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who we are

GET TO KNOW TIS

What is an authentic brand?

There is no one-size-fits-all for creating an authentic brand. At its core, it is the understanding that every brand must have a unique selling point that separates it from the rest of the businesses in its oversaturated industry. Queue the concept of authentic branding! By diving deep to find the heart of why you started your company and the goals you hope to achieve through it, our team of strategists, creatives and marketers can help you create genuine stories that resonate with your audiences. By crafting messages and visuals that are unique to you, not only will you connect with those who matter most, but you will shine in a room full of competitors.

What makes us different, makes us stronger.

How we got here...

Our human capital is the most valuable asset we have. Our team today brings decades of combined experience with healthy diversity in culture, age and talent. But it wasn’t always this way. We took the first step years ago toward more inclusiveness in our workplace by stepping out of our comfort zones and being willing to see things from a different perspective, without judging that perspective.

Rob and I were on the leadership team for Equity Drinks—a grassroots group that brought community members together in safe spaces to openly discuss and learn more about how to advance equity in our community. This group later formed the Equity PAC in Grand Rapids. Through our journeys, we learned that the more diverse our viewpoint, the more valuable the discussions, our work and our mutual success.

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, gender expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

– Karen Tracey

Mission

Creating, supporting and promoting brands built on their foundation of vision, mission and core values. Our holistic process ensures we inspire authenticity and our passion ensures we deliver excellence.

Vision

To be the trusted brand marketing agency who brings authenticity and excellence to everything we do.

Values

honesty

We achieve the best outcomes when we’re genuine.

Excellence

We do it right and do it well.

Humility

We’re respectful partners, devoted collaborators and relentless learners.

PARTNERSHIP

We go above and beyond, because your success is our success.

creativity

We seek creative solutions to impact the world in a positive way.

Values

HonestyWe achieve the best outcomes when we’re genuine.

EXCELLENCEWe do it right and do it well.

HUMILITYWe’re respectful partners, devoted collaborators and relentless learners.

PARTNERSHIPWe go above and beyond, because your success is our success.

CREATIVITY We seek creative solutions to impact the world in a positive way.

The voices behind the marketing.

If authenticity is what separates one from the mountain of other businesses in their industry, our team is the branding world’s needle in a haystack. TIS is made up of real people with a real passion for what they do. We’re more than just a branding agency; We become your full-time partner in building authentic communications that speak to your business’ target audiences.

 

Click on a TIS team member to learn more about each of us.

meet our team

Karen TraceyCOO & Managing Partner

Rob McCartyCEO & Partner

Elyse FlynnCreative Director

Sara KleleStrategist and Project Lead

Elyse GreyMarketing Project Manager

Aaron SchautLead Web Developer

Mark BolekSenior Graphic Designer

Devon YousifCopywriter & Content Strategist

Jess Hubbard

Jess HubbardDigital & Social Marketing Specialist

LEAVE US A MESSAGE

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testimonials

“TIS continues to amaze me… they see inside and really understand our brand to become a valued extension of my team.”
Aaron Wolowiec
Event Garde, Founder
“We appreciate the TIS posse through and through. They’re more than just brand marketers—they’re true allies.”
Darel Ross
Forty Acres Enterprises, Founder
“TIS takes the time to understand me and my business and effectively transforms my message into a succinct, consumable, beautiful package.”
Jenny Waugh
Fishbeck, Marketing Operations Director
“We were impressed with TIS’s strategic, collaborative approach to the rebranding process.”
Maura Lamoreaux
KCRC, Communications Manager
“We’re a startup with a big vision, a complicated project and a very small staff. The Image Shoppe has become an invaluable, trusted member of our team, providing a level and breadth of branding, marketing and PR that we could not possibly achieve on our own.”
Jackie Koney
The Mill at Vicksburg, Chief Operating Officer
“The store is going really well! It has already paid for itself for the year in the first two weeks. The e-commerce option you recommended works so much better for the business and literally saved us $8,000 based on quotes from other third-party e-commerce companies. Huge win for us.”
Julia Weston
Centre for Pure Skin, Aesthetic Marketing Manager
“Our partnership with The Image Shoppe has been fantastic. Offering digital marketing insights to our downtown Grand Rapids businesses has been invaluable to the growth and optimization of these businesses during the pandemic. We really appreciate the generous expertise and support for the downtown GR community from The Image Shoppe!
Andy Guy
DGRI, Chief Outcomes Officer
“TIS has served as our marketing ally for 12 years. I highly recommend the whole team, and I don’t know what we’d do without them!”
Elissa Hillary
Local First, Former President
“I’ve worked with Rob and the team at TIS on various projects over the years. They are knowledgable and share that information freely with clients on best practices, myths and process. The caliber of talent—including web development, graphic design and strategy—are all top notch. They are my go-to for all things brand and marketing.”
Greg Heeres
Maximize, Speaker & Author on Sales and Leadership