Company:
Square One
Dallas, Texas

Business:
Full-Service Advertising Agency

Staff:
79

System:
Clients & Profits Pro

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Windows
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quare One is a full-service advertising agency located in Dallas, Texas. Started in April 1995 by four creative genusies with a combined sixty-plus years of big agency experience helping high-profile clients like MacDonald's, they believe 'our vision was a new way to better solve problems and build brands. Their strategy was to focus on two simple objectives: work only with like-minded clients, who wanted strategically innovative advertising and marketing ideas that would impact their businesses, and create a culture where employees were encouraged to learn and grow without the usual constraints found in most agency environments. They are succeeding on both fronts.

"We're unique in the advertising business," says Donny Denton, the shop's controller, "because of the creative and talented people we have, who aren't afraid to toss out the old and staid with a client, to go back to ... square one, if you will, and begin anew with innovative, fresh ideas. I think that's one reason Square One is so successful." Square One manages television productions and media placement for nationally-known food and beverage companies like Whataburger and Miller Brewing Company. Recently, they added a financial institution to their impressive client list. Clients & Profits has been helping them along this road to success.

Before purchasing Clients & Profits Pro, the agency used Adman. "It just didn't do the job for us," Denton states firmly. "We find Clients & Profits to be far more effective and efficient in our operation." They now use Clients & Profits on estimates, averaging ten to twelve weekly, for weekly time sheets, purchase orders, check-writing, billing and all financial accounting.

The only problem they have is on media insertion orders, Denton says. "But in all honesty, I believe it is more our fault than that of Clients & Profits," Denton chuckles.

Denton especially likes the ease of making corrections and changes with Clients & Profits. Denton reports it didn't take long at all for Clients & Profits to pay for itself, either.

"Actually, it was after the first billing cycle that we began to see just how valuable Clients & Profits Pro would be for us, as opposed to, say, Adman. I like, too, the way Clients & Profits saves detail. Having the ability to pull up historical information is a real plus for us."

The agency has changed, Denton claims, since purchasing Clients & Profits. "We've expanced our client base, added more people, we now have thirty-nine employees, and our Account Executives are more involved than they've ever been before." Denton is also impressed with the quick response available from the Clients & Profits Helpdesk. "When a problem or a question arises, it's comforting to know that help is just a telephone call away. They always manage to find a quick solution, too," Denton says.

"As I said, we are fortunate to have such talented and creative people. They really get down to the bare-bones with a client, stripping away the old and consistently come up with great ideas. The only problem is, I wish they would take the initative in learning the full capability of Clients & Profit, instead of waiting to be shown. They need more ambition in this area, especially on job-tracking, and we're trying to encourage that. Of course, it takes awhile to learn and we are all still learning."

Denton says that their clients seem to like the appearance of Clients & Profits' purchase orders, invoices and reports. ("...we're well-pleased with them"). In addition, this rapidly expanding, high profile agency was one of the first companies in the country to use Clients & Profits Media Link, which lets them import station orders from their Strata media buying system. Denton is enthusiastic about the shop's future with Clients & Profits. "Clients & Profits Pro definitely does the job for us."