Get Inspired

20 October 2015

Our thinking Leave a comment

Working in the creative industry can be very stressful. There are deadlines, long meetings, endless e-mails, pressure to be unique and original, and that can lead to creative block. You know the feeling—you’ve done that before, you’ve seen that design in a million different places, that color palette leaves you feeling blah.

It feels impossible to get those creative juices running, so what can you do to find that spark again? Here’s my top three ways to get inspired.

Examples
Looking at others’ work is a great way to get inspired. The Internet makes it so easy to find great stuff. Some of my favorite sites to browse are Lovely Package, From Up North, and Pinterest (it’s not just for baking, folks.) Get motivated by seeing what other designers are doing, and figure out how you can make it better.

Take Breaks
I have a tendency to sit at my desk and pick at a project until I think it looks right. In that process I don’t really accomplish anything, and I just get more frustrated in the process. Instead of stressing out, and getting wrinkles—take breaks. Go for a walk, sit outside, grab some coffee. Take time to refresh your creative process.

Music
Music is one of my favorite ways to get motivated. Sometimes all you need is a good beat to get moving. Use Pandora, Spotify, Rdio, etc. and find a playlist that speaks to you to help you create work that you’re excited about.

There are lots of other ways to get your creative juices flowing, but these methods have always helped me get over my creative hurdles.

Drip Marketing

31 August 2015

Marketing, Our thinking Leave a comment

Long gone are the days where a simple print run in the local daily newspaper will get the phone to ring. The old adage: The first exposure to a consumer is to familiarize them with your company, the second exposure is to get them to recall your company, and the third is to get them to respond.

Unfortunately, the formula isn’t even that simple anymore. Both in training and in practice, marketers rely on the marketing mix, getting the right blend of attention-getting creative into the right media channels to drive consumer action. It’s not just marketing speak, it truly is what will trigger conversions.

Drip Marketing is the process of building consumer touchpoints that a customer receives on a strategic timeline. For example, they may first receive a direct mailer from you (to familiarize) followed closely by an email blast with relatively the same information (to recall). But what is the right blend of scheduling a reminder system that won’t annoy your consumer and possibly cause them to…GASP!…unsubscribe from your contact list?

Here are my two pieces of advice: start conservatively and test. While you don’t want to just throw the ball in their court and expect them to convert, you also don’t want to hit them with five reminders. That will surely get them to hit that “Unsubscribe” button. Create a campaign that includes several different kinds of media rather than only a series of emails or direct mail. Utilize paid search ads to bring the item they viewed on your website or an upcoming deadline back to the front of their mind. Drip with a followup phone call from a sales rep if your development team can take that on. Just make sure you test your strategy. Carefully note your benchmarks of your retail funnel when you start your drip campaign and make sure that as you do get more targeted to your potential sales pool, that you are also not forcing people out by messaging or fatigue.

The downside of drip marketing is that the whole channel is hard to measure. Most media sources are becoming more and more trackable by online click through rates or impressions, but for the foreseeable future, there are some inherently untrackable channels. Billboard performance, for example, can be guesstimated through monitoring web traffic or phone calls while the board is up (based on the Call to Action used) but really, for entire campaigns, it will need to be judged as whole and how it affected your company’s intake of interest.

AEC Industry

Engineering Firm rebrand

Video Mar 19

For the past several years we have been working with FDH on several initiatives. We walked through our branding process together and applied what we learned to revamp their appearance and their voice.

As we walked through the process, one point became very evident – FDH is a company that was truly founded on innovation. The three founders were academics that were approached by a state department asking if there was a way in which to test a concrete dam’s structure without drilling core (in essence, weakening the dam’s structure). At that time, there wasn’t a way, but the three put their heads together, devised a process, developed the equipment and FDH was born.

One of the deliverables for the rebrand was to deliver a tag line that encapsulated this origin and communicated to their clients and potential clients the fact that other firms may claim they are innovative, but we live it. It came down to two tag lines; “engineered to innovate” and “engineering innovation.” The latter won out due to its action-oriented approach.

WEBSITE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

One of the cornerstone pieces to the new brand is their website. Early on we knew this site had to feel clean and innovative without being too complicated. The main device used to achieve those goals is a sliding accordion. Using this technology not only allowed us to present several photos/ideas on a page, but kept them neatly organized and provided some interactivity for the user. The back-end Content Management System was customized to facilitate easy entry of all the various types of content.

