When you hear the term “ad agency” what comes to mind? My guess is that you’re thinking of a modern downtown office space with lots of glass windows. The executives are wearing a ton of black and the designers look something like the Mac guy from those “Hi, I’m a Mac” commercials. If that’s the image you’ve conjured up, I’d like to introduce you to Vitamin.
Vitamin is a brand, web, and PR firm located on Main Street (Eastern Avenue) in Highlandtown. And they are anything but your typical “ad agency.”
Founded in 2002 and captained by husband and wife team Amanda and Michael Karfakis, Vitamin leverages a fully converted row home as its corporate headquarters. The company purchased the space in 2005 and managed their own construction renovation – without borrowing a single penny for the renovation – to create a space that exudes a contemporary, comfortable, fun, and relaxed work / play environment.
The space’s two most captivating features include a very special office door and a rather unique piece of wall art. The door, inspired by the translucent designs of artist Christopher Wilmarth, was designed and fabricated in New York City by Stefan Karfakis (Michael’s brother) who maintains a design and fabrication studio in Brooklyn. The wall art is a custom graffiti mural done exclusively in spray paint by well-known local artist Adam Stabb. Located on separate floors within the space, these unique touches help eradicate any sense of “corporate America.” Instead the space inspires employees, clients, and visitors to free think, create, express individuality, and celebrate life; attributes that Amanda and Michael believe make for happier employees, more pleasurable work days, and better creative output.
And then there’s Alaz, the German Shepherd (pron: ah-laz). Alaz is sort of the like the guard dog at Vitamin, only he loves people. He can’t wait to say hi to visitors that walk in, and his presence in the office alone instantly conveys the laid back, homey environment that Vitamin exudes.
In tough economic times, it’s great to know that there are businesses out there who are still hitting their numbers and still busy at work. Vitamin falls into this category and that’s great for their employees and for Baltimore alike.
The Vitamin client roster includes many professional services companies as local architects and engineering firms, but Vitamin also works with consumer-based businesses as well, including Ruth’s Chris Steak House and the Havana Club.
While Vitamin maintains a good deal of business in the mid-Atlantic, what struck me as noteworthy were the amount of clients located outside the mid-Atlantic. Roughly 35% of Vitamin’s business is done out-of-state. When asked how a boutique firm can win out-of-state business, Vitamin’s president and CEO Amanda Karfakis said,
“Our philosophy has always been straight forward…to provide the level of creative and customer service that we ourselves would expect if we were outsourcing to an agency. Coupled with our firm’s ability to seamlessly provide public relations, social media, graphic and interactive campaigns, the word spreads quickly as we understand how to best market clients and ourselves using these mediums. The phone just keeps ringing as a result and we are thankful it does.”
Vitamin | 410-732-6542 | www.vitaminisgood.com
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