Another Huge Win: Balcom Takes Fort Worth’s First AAF District Best of Show

We’re grabbing on to every piece of good news right now, and this one is huge for Balcom and Fort Worth: We just became the first Fort Worth agency ever to win the top award at the District 10 American Advertising Awards.

District 10 is a four-state area covering Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. After our big win at the local Fort Worth awards, we moved up to take home the district-level Best of Show for our video campaign for Cavender’s. We also earned a coveted Special Judges Award for art direction on the new campaign for Mrs. Renfro’s Salsa. Our work for both brands earned 21 total district awards, including 12 golds – more golds than any other entrant.

It feels particularly good right now to shine some light on two family-owned companies based in Texas; two very different brands, both rebooting themselves through creative focused on authenticity. You can support Cavender’s and Mrs. Renfro’s by ordering online.

Take a look at the winning work.

 

BEST OF SHOW

Cavender’s – This Is How We Live – Cinematography – Campaign

The highest scoring entry of the four-state competition was this video campaign we created for Western retailer Cavender’s. Dave Esmond, Cavender’s director of marketing, came to us with a vision for a campaign focused on authenticity. Under the leadership of Balcom Multimedia Creative Director Taylor Potts, we brought in documentary filmmaker Bud Force and famed photographer John Langmore (co-directors of the award-winning documentary Cowboys), while Ian McCleod provided music, including an outstanding cover of a traditional 1800s cowboy song performed by Daniel Kenneth Libby. Bruton Stroube provided post-production, including sound design that also earned a gold award. Nothing was staged, nothing was scripted; we only featured people who really live the Western lifestyle.

On top of Best of Show, the Cavender’s videos earned seven golds and three silvers in the categories of internet commercials, cinematography, music and sound design.

 

 

The Team

Taylor Potts, Multimedia Creative Director
Stephanie Orges, Writer
Carol Glover, Principal, Creative Services
Krystal Lewis, Account Director
Alan Parchman, Principal and Group Director
Bud Force, Director
John Langmore, Photographer
Ultralite Films, Production Company
Bruton Stroube, Post-Production and Sound Design
Music Performed by Daniel Kenneth Libby and Ian McCleod

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SPECIAL JUDGES AWARD

Mrs. Renfro’s – True to Family. True to Flavor. – Art Direction – Campaign

The judges create Special Judges Awards to celebrate exceptional work on top of the competition’s standard points system. Balcom earned this award for our work on the new branding campaign for international salsa company, Mrs. Renfro’s. Third-generation owners Doug Renfro, Becky Renfro Borbolla and James Renfro trusted us to take the creative in a wildly new direction. Real, historical Renfro’s family photos combine with simple-yet-clever packaging illustrations by Balcom Design Director Holly Aguilar – plus copy by Writer Stephanie Orges that blends the brand’s tradition and innovation with the tagline “True to Family. True to Flavor.”

On top of the Special Judges Award for Campaign Art Direction, we won five golds, two silvers and two bronzes for branding, packaging, video branded content and social media campaigns.

 

 

 

The Team

Holly Aguilar, Design Director
Stephanie Orges, Writer
Carol Glover, Principal, Creative Services
Bethanne Glover, Account Manager
Ashley Freer, Principal and Group Director
Taylor Potts, Multimedia Creative Director
Hilary Rattikin, Multimedia Designer

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Check out the press release for our full list of awards.