A Small Shop With Big Ideas
Think of The Imagination Company as an idea factory, a one-of-a-kind resource with all the skills and tools to produce creative projects in any media, as well as full service marketing and advertising – very affordably. From strategy to concept to finished production, we do it all here at our mountaintop studios, eliminating agency fees and outside costs. And because we’re a small team, you’ll always deal with the owners (Jim and Kristen), and you’ll always be treated like our very first client. Honest.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
– Albert Einstein
TV Spots
Our holistic approach to all things creative and technical really shines when it comes to producing spots for TV and web. It starts with our approach to production – on set or on location, we have a full production package containing the latest generation of everything from cinema cameras to LED lighting, cranes, dollys…the whole nine yards. And it ends at our post facilities where we provide advanced editing, compositing, animation, audio post and music scoring. And while all these tools make for absolutely beautiful images, as always at The Imagination Company, everything really begins and ends with our commitment to telling our clients’ stories in the most compelling way possible – whatever the budget.
Filmmaking
Whether producing a documentary or promotional piece, we always take a filmic approach to our work, with a focus on lighting, composition, and creative concept as well as capturing everything with cinema cameras. Because much of what we shoot is unscripted and often moving really fast (both subjects and schedule), this creates some interesting challenges. But there’s nothing like the feeling you get when you clean up/dry off/thaw out back at the studios, having nailed the perfect moments. It doesn’t matter if we’re producing an Olympic documentary or a promotional piece for a local client, we take the exact same approach to all of our filmmaking and always strive to make our next project better than our last.
Graphic Design
Like all the creative work we do, graphic design is always done to support the concept and the brand, not to be clever in and of itself. While that may sound obvious, it can be quite a process to find the look that has both emotional appeal and brand integrity. It’s also one of the most rewarding things we do – working through that process to blend the right colors, imagery and layout that can tell a story with or without words. We design for virtually any medium: magazine ads, packaging, animation, museums and anything else that lets us splash around with paint and play with shiny objects.
Print & Digital Ads
Collateral
Corporate ID
We move fast like cheetahs and stay on target like cheetahs with GPS.
Websites
We develop mainly in WordPress because with this very flexible and user-friendly CMS platform, we can produce stunning, highly functional websites that are viewable on any device with very low development cost. This means our clients can invest in what’s on their websites, not what’s behind them. And because content and storytelling is what motivates potential customers, Imagination Company websites offer the best of all worlds – the most modern, easy to manage, content-rich experiences at very affordable cost. Whether your business needs a simple and simply beautiful presentation site, or a complex e-commerce site with custom integrated apps, we can build it and populate it with interesting and dynamic content.
AdvancedAnimations.com
MagicStone.us
BarreVT.com
VermontSoapstone.com
RaveisCareers.com
CountrysideAlarms.com
NorwichSolar.com
NewWorldBarnCompany.com
LAJinteriors.com
AscendantCommunities.com
CatamountSolar.com
VermontLawyers.net
CountrymansPleasure.com
RETuckerInc.com
PackardFuels.com
Radio Spots
At the point of being redundant, like everything else we do, all aspects of our radio campaigns are completely conjured up in-house, (except for all the talent who we link with digitally from around the globe…and beyond.) Research consistently shows that when it comes to radio, theater of the mind and comedy sells, and we’ve got boxes full (really, stored in our barn) of national awards for our radio creative and production. We also produce original music as well as a wide variety of creative characters for anything from animatronics to the video game Tunnelers. Basically, if it involves decibels, we’re pretty good at it. This radio reel is sort of a creative cross section of the hundreds of radio campaigns we’ve done over the years.
Full Service
One of the most rewarding things for us, and for our clients too, is when we can apply all of our resources to brand development. Whether creating a new franchise concept in its entirety, creating the image for a start-up, or re-positioning an established business, we handle every aspect under one roof. This unique approach offers our clients an unprecedented level of creative and cost control and a very focused and productive experience. We bring strategic thinking, creative concepts, media planning and management and our complete production facilities to all of our relationships.
Green Mountain Power’s Energy Innovation Center
As part of their vision of a sustainable energy future for Vermont and their commitment to community revitalization, GMP had purchased one of the empty, historic buildings in downtown Rutland. In addition to the Energy Innovation Center there, one of their goals for the location was to have a public educational component that could represent GMP’s vision. To that end, we were chosen to design and execute an alternative energy museum from concept to final installation – within a 5 month window.
