Walkable streets. Open-air patios. A mix of local shops, restaurants and creative spaces. What used to be the domain of urban planners has made its way into the world of branding and commercial development. 

When we talk to clients about brand strategy, one of the first things we dive into is the audience. Who are you trying to reach? Who is this brand for? 

In today’s commercial landscape, a compelling brand has become a valuable currency. In our 2025 Charlotte Hospitality & Retail Guide, we explore how landlords and developers have started to recognize the power of strong brands to attract both customers and complementary tenants to their properties. In this landscape, your brand identity isn’t just a marketing tool—it’s a bargaining chip.

The most engaging spaces in Charlotte aren't accidents. From sprawling venues to boutique retailers, the businesses that command attention are meticulously crafted for their audience. As the city's commercial density increases, success now demands something beyond good location and decent service—it requires strategic intent.

Restauranteurs, we have some news for you: you’re not just in the food business anymore.

But it’s not just you. None of us are just in one business anymore.

That’s because we’re all in the business of capturing attention.

In today’s fast-paced world, attracting and retaining customers in the hospitality industry is no easy feat. Businesses are clamoring to reach Millennials and Gen Z – the largest group of consumers. And they are reshaping how business is done.

So you’ve decided to hire a creative branding agency…maybe you’ve even reached out to a few to get started. 

Whether you’re building a completely new brand, or refreshing your existing look and feel, finding the right creative agency is not a decision to take lightly. 

Why? Because your brand matters. It’s the first impression your customers have of you. It’s how you catch their eye in a world of decreasing attention spans. You need an agency that gets you.

Five creative marketing trends for 2023 with actionable tips and ideas on how you can start implementing them in your marketing strategy...

Five creative marketing trends for 2023 with actionable tips and ideas on how you can start implementing them in your marketing strategy...

A storyboard is a visual outline of a video or animation. It breaks the action down into panels – like a comic book – made up of images and notes. While typically associated with filmmaking, storyboards are extremely useful for marketing and branding...

Whether you’re a small business owner building a new brand, or in marketing at an established company, chances are you’ve been asked: “What’s the story we’re trying to tell?”

In the era of powerful iPhone cameras and a seemingly endless supply of stock photography, it may feel unnecessary to shell out for professional photos for your brand. After all, isn’t it what’s inside that counts?

The fact is, how your brand looks has a huge impact on how successful it will be. 

We know product packaging packs a huge punch when it comes to enticing customers from the shelf (physical and virtual). But as e-commerce and home deliveries continue to gain popularity, there’s another moment you don’t want to overlook: unboxing.

For businesses, brands and marketers alike, the recent pandemic brought significant change, including how we go about our daily lives. From learning to working to shopping and everything in between, the world was forced to quickly adopt the digital world on a mass scale.

Social media has become a critical part of brands’ marketing strategies. With 72% of U.S. adults actively using some form of social media, it’s become a powerful way for brands to engage and build relationships with their customers. But with new platforms and trends popping up seemingly daily, it can quickly become overwhelming.

How do you choose which platforms to use?

How do you know if it’s working?

That’s where your social media strategy comes in.

With 2022 basically knocking at our door, brands and marketers are making plans for the coming year.

2021 brought plenty of disruptions to keep us busy, transforming how we work and where we focus our energy. And more and more people have opted to start their own brands and businesses.

As we look ahead and set goals for the new year, it’s important to keep an eye on what’s driving success in creative marketing. So, we’ve pulled together a list of the top creative marketing trends for 2022:

Whether you’re a well-established company or a new brand just starting out, understanding your target audience is critical for long-term success. And chances are, you’ve already got an idea about who your target audience is, whether you realize it or not.

Art and Copy.

Name a more iconic duo. We’ll wait. ;)

We kid, but when it comes down to it, branding can be boiled down to those two core elements: design and language.

Ah, the age-old question: What’s the difference between marketing and branding?!

It’s one we get a lot – especially since people outside the field tend to use the terms interchangeably.

And, since we love this stuff, we thought we’d get a bit ‘inside baseball’ and break it down.

Want to build brand equity? Focus on building strong customer relationships.

Your relationship with your customers is the foundation of your brand. For long-term success, you’ll want to build solid long-term relationships.