Additionally, FDH had a need for highly customized and branded PowerPoint templates and e-newsletter templates. These two pieces of their communication puzzle would help solidify the voice and unify their communications. Once the “corporate” template was created, separate “industry-specific” templates were rolled out. While different and unique by industry, they were also cohesive and tied directly back to the main brand vision.

Collateral

As part of our collaboration with FDH, we concepted and designed a flexible collateral system. The main piece of the package is a brochure/folder hybrid. It contains basic information about the company, their philosophy, etc. On the middle panel lives a custom pocket that will hold the various inserts we created for each of their practice areas.

The inserts are industry specific and are easily added, as needed, by their BD team. As a cost saving measure, the inserts were designed to be printed digitally (in short runs) to accommodate changes and any evolution in their messaging.

Branding, Strategy and Design for the AEC Industry

30 January 2015

AEC Industry, Marketing, Our thinking, Uncategorized Leave a comment

The value of rebranding — it’s not about the logo

The AEC industry has changed drastically since many firms were formed. If your firm wants to remain relevant, it’s time to re-evaluate your brand to make sure that it’s clearly reflecting your grand vision (you do have one don’t you?), brand personality, core values and purpose. Many established firms that come to us (over 20 AEC firms to date) are looking to refresh their identity or their website or {fill in the blank} without an integrated approach. Unfortunately this doesn’t always achieve the desired result. Your brand is so much more than just a tactic.

Probably one of the most significant outcomes of our branding process is the clarity and focus that it generates for your leadership team. It has a rejuvenating effect on the entire company—a renewed sense of purpose that goes deeper than some cheap marketing gimmick or incentive ever could.

The top 5 benefits of rebranding

You will have a platform to establish a leadership position in your category and more importantly create alignment inside your company. It’s another chance to get things right.
Your vision, purpose and core values get reflected into your new brand identity creating a sense of pride within your company.
You will attract the right talent to your company and more importantly, make it easier to finally release those people that you know should have released long ago.
You get exciting new graphics that rejuvenate your proposals, business cards, signage, shirts, trucks, website, etc.
You get a brand standards guide to make sure your brand is consistent across all forms of communication – a key ingredient to managing a strong brand.

Video Production Capabilities

21 August 2014

Marketing, Video Production Leave a comment

A lot of people ask us, “what all do you do?”

Most people are aware of our web and graphic design work, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We handle full, integrated marketing duties for many of our clients. From brand strategy and marketing plans, to execution of various tactics within each… including video. Take a look below at some recent video projects created exclusively by the Tripp Co. team.

HIPPO Multipower – Serious power for serious work.

HIPPO Multipower systems has been working with Tripp Co. for several years now. Recently we packed our gear and headed west to Kansas City. Our goal was to create a promo video for their awesome line of multi-power systems that could be used in whole or edited down to product specific segments.The team at Tripp Co. concepted the video and wrote out the script. Once approved, we assembled our shot list and started auditioning voice over artists. Finally, the team headed down to KC to shoot. Once we arrived, small bumps occurred. Some of the shots planned weren’t possible due to locations falling through, etc., but our guys (and clients) are quick thinkers. They adjusted the schedule, with the help of the client, and powered through. Take a look at the finished cut here.

Giving injured wildlife a Better Life

One day, while monitoring social for our clients on “The Facebook”, one of our team members read a post by the Wildlife Rescue Center asking for items to help treat the injured patients currently in care. On that list was unscented laundry detergent. So, a call was placed and Better Life graciously sprung into action. Their laundry product is not just unscented, but also natural… ensuring that it won’t harm the feathers and fur of these little ones. At the end of the day, Better Life donated a full pallet of laundry detergent and walked away knowing that their donation will help rehabilitate these critters and return them to the wild. Watch the video documenting delivery day here.

Give us a call or drop us a line and let us help your brand get moving.

“Pinteresting” development for businesses.

3 July 2014

Pinterest is a powerhouse in the social media spectrum when you are wanting to reach and engage with females 18-49. But, up until now, many small and mid-sized businesses were a little shut out by big-budget brands.

Well, Pinterest has big news for smaller companies because the social media site is now expanding its ad business to be the perfect platform for any size company. Time magazine explained how Pinterest is thinking big to target small.

This summer, Pinterest plans to broaden its advertising model to make ads viable for small and medium-sized businesses, on a cost-per-click basis to be served in specific Pinterest categories. This will differ from their prior process, which had set rates based on a cost per 1,000 views. With this new cost-per-click model, advertising on Pinterest will become more accessible, affordable, and amenable to smaller-sized companies.

