Creative Insights + Business Experience

It's the combination that generates results

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• Hello •

ABOUT ME (ABRIDGED): I owned an ad-design studio in Boston, traveled with a small film company, art directed at an iconic NY ad agency, was marketing director for a family-run retail chain, launched a town-wide shop local campaign, and published several consumer educational-lifestyle magazines. Today I combine marketing, design, writing, and sales skills to help businesses build their brands, connect with customers, and increase sales.

 

Services

There are many ways to grow your business.

Logos & Branding


Starting a new business? Need a brand facelift? Want to appeal to new customers? I use my design-marketing-advertising-writing experience to design identity solutions that are smart, appropriate, distinctive, and sales-oriented. That’s right, I want to help you succeed, not just look good. I’ll also make the process fun and affordable.

Graphic Design


The world has lots of good designers; here’s 3 reasons to choose me: 1) I have design, marketing & advertising experience, so I approach each project from several vantage points. 2) I know how to get a lot done quickly. 3) I design, write and project manage, so I do the work of a team, with the overhead of just one. (i.e. I charge less.)

Marketing & Sales


Yes, I’m very creative, but the added value I provide is that I relate to today’s skeptical, obstinate, beleaguered consumer. I know how to attract their attention and inspire them to take action. Being creative will get you noticed; formulating the right message will make you money.

Printing & Mailing


I’ve recently partnered with a local state-of-the-art printer and mail house. I’ve hired them to print my clients’ work for years. I hope you’ll give us a chance to bid on any upcoming project. I’m confident our quality, pricing speed and service will more than please you.

Coaching & Consulting


Think of me as your personal trainer for marketing. I’ll review your advertising, sales, branding, brochures, customer experience, websites, social media, etc., ask a lot of good questions, and offer a variety of practical, actionable ideas. You can do the work yourself, or ask me to help. We can meet regularly or not, and the first meeting is free. Call.

Events & Education


Feel like it’s impossibly expensive to market your product? Don’t believe traditional advertising is worth the cost? Take heart; there is an out-of-the-box approach to attracting new customers that doesn’t require big ad budgets. Call me and let me show you how education and events – the new guerrilla marketing – may be your affordable solution.

Process

Working Together

  • 1

    Start with a free meeting

    Yes, it’s a real meeting not just a sales call. My goal is to share new affordable ways for you to connect with customers, increase sales and uncover marketing opportunities. Hire me or not, I will give you some exciting fresh ideas to pursue.

  • 2

    The experience factor

    The benefit of my years running an ad-design agency and working with local business owners and managing a marketing department is that I now have the wealth of experience to provide solutions that fit a wide range of goals, budgets, tastes and deadlines.

  • 3

    It’s always personal

    Marketing, graphic design, photography and copywriting are very subjective decisions, and every client has his or her unique style and approach. I feel it’s my job to satisfy both the business goals, and the tastes of my client. If you are not very happy, I haven’t done my job.

  • 4

    Making it easy for you

    Most of my clients are very busy people. When I take on a project, I supervise every step so when we’re finished there are no unpleasant surprises or regrets. I’ll take the work off your shoulders, but I’ll also keep you totally informed so you retain ultimate control.

  • 5

    About money

    Everybody wants to get a lot for their money, but it’s the small- to mid-sized companies that absolutely have to stretch every marketing dollar. I don’t just tolerate tight budgets, I believe frugal use of money is the only way to afford enough outreach to generate results. Not only are my fees affordable, but I work hard to save you on outside costs as well.


About Me

When you get right down to it, all I do is take a few pictures, write a bunch of words, and throw in some colors and fonts. I might stick them on paper or paste them into an email. Sometimes I blow them up real big on the side of a building. It’s not rocket science. I guess what makes it special is that somehow I put them together in a way that people notice them, and feel good about buying stuff. Funny enough, this is what I have done all my professional life.

I started as a camera- and sound-assistant for a small but brilliant film company. I was very young, and got to travel all around the world. Good first job!

From there I was hired as an Art Director at J. Walter Thompson. I got to live and work in Manhattan, and was paid to come up with ideas for TV commercials and newspaper ads. That was good, too.

When I left New York, I moved to Boston and opened Waxman Advertising/Design. It started as just me, but grew to be 8 people. We created clever, effective advertising, branding, and marketing for retail, hospitality and food clients.  A grand opening picnic for an entire town, and a monthly educational magazine for Bread & Circus (aka Wholefoods), were examples of how I like to do the unexpected.

For reasons I can’t explain, I launched a shop-local initiative in my hometown. I worked with hundreds of quirky small business owners, and spent an entire year trying to help them increase sales. I think this was my hardest job, but I had a few real successes, and learned a lot about the many challenges facing small businesses.

Occasionally I wondered what it would be like to work for just one company. Mahoney’s – my garden center client for over 20 years – was open to the idea, and hired me to be their Director of Sales & Marketing. There I learned many smart ways a business can build traffic and grow sales without a big budget. We launched a rewards program that grew to 60,000 people, created events that attracted thousands of shoppers, and developed emails that provided education, inspiration and motivation. Great job!

Throughout the years I’ve also had the privilege to teach advertising and graphic design courses at The New England School of Art & Design, and at Montserrat College of Art. I love teaching, and continue today at the Center for Women & Enterprise in Providence. Giving back feels good.

Recently my family relocated to historic Wickford, Rhode Island. It’s a terrific town, and I’m happy to live and work here.

I like to believe that when people hire me they get a graphic designer, adman, copywriter, and marketing director all rolled into one. For many companies I’m just the right fit, and I become their as-needed marketing partner. Can I put my experience to work for you?

  • Paul is a great marketing guy to have on board. He thinks through all the details, and then creates practical, effective, affordable solutions.

    Tom Mahoney– Managing Partner, Mahoney’s Garden Centers, Winchester, MA

  • Paul has a rare combination of creative inventiveness and business pragmatism. In short, he gets it.

    Neal Yanofsky – Chairman at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, TX, and former President at Panera Bread, MA

  • From brochures to trade show displays Paul is easy to work with. He asks insightful questions, makes smart suggestions, and then makes us look good!

    Barbara Jackson – President at Workforce Performance Solutions, Warwick, RI

  • I focus on teachers and students, not marketing; that’s why I love that Paul is not only creative; he also helps me in the decision process.

    Nancy Shanahan – Owner at More Than Music, North Kingstown, RI

Copyright © 2015  Paul Waxman