We began with an initial strategy of deep dive interaction with all of their divisions and their leadership in Solar, Wind, Hydro, Coe Power, etc – while simultaneously developing the creative plan for the experience itself. Every aspect, including all messaging, design, photography, displays and films were written and produced in-house. And as we do with projects of this scope, we interacted with the architects and contractor through our final installation. We created over a dozen interactive displays, walls of storytelling and images, educational film kiosks…even a barn housing a life-sized, talking, animatronic cow to explain Cow Power.
It was an amazing 5 month experience that brought us from mountain top wind farms to depths of historic hydro plants. Ultimately our work was featured on NBC, USA Today, NPR as well as most Vermont media.
Noluma International Global Launch
When Chemours, (a division of Dupont) developed a new system for light protected packaging called Noluma, the company chose Vermont to host their international launch based on the state’s reputation for quality and innovation in the food industry. And they chose The Imagination company to create and manage all aspects of the introduction.
We began by developing a proof of concept campaign focused on a dairy in Southern Vermont, Jersey Girls, in order to show how the brand and approach could be carried forward to markets throughout the US and abroad.
The roll-out itself started with an early summer farm-to-table event at the Barnard Inn, attended by business and political leaders, nutritional experts, farmers, educators and media and hosted by Noluma leadership along with our team.
We then launched a branding campaign that included Web development, a media and PR campaign featuring statewide broadcast and print as well as digital and social media. We also created an ongoing, direct engagement campaign that capitalized on Vermont’s busy tourism season, allowing us to interact with and demonstrate the brand to visitors near and far.
The second part of the campaign was creating “a story within a story”, documenting the summer long effort in order to produce a film case study to tell both the story of Noluma’s breakthrough technology and how it was received by a wide range of people – both geographically and demographically.
Noluma went on to launch in the UK, China, Greece and India using the new brand and the Vermont case study to promote worldwide.
Killington Resort
Killington is one of the top 10 ski resorts in America and by far the largest eastern resort. Our relationship goes back to 1990, and over the years we’ve worked with them in different capacities from full service agency to launching new resort acquisitions. When new ownership took over a few years ago, we were called in to help analyze their market and evolve their brand and marketing strategy going forward.
We felt that the image of the resort had become undefined in recent years, trying to be “too much to too many people” while competitors had invested heavily to carve out industry niches and market share during that time. Our recommendation was to go back to Killington’s roots and focus on what differentiated it from virtually every competitor – the sheer breadth and depth of skiing and riding.
At the time, the marketing department was working with three different national firms, and they were able to consolidate all of the new marketing and advertising responsibilities with The Imagination Company. We created the “Nowhere Else” campaign, and provided all the creative, design and messaging in all media for east coast markets and national publications, as well as the media strategy and placement.
William Raveis Real Estate
This is another of our long term relationships going back over 20 years with the Biondolillo family and creating the initial BCK brand for them. When William Raveis Real Estate and BCK formed a new alliance in 2014 in order to expand the nations largest family owned brokerage into Northern New England, we were initially brought in to develop the transition strategy from BCK and evolve the brand, web presence and messaging to represent this new partnership.
Following a successful build out in Vermont we began to focus on expanding brand awareness in new markets with the new “Your Family’s Way Home” campaign and a complete marketing strategy including broadcast, digital and social media, print, film making and web development including a dedicated recruiting website.
In 2018 we expanded our focus to work on internal growth strategies, improved communication, management and retention. After a period of discovery where we spent time at every office meeting each team and becoming familiar with each market, we delivered a report and recommendations to improve the culture and morale.
Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is a good example of our approach to unique challenges. The LVRT is a one of a kind recreation experience – a nearly 100-mile, four-season recreation trail that spans Vermont from its east to west borders and travels through some of the country’s most beautiful communities and landscapes.
We were chosen to create a brand for the experience and awareness of the ongoing project for fundraising and support, as well as marketing and advertising plan for its long term success. A big part of that plan involved our vision of winter, summer and fall films for the eighteen communities that adjoin the LVRT and a website and interactive trail map to transform this ancient rail bed into a one of a kind tourism attraction for the state.
In all, our continuing efforts involve strategic planning, PR, print, radio and TV campaigns, logo development, media strategy and placement, web development, long and short format films, as well as presentations of the project to political and community leaders.
Vermont Tap House
We were asked to visit a very large, gutted retail location and to develop a complete new restaurant concept from the name to the complete interior and exterior design – with the specific goal of creating a franchise model. Five months later the new Vermont Tap House opened and from stone ovens to inlaid bar, floor to ceiling design and furnishings, signage, menu, website, PR – even the staff clothing and a complete gallery of original photography on all the walls – we created every aspect. And we handled all of the project management right down to fabric and paint selection and daily interaction with contractors, architect, even town officials. When we say full service, we mean full service.
