history of AdJourney
1999 - Leaving a company and position of Marketing Systems Manager, Brian decided to step out on his own. Rebekah and I officially started our design firm - Sykes Design. That same month we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary and gave birth to our first son. The picture above is what we sent out Christmas of 1999.
Our first client was Sandhills Pediatrics Inc.. Dr. Stewart (while seeing the newborn) hires us for a logo and slogan. The logo we created has our newborn boys footprint (as well as Rebekah's and mine). The slogan - "steps toward a healthy future."
Early work was centered around a mix of print design and multimedia CD's. The CD's came about from some research I had done while at my prior job - trying to find a way to deliver source good samples without having to incur such high shipping costs. CD's were a great resource for this and similar endeavors. Created multimedia CD's for Baseline Development (commercial real estate developer), VZA Associates (landscape architect), 2KI (did some contract work to help this company wrap up several large projects) and more.
2000 - we bought our first home and began a five year remodeling and expansion project. Started with a 2 bedroom 1 bath masonary structure and turned it into a beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bath stucco cottage. All while running a full time business.
2001 - Our second son is born and America experiences the attack of 9-11. Brian is doing an extensive amount of contract training. Teaching for The Avenue Group and Interactive Fun in Charlotte, Techead in Richmond, VA and multi-week summer session with the NC School of Science and Math. Classes range from Adobe Illustrator to Macromedia Director. We spend about four months during 2001 in hotels while Brian is teaching all over (because we would all travel together). A very fun time, but a bit crazy as well. Brian contunes to teach for 4 years, but as the workload increased for business, he did less travelling and teaching.
2002 - We change the name and focus of our business to AdJourney. We noticed that most of the small businesses that called, were looking for a band-aid solution to their marketing and advertising. The American economy had taken a hit, people wanted a quick solution. A shot in the arm stimulus to make the money flow. Brian felt it important to communicate that "an ad" was not the solution, but a campaign that focused on brand building was neeed. The name reflects that mindset of not just an individual wow-bang-ad, but an ad journey. Hence the name we have today - AdJourney!
2003 - Son number 3 was born - weighing it at 11lbs 2ounces. Born naturally without Bekah even taking Advil. (She is one tough lady! Do not mess with her.) As number 3, he had to make his entrance into the world - GRAND! Business was going well. Web-development was in full force. Interactice Fun, the training center in Charlotte changed its name to Lodestone Digital.
We took on a new client - Tex Racing. They were a drivetrain supplier for NASCAR. We developed and managed a global ad campaign for Tex. The company needed some traction in the marketplace where people are not apt to share good things when they find it (in racing, an edge is an advantage - and you do not share those with a competitor.) Why buy Tex's products? BECAUSE... That word was my anchor in the campaign - and it helped define what set the company apart, the product benefits, and the call to action. Ran the campaign for two years - two of the company's best years.
2004 - Work goes on ...
2005 - and on ...
2006 - We began doing creative and production design work for Longworth Industries. Longworth has POLARMAX and XGO brands under their umbrella. We did advertising, catalogs, posters, etc. Our fourth son is born.
2007 - April 19th - we had a house fire. It was declared a total loss -we lost everything materially - business, home, school, etc. but our family was intact. Everyone was safe, and we began anew. We designed our new house - created around how we live (business, homeschooling, hosting, and living.) We are blessed beyond measure and thank God for His goodness.
Designed a website for Carolina Eye Associates. Within 6 months we found a site from an eye facility in Texas who basically replicated our site. It is said that replication is the sincerest form of flattery.
2008 - April 19th - we moved into our new home. Our fifth (and final) son is born - and everything is truly busy!
Longworth began development on a new brand - OPEDIX. We had to develop packaging, merchandising, sales material, thumbdrive portfolio, advertising, video, etc.
2009 - The year is young, and there is much to do in the face of a great recession.