Defy Whats Missing
By Keeping It Basic
ABOUT US
Turn the constraints that limit potential into clarity and purpose. Your story is your edge. Dare to defy what’s holding you back.
We Don’t Guess
We Don’t Follow
We Outthink
We Thrive On Strategic Clarity
While many agencies lean on trends, we dig deeper to uncover what really moves people — and brands. We blend creative firepower with a disciplined, data-informed process that adapts to each client’s landscape. We are not just vendors. We’re collaborators, provocateurs, and builders of momentum.
Defy The Masses
To Find Your People
Defy Impossible
To Create Possibilities
ABOUT US
Whether the challenge is limited resources, entrenched perceptions, or overwhelming competition, we see constraints as the spark for creativity — not the limit of it. We defy the odds to build momentum where others stall, finding clarity in complexity and turning bold ideas into measurable change.
Founded in 2001, our diverse, seasoned team brings sharp insight and imaginative thinking to help organizations lead — shaping perceptions, influencing behaviors, and delivering tangible outcomes across a full spectrum of audiences and platforms.
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What separates us, in our view, is our strategic approach to problem-solving. Over the years, we’ve developed a formula that creates results, derived from a keen understanding of business models, marketplace dynamics and customers’ wants and needs.
While the formula is repeatable, it is by no means cookie cutter. Every assignment requires focus, inspiration, thoroughness and hard work. There’s no magic. No silver bullet. No tea leaves. It is a process that enables continual improvement, increased efficiency and accelerated success.
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We recognize that today, everything is interconnected and immediate. Siloed thinking just won’t do. We are a true republic of free thinkers, willing to push one another into powerful collisions of insight driven by a common pursuit – the best idea wins.
So in addition to our traditional roles, we’re problem solvers, one and all. Gaining understanding by listening to customers. And even more importantly, those who didn’t buy. Staying fluent in all forms of media, social media, promotion and placemaking so we can connect with people in their daily lives.
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Channeling the age-old wisdom of Alice’s Cheshire Cat, “If you don’t know where you are going, it really doesn’t matter what road you take.”
Truth is, clients often come to us with a solution in mind. Based on what they’ve seen from others. Based on their own experiences. Or simply, based on what they wish to be true.
Do you know?
Or do you think you know?
We ask these questions because we never want to start with assumptions, either our clients’ or our own. Any action based on what we collectively “think we know,” is a recipe for wasted time, money and ultimately, failure.
PORTFOLIO
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Defy The Zealots To Welcome All
Seems like we are all trying to eat healthier. Yet produce labels and claims can be downright confusing and even intimidating, especially for those of us new to organics. And there are some who make eating organic…
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Defy Fear To Unleash Your Superpower
Even the best visit to the dentist is met with trepidation. How about if you haven’t been in a while? The fear is real. And most dentists’ ads about how they’re going to fix things up don’t make it go away.
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Defy Trendy To Reveal Lasting Value
In 1989, Dilworth introduced serious coffee to North Carolina, supplying small batch, ethically-sourced coffee to independent shops and distributors alike. But, as business grew over the next few decades, awareness did not follow…
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Defy The Obvious To Be An Original
As part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, The Franklin needed to raise its brand voice big time. The Franklin had an interesting location with an eclectic, educated potential audience. But no brand message or feel to entice visitors…
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Defy Apologies To Find Resolution
More than 30 years ago, in an industrial neighborhood far up the Miami river, Pantera was born to outperform the likes of drug-runner favorites like Apache and Scarab. As go fast boats declined over the years, a newer breed emerged…
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Elevate Life’s Simple Pleasures
Too often, manufacturers position their brands around a specific design aesthetic, without consideration for the user - whether designer or consumer. With Hanstone high-end quartz countertops, we…
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Finding Joy In A Common Pursuit
Although Fayetteville’s military affiliation is a primary driver for visitors, there are a host of attractions and activities to satisfy most anyone. Rather than serve them up laundry list style, we identified key prospect groups…
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Defy The Masses To Find Your People
Let’s face it, the world does’t need another vodka. But all the me-too fancy bottles and hand crafted sensibilities never saw this coming. Emboldened by actual Irish bloodlines, distilled-from-rice smoothness, and history…
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Defy The Labels To Make Your Mark
Fayetteville State University (FSU) is a historic HBCU with a 150+ year legacy of pushing boundaries and transforming lives. But the University was often viewed as a North Carolina system school serving a regional population.
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It Never Gets Old
Village District was Raleigh’s first suburban shopping center. Today it is nestled within some of the areas wealthiest neighborhoods. Amidst the sprawl of recent decades, it is often overlooked by newcomers…
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Defy The Past To Define The Future
To boaters, it matters if a boat has the right stuff - a pedigree of design and performance. As seasoned boat-makers, Voltari understood this well. And set out, like Tesla a decade earlier, to elevate electric ‘performance’…
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Lessons Not Found In Any History Book
Serious fun. For visitors, Fayetteville’s military affiliation is a point of distinction versus many regional competitors. Even so, it’s sometimes difficult to get past traditional patriotic stereotypes. Enter the America Groupies…
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Open The Possibilities
University libraries typically use software and methodology developed around the traditional printed-book lending system. As libraries evolved into digital information hubs, the entrenched legacy systems developers offered…
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Learn To Be A Better You
Very often, colleges like the University of North Carolina, Greensboro (UNCG) get judged and labeled as second tier by outsiders without any real merit. Yet through our research and conversations with alumni…
IN THE NEWS
The Republik's Social Media Campaign For Dilworth Coffee Featured In Graphis Advertising Annual
FEATURED ASSIGNMENTS
Early on, all-inclusive resorts in tropical locations, like Couples, were the “it” vacation. But as they multiplied, a quantity over quality formula left them looking and sounding tired, cliched and uninspiring. With targets set on a younger, more energetic customer, we saw an opportunity to recast Couples Resorts.
DEFY THE CLICHE
TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
COUPLES RESORTS
Build retail distribution, build brand awareness and generate sales - without the benefit of traditional advertising support. So, we found a group with similar interests playing an online/on land GPS scavenger hunt - geocaching. And we launched our own game - Palladium Geocaching.
DEFY THE CROWD
TO CREATE A FOLLOWING
PALLADIUM SHOES
FEATURED CLIENT
Fayetteville State University (FSU) is a historic HBCU with a 150+ year legacy of pushing boundaries and transforming lives. But the University was often viewed as a North Carolina system school serving a regional population. In reality, FSU was a bright shining light covered by a basket - with vitality and relevance for the net generation of doers.
Are You In?
CLIENT
Fayetteville State University
DATE
June 2024
CATEGORY
Higher Education
RECOGNITION
Graphis 2025 Poster Annual Awards The Republik’s Environmental Design For Freight Handlers Inc
JOURNAL
In an industry where every destination claims to be “world-class” and every hotel promises “unforgettable experiences,” thought leadership is how you cut through the noise with purpose. Join us for another engaging webinar with Bruce Turkel as he reveals…
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP FOR TOURISM PROS
EXPERIENCE INSTITUTE
Drawing on lessons from ancient medicine, modern branding, and the jungle law of business, you’ll learn why the best employees aren’t looking for jobs, but rather flags to follow, and how your brand can become the banner that attracts and keeps them.
WAVE A FLAG WORTH FOLLOWING
DEFY THE ODDS
