Joe Chernov once said, "Good marketing makes the company look smart, but GREAT marketing makes the customer feel smart!" This is one of my favorite marketing lines, among others, of course. You see, most people know me as Denny the engineer, some know me as Denny the fisherman, and probably too many know me as Denny the maniac that posts on LinkedIn, but few people know me as Denny the marketer, which is what I am doing most, if not all, of the time. The best part is I am not doing it because I have to, and I am not doing it because I want to… I am just doing it.

They say the best marketing doesn't even feel like marketing at all. It's fun, and I couldn't agree more. We should all be doing this. However, I have a secret weapon- actually several of them. Years ago, my good friend Chuck Swope, one of the best commercial real estate brokers in the business, introduced me to Eric Smith of Smithworks Design Communications in West Chester. We met at my favorite breakfast spot, Market Street Grille. I was almost immediately hooked. I didn't know what I needed Eric for, I just knew I needed him to help our firms. Off and on for a year or two, our paths crossed until finally, I decided that it was time to start ACTUAL marketing.

Like many of their other clients, our firms were in a spot where we had plenty of work but struggled to hire and, more importantly, struggled with our identity. Who were we to both ourselves and our clients? Now, I wish I could tell you everything that occurred after we embarked on this journey, but it is too much for a weekly newsletter. Just know it was A LOT of work, self-reflection, and learning. We learned a whole new perspective on how to look at ourselves, our business, and most importantly, our clients. In fact, we learned so much that we decided to join Smithworks Design Communications, and Smith and Howell Design Company was born.

I said I didn't know what I needed Eric for, but what I really didn't know was that I actually needed Susan, Eric's wife. I seriously cannot say enough about Eric and Susan and all they have done and continue to do for all of our firms. And it doesn't stop there- working alongside them are some of the best in the business. Mark, Rebecca, Cori and Abby are all top-notch. These are the secret weapons I have. They effectively market and manage the branding of the nine firms that make up the Howell Companies today, and accept all of my crazy ideas coming in 2025 and beyond. We simply could not do what we do without them. Not only have I learned to always be marketing, which frankly is the easy and fun part, but also that this cannot be done alone. You must surround yourself with the brightest and the best, and that is absolutely what we have done.

So, let's summarize. You should be marketing all the time- literally ALL the time, and you should never stop. Chuck Swope is one of the best commercial brokers in the business, Market Street Grille is my favorite place to eat, and Eric, Susan, and the entire team at Smith and Howell Design Company are the best in the business. Market yourselves, market your business, but most of all… have FUN!!!