Resizing
Dear World,
32 years ago when I announced to my colleagues at GE that I was going to start an ad agency in Lenox, they literally thought I was crazy. Maybe in the passion of youth, I was a bit.
But the desire to work, live and raise my family in the Berkshires was by far the greatest goal I could conceive.
And then with a little luck my experiences far exceeded my wildest dreams. Writing and shooting commercials with NBA stars for national broadcast, designing the WNBA and XFL game balls, launches for other national consumer product brands, an article in the NYT Business section and the pure enjoyment of prospering and loving what you do. All the while being part of this singular community we call the Berkshires.
But like all great stories, there has to be an ending and for Winstanley Partners that time has arrived.
So many extraordinary memories, so many careers launched, so many times the team exceeded its expectations. First and foremost, let me express my gratitude to all my staff which I estimate to be over 100 people in the course of 30 years – but mostly, it’s those who stayed 10, 15, 20 years. I am humbled by your loyalty and only hope you experienced a fraction of the joy I have.
So to all you employees and former employees, clients past and present, well-wishers and friends – I can’t thank you enough for you support, encouragements and laughter along the way. What a fabulous ride.
My singular hope is that I gave as much as I received from each and every one of you.
All the Best,
Nate
The fastest launch in the West, Pelican ProGear sprung fully formed from our heads to the market in under six months. While we strolled through four categories worth of naming, packaging, sales materials and a cohesive eCommerce site – we also signed up four Pelican Pros and shot a little bit of film. Across all media, the endorsement program continues to evolve – even as the product line expands.
GE came to us with a breakthrough industrial battery technology to introduce on a radical timeline. Boasting specific advantages to a diverse target audience, the resulting web platform uses icons and simple animations to span multiple industries with the bonus of market-specific, interactive calculator tools to create contact links for further engagement.
Over the years we’ve slam dunked NBA, WNBA, MISL, and even XFL official ball introductions, advertised multiple product line innovations, and shot a veritable team of professional player endorsements for print, as well as television advertising. Our latest highlights include a new shoe line and a photoshoot featuring Chris Singleton of the Washington Wizards, Mario Chalmers of the Miami Heat, and Jimmer Fredette of the Sacramento Kings.
Over the years, we’ve introduced a lot of new products with Smith & Wesson – but none as well orchestrated as the Bodyguard launch. First, the product was available and out of production in time for the launch (not the norm). Secondly, our solid strategy included a full range of coordinated materials from integrated social media efforts and a video teaser to in-store POS, dealer kits, a television ad/video and a cohesive mini-site to bring it all home.
German engineering brings to mind speed, precision and clean design. To really capitalize on this high-end association, we gave Walther America the stark treatment across all the media involved, using a hit of color to highlight the latest innovation.
Still River Systems was ready to shake off the past and go boldly forward with a breakthrough new identity and revolutionary new proton therapy machine. Smarter, smaller and more accessible – the product definition became our brand platform for Mevion Medical Systems. The coordinated effort is breakthrough.
On a B2B runway, the artwork Süddekor presents at the SURFACES tradeshow is destined to come to life in customer laminates across the globe. Showcasing these designs demands bringing equal creativity into play. True to fashion – every visual, tactile (and once, even audio) tool is used to launch the year’s presentation with a cohesive theme.
Nate deploys his super powers to strategize and implement cohesive, unilateral marketing plans. If you want to set him talking, ask him about the Peace Corps.
He writes the checks. Pat is a handsome, charming and generous fellow with the admiration of us all. And that’s all there is to say.
Few people on earth can keep up with Leslie, in speech or on long walks. After a dozen years, we’re still waiting for her to get tired. No luck so far.
Don’t get in Holly’s way. She gets things done. And now that she’s taken up running, she can catch you – so be nice.
Brandon’s a pretty mellow, nice guy – on the outside. Inside he’s a full-on digital-ninja, programming, evil-genius kind of experience. Maybe.
We drew Eden to the Berkshires from New York with offers of free baked goods – as long as she was the baker. Addicted to all things design, Eden’s aesthetic is one with style and sass. \
Don’t even think of teasing him about his name – he’s bigger than you. But for attention to detail, he’s your man.
Gigi is currently being investigated for learning how to do too many things. Meanwhile, she continues obsessing over putting little dots in all our text.
There are people who were clients in 1986 who are clients again this year – even though they've changed industries, sometimes more than once. That's a superior kind of award right there. We have the other kinds, too. They make a nice excuse for cocktails. They make our partners and resumes look impressive to those who care about such things.
We've helped create and build brands, create new products and revive old ones – by hand. Every hand. All hands. In a nutshell, the things we’re good at, you're probably not. That's why we're here. We're in this for the adventure of mutual success.
Do we do X or Y? Yes. All of it. We do it. We've done it. We'd like to do more of it. Including everything labeled “new.” We also have a sister company that specializes in teaching and training. Ready?