Courage — Courage
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don't blend in


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don't blend in


Courage: a one-word mission statement

You’re not a sheep, so why get mistaken for one? Founded in 2005, we are a nimble marketing collaborative for global brands that don’t want to follow the herd. We hand-pick teams of A-List talent (think grownups) to tackle the challenges that keep you up at night. We're independent, so we don't answer to a big, lumbering holding company, we answer to you. We're not for everyone, but we’ve been told we're pretty great to work with (we'll leave that up to you).

Brand development / Strategy / Advertising / Design / Web / Video / Wisdom / Results / Honest counsel / A point of view

 

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all lean, no fat


all lean, no fat


a BETTER model

Most agencies are built on a bloated blueprint that hasn't changed in more than a century. Courage's agile model is designed for the way brands must operate to thrive in today's business environment. No bureaucracy equals no unwanted fat. You pay for what you need (big thinkers) not for what you don't (big overhead). Why work any other way?

WE'RE GOOD AT:

Punching above our weight class / Absurd deadlines / Listening / Telling the truth / Playing well with others / Wine pairings 

WE'RE NOT GOOD AT:

Thinking small / Being 'yes' men (and women) / Letting clients down / Business as usual / Assembling IKEA furniture 

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ideas that go to '11'


ideas that go to '11'


maximum experience

Individually or collectively, we've been lucky to work with some great brands at our previous gigs, a mere handful of which are listed here. You could say we've pretty much done it all. Please get in touch for samples or case studies.

Ocean Spray / Boston Children’s Hospital / New Wave Foods / Village Farms Int’l / Great Point Properties / Community Servings / Maria & Ricardo’s / Lime Street Ventures / Great Rail Journeys / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Zipcar / Del Mar Vacations / Product(RED) / John Hancock / Puma / Palace Resorts / Emirates Airline / Wayfair / truth (American Legacy Foundation) / Sony Entertainment / Harvard School of Public Health / TIAA(Cref) / National Parks Foundation / American Express Travel / Red Bull / J + M / Zildjian / SNL

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never not thinking


never not thinking


The USUAL SUSPECTS

We are a network of experts that generate and execute powerful ideas that build and sustain brand value. And we perfected the virtual model long before the ‘new normal’ (talk about an oxymoron) upended our lives. A few key folks are listed below, but there are others as well (video + film production, SEO, etc.). Each purpose-built team is carefully assembled just for you. And unlike bigger shops, there's no bait and switch. WYSIWYG.

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Jonathan Plazonja

FOUNDER / CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jonathan is a writer and creative director known for thoughtful and very effective work. He's also recognized as an excellent manager and client partner. A veteran of CP, Modernista!, Hill/Holliday, and Leonard/Monahan, his experience includes Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Product(RED), John Hancock, Emirates Airline, and Cole Haan. But he's most proud of his pro bono work. He's won most of the industry's top awards, and a twist contest in Mexico City when he was five. 

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eric freedman

BRAND INNOVATION & STRATEGY

With decades of experience at top shops like Modernista!, Mullen, Mechanica, and Sleek Machine, plus client side stints at various startups, Eric is a veteran consumer brand marketer with a proven track record of category disruption. When he’s not busy honing complex product propositions into powerful, problem solving and remarkable brands, he’s spending time with his family, crushing Century rides, snowboarding, running, crate digging for new vinyl, or enjoying a well-earned microbrew.

Steve curran

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL INNOVATION

Steve is a creative technologist who has created best-selling multi-media titles for Jeopardy and SNL, and has directed award-winning interactive projects for Red Bull, Warner Brothers, Atlantic Records, History Channel, Sony, A + E Television, Lifetime Entertainment and many others. Steve has authored several books on interactive design. He is also creating virtual reality projects, although he has yet to find one that will replicate the live music shows he enjoys so much.

