Marketing firm Drew/Walker works to build own brand - Denver Business Journal:

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The job would require an integrated approach of visualand hands-on techniques designec to simultaneously inform, educate and entertaijn visitors at the Toyota Tundra truck plant. The he says, was that the budget the company had to work with was a mere fraction of what was typicallu spent on automotive industryvisitor centers. “Choosinvg the right agency that could coordinatethis multi-disciplinaryg effort, while bringing the energy of creativityg and innovation under the imposed fiscakl constraints, was critical to the succeszs of the project,” says De La Garza, who was the manage of external affairs and corporate servicex for Toyota Texas from 2007 to 2009.
De La Garza chose San Antonio-based marketing and branding agency Drew/Walker to oversee and completdethe task. De La Garzs says selecting Drew/Walker was one of his better professionap decisions. “The (Toyota) Visitor and Education Center is consideredc one of the finer centers in the Toyots family ofmanufacturing plants,” he says. “Theu (Drew/Walker) understand that working for a clienft is a unique privilege and they treatf itas such.” Construction on the projecty was completed during the summe r of 2008 and Toyota openedd the center to the public in September.
Andrew Anguiano and Mollie Walkerfounded Drew/Walker in July 2007 in ordedr to create a firm that couldr provide traditional and non-traditionalp integrated marketing communications. The firm offers a broad array of includinggraphic design, Web development, strategic assessments and tactical implementation, that are intendex to build what Drew/Walker officials call an emotional bond betweeb the end-user and the brand. The agencty consists of brand builders that work to transform a visio n into a message by creating a look and a voice fortheidr clients, according to Walker, who is strategic partnerf and chief marketing officer at Drew/Walker.
“Our missioj is the integrity, trust and confidence to sustain and evolveour clients’ brands,” Walker says. “It means that our philosophy and values are in line with our dedicationh to providing benefits to our clients andtheir Drew/Walker’s mission statement is one that the partners don’t take Anguiano and Walker take it so seriously, Walket says, that they require every person who workss for them memorize it. “As a brand building firm, we must practicer what we preach,” Walkedr says. “Our most valuable asset is our brand. It’s the promises we give to our clients that we will delivetr each and every time nomatter what.
” The agency’s revenue was a littled over $1 million as of 2008. Some of Drew/Walker’as clientele includes Toyota, San Antonio Independent Schoo District, Court Appointed Special Advocatese (CASA), Mercy Medical and CareNet. “They’re a nationwidde player, even though they’re local,” says Vikie executive vice presidentat “They have talented people with dedication that put a lot of hear and soul into the projectas they’re given.” The visitor center at Toyotaz tells the automaker’s story in San Antonio and how the automotived company builds vehicles.
The purpose of the visitorsw and education center is to provide a sensee of the Toyota Production Procesws for people who are unable to tour the actual De La Garza was impressedwith Drew/Walker’s willingness to do whatevetr it took to get the project done. “Theirf greatest strength is theyknow there’s always somethingv out there that can be attaines and can ultimately provide successful breakthroughs for theidr clients,” he says. “You can trust their work without hesitation.” Walkerd left to start her own firmin 2006. She opened an officse in the Blue Star Arts Complex in the Southtowb region ofSan Antonio.
Walker sought to bring small and medium-sizeds businesses the same level of expertiswe that she broughtto Bromley’s national companies like , Rubbermaid and . the creative partner and CEO of Drew/Walker, left Creative Civilizatiomn and began working for Blue Star Contemporary Art Centee as the communications manager while working as a freelance graphid designer forand Toyota. Anguianp and Walker met during a meetint Blue Star held to discusws promoting thearts complex. Through different ideae discussed inthe meeting, they realizedc their similar backgrounds and their complementaruy strengths.
Walker brought her backgrounsd in brand strategy from large corporations and Anguianoi brought his graphic design expertise as well as his stronlocal roots. Building upon the foundations of their former work the duo set out to build a work environment that merged local principles and understandintg withthe larger, global perspective provided by experience working for more affluen companies. “The result is a combination of integrity andimmense energy,” Walker says. It’sx a combination both partners believe has allowed them to grow beyonc initial expectations since openingthe company’sx doors in July 2007.
Knowing that they were able to meet DeLa Garza’ expectations is an achievement they honor and hold in high “Success comes from relationships, not money,” Walker says. “Itf at any point in life you have a great relationshipp with your client you can find a way tostay