FLIPP thrives in tough times
Five years ago, marketing budgets were being slashed and even eliminated, particularly in the condo/real estate market and a number of advertising agencies found themselves in dire straits.
But during that rather tough time, Emily LePan went ahead and founded FLIPP Advertising in an old warehouse space near the Deerfoot Inn.
The former agency account director was able to launch her new venture by performing tasks for old clients while diversifying into other sectors and creating outstanding campaigns. Soon she was able to move into the beltline district and prosper to where today she runs a full-service interactive agency with a very healthy client list.
Craig LePan joined his wife later as the firm’s other managing partner and creative director, and today they run FLIPP supported by a staff of 13.
FLIPP is still heavily involved in residential real estate marketing with developers such as Jager Homes, Walton International and Qualico Communities, currently working for it in five different residential developments.
Multi-family residential developer The Providence Group, which focuses on inner-city communities, is a client that required a different approach for its projects in Marda Loop and Bridgeland.
One of the earliest clients in its planned diversification was Craft Beer Market, the hugely successful craft pub opened by P.J. L’Heureux on 10th Avenue S.W. that came to FLIPP via a friend who suggested the LePans would be ideal for creating branding, menus, signage and all other promotional materials required for the big opening. Since then Craft has opened new locations in Vancouver’s Olympic Village and in the former Hy’s building on 101A Street in Edmonton.
Brewsters Brewing Company & Restaurants is another prime retail account.
The pioneer of craft beer in Calgary from its Foothills Industrial Park brewery serves 14 of its restaurants throughout Alberta. Supplying its own establishments means it brews a tremendous amount of good beer.
Helping small companies with their marketing needs has been a real treat for FLIPP. A good example is Crickle Creek Coffee that roasts in small batches some of the finest Arabica coffees.
FLIPP worked with owner Nancy Tynan on a new brand identity, designed packaging, created a responsive e-commerce website, and wrote the “Always Delivers” tag line that speaks of the delivery service to homes and offices and to the quality and consistency of product.
Another is Knuckles Industry. I have to meet owner Matt Muldoon, who designs and manufactures metal work creations from furniture to artwork. FLIPP’s boardroom table is testament to his expertise — aluminum sheeting with stainless steel hardware and button head bolts on the table top. Muldoon hand-inserted more than 2,000 solid copper rivets — a thing of beauty just like his new responsive website.
Like many of our advertising agencies, FLIPP gives back to the community. Emily is marketing chair of the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation Hope Gala committee that will feature rock group Loverboy at its Nov. 15 event in the BMO Centre.
For many years the Inn on Lake Bonavista was one of Calgary’s most popular dining establishments.
Tonight Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts reopens it as The Lake House, featuring a new 130-square-foot glass-enclosed wine cellar and a refurbished 21foot bar from the 1800s that was previously housed in a Montana mercantile shop.
General manager Jamie Bryshun says he looks forward to welcoming his guests in the rustic and stunning venue where head chef Thomas Neukom will feature CMR’s renowned and distinctive Rocky Mountain cuisine with a few additions such as The Lake House Fish Plank.
If you didn’t get tickets early for The Gathering, a two-day event Wednesday and Thursday at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, you have missed the opportunity to “sit at the feet of the world’s most courageous marketers.”
Chris Kneeland, CEO of Calgary’s Cult Collective and organizer of the event, will welcome an incredible lineup of speakers that includes such notable marketers as Arun Hozack, vicepresident of marketing, Red Bull North America; Brian Jennings, chief marketing officer, National Hockey League; Cathy Tull, senior vice-president of marketing, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority; and Todd Ballard, director, sports marketing at GoPro.