Overview

As WJ Agency got ready to send out our annual holiday cards in 2021, we wanted something that could stand out from all the others. We thought about items that are worth more than one look: like a holiday storybook – something that could be shared with the entire family. And so inspired “The Curious Invitation: Braving the Unknown.”

Challenge

Standing out from the crowd requires doing something new, but without being so abstract as to be impenetrable in meaning. To make the storybook both an attractive piece of art and a functional business document, we had to consider two different angles: the journey our clients take with us, and the interest of all non-marketing people. We wanted to ensure this would be a story that anyone could pick up, read, and enjoy, even years later.

Insight

We created a “bedtime story” that was an allegory of our clients’ marketing journeys from uncertainty to success, and then framed it in rhyming couplets, whimsical custom illustrations, and an open ending that left room for future follow-up. To really emphasize its status, we sent copies out in beautifully designed boxes and bindings, with customized cards per recipient. We also created a digital version to live on our website for anyone that did not receive their own printed copy.

Results

In addition to multiple award wins, the book cemented our place as a “human” agency for our clients – many of whom even went so far as to send us photos of them reading to their kids. It has become an icebreaker, a collector’s item, a talking point, and a quick way to show our full creative capabilities…all wrapped up in 40 pages of wit and wonder.