The story …

After spending an hour at a small diner in Pell City, AL, I was traveling back home to Helena. I had just enjoyed a great meat-and-three lunch with some co-workers and finished it off with some delicious banana pudding for dessert. That's when I decided to see if I could do my part to help the small- to medium-size businesses in my area.

What I had experienced in that diner was something typical in small-town Alabama. There were advertisements everywhere around the restaurant, from business cards tacked to the community bulletin board to small table displays. There was also a lot of noise — visual noise. No one particular business who was advertising their wares stood out from any other business. Nothing cut through the fray. None of these businesses had branded themselves well enough to set themselves apart from any other business. There was plenty of bad clip art and poor typography around the place too.

The question was clear — what could I do to help local businesses set themselves apart? Most small- to medium-size businesses don't have the budget to hire a large marketing firm, and many business owners are far too busy doing what they do best to put their effort toward branding, marketing, and design.

Perhaps it was the banana pudding talking, but I decided at that moment to begin Kudzu Studio — a place where small- and medium-sized businesses could get a hand with all of these communication efforts so that they could stick with what they know how to do best!

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

For those of us who grew up in the South, kudzu is something we're all too familiar with. But, for the uninitiated, here are a few things you can rely on from this local plant:

Kudzu is vivacious — it grows and grows.
Kudzu is recognizable — it makes itself known.
Kudzu is consistent — it is always the same no matter where you are.
Kudzu is tenacious — it is nearly impossible to kill.
Kudzu is everywhere — it knows no bounds.

If you ask me, these are some pretty good qualities for a business and for a brand.

WHO IS KUDZU STUDIO?

Kudzu Studio is a one-man operation owned and operated by Ben Williams. Here are a few things you may want to know about Ben:

He is a Christian, husband, and father.
He graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in advertising and communication.
He has worked as an in-house designer, art director, and director of marketing for various companies since 1997.
He is the Director of Worship Arts at The Church at Cahaba Bend.
He teaches guitar lessons.

Want to know more? Get in touch and let's talk!