CAN WE HELP YOU?
Direct Mail -- We are probably the top independent DM creative resource in this area. We can take you from concept to in-the-mail and help you avoid common mistakes.
Advertising -- We have expertise in healthcare, education, enterprise software, human resources, financial services and many other areas. Creative services from concept to completion.
Training -- We provide half-day training sessions for small groups. Training is based on material used in graduate classes at St. Thomas and can be customized.
Principal -- Doug Wilhide has over 25 years experience as a Minneapolis-based copywriter and marketing communications consultant. He taught in the Graduate School of Business at the University of St. Thomas and holds multiple degrees in English. Recognition includes the Sawyer award for best business ad of the year, Nine awards from the Midwest Direct Marketing Association and the Business Excellence award for innovation and creativity in teaching from St. Thomas.
We’re a marketing communications agency based in Minneapolis.
We’re probably the top independent direct mail creative service in the area (9 MDMA ARC awards, including 2 best-of-show), and a leading provider of B2B creative services for ads and collateral (dozens of local and national awards). We charge about half what traditional agencies charge.
I’ve been a copywriter and creative director at 3 local agencies and have been running W&Co. since 1986.
For many years we published a newsletter called Observations. A few that may be useful are noted here. Others exist. Contact us if you want to know more.
12/2003 -- How -- and why -- to get better at measuring ad results. Marketing’s guiding statements.
10/2005 -- Some history about travel and transportation art posters from the early 20th century.
7/2003 -- Tips and discussion about managing the marketing function. The 4 Ps... and then some.
10/2003 -- More tips on managing marketing, with an emphasis on research.
1/2005 -- What does it take to be a good marketer? Six traits to look for.
CONTACT US: wilhide@skypoint.com
© 2011 Doug Wilhide
Representative clients
IBM
Lawson Software
Personnel Decisions
Rockwell Automation
Center Point Energy
3M
Gillette Children’s Hospital
North Memorial Hospital
Minneapolis Public Schools
University of St. Thomas
Tesseract Schools
Crisis Connection
Wells Fargo
RSM McGladrey
Piper Jaffray
Ameriprise
G&K Services
Cargill
6/2005 -- Commentary on “The Great Wave: Price Revolutions and the Rhythm of History” by David Hackett-Fischer. Fun facts about gold, money, drinking and the black plague.
Other Observations -- some additional issues. Get in touch if you’re interested.
January 2003: You Talkin’ To Me? -- why is it that so many advertisers ignore older, richer consumers and target demographics where “the money is not?" Also, are cycles good for us?
June 2002: After the Fall -- comments from marketers about the real effects of 9/11. Also a review of Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point.
April 2002: The Story of O -- an appreciation and commentary on advertising great David Ogilvy and a review of Paco Underhill’s Why We Buy: the Science of Shopping.
March 2002: Advertising in Recessions -- what to do in economic downturns, whether you’re an advertiser or an advertising professional.
February 2001: Waaazzzuupp with Writing? -- is writing getting worse? Or does it just seem that way?