Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Schaefer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Vanessa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always been creative. Even as a very little girl I’d draw or paint every day. My mom wouldn’t buy clothes or dream homes for Barbie, I had to sew outfits and build houses and furniture, which was the most fun part of playing dolls for me anyway. I come from a line of entrepreneurial women. I’ve been told that my great grandmother created greeting card illustrations that dozens of women then copied by hand. My grandmother was a chef. Although never formally trained, she was in high demand when restaurants had big events or their main chef called out sick. My mom was a music teacher but also had her own piano teaching business which she continues till this day, and she’s currently 91. So, starting my own graphic design and branding firm came somewhat naturally to me I guess.
I graduated Smith College and worked at several ad agencies and in-house marketing departments for nine years before starting Clockwork Design Group, with my business partner. It’s hard to believe, but Clockwork will celebrate its 23rd anniversary this July.
Has it been a smooth road?
When we founded Clockwork, my partner and I agreed that we would never grow the firm into a large agency. We both love the hands-on design and creative work, and the close relationships with clients. Clockwork will always be a boutique business, offering bespoke design exclusively.
Staying small allowed us to be more nimble and agile. Having just a few employees, we survived the tech bubble and the mortgage crisis while other larger firms shuttered. I’m not saying it was easy. We lost some clients to merges and bankruptcies, but because of our strong relationships, made it through.
Our clients have been wonderful, and over time we have worked with many firms in many industries. Although we primarily worked with technology firms when we first started, now our clients are mostly in professional services including legal, financial, accounting, architecture, engineering, and construction.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Clockwork Design Group, Inc. story. Tell us more about the business.
Clockwork is known for helping law firms, A/E/C firms, and other service firms define and implement powerful, memorable brands. Differentiating professional service firms can be tricky, as the services they offer are often very similar to their competitors. Starting with research, interviews and analysis, we get to the core of their brand. Then the fun part starts — we bring the brand to life by crafting messaging and visuals that resonate with their target markets.
So what does that really mean? We create:
• Websites
• Brochures
• Logos
• Ad Campaigns
• Collateral
…and anything else that helps market the firm and build the brand
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I wish I had a crystal ball to know what’s down the road, but there is one thing I am sure of:
Like product companies, professional service firms with strong brands and effective, smart, deliberate marketing will survive. Those without will fail. Service firms used to get by with just doing great work and relying on referrals. But those days are gone. Branding and marketing is a must-have.
Contact Info:
- Address: Vanessa Schaefer
Clockwork Design Group, Inc
13 Felton Street
Waltham, MA 02453 - Website: www.cdgi.com
- Phone: 781-938-0006
- Email: info@cdgi.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clockworkdesigngroup/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdgi
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company-beta/260803/
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