As CEO of Denmark {the agency}, I’ve long been fascinated by the intensely emotional journey customers go through when facing major buying decisions. A home. A boat. A car. Insurance. Carpet. Technology. Healthcare. Education. All those big-ticket / big-consequence purchases that can keep prospects dazed, confused and stuck between fear and purchase. My goal is to bring you the best in original and aggregated content – tips, trends and thinking on how to get your customers to make the buying decision faster. I hope you join in the conversations and help us all figure this out. I hope we build a community. I hope this helps.
Six things about me that may or may not be appropriate.
Perhaps you too feel like this, but I think writing your own “About Me” story is probably one of the most difficult stories any of us ever write.
Why? Because About Me stories, whether humble or heroic, are seldom about the particular me, but rather about all the other people who make up what we are ultimately about.
And that’s good. Because, whether it’s the Information Age, the Facebook Age, or simply my own age, it seems more and more people are asking about my personal history. Which is also good – if not always appropriate or even pertinent. But forging ahead, here are Six Things About Me. >:D
1) I am fortunate to come from a long line of entrepreneurs dating back to the ancient Phoenicians, those fearless, seafaring merchants of the Mediterranean who established the first trade routes with the Etruscans, Greeks and Romans. Very nice lineage for entrepreneurs – not to mention founders of America’s leading boat company (see #2, next).
2) My great grandfather founded Chris+Craft, the legendary boat company that came to define boating pleasure across the globe. It’s an amazing story of the entrepreneurial spirit – and the ultimate considered-purchase brand. For a fascinating video on the company, click here to check the history video.
3) Harsen Smith, my father’s cousin, was named TIME Magazines MAN OF THE YEAR in 1959. He was recognized as “the man who perhaps more than any other put the U.S. family afloat.”
4) Academy Award Winner, Victor Haboush was my mother’s cousin. Victor was highly regarded for his work in animation on the great Disney film’s of the 1950s, including my childhood favorite Lady and The Tramp. Colleagues at Disney said Victor was an artist first and a Disney-artist second. Victor went on to open The Haboush Company – producing animated TV commercials and shorts. This talented artist went on to win a wealth of awards, including another Oscar nomination and several Cannes Gold Lions.
5) Across my immediate family, we have launched (to date) 10 businesses, including a fashion line; an automotive service; an electrical company; one of Michigan’s leading insurance agencies; a multi-unit traveling spa; a tiny thoroughbred horse farm (the farm is tiny, the horses are regular size); a fitness center and gym; a community non-profit; an emerging tee-shirt company; and an innovative, full-service advertising agency (this one is mine – note all the extra adjectives I gave it).
6) Now, about me, I am founder and CEO of DENMARK {the agency}, an independent, award-winning, brand+digital advertising agency in Atlanta, GA. Led by my long-time partner and Creative Genius, Todd Haislip, our fearless band of talented Vikings foremost mission is to grow our clients’ businesses and conquer anything that should be so foolish as to get in their way. Over the past 25 years, Denmark has helped such leading brands as The Ritz-Carlton, Sears Center, The Whirlpool Foundation, Hitachi, Mohawk, IHG, AGL Resources, Komatsu, Kroger, Cbeyond, Praxair, Chick Fil A and Rheem.
And now for the wrap up.
So, after writing out all Six Things, it’s clear why things happen the way they do. Creative. Entrepreneurial businesses. Boats. Seas. Vikings. Storytelling. My passion for considered-purchase brands. They all seemed to have come together the way they were meant to. And rather nicely, I think.
Now, I would love to know some things about you. Just email me at p.jessup@denmarktheagency.com. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.
My History… In Photos.
Started by my Great-Great-Grandfather, this is America’s legendary boat company.
The first family member to grace the cover of Time magazine.
Victor Haboush, our family’s Academy Award winner.
(l. to r.) Victor Haboush, Tony Rizzo, Walt Peregoy and Tom Oreb at Disney in 1958