Valentine’s Day is right around the corner!

There are typically two reactions to this holiday - bountiful joy for a special day to express the copious amount of love in your heart, or general disdain for those that express copious amounts of love.

No need to worry, the Fort Worth Zoo has something for everyone!

There are many elements to the Zoo’s Valentine’s campaign -  adoption packages, a Penguin Party, a Bitter Dinner and an opportunity to adopt a cockroach. 

The bitter campaign is a unique approach to to this “holiday” because it allows the anti-Valentine’s population to have fun and participate. Bitter Dinner is an event where Valentine’s Day skeptics can gather and celebrate, while not wasting money on overpriced greeting cards and chocolates.

Additionally, Bitter Valentines can have an e-card sent to that special (or not so special) someone letting them know they had a cockroach adopted in their honor.  What better way to say ” I don’t love you?”

-Erin Naterman

No, we aren’t talking about the latest political debates - those are boring.  We’re talking about insurance - old-fashioned commercial, medical, life yadda-yadda.  Higginbotham Insurance, founded in 1948 is an institution in Fort Worth.  And, over the years, they’ve grown to be one of the largest independent insurance brokerages in the country.  They aren’t flashy, they aren’t hard-sell, rather they are a reliable, trusted advisor for many. They needed a web-based facelift combined with some pretty nifty technical magic thrown in.

We refined their messaging and presented it in a timeless design, that both updated their image while streamlining the navigation of a several hundred page site.

With multiple locations that operate under separate brand flags, we had to create a universal CMS that worked across 7 different URLS, while providing limited local content management capabilities to the field offices.  

The result is a clean site that proves that work for a conservative company - doesn’t have to be boring.

There’s never a dull moment at our offices! We recently created a Christmas video for our client, TTI Inc. Shot entirely at our office, this video is a little snip-it of what our team and neighbors got to hear during filming - and the car is just plain awesome.

We started this project brainstorming ideas for TTI’s holiday card and thought a video would fit in nicely with the rest of TTI’s Specialist campaign. With help from our friends at Track Daddy Productions for filming and editing, TTI’s “holiday card” is a must see.

View the the Christmas video here, can you believe this was shot in a 1/2 day?

Also, be sure to look for the two Schaefer people that make their film debuts - Oscar will be calling.

-Lynaia

We recently starting working with Supply Depot and Rental One.  Supply Depot is a construction supply company that specializes in all things concrete.  Rental One focuses on the rental of construction equipment. 

When it came time to create a new ad campaign for these companies, the goal was to develop a compelling and unique message that spoke directly to contractors or decision-makers. Additionally, the campaign message needed to work for BOTH companies.

How do you make construction and concrete fun and interesting, and speak about two different entities?

Answer: Develop a series that plays on industry nuances that the target can personally relate to.  You appeal to the senses and play up the beauty of the job.  You connect with the target in a way that makes them realize you understand and you “get it.”

-Erin Naterman

The Fort Worth Zoo is most definitely in the holiday spirit. To kick off the season they hosted their annual membership Pumpkins and Pancakes breakfast Nov. 19.

This event was a huge success! There was a record 1,200 tickets pre-purchased for the event.  Want to be included on exclusive member-only events like this one?  It’s a great perk of Zoo membership. 

If you are not one to deal with Christmas shopping chaos, Zoo membership and adoption make great Christmas gifts for those that have just about everything.

Learn more about Holiday adoption and Zoo membership gifts!

-Erin Naterman

This past week was a whirlwind. Wednesday through Sunday, more than six months of work came to fruition at:

The Lone Star International Film Festival

Our team provides marketing, PR and a splash of creative support to the festival. If you didn’t make it out - you missed out because it was a SUCCESS! Check out a DFW.com article and learn for yourself.

Above is a glimpse of opening night: Our friends from Red Productions walked the red carpet to support their film Searching for Sonny along with Nick Krause from The Descendents.

Notice the step and repeat? Thought so; compliments of our production artist, Colton. Colton also put all of the print and web ads together.

Despite the many awesome films, my highlight was meeting the great Willie Nelson! Willie was honored with the Stephen Bruton Award at this year’s gala. In between the red carpet and working with the Star Telegram’s photographer, we managed to get a photo.

It’s a little blurry, but you get the picture (pun intended). 

Want more proof of the festival’s success? There’s a lot, but check out these articles:

• IndieWire
• Art & Seek
• NBC DFW
• The Dallas Morning News

Cheers to the Lone Star team and all the volunteers! Now, let’s gear up for next year.

- Lynaia & Kristin

CD Ski & Sports has a brand new Fort Worth space and a new look to go along with it!  CD Ski has expanded it’s retail space to make way for new product brands (Ugg and Mountain Hardwear) and allow for a better shopping experience.  The experience includes a full DJ booth, so you can jam in the dressing rooms. They also refreshed the brand with a new, edgy logo and brand graphics.

Want to check out the new digs?  This Saturday, 10/29, CD Ski is hosing a re-grand opening event from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  The day will be filled with music, drinks, food, FREE giveaways, great discounts and a whole lot of fun.  If you stop by, be sure to bring your used coats to donate for a discount on a new coat. 

5264 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth (.5 mi. south of Hulen Mall next to Chili’s)

New space and new logo

The snowboards are displayed on actual timbers…awesome!

New beautiful stock of Ugg boots.  I’ll take one of each, please.

The backpacks are also hung from huge timbers.

New brand elements

-Erin

Good Ol’ Fashion Collaboration

I think I speak for everyone when I say some of the most fun we have around here is getting together and throwing around ideas. Brainstorming meetings not only produce great ideas, but also laughs and a genuine good time.

This is the final product of a deliverable to a client. Throughout our brainstorming session the theme evolved from a literal state of Texas to organic and locally produced products, complete with a menu of services.

This fresh - ha, get it?- idea was a true team effort, and it photographed beautifully.

~Kristin

Masks- As cultural objects they have been used throughout the world in all periods since the Stone Age and have been as varied in appearance as in their use and symbolism.  But we just think they’re FUN!

Bailey and Kristin show off their Boo masks.  You can get yours, too.  Just click here!

October is here, which means it’s time to dust off that old mask or get creative with a new costume so we can all pretend we are someone completely different…even if only for one day.  It is also means it’s nearly time for one the funnest events of the year, the Fort Worth Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo!

Here’s a look at the ad campaign you are sure to see around town:

Boo at the Zoo takes place Oct. 21 - 23 and Oct. 28 -30 from noon to 5 p.m.  Get your consumes ready now and head to the Fort Worth Zoo to celebrate with events, games, trick-or-treating, and lots and lots of animals.

Need a mask?  No problem!  Click here to download printable masks. 

-Erin