Well Lookie Here

We talk a lot about choosing Glens Falls as the place to start our business because it is in a region where we wanted to put down roots. We’ve discovered amazing people here, but something else we’ve discovered, is that people see in the shop we’ve created, something that they want for their business, regardless of zip code. We’ve seen it first hand in the diverse, out-of-the-area clients with which we’ve been working with more and more.

Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake, New York

The Adirondack Museum came with the spring shoots, literally and figuratively as we started work and conducted our first photo shoot in April. The relationship has allowed us to do a few of our favorite things—drive to points North, spend time with people who love this region as much as we do and introduce the area to a new audience. Together we’ll be rolling out a new campus map, a print & online ad campaign, signage and print collateral. 

Town of Newcomb, New York

Up and over a piece and we reach Newcomb, New York. We’re partnering up with Chazen Companies to create a rebrand for the Town of Newcomb. This project has been about two years in the making, but rushing contracts isn’t how you do things in the Adirondacks. Working with an incredible committee of residents, the wildlife have been remarkably non-vocal, a vision for the next generation of Newcomb is making itself known. 

Berkshire Farm Center, Canaan, New York

Berkshire Farm Center, in Canaan, is a new client that also allows us to drive through what is arguably some of the prettiest terrain in the northeast. This new relationship will involve repositioning BFC and its exceptionally beautiful campus and extensive programs to its statewide audience. We’ll have to be careful to head home and not deeper into the Berkshires.

Lakestone Family Farm, Farmington, NY

Lakestone Family Farm, a stone’s throw from Sean’s old RIT stomping grounds, is a project that sprang from Twitter. The gnarly undertaking of transitioning 65 acres of land to a working organic farm is something we were eager to help with, particularly with individuals like Dennis and Patricia who epitomize the spirit of making what you can with your hands and heart. 

SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, New York

SUNY Plattsburgh, to the North of us, has been a client for about a year. They’ve let us put signs in gondolas and throughout the Lodge at Whiteface, on billboards en route to West Mountain and posters on community college campuses from Queensbury to Long Island. Next up is a project specific to the Queensbury branch campus at SUNY Adirondack. They still haven’t let us use “Plattsbury”…give it a few years.

Old friends, new work.

Late last week I was sitting comfortably in the Acupuncture Studio's new digs, just a short walk from the Trampoline office in Downtown Glens Falls. It was my first treatment in their just-opened location, but I've been a patient of theirs for years. 

In fact, this is the third location that their business has occupied. First they had a fairly standard medical office in Queensbury, then they transformed a funky warehouse space into a destination, and now their new spot is a combination of the best of each.

As I nodded off with an armful of needles, my tension left and it occurred to me that Kevin and Cindy Campopiano have been clients and friends of ours for more than seven years, now.

That meant two things to me: The first—We work well together, and understand each other. This doesn't always happen in business, especially with regard to creative and communications. Sometimes expectations don't match. Sometimes egos get in the way. Sometimes it's just not a fit.

The second meaning is a more personal one—if they've been a client for seven years and we've been in business for, meh, about nine, then it means they took a risk on us. Early on, when people hadn't seen our work, before we had awards to brag about, when we needed clients.

That started me thinking, and by now the needles were really starting to work, who else has partnered with Trampoline for that stretch of time? It's a short list, as clients come and go, needs change, businesses are sold or people move on. As our agency has grown, we've expanded our geographic footprint, and discovered a few niche markets where we communicate especially well. But, like the Acupuncture Studio, our oldest clients are all local accounts, and—undeniably—still some of our favorite people to work with. And the work continues:

The Fund for Lake George

We've worked with the Fund since 2003. We've helped 3 different Executive Directors communicate the need for lake science and stewardship, protecting our region's most treasured resource. In 2010 Trampoline illustrated and designed a 60 page guide to help landowners manage their property in ways that would keep the lake free from harm.

The book won an EPA Award and the illustrations were award winners as well. Peter Bauer just signed on with Trampoline to create another volume, this one, a 200 page tome that spans 30 years of scientific data. We're ready to show the impacts to water quality, in the hope that things will change.

Sacandaga Outdoor Center

Johnny Duncan signed with us during our first summer in business and we've followed him back and forth from the rapids of the Hudson to the slopes of Alta ever since. When you've worked with someone for that long, conversation comes easy, as it did when we asked John to weigh in on our retail venture: Nine Authentic Goods. We knew he had some experience from his Syd & Dusty's days and he was happy to help out.

Now, we're working with Mannix Marketing to redesign the website for the Outdoor Center. Still at the put-in, but should be ready to launch any day now. Rafting pun, check.

Double H Ranch

Our very first client, still going strong. We've worked to bring the positive message of Double H to the public since we opened our doors. A better cause, and a better client, could not be found. The work is always fun, the kids are always deserving and our morale is all the better for it.