Not only will this move position Pinterest as a viable and valuable vehicle for any sized business to add to its social marketing mix, but it will also give the site a sharp marketing boost against rival social media platforms and search engines that use a similar system. The shift will pin Pinterest as a direct competitor to Facebook, Twitter, and even Google, since their business is built on their ad business.

Keep up with all the latest trends and news for social media marketing, digital, branding and creative. Call Trippco at 314-440-3477 or 954-736-4796

Happy July 4th – News and projects

3 July 2014

Uncategorized Leave a comment

When we formulated our new tagline (look right above this), we wanted it to reflect the type of work we love to do. Also, it needed to represent the caliber of client with whom we choose to work… below are two examples of good work for good brands.

Behavioral Health Response (BHR) site launches

When members of the St. Louis community are having a mental health crisis, where do they turn for guidance? The answer is BHR. Their 24-hour hotline is manned by Master Level clinicians who are not just experts in their field—they’re also caring human beings.

The site was built on a content management system in order to allow BHR ease-of-access. The colors came from their existing brand and we embraced them… we really felt they were very calming and tranquil. The imagery focuses on happy people… the result and not the crisis.

Finally, we built a searchable database of crisis centers based on zip codes. If a person is in need of help at a mental health center, they can find which of the many options available serves their area.

Better Life – better packaging

For those of you that know us, you know we are working with Shark Tank Alums, Better Life®. They are a naturally-safe household products company that helps rid the world of nasty toxins and chemicals that you find in traditional household cleaners. After being their agency of record for the past year and focusing on their brand and core creative, as well as their social media and marketing strategies, they were presented with another HUGE break.

A major distribution opportunity (we can’t tell you who…yet) propelled us to quickly tweak their packaging. Many of the individual products had been conceived separately of each other. As such, the labels were disparate and didn’t communicate a cohesive brand. In some cases, the company’s name wasn’t prevalent enough to realize that it was a Better Life product.

Without reinventing the wheel, we refined the illustrations styles on the bottles,unified messaging and tweaked the hierarchy of information. Our goal? Lift— increase the chance that shoppers will pick up the products and subsequently put us in their cart. Watch for more great stuff from Better Life and Trippco

Give us a call or drop us a line and let us create work that moves your audiences for you.

BTW Check out our new site at www.trippco.net. We are still adding projects and such, but it looks a little spiffier than our ancient one did (two years old).

Coming Soon:

Promotional video for Hippo Multipower Systems. Shot on location in Kansas City… go anywhere and do anything.

Award winning month for Tripp Co.

26 September 2013

We’d like to thank…

Awards have never been our focus, but it is sure nice to get them.

Recently, Tripp Co. became the recipients of several awards: seven (7) American Graphic Design Awards; five (5) TAM Awards (including People’s Choice); and we were named one of St. Louis’ Top 20 Small Business by Small Business Monthly.

Not one of the ceremonies allowed us to make an acceptance speech, but we have a lot of people to thank… so here it goes:

“First and foremost, we’d like to thank our clients, without whom none of this would be possible. We’d like to thank our Moms for encouraging us that it was okay NOT to become doctors and lawyers and such. We’d like to thank the liquor industry for giving us legal ways to deal with the stress. We’d like to thank Jesus and Angel, our janitors, without whom this place would be a wreck. We’d like to thank each other for not going on a rampage and killing the other staff during this incredibly crazy and successful year. And last, we’d like to thank the late Steve Jobs for his invention of the Apple Computer and this crack-like obsession we all have with our iPhones. Oh, and those people we live with that may or may not be our spouses and take the brunt of the craziness.”

The American Graphic Design Awards are sponsored by Graphic Design USA and honors outstanding new work. Projects honored included the Slowburn Theatre Company Logo, CMD Bricks Logo, Nidec Event Invitation, St. Louis CNR Magazine, High Fidelity Poster for Slowburn and the HIPPO Website.

The Targeted Area Marketing Awards (TAMS) honor agencies, companies and individuals who create St. Louis’s best B2B advertising, marketing, corporate and professional communications. We entered only five entries and were awarded four (we are demanding a recount on the fifth). Additionally, all attendees of the award ceremony voted for our Gateway Men’s Chorus Campaign to receive the People’s Choice award.

Finally, Tripp Co. was named one of St. Louis’ Top 20 Small Business by Small Business Monthly Magazine. We were very honored to be included in the list of recipients which included such companies as American Vending Machines, Contegix, Miken Technologies and Payne Family Homes (to name a few).

