| barber martin agency

posting facebook pictures of your awesome kegstand technique is not in your best interest

Social media? It’s a great way to frame your own personal narrative. But watch what you post. The world is transparent today. [read more]

05.13.10 | filed under straight talk with lisa by lisa | 2 comments »

we hired someone new!

This is Brittney Lunsford. Say “hello.” Kindly, softly, so we don’t scare her away.

Brittney’s originally from Louisville, Kentucky–making her spiritually related to Muhammad Ali, Thomas Edison, Tom Cruise, and Dian Fossey. Speaking of! We’re not entirely convinced yet that’s she’s just not here to quietly observe the rare homo vendus adverticus in its natural habitat. We’ve seen her take pretty extensive notes as she made her initial rounds, studying each of us with the cold, steely gaze of a surgeon, or a farmer.

So! Our brave Ms. Lunsford worked in ad sales in a newspaper for several years, before joining the media department for Sheehy + Associates–the Louisville ad agency that handles the Kroger account. She says that she left her hometown for her significant other, but we’re pretty sure that Sheehy just couldn’t handle the sheer awesome radiating from her office.

But their loss is our gain, as she’s joined our media department here on the ranch. As we’re (as in “us,” as in “I”, as in “the boy who is writing this entry”) part of the creative team, we’ve never been 100% sure what the media department does, except they make things WORK and they occasionally threaten us with bodily harm and they receive all the cool tchotchkes, while we only get artsy over-produced portfolio books and commemorative glasses. But the media department? They get CANDY. And TICKETS. And did we mention the CANDY?

Oh wait. Where were we? Right. Hi Brittney! We’re glad to have you here.

05.05.10 | filed under announcements by admin | 1 comment »

we won some awards at the 2009 richmond show!

We won one bronze for Bubba’s Barber Shop:

and another for Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation “Syke Video Game” :30 TV:

You can see our balls after the jump. [read more]

05.05.10 | filed under announcements by admin | no comments »

reaching out and giving back

A while back, a few of us here volunteered to man the phone banks in order to collect donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

It was one of the best experiences we’ve ever had. You could hear genuine concern, kindness and a sincere desire to help. True generosity cannot be measured by the amount of money donated. We could tell that some of the donors weren’t wealthy, but they shared their pension or salary because somebody needed their help. They reached out to the less fortunate, and we think we’re all the better for it.

05.03.10 | filed under life on the ranch by olga | no comments »

barber martin agency wins chartway federal credit union account

April 21, 2010 ( Richmond, VA) – Barber Martin Agency has been selected as the advertising agency of record for Chartway Federal Credit Union in Virginia Beach, VA. The agency was one of four vying for the business, and the only one to be headquartered outside the Tidewater area.

“This is a big win for us and we are excited to be working with Chartway,” said Robyn Deyo, agency president. “I am confident that Barber Martin’s retail branding and advertising capabilities coupled with Chartway’s industry expertise will help position Chartway as a leader in the financial category.”

Chartered in 1959, Chartway Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution with over 190,000 customers and assets of $1.6 billion. Barber Martin
will begin working immediately on a new advertising campaign that will leverage Chartway’s unique offerings at a time when they are most needed.

Barber Martin will provide Chartway with strategic planning, brand development, print and broadcast advertising, social media, design, production, and media planning and placement services.

“We were very impressed with Barber Martin’s knowledge and creativity. We think that Chartway and Barber Martin will make a fantastic team and we look forward to building a strong business relationship with them,” said Phillip Richards, Vice President of Marketing & Strategy for Chartway.

Founded in 1988, Barber Martin is one of the largest advertising agencies in Virginia, listing Wendy’s Restaurants, Southern States Cooperative, Cato Fashions, Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation, and The Port of Virginia among its other clients.

05.03.10 | filed under press releases by admin | no comments »

whew! it sure is dusty in here

There have been many, many things happening ’round the farm these days. We have so much to tell you! We’re sorry we’ve been gone for so long. There’s new work, and a new hire, and a puppy or two, and even a few stories! To apologize for our long absence, please accept this video of a cat. Standing. In boots. Set to mariachi music.

We’ll see you soon! Maybe even this weekend, or at the very least Monday! Extraneous exclamation points!!!

04.30.10 | filed under announcements by admin | no comments »

do we need research to justify everything?

Two articles were placed in my mailbox recently. The first was called, “Emotional Advertising is More Effective Than Rational Appeals.” The second, “Emotions Will Unlock Your Wallet, Study Finds.” This is new news?

The first article was put out by the 4A’s and was a fairly serious bit of research with more than a dozen citation references. The latter was an article that appeared in the Kansas City Star, and was based on a larger article that will appear in the August 2010 edition of Journal of Consumer Research. Interestingly, both validate what every reputable ad-person already knows: that logic will never win someone’s heart. But emotion, used logically, will. This has been the one indelible truth behind effective advertising since advertising became, well, effective so many moons ago.

[read more]

03.23.10 | filed under the biz by admin | 2 comments »