Original Music
Jim was a performing musician long before he founded The Imagination Company, and in the beginning, jingles and scoring were a big part of our business. These days, in addition to his own personal material, he writes and produces original music for films, TV spots, radio and has contributed several pieces to compilation albums in recent years. This reel is a sampler of a number of those projects and styles featuring Jim on all instruments and vocals with the very special addition of Robbie Henrichon’s talents on “Ordinary Girl”.
Visit Us On The Mountaintop
The Imagination Company is led by president/creative director Jim Giberti and VP/art director Kristen Smith. We have a scalable model that allows us to precisely address the needs of each relationship and the varying scope of specific projects – with the two principles always in the lead.
A few years ago we moved our business and studios to a newly-renovated, historic site on our mountainside horse farm in Central Vermont. We’ve recently added a new soundstage/green screen facility with client hospitality suite, nestled on 200 private acres. It’s an environment that offers a one of a kind creative experience for our team and clients alike.
TAKE A LITTLE TOUR OF OUR CREATIVE WORLD, THE STUDIOS AND THE FARM.
Testimonials
At the end of the day what really matters to us is what our clients think of our work and how it helps grow their businesses and brands. Honestly, we’re not interested in meeting expectations, but exceeding them. We think that’s why our average relationship lasts well over a decade and why several of the testimonials below are from partnerships going on twenty years. These are all current quotes submitted for our new site. Thanks guys.
“I could easily write for hours detailing the incredible diversity of talent and creativity which The Imagination Company
brings to table, however, let it suffice to say that I strongly recommend them for any business, existing or start-up.
They will not disappoint, and their services have been essential to my success.”
– Jonathan Wish
Founder and Former CSO, LEDdynamics
Owner, Vermont Tap House
Owner, Great American Sliders
Kristen & Jim are our “Go To” people whenever we have a deadline to meet! Creative, concise, on the mark performance.
The Imagination Company, a cross between an amusement park ride and a marketing firm. They are a fascinating Vermont company with an incredible breadth of skill on everything from web design, advertising, and copy writing to video and display production.
The Imagination Company has been the one business partner I could count on year after year to give me quality marketing advice and advertising products to help us grow our business.
The Imagination Company creates world class image advertising. The branding campaigns that they design are right on target, thought provoking and like finger prints…each campaign is distinctive and original.
Jim and Kristen head a great team. They are knowledgeable, passionate about their work, and imaginative with their message.
The work of the Imagination Company on behalf of VAST has been exemplary …phenomenal. I would recommend the Imagination Company to anyone and everyone. And you can quote me on that!
I’m a strong believer that presenting a well crafted message that grabs attention and speaks to your target audience is just as important as the amount and type of media you buy to reach them. That’s probably why The Imagination Company has been my creative partner of choice for many years and in a variety of business settings. It’s a small shop. They listen to my needs and my budget, and they always deliver imaginative, creative messages that attract and delight customers.
For many years, the incredibly talented team at The Imagination Company created a marketing blueprint and implemented a strategy that took our unique organization to unprecedented heights and success…whether it was creating targeted television and radio campaigns, special event promotional films, or brochures and websites that positively sizzled in support of our brand, The Imagination Company was an indispensable partner in helping us promote the Olympic brand at Lake Placid, NY.
You know you have a good campaign when customers go out of their way to call you to let you know how much they like the ads. You know you have a great agency and creative partner when you can measure the positive impact of the campaign on your sales and market share the way we could.
The Imagination Company: a more appropriate name could not have been chosen for this group of out-of-the-box thinkers and doers. From the moment we received their first proposal they set a high standard for themselves, and they have not looked back. They are always challenging themselves and their customers to develop and provide the best PR & Marketing. We highly recommend The Imagination Company for any project that you may consider.
Faced with many moving parts, vibrant personalities and tight schedules; Jim and Kristen encapsulated the sights, sounds and excitement of Historic Downtown Rutland, VT into a 30 second visual “POP”. Who knew you could say so much with so few words? For us the process was laughably simple, they showed our best side and we look forward to working with them again and again.
Kristen and Jim are the real deal: they do everything to build a brand – web sites, design, movies, photo shoots…and they’re good. Great Results, Great Value, Great Creative.
The Imagination Company worked closely with the St. Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce to identify and encapsulate the unique fabric of the community. We wanted a promotional piece that would compel viewers to Discover St. Johnsbury, and we believe Jim and Kristen delivered on that promise. The finished product is unique, educational, captivating, and magnetic.
Marketing Services
Production Services
Contact Us
We’d love to talk to you about the growth goals of your business or the incredibly crazy deadline for you next project. Just drop us an email or give us a call. And as always, you’ll hear right back from the big dogs – the owners, not the Labs.