After last year's Camper Sponsorship outreach effort exceeded fundraising expectations, we've been challenged by Linda Smith to beat our own success for the 2012 season. Check the mail soon for your chance to Blaze a Trail and help send a kid to camp!

Davidson Bros. Brewing Co.

Where would we be without Rick and John Davidson? Sober, for starters. The Brothers Davidson are an excellent example of entrepreneurs who know what they want, but will listen to input from all angles. They've allowed us to do some of our most fun branding and packaging, and pushed us to make each project jump off the shelf.

Their new Variety Pack just arrived and will be available this season, along with 6 packs of RYLEY Summer Ale.

Capital Mic-Check

Over five nonstop days and nights, the world’s most important platform for the discovery of new music, CMJ Music Marathon invades New York City with over 1,300 artist performances.

CMJ fills more than 80 of the city’s greatest venues, nightclubs and theaters with over 120,000 fans, music industry professionals, college radio tastemakers, bloggers, press, and musicians.

CMJ 2012 will once again be headquartered at New York University’s Greenwich Village campus, just steps away from dozens of downtown Manhattan venues.

Our old pal Anne Lowrie at Make Some Noise Africa is leveraging her contacts in the New York Entertainment scene and recruiting some talented South African musicians to participate in the CMJ Event this autumn. Make Some Noise Africa is currently soliciting sponsorships to cover the considerable cost of travel and boarding each band, and Trampoline is creating a campaign to accomplish just that.

The CMJ Network connects music fans and music industry professionals with the best in new music through interactive media, live events and print. The potential exposure an event like the CMJ Music Marathon could offer to an up-and-coming artist is immense, and we're proud to be a part of the effort to bring new music to the listening public.

Anne said, in a recent design review, "Can you fast-track these revisions? I have two days until I meet with Dave." which makes a good transition to another project in support of the performing arts.

Closer to home, we're already into prepress on the 2012 season brochure for SPAC, with an exciting summer of arts and events in the wings.  

Remember your roots.

Trampoline is proud to connect with Amanda Magee's history in the Yakima Valley as we begin work on the University of Washington's GEAR UP program Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.  GEAR UP is part of a national effort to assist low income families and position their children for success in higher education. 

The new program RISE UP Rural Initiative in STEM Education and Undergraduate Preparation is part of a U.S. Department of Education federal grant which will operate in 13 school districts in the Yakima, Skagit and Klickitat Valleys and serve 4,955 students over the net 7 years. The counties participating in the program have some of the highest populations of Hispanic, Native American and/or limited English-speaking students in all of Washington State, with poverty rates of 81.2%. 

The team at trampoline is eager to deliver future-enhancing resources to young people and their families in Washington State. 

New marks go to work

An update for the Lake George RV Park that celebrates all this destination has to offer, surrounded by our Adirondack Mountains.

This private label for our friends at Quandt's Foodservice Distributors is a nod to their modest beginnings in Amsterdam—over 9 decades ago.

A farm-to-market mark for Kevin London and Kim Feeney as they bring new culinary goodness to your grocer's freezer.

A continuous line to the perfect party in Saratoga Springs.

Healthcare providers in Upstate New York have a credit union dedicated to [lowering] their interests.

Celebrating 250 years of natural beauty and community.

A new logo for a new hop variety from CLS Farms.

Word on the street

Whether you're an analyst by trade, constructing your theories in a corner office or you are simply a casual observer of the human condition musing on the front stoop; you see things. The conclusions you draw are of value.

Some recent perspective from a retail client of ours has sparked some discussion here at 166 Glen. What began as a strategy meeting for 2012 evolved quite naturally into commentary on the trends from the previous twelve months. "The wealthy are not spending money. We see it in our customers, the middle class is doing all the spending and the wealthy are holding on to their money. Tightly." Our conversation continued, plans were hatched and we wrapped things up with a collective so-long-2011. 

That comment about wealthy clients, or lack thereof, got us to thinking about how the financial perspective of an area impacts how we operate—specifically with regard to philanthropy.

It has been said that people with less tend to give more. If it is indeed true that those with money to spend are holding it tight while organizations in need of capital need it more than ever, then maybe we ought to really get comfortable with completely changing how we view things.

For non-profits, maybe the pursuit of a huge gift isn't as realistic; maybe it's time to truly start believing in the power of relationships. Spark a chain of philanthropy with five new givers who combined don't give the equivalent of what a major donor used to give, but who—in their new pride of participation—will carry your message further.

These aren't easy times and there are no silver bullets, what there is is the potential to leverage creativity, stretch your willingness to try new things and ultimately, the reward that there are still people who give and there are still avenues you have not pursued.

How do you get people to give?

Do you need to adjust the ask?

Or do you need to think more strategically about whom you are asking to give?