creative haberdashery

brand work

Drive business by enhancing brand value.

Quite often, clients ask for something specific. We owe it to them to listen and ask questions before whipping out the order pad. Probing for more whys leads often leads to better solutions and even greater results.

The client gets listened to, we prove our value, and the agency ends up with more good work. Happiness all ’round.

Here are some examples of how work can be good for everyone.

This group of cancer docs in Cincinnati is always trying to separate itself from the guys with the big budgets. This series of ads, promos and radio positions them as the elite provider. Creative partner: Sharon Brink/BrinkThinks

New business, the new way

This venture capital firm wanted to capture case stories, but not in the usual paper-bound way. A pdf was created that can be put together in modules, allowing them to choose just the projects they want to showcase to each potential client. Partner: Tim Smith Design.

Online promotional items companies are all over the place now and they can seriously undercut the local guys who've spent years building up a reputation for service. This website was created for just such a company, giving us an opportunity to showcase their creativity. Partner: Dave Ballengee

What do you do if you're a low profile player in a big market? You use the low profile itself to play up your strengths. This is TV commercial 1 of 3 in a series for OHC Cancer Care in Cincinnati, OH. Created in partnership with OHC internal and Sharon Brink at brinkthinks@gmail.com.

Coffee used to be so uncomplicated (and, I'm told, kind of bad). But today's coffee market is a whole different beast, as with local roasters Crimson Cup. This website helped explain their triality -- helping individuals start their own shops, plus operating shops of their own, plus selling beans to larger venues like corporate cafeterias, grocery stores and universities.

Making complicated my servant

I specialize in making the complicated simple, as with this pharmacy benefit management company, which merged with its largest competitor and took a new name. Not only were we now explaining new services, we had a merged company that needed a new identity. We began with a messaging matrix and ended up with this showcase brochure.

A touching video profiling Delta Airlines Cincinnati and a sweet Make-A-Wish family during their experience as they set out for Hawaii. Created in partnership with Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and Sharon Brink at brinkthinks@gmail.com.

Channel Stratergery

This promo for Claris was aimed at the channel salespeople -- you know, the guy at Best Buy or OfficeMax. Delivered in a sports bag, it required the salespeople to learn about the product in exchange for an entry in a contest to attend the NCAA Final 4.

When giant Genentech wanted a series of brochures to give to physicians, I led the charge to do more than that. By thinking beyond the "ask," we gave the client more value and, ultimately, earned the agency lots more money. This interactive CD premiered at a medical convention, where it rapidly had to be reordered -- more than once. Partners: GSW Worldwide

cindi acker-hein

cindi acker-hein

writer + creative partner
I love my work: teaming up with awesome creatives. Word nerdery. Problem solving. Simplifying. Intelligenting. Learning. Seeking FTA, SOH, PR.Read more...

enjoy

  • joan-riversCan we talk about websites and creativity?
    Can we talk? The legendary Joan Rivers was famous for that catchphrase, as she worked her way onto red carpets and late night talk shows with her gift of gab. Joan, of course, made her name during [...]

why you’ll love working with me

-Art directors love the conceptual teamwork

-Solopreneurs love how quickly I catch their excitement

-Big companies love how I bring consensus to cranky
stakeholders

-Agencies of all sizes love how seamlessly I join their teams

And I love working with anyone who begins a conversation with, "What if . . ."

engage

  Phone: 1.614.436.4599

Adaptable

"Can come in, literally at the drop of a hat and start working. Immediate contributions and high productivity."

Strategic

"The combination of creative and logical instincts make Cindi a rare commodity."

Conceptual

"Thanks for stretching us to try new ideas."

Customer-focused

"Cindi has a very effective way of choosing one of her 99 hats, getting deep into the features and benefits of your business from a customer point-of-view, and emerging with targeted concepts that really ring true."

Cross-industry experience

"Cindi is amazing! She is intuitive, highly creative, professional, easy to work with, fast, and is able to organize and clearly define highly complex projects. Her vast range of experience allows her to handle any type of project."

Intuitive

"We’ve partnered with Cindi on many projects over the years because we know she’ll see new angles and then deliver intelligent, well-crafted concepts."

Thoughtful

"Cindi is one of few people who has been able to capture the essence of my work. She listens intently, does her homework, turns an incredibly well-heeled phrase...all with a delightful personality and calm demeanor."

Innovative

"Cindi is a great thinker. She can analyze situations and information and come up with innovative solutions to problems."

Energy & Enthusiasm

"Working with Cindi was an absolute pleasure. Her work ethic, creativity and personality blend together to culminate into fantastic work."

Creative Partner

"“Cindi is the best creative partner an art director can have. She's not just an excellent writer, she's a big idea creative director who understands consumer behavior and hitting a target dead center.”"

Collaborative

"Cindi has a wonderfully creative way of meshing visual imagery with verbal language for the average person to understand.”"

Big Ideas

"Cindi is a valuable creative partner. She's not just talented writer, she thinks about the whole idea and consistently focuses on the customer's point-of-view."

Try Class 1 for free!

WebWrite-Class-1

The very first class and the one you'll thank for setting you on the road to easier and greater content

Expert

"Cindi's expertise in copy writing - from CRM to Industrial to Retail has been invaluable in helping me shape brand voice"