Big Talker marketing, design & web that speaks.

2Tarts Bakery and Catering

How sweet it is! When the women at 2Tarts decided to open a bakery in the heart of downtown New Braunfels, they knew they needed all the right ingredients Ð including marketing help from 50 Foot Marketing & Design.

Background

2Tarts Bakery & Catering was created in 2010 when sisters April and Ashley decided to combine forces Ð one had attended cooking school and the other was trained in the fine arts. But they knew that two high-energy, creative personalities would need more than great cakes to get a business off the ground: they could make the most creative comestibles imaginable, but if no one in town knew they had set up shop, it all would be for naught.

Approach

First and foremost, the shop needed a logo. We designed a logo that reflects the personality of April and Ashley Ð a tart with a fun, creative topping in the shape of a 2. Then, we used the logo as a springboard for developing signage, T-shirts, business cards, order forms and other collateral. After building the basics including photography, we designed an eye-catching website. The colors and design of the website mirror the logo and personality of the brick-and-mortar shop. To add excitement to the site, we created a sliding one-page design with jquery and CSS coding. We also included a number of special, fun features Ð there are click and drag items, as well as pop-ups that appear when you scroll over some of the images. To finish up the overall branding we printed business cards, large photos for the back wall of the shop, t-shirts for the employees, and marketing materials to promote the shop and catering. 50 Foot continues to work with 2Tarts to help them spread the word about their new bakery.

	The ELPS Flip Chart was is teh newest sigantureof Seidlitz education. With it's unique design, teachers will be able to track thier ELL's students easily during school. Thus allowing students better individual care, and better teaching methods.
	The RTI accordian fold out creates an easy to use resource that helps teachers differintiate the special needs of students.

Lone Star Bakery

Being the largest custom commercial bakery in the country with a 100+ year history is pretty impressive.

Even more so when you consider the company is being run by a third generation. But what happens when no one outside the company knows it? It�s hard to work day after day at a job if you feel like you get no respect for it. That feeling is exacerbated if you feel your work is making someone else more successful, with no acknowledgement of your contribution. Imagine making lots of "someones" successful with no recognition.

Background

Lone Star Bakery is the quintessential "nose to the grindstone" kind of company that has spent 130 years becoming the best at what they do. In 2009, the "Chief Baking Officer" realized that Lone Star was working with, and turning out products for, all the biggest names in the industry, but yet didn't seem to be getting any respect for its position in that same industry. While being �invisible� wasn�t effecting the bottom line directly, it began to diminish employee moral. The company had only a simple website that was rarely used. The sales team was relying on collateral that had been cobbled together over the years, all of which was designed "on the fly" by various team members through the years. By 2009, they realized that with four separate audiences keeping them busy (foodservice, in-store bakery/deli, chain restaurant, co-packing) they had to turn to outside help to keep up. They contacted 50 Foot to discuss the revamping of the website. By the time the first meeting was over, 50 Foot had been asked to whip up an entire branding and marketing program for the bakery. Of course we had the perfect recipe for success.

Approach

This program, which is still underway, began where all good branding programs do - at the beginning. We tweaked the existing logo of the bakery (too expensive to change the logo on the building!), and created a new logo for the bakery's newest offering - its own brand, called Miss Emma's. We also created a clever tagline for the bakery that reflects its story: History in the Baking. From that point, our plan was to establish Ideals and Standards for Branding. We determined fonts and colors for each brand, and then worked closely with Lone Star Bakery owners and sales staff to create the history of each brand, its mission, promise, position and personality. We then began to shoot all new photography of the bakery's products, manufacturing locations and select employees. We incorporated those photos as well as lively copy points into the design of brand new catalogues that 50 Foot will print in early 2010. We also are designing and writing copy for sales sheets that will specifically meet the needs of the sales staff. In addition, the logos, photos and copy are being incorporated into a fresh, new website design that will reposition the Lone Star Bakery as a contemporary company with a proven history. In the Spring of 2010, 50 Foot will launch an extensive print PR and advertising campaign to introduce the "new" Lone Star Bakery to its peers, and increase its visibility in the marketplace. And finally, Lone Star Bakery employees will get some respect.

A complete line of sales sheets for every Lone Star Bakery and Miss Emma's product was developed. The sales sheets are used to present to potential clients, sell to current clients, and educate Sales Force. Each product series has an overall sales sheet for the complete line and then individual sales sheets for when a specific product is asked for or suggested. The Sales team can mix and match the fronts and backs to create the perfect sales tool or presentation for the client, be it a grocery store chains or a co-packing client.

POP materials have been created for the fried pie line. These table tents can easily be changed to fit the needs of clients, such as restaurants, and used to sell products at the distributor level as well.

Seidlitz Education

Giving Kids the Gift Of Academic Language

Educator/writer John Seidlitz wanted to redesign his teaching workbooks in order to help them "jump off the shelf." Little did he know that contacting 50 Foot would help him turn the page on his entire business.

