JKR Automotive Advertising is pleased to announce it has purchased the 291 Southhall Lane building in Maitland, FL to be its new office headquarters. The contemporary two-story structure boasts 24,202 square feet and is located near Interstate 4, just off State Road 414 (Maitland Boulevard).
“We have simply outgrown our Downtown Orlando location and had been looking for new office space for quite some time,” said Richard Brauns, Senior Partner at JKR. “We will have approximately 3,000 more square feet in our new office, and we’re in the process of completing a custom buildout that will make it even more functional.”
The move into the new office headquarters is expected to take place in mid-March. In addition to JKR’s 40-plus employees, the new facility will also house its sister company, NOW Digital. JKR acquired the Maitland-based digital agency in November 2014 to expand its online marketing services.
JKR searched several parts of Central Florida before ultimately choosing the Maitland property. During that time, the company learned of the Maitland-area growth plans that include the Sunrail tie-in strategy to Orlando. JKR is convinced this will be a terrific place to expand the agency; ideal for staff members and visiting clients because of the hotels, restaurants and convenience stores within easy walking distance.
The building itself is perfect in terms of square footage and exterior attractiveness. Among its highlights is an expanded full-service video production studio, including Digital HD and 4K workflows that can easily facilitate any budget and advertising campaign from start to finish. The Green Screen Cyclorama wall in the Maitland facility will be nearly three times larger than the current set-up, giving the JKR production team increased creative opportunities.
We look forward with great anticipation to the coming move, knowing we’ll have plenty of room to continue growing well into the future.
Jeff Johnson is not only the Managing Partner at JKR Advertising & Marketing, he also recently became the co-owner at Kia of North Grand Rapids. Along with many of his dealer counterparts, he was invited to tour the Hyundai-Kia facilities in South Korea … and he came back with an increased respect and perspective of the brands and the people.
It all started early on a Monday morning at the Orlando airport. “It didn’t take long to realize this wasn’t going to be a typical trip,” Johnson said. “We left Orlando about 9:30 in the morning on that Monday, and we didn’t arrive in Seoul until 6:30 the next evening. As you can imagine, we were exhausted. But as soon as we stepped off the plane, there was a paparazzi-like person snapping photos of our every move.” Eventually, Johnson and his new friends-to-be were bused to their hotel, where they were introduced to a tour guide who would follow them everywhere they went over the next two-plus days.
The following morning, things quickly got interesting as they were shuttled to the Namyang Design Center. “This large building is the workplace for 11,000 on-site engineers for both Kia and Hyundai,” Johnson recalled. “Upon our arrival we were shown a short film about Kia, then ushered into a room and told to hand over our cell phones. I found that to be a bit odd … until I found out what was happening next. Once we complied, we were allowed to view some of the Kia models coming in the near future, as well as some concept cars they are working on. After that, we were taken out to a track where we got to test-drive some of the models. As I looked around, I noticed that many of the cars still had the camouflage wrapping on them. Naturally, you can understand the secrecy involved here, but rest assured everything I saw was very, very impressive.”
After a memorable lunch at the luxurious Rolling Hills Hotel, it was back to the bus. Next stop, the Hyundai steel plant. “This place was massive,” Johnson said. “It is one of the largest in the world. They have an unbelievable, fully enclosed conveyor belt system that allows them to move raw materials across the facility. It’s the oldest steel company in Korea, and it produces a lot more than just sheet metal for cars.”
They arrived back at their hotel at about 5:45 and were promptly informed that a formal dinner hosted by Thomas Oh, Executive Vice Chairman of Kia Global Operations, would begin at 6:30 – and it was of utmost importance that they arrive on time for the event. “It is the custom for the host to greet every guest, so if someone was late, the host would not be allowed to go inside until the tardy person finally arrived. No one was late, and we enjoyed an incredible five-course meal, complete with a toast from Executive Vice Chairman Oh.” That, folks, was just the first day.
The next morning’s activities were kicked off with a visit to Kia Motors Corporation, Kia’s corporate offices. “Kia and Hyundai each have their own specific tower, and they share a very elaborate, ornate lobby area that features a number of both Kia and Hyundai models,” Johnson said. “We were given the history of Kia’s steady rise to global dominance. Did you know that it’s the 74th-most valuable brand in the world today?”
The rest of the day was spent checking out some of South Korea’s cultural spots, including the opulent Gyeongbokgung Palace. “Even though the building has not been completely restored to its past splendor, enough of it has been refurbished to make it a worthwhile piece of history to see,” Johnson commented. “We also did some street shopping at a place that was much like a giant bazaar in the United States.”
That evening’s dinner was particularly interesting for Johnson, as he was seated next to officials from Kia Motors Canada. “I discovered their market share is pretty similar to ours in the United States, and their businesses are much like ours in the states.”
