Small Business Retailing 101: You Are Your Unique Selling Proposition
As a small independent business competing for sales this holiday shopping season you know that every customer counts. You don’t have the capital to invest in paid advertising let alone the resources to create a marketing campaign that stands out and engages potential customers. Inevitably small independent businesses like yourself first reaction is to rush to offer discounts. In this coupon driven economy it is a rational tactic that drives sales but a small business that leads with price as differentiation runs the risk of diminishing their...
read moreWhy Economic Development Depends on Arts & Culture
By Andrew Hershberger We are excited to be engaged in many community conversations regarding the future of Colorado Springs and it is empowering to see a pivot toward the importance of the region’s quality of life and how it affects growth. A vibrant arts & cultural community is crucial to the economic development equation. It is important to recognize that while Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins continue to experience robust economic growth, driving the Colorado economy up into the list of top 5 fastest growing economies nationally (1),...
read moreA Simple Equation to Get Your Product Narrative Right
By Sarah Ryals Published by: Colorado Springs Business Journal You’ve probably heard the old marketing adage, “nobody wants to buy a drill, they want to buy a hole.” Some take that a step farther and say, “nobody wants just a hole, either – they want a cool treehouse for the kids.” Whichever version you find more compelling, the core truth is this: to market successfully you must know what emotions will motivate someone to buy what you’re selling. Emotions are at the heart of most purchase decisions. Even car purchases, which are often...
read moreAH Creative adds value to our brand
You may have heard the name, but you haven’t heard the news: Andrew Hershberger Creative has expanded its team and its mission to grow local businesses with insight- and information-driven smart marketing solutions that achieve desired results. Our span of tactics and strategies is exceeded only by our passion for creating success for our clients. We thrive on inspiration. We know how to maximize budgets and timelines. We are passionate about building and adding value to locally grown brands. Our immersion in local food, nonprofit causes,...
read moreChapel Hills Mall
Brand Development & Brand Marketing Challenge: Revitalize Chapel Hills Mall’s 30-year-old visual identity and brand voice to communicate significant capital and tenancy improvements to this longtime regional retail destination in Colorado Springs. Differentiate the Mall as an ascending brand in an environment where many malls were declining, perceived as outmoded, and where lifestyle centers were emerging as fierce competitors. Solution: Conducted Mind Mapping® session and shopper intercept surveys to clarify brand values and attributes,...
read moreColorado Springs Public Market
Brand Identity Challenge: The concept of a year-round public market is an emerging one for Colorado Springs but has been successful in other cities. The local organizing group needed to create a convincing case for investors, as well as potential vendors and customers in order to bring the idea to life in this community. Solution: After conducting a feasibility study, AH Creative helped create a cohesive rationale for the Public Market idea around a “Commerce, Culture, Connection and Community” positioning. The agency helped lead community...
read moreMercedes-Benz Club of America
Membership Acquisition Campaigns Challenge: Representing over 30,000 members across North America, MBCA is the official lifestyle organization for Mercedes-Benz enthusiasts. AH Creative was assigned to create and support Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA) new member acquisition campaigns through a variety of marketing initiatives, including print advertising, direct mail, direct response and social media engagement. Solution: Through various campaigns, AH Creative worked with the MBCA national business office to create, implement and manage...
read moreChapel Hills Mall
Every Gift Tells A Story Holiday Campaign Challenge: Maximize seasonal sales for 100 Mall retailers whose success depends on holiday shopping revenue with a compelling consumer multi-media advertising campaign. Develop a distinctive message that would engage consumers and break through the advertising clutter, promoting Chapel Hills Mall as a premier destination for holiday shopping. Solution: “Every Gift Tells A Story” campaign used the humor and charm of affinity stories to pull readers in and reinforce the concept that Chapel Hills Mall is...
read moreCultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR)
October is Arts Month Campaign Challenge: The Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR) was launching a first-ever, month-long event to celebrate and recognize how arts and culture contribute economic and social benefits to the greater Pikes Peak region. Its success was critical and would depend on a well-thought-out strategic communications campaign that would be compelling to the general public. Solution: AH Creative developed a visual identity for the event (including logo, identity and visual series) that captured the spectrum of...
read moreFossil Brewing Company
Brand Identity Challenge: As a start-up with a limited budget, Fossil Brewing Company needed a comprehensive logo suite that closely aligned each unique beer style to the parent brewery brand. They craved an array of brew identities that would – in a smart, engaging way – appeal to the sophisticated craft-beer consumer and also be relevant to the parent brand. Solution: AC Creative came up with a logo identity suite including individual logo identities for the full set of beer styles. As the brand name implies, the brand identity needed to...
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