Background

Back in 1998, the Texas Education Agency adopted second language acquisition standards for English Language Learners (ELLs). Those standards required educators to implement teaching methods that encouraged ELLs to excel at language proficiency. In December 2007, revised standards were introduced - the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS). Those standards now require educators to integrate ELPS into each subject of the required curriculum.
John Seidlitz, using the name Canter Press, had developed training conferences, written a series of workbooks, and created other tools to help teachers meet those Texas Education Agency standards. 50 Foot knew that redesigning book covers was just the beginning.

Approach

Because John's entrepreneurial spirit is strong, he was constantly thinking of new ways to help teachers help kids. We wanted to help him focus his ideas and energy into a streamlined business that would thrive. We encouraged him to create more of a generic name for his business, under which he will be able to grow and expand and develop a reputation for products beyond publications.
A brainstorming session resulted in a new business name, as well as a tagline. For the new "Seidlitz Education: Giving Kids the Gift Of Academic Language," 50 Foot has created a new logo, built a website holding page in anticipation of a new website, and redesigned a number of book covers. Going forward, 50 Foot will design the inside of the books, as well as the covers.
As a result, Texas teachers will be exposed to more visually exciting workbooks, and they'll be able to obtain information about conferences and other helpful teaching tools.

	The ELPS Flip Chart was is the newest signature of Seidlitz education. With it's unique design, teachers will be able to track their ELL's students easily during school. Thus allowing students better individual care, and better teaching methods.
	The RTI accordion fold out creates an easy to use resource that helps teachers differentiate the special needs of students.

Truss Building Supply

For Truss we had our minds in the gutter.

Background

Based just outside San Antonio, Texas, Truss developed the household DuraTrac and SnapLock gutter systems, and the patent-pending T-Wedge for gutters. In fact, the company already owns the only patent for gutters with no-hole technology for installation, and it has 65 vendors across the United States. Like many start-up companies, all design work was being done in-house by whomever had time. As the business grew, they realized they needed outside help. But they were adamant about the need to work with a designer who would be willing to learn their business, and would be responsive to their sometimes last-minute requests. They wanted a group that was small and personal, but offered big-time talent. They chose 50 Foot. Their need was primarily a rebuilding of the website (home page and all three brands). As Truss began to realize that 50 Foot offered "one-stop-shopping," they asked us to help identify and take on additional design projects.

Approach

After becoming immersed in all things Truss, 50 Foot was able to design a website that was easy on the eyes and easy to use. We also designed a more vendor- and consumer-friendly brochure, which mirrors the website design. And when Truss began developing a new product, 50 Foot helped them name the product (Leaf Lock), created the logo, determined colors, and wrote a tagline. 50 Foot continues to work with Truss on a project basis, as well as to provide website updates as needed.

New Braunfels Downtown Association

Spending Dollars Locally, Mean Dollars Stay Local

Back around the Year 2000, city leaders predicted that the population of New Braunfels could double or triple within ten years. With that news, mega-malls began springing up around the outskirts of town. Downtown merchants knew they had better do something quickly.

Background

For years, New Braunfels downtown merchants had relied on devoted clientele to keep their doors open. When big-time developers bought acres of land around town and built outlet malls and malls with nationally-recognized retailers, downtown shop keepers realized that foot traffic was slowing. They asked 50 Foot to help them revamp their image and increase awareness among residents. We offered to help this historic town get back on track to being the vibrant heart of the city.

Approach

Because NBDTA is a local group, 50 Foot volunteered to serve on the Marketing Committee. We offered to redesign its website, create newspaper ads for events, concept and design brochures for handing out at events, create and print "What's Happening" event calendars, and more. The biggest project was the website -] the look had grown stale. One of the major challenges was that there was no budget to hire someone to track newsworthy events or changes downtown and then update the site on a regular basis. So the site often went unchanged for months at a time, rendering it essentially useless to visitors or residents looking for information about downtown. So when designing the new site, we included a CMS backend. As a result, DTA members now can login and make changes to their own listings as often as they want, so visitors to the site get the most up-to-date information available. It also provides committee members with the ability to add or edit generic information as often as needed. In addition, 50 Foot continues to create a stream of ads and printed collateral that provide a consistent image for the historic, yet "happening" city. Because DTA funds are limited, we have produced pieces that can be used repeatedly, or can be refreshed with just minor revisions. Because we are able to help them work efficiently with design, the group is able to place, print and distribute many more ads and hand-outs than they were previously able. Residents are getting the message, as downtown New Braunfels shops are contributing a respectable number of tax dollars to the city coffers, even in the midst of a nationwide economic downturn. Perhaps most telling is that nearly 10 businesses have opened downtown for the first time, have moved to larger space, or expanded their existing space - just within the last year.