 

Melanie lowe

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Melanie is a world class designer and branding expert. She created the original identity for game-changing Zipcar, and with Jonathan, she rebranded Wayfair, the largest online home furnishings retailer in the world. She has worked on everything from fashion brands like Tommy Hilfiger to top tier restaurants and food brands, to prestigious not-for-profit organizations including Community Servings and the Catalogue for Philanthropy. She attributes her calm demeanor to decades of practicing yoga.

NORBELLA

MEDIA, ANALYTICS & RESEARCH PARTNER

Norbella is a full-service media agency, but it's also that rare find that stands at the intersection of art and science, personality and persistence. Fiercely passionate about innovation, Norbella embraces challenges and invites disruption. As channels continue to proliferate and the landscape gets bumpier for audiences to navigate, this is where Norbella's nimble thinkers thrive. Under Steph Noris' expert guidance, Norbella delivers thought leadership and high value media placement and strategy.

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Kimberly Flynn

BRAND DIRECTOR

Kimberly is known for strong client relationships and a high standard of professionalism. She has overseen leading accounts, including Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and American Express Travel. With a strong mix of business acumen, determination, and creativity, she manages her clients’ business as if it was her own. Her leadership skills carry over to her time at home, where she raises two young daughters to be kind and confident, with the fortitude to lead our next generation.

KATHY HART

HEAD OF STRATEGIC PLANNING

Kathy learned the art of strategic planning at such esteemed shops as Goodby Silverstein, Mullen and Arnold. She honed her considerable chops on accounts like truth, American Legacy Foundation, HUMMER, National Parks Foundation, and L.L. Bean, to name a few. Her incredible insights into human behaviour have helped garner Effies, Ogilvy, One Show, and CA awards. But she's probably more proud of the many skateboarding tricks her young son is mastering.

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PRIYA CHITRE SHAH

USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN

After heading up UX practices for both Arnold and Hill/Holliday, Priya uses a mix of passion and the latest tools to create the best digital or physical experience for each brand. Her CV includes TripAdvisor, MGEMI, Uber, Twitter, Hood, DraftKings, Sharp Healthcare, Dunkin' Brands, John Hancock and more. When not busy creating customer journeys and other UX deliciousness, she enjoys practicing Indian classical dance and having kitchen dance parties with her two young children.

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Larry Bowdish

CREATIVE DIRECTOR / ART DIRECTOR

Larry has worked at most of New England’s best agencies, including Arnold, Hill/Holliday, MMB and Houston/Effler. His portfolio is full of smart stuff for Mass Office of Travel & Tourism, the History Channel, Delta Air Lines, H&R Block, Anti-Smoking and a variety of others. His efforts have garnered recognition from the Effies, the One Show, Communication Arts and the Hatch Awards. In his spare time he enjoys photography, long rides on his motorcycle and avoiding jail time.

 

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we hold these truths


we hold these truths


philosophy

Outsmart beats outspend / Fortune favours the bold / Nobody was ever bored into buying anything / Good enough usually isn't / Underestimate your audience at your peril / The glass is always half full / Creativity is a weapon / Humanity > Data / The riskiest thing you can do is to play it safe / When in doubt, take it out / Life's short, be nice

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It's you vs. the noise


It's you vs. the noise


BE HEARD

Silly online videos? Bleak headlines? Celebrity twitter tirades? Your competitors aren't the only ones vying for space in your target's mindset. The Economist says the average American now spends over 12 hours a day processing media and messages, most of which are shrill and ineffective to boot. We facilitate engagement by making sure yours get heard through the din. 

Need help with a project? Reach out with this handy form. And if you’re a spammer, kindly f-ck off. Cheers. 

LOCATION

Boston, MA / Tiverton, RI / Rome, IT

HOURS

Monday - Friday       8:30am - 6pm
Saturday - Sunday   By appointment

Take out

In a hurry? No worries, we deliver.
 

© 2024 Courage LLC Founded April, 2005 All rights reserved (yeah, we’re talking to you).

If you steal our shit, our lawyers will respond by opening up a giant can of legal whoop ass on your sorry behind.