A closer look at an award winning website

Industrial products website highlights features and puts users in the driver’s seat.

When Mobile Hydraulic Equipment designed the HIPPO Multipower System, they knew they were going to change the electrical, welding, air and hydraulic construction arena. Consequently, they needed a website for this line of products that would allow them to be clearly explained to prospective buyers. Additionally, the site needed to allow the user to easily gather information on the individual products within the various product lines. The previous website had grown outdated and did a poor job of driving traffic/potential clients to gather information for Mulitpower’s new HIPPO Multipower Systems line of products so it was scrapped and a new site was developed from scratch.

This new website was created with functionality and audience in mind and a custom PDF tool was developed to benefit both employees and clients. On each page throughout the site, a “PAGE +” icon exists that allows the user to save all information from that page into a dynamically built PDF brochure simply by clicking it. In the right hand corner, an orange “My PDF” icon allows them to access and arrange their PDF, then email all the information saved to themselves or to users.

Additionally we added a product tagging feature and coded the site to be responsive, so that it works on all platforms and devices without the need for a separate mobile site.Take a look at their site and explore all the tools.

Give us a call or drop us a line and let us create award winning communications for you.

About Tripp Co. Creative

Tripp Co. Creative, Inc. is an integrated creative agency with big project experience. All of our team members have a passion for collaborating with clients and we’d love to visually charge your message with a uniquely authentic and memorable voice that stands out from the crowd. From collateral design, web design, branding and identity to advertising, interactive campaigns, social media and marketing, Tripp Co. brings a unique and highly creative perspective to any project.

CR8 GR8 Winners Announced!

14 June 2013

No man is an island… the same goes for our company.

Trying to make a difference.

In January of this year, we announced a grant application opportunity for NFPs across the country. We named the grant “CR8 GR8” becuase we know many NFPs are doing great work and we wanted to give them the opportunity to enhance and elevate their images. The program was simple; Tripp Co. would award up to seven matching service grants and one full service grant (eight total) to organizations that applied. A full grant recipient was not guaranteed becuase one organization would need to receive 80% of the vote in order for us to take them on pro-bono. We received applications from all around the country including Portland and Hoboken, but a majority of them were for the full-grant and we only had one available for this year. The whole team at Tripp Co. read every application and several rounds of voting took place. In the end we ended up with a very deserving organization for the full grant and four matching grants. The recipients are below:

2013 Full Grant Recipient:

2013 Matching Grant Recipients:

Over the coming months, we will share with you the work we get to do for these wonderful organizations and we’ll also tell you a little more about each one. Who knows, maybe their good works will move you to start an NFP of your own… crazier things have happened.

CR8 GR8 Creative Grant Opportunity For Non-profit Organizations

1 May 2013

Since opening its doors in 2007, Tripp Co. Creative has held on to one main, core belief; doing good work for good people. In keeping with that theme, Tripp Co. Creative, Inc. is making efforts to help the community take another step forward by introducing the CR8 GR8 Creative Service Grant. Over the years Tripp Co. has worked with many non-profit organizations and they have always proudly offered reduced rates for registered non-profits. Tripp Co. will be offering up to eight service grants ranging from full grants to matching grants through the CR8 GR8 project. These grants are fulfilled with services, completed by Tripp Co. Creative, to the receiving organizations.

CR8 GR8 is a “GR8” opportunity for non-profit organizations to receive services at reduced to no cost, and for Tripp Co. to give back to the community. Tripp Co. makes it a point to not forget the organizations improving our community or the people who truly care and are always seeking to better the environment, society, or people and animal lives.

Tripp Co. is a complete creative service firm. From branding, marketing, and design, they are the “anything is possible” firm. Tripp Co. will make it their goal to help raise awareness or funds for the selected organizations encompassing the full range of brand marketing and creative services that they provide on a regular basis:

Brand assessment
Brand development
Naming (organizations/programs/services)
Messaging
Marketing materials
Appeal Programs
Campaigns
Fundraising communications
Web site design and development
Email marketing/social marketing tools
Event branding and materials
Annual reports
Newsletters

Registered non-profits can go here and download the CR8 GR8 application packet. Also, please feel free to explore the page for more information and frequently asked questions. All non-profit and social organizations are encouraged to apply for a grant.

The deadline for submission is May 15, 2013 and grant recipients will be announced by June 14, 2013.