaySoup.org. The inaugural event will be held Sunday, July 24th at 5:30 p.m. at Times Ten Cellars.

For $20, you share a meal, meet some new friends and then listen to pitches by three participants that have a great idea, but lack the resources to get it moving. Like what you hear? Vote for the idea you think deserves the most funding and that participant receives 60% of the meal ticket sales. (Runners up receive 20% each.)

So, you leave with a full belly and the feeling that you’ve made a difference.

Sounds awesome! Sign us up. Register at FortWorthDishOut.org.

Don’t mess with Blanchard Schaefer’s new office manager, Monica.  At 5’ 4’’ she has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and is a Wii boxing champion. Her favorite color is pink and she loves chocolate (without nuts) and Mexican food, but not at the same time.

If money and time didn’t matter, Monica would be found at The Container Store loading up on crates, racks, files and bins to organize her home and whatever else she can get her hands on.  One of the many reasons why she is the perfect fit as our new office manager.

“I’m very excited about being here. I hope to better organize the company as a whole,” she said.  “ The first impression clients or customers get when they call or walk in the front door is very important to me. It’s not about Blanchard Schaefer, but what Blanchard Schaefer can do to help others.”

As office manager, Monica’s favorite office supplies are pens.  However, not just any pens, but pink and purple pens that write smoothly and “feel good”.

Monica is a Texas native who was raised in Ft. Worth, and loves to travel whether it is for a mission trip with her church or a vacation with her two daughters.  Monica describes herself as fun, always laughing, loves her family and God.

We are excited to welcome Monica into our family!

-Lindsay Schaefer, intern

Making hundreds of copies of project briefs. Scribbling pages of dictated letters. Going on a thousand coffee runs. That is the typical day for an intern.

Ok, not really. Actually, none of those things are true.

After my first week at Blanchard Schaefer, I’ve come to reevaluate my understanding of what an internship is. Apparently it is not slave labor, which is comforting.

In fact, my job is, well, a job. I have actual things to do that really matter.

It’s pretty thrilling considering I’m just a little old junior at TCU.

I start my day doing what I think 99% of Americans do every morning: checking my email. I make the appropriate replies to the major media outlets, chuckle at the viral video sent to everyone in the office, and then its off to work on my projects!

Whether I’m brainstorming ideas for a client, evaluating photo options for billboard designs, or doing research on viral and digital media, my internship projects keep me busy. I’m no stranger to “busywork” (I did go to public high school), but this is different. I’m making real decisions that have real consequences. It’s quite exhilarating.

Then I’m off to meetings, learning the agency trade. All the different aspects creative account service and production are incredibly interesting, and a little overwhelming! There is just so much to agency life!

Finally I’m sitting at a creative brief, chatting about the strategic image we are trying to convey and attending a photo shoot where a food stylist goes into extravagant detail about the color of a client’s coleslaw.

This is awesome.

Fun fact: First day on the job, I’m asked to call the major television networks for some research. I’m talking NBC, CBS, and FOX. That may seem like no big deal to those in the industry, but remember, I’m a 19-year-old marketing major. Quite honestly, I feel like I just conquered the world with a phone call.

—Corey Landers, Intern