The OBI Creative Story

OBI Creative is an ad agency hard-wired for innovation. We know the rules of marketing inside and out, because we're always looking to rewrite them. We've never been in the position to outspend the competition, but we out-think them every chance we get.

Maybe it's because we cut our teeth in the ad business by riding the two biggest waves of innovation in the '90s - the personal computer and the dot-com.

The company grew out of a special project for Gateway Computers in 2002, when we helped develop a first-gen Digital Home product line and engineered the national sales strategy. Shortly thereafter, Intel and HP hired us to do a Digital Home road show in shopping malls across America.

OBI Creative went on to win Agency-of-Record for Gateway and produced the "Ask & Deliver" consumer ad campaign that pioneered experiential marketing, user-generated content and social media before any of those terms became buzzwords. Keeping our finger on the pulse of technology, new media, and the green economy, our clients have included D-Link, Vizio, View Sonic, Prima Fuel and Free Green Can.

Though the OBI team hails from a variety of backgrounds and geographical regions, we've put down roots in Omaha. We are proud to count the Omaha Chamber, SAC Federal Credit Union, Miller Electric and a number of other local businesses as clients and we are committed to the economic development of Omaha and Nebraska.

Gateway Case Study

June 14th, 2010

Crowdsourcing ahead of its time

Gateway Computers was one of the most recognized consumer brands in the world. But, when customer satisfaction began to decline, they came to OBI for help.

After conducting in-depth customer research, we discovered that the company had lost touch with the market.

Gateway

More than simply a new ad campaign, our “Ask & Deliver” campaign changed the strategic direction of the company, with a renewed emphasis on consumer dialogue and engagement.

Gateway

Before viral marketing, user-generated content and social media were even buzzwords, we developed a campaign that tapped into these approaches. We sent video teams across America in cow spotted Airstreams. The teams interviewed consumers, asking them directly what they needed from their technology. This content was filtered back for product planning and marketing communications.