White Barn Group, a strategic marketing and advertising agency in Southern California, announced today their merger with FrontGate Creative, a graphics and interactive development firm. The expanded agency recently relocated to a custom renovated 2,900 sq/ft office space in downtown San Juan Capistrano and will provide branding, advertising and interactive services under the White Barn Group name. They currently employ a staff of 13 and are recruiting additional talent to service the growing client roster.
“White Barn Group is now one of the few mid-sized marketing firms to offer classic brand marketing, advertising, interactive and new media solutions all under one roof,” said White Barn Group Partner, Tim Hackbardt. “This merger positions White Barn Group in the consideration set of companies looking for a traditional full service agency with expertise in the non-traditional media required by today’s competitive marketplace.”
White Barn Group and FrontGate Creative have a successful history of collaboration. Over the past twelve months alone they’ve worked together on a growing client list including new business from Lantronix, BJ’s Restaurants, Inc., American First Credit Union, Yoshinoya USA, Curb Records, and Harveys the Original Seatbelt Bag™.
“The merger of the two companies was a natural progression in a long relationship,” said Scott A. Shuford, new Partner of White Barn Group and founder of FrontGate Creative. “The past year proved that our assumptions were correct and that our combined services are what many clients are looking for.”
FrontGate Creative management team Scott A. Shuford and Keith Pape, will continue as partners in the new White Barn Group management team. They join marketing veterans Joe Senger and Tim Hackbardt who founded the firm in 2005. All FrontGate Creative staff will also be retained in the merger.
About White Barn Group
The name White Barn Group is more than a clever moniker; it’s the basis of a powerful philosophy. It stems from the creative problem solving and inspirational thinking required on a working farm, and is embodied in the very real white-washed building which still stands today in the American mid-west. Loaded with history, tools and time-tested machines, the “White Barn” would dependably provide the inspiration needed to conquer seemingly insurmountable challenges. Today, the White Barn Group delivers innovative strategies to help companies and non-profit organizations exceed their own expectations with expertise in such disciplines as brand strategy, media planning and buying, market research, interactive solutions, creative development and production for TV, print, and radio, merchandising, identity, and package design.