The next morning saw Jeff board a plane in Seoul at 9:30 – and because of the time change actually arrive in Atlanta at 9:00! “It was a fun but exhausting two days,” he said.
Jeff Johnson the tourist was happy to once again be Jeff Johnson the husband, dad and business owner – back in his home country. Possessing 700-plus photos taken by his hosts, he has a detailed record of a trip he’ll never forget.
JKR Advertising & Marketing is #1, according to the Orlando Business Journal. The leading business newspaper in Orlando has revealed its 2015 “Top Advertising and Digital Marketing Agencies” and JKR tops the list.
“We had an outstanding year, mirroring the victories of our clients,” said CEO Jeff Johnson. “Our clients are having great success in their operations and are reinvesting those dollars back into their marketing efforts. Everyone at JKR works hard to be the best, so we’re very excited to know we occupy the top spot on this prestigious list.”
The Orlando Business Journal list is based on capitalized billings for the year, with JKR totaling a pace-setting number of $61 million. That topped the second-place finisher by more than $10 million.
The company received additional recognition, as it finished third in number of new clients acquired last year. Its 17 new clients are situated across the country, including California, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
As a whole, 2014 was JKR’s best year ever, as the agency achieved a number of milestones. In November, JKR acquired Orlando-based automotive Internet agency NOW Digital to expand its online product offerings. That followed the March purchase of Benedict Advertising & Marketing, the largest advertising agency in Daytona Beach.
Founded in 2007, JKR Advertising & Marketing delivers all aspects of automotive retail advertising. JKR provides market analysis, creative, radio, TV, print, public relations, and digital. JKR’s experience, knowledge, and dedicated focus result in the overwhelming majority of clients outperforming their peers, markets, and competitors. Clients include individual dealerships and multi-brand, multi-store groups.
To meet and exceed the needs of JKR’s ever-increasing client roster, our agency has responded in recent months by making a number of key hires. Our two newest graphics department employees, Jeremy Chandler and Abie Silva, are welcome additions to our staff.
Jeremy Chandler, Graphics Director: Jeremy came to us from SeaWorld Parks and Resorts Orlando, where he served in corporate marketing as the only graphic designer on staff. “My job at SeaWorld got me used to meeting tight deadlines, which serves me well here,” Jeremy said. “I find working at JKR to be very interesting because of the niche market it occupies in the advertising world.”
He takes a great deal of pride in his “best supporting role” of producing Web graphics, newspaper ads, newsletters, billboards, and other print and online marketing materials. “Without a print and Internet presence to supplement our TV commercials and radio spots, some campaigns would not have the same amount of success. These days, many people get a great deal of their information either through the Internet or in printed form,” he explained.
Jeremy possesses an Associate of Science degree in Recording Arts from Full Sail University, as well as a Multimedia Graphic Technical Certificate from Valencia Community College. In his spare time, he looks for opportunities to continue honing his skills via conventions and Web classes.
Abie Silva, Motion Graphics Designer: When JKR decided to expand its motion graphics department, Abie was one of the first interviewees. It didn’t take long to realize there was a perfect match between agency and candidate. “My background is in automotive, so I already knew about the industry,” Abie said. “I was really excited to learn about JKR, and once I found out I got the job I couldn’t wait to get started.”
JKR’s clients appreciate the way Abie does his job. “I’m very passionate and meticulous about what I do,” he explained. “I look at each production and make it as wonderful and unique as possible. We believe our clients deserve a lot more than ‘just another car commercial’ … and that’s a big part of what will continue to separate JKR from everyone else in the future.”
Abie received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Computer Animation from the Miami International University of Art & Design, and he puts it to good use at our agency. “I know how to convey our clients’ messages through animation,” he explained. “This is my niche, and I know it well.”
Please join us in congratulating Phillip Blevins on his promotion to Office Manager, effective Monday, May 18. After starting with JKR as Billing Coordinator, he has most recently been part of Jeff Johnson’s Client Services team, serving as Account Coordinator.
Phil will oversee human resources and day-to-day operations, and will also be in charge of billing and accounts receivables.
“I am excited to have such an integral role at JKR Advertising, and be part of its continued success,” Phil says. “I’m looking forward to the experience I will get as I learn from our CFO, Dan Albert, because he has a vast knowledge of the industry.”
When the job of Office Manager became available due to JKR’s rapid growth, Phil’s background in finance made him the natural choice for the position. “Because Phil has already worked in the billing department, he already has a grasp of the media and billing sides of our agency,” Dan said. “Now he’ll get to put it all together by adding knowledge on how the financial side works. He’s the perfect hire for this job.”
He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration/Finance. His prior job experience includes a stint at Trustco Bank, where he served as Assistant Branch Manager.
JKR’s success is driven by employees who strive for excellence … ones just like Phil Blevins. Kudos on a job well-done!