At Upswing Creative, we’re all about the power of the message. It’s the spark that inspires each story you tell – and the beacon that unites people behind your brand. But here’s the tricky thing about the message: it’ll only resonate with your audience if you deliver it in a way that engages and excites them.
There’s a reason why we offer everything from commercial video to creative content for our clients; each message demands the right medium. Some brands flip over highly polished product videos. Others swoon for smart, in-depth copy on product specs and benefits. And a few want informal blogs explaining who the heck we are – and how we got into the business of creative marketing.
Setting the Stage
Back in the (very) late 90s, Upswing founders Josh Whitcomb and Chris Fink were just a couple of college kids listening to Nelly and producing a campus TV show at their small St. Paul college.
After graduation, they went their separate ways – Josh straight into the workforce and Chris off to Nashville to have some fun before heading to grad school. They vowed if they were ever in the same city again, they’d try and start their own video company.
In 2006, Chris ditched his fledgling career as a TV sports reporter and moved back to Minnesota to marry his high school girlfriend. By that time, Josh had moved his way up the ladder doing marketing communications for several organizations, culminating at the Federal Reserve Bank. Newly reunited, Chris and Josh decided to fulfill their destiny – to make a living creating videos.
Upswing Creative Is Born (Kind Of)
For the first seven years, Upswing was just a nights-and-weekends thing – and for the first 12 years, Upswing wasn’t actually Upswing. It was 651media, a completely unimaginative name that merged the area code from the city where the two founders met with the fact that their business was … in media, sort of?
At the start, Josh and Chris were doing everything – running the business and doing all the creative stuff: concepting, scripting, shooting video, editing, motion graphics, the works. They reached out to people in their networks, and somewhat surprisingly, a few of them were kind enough to pay money for video.
As they started building a client base, the side hustle became more of side all-out-sprint. To keep up with business, Chris went full-time in 2012 – and Josh followed suit a year and a half later.
Expanding Our Scope
As clients brought them in on projects, working alongside other creative agencies, they noticed a trend: the messaging they developed for videos found its way into other collateral – leaving Josh and Chris equal parts flattered and annoyed. Once they got over themselves, they realized something that should’ve been obvious: great messaging and creative transcends the medium.
Over the next few years, clients continued to ask our little organization to expand beyond video production… but stubbornly, we resisted (for a little while longer, at least). In 2018, they quietly began offering expanded services, and in 2019, they made their transformation from a video production company into a creative agency public, complete with a refreshed brand: Upswing Creative.
Upswing Creative Today
We’ve talked a lot about our past. But to be honest, we’re more excited about the present. Why? Because we finally get to meet you. Yes, you, the web surfer with a great taste in blog posts. You’ve been kind enough to read our story – and now we want to hear yours.
You might be leading marketing for a B2B brand that wants a partner for video production. Or maybe your business needs help delivering impactful, message-first marketing to connect with a niche audience. In any case, if you’re looking to create powerful stories that inspire customers and drive business results, Upswing Creative can help. We love working with passionate people just like you. Whether you’re in engineering, distribution, insurance or any other essential industry, we can’t wait to hear your story – and show the world how remarkable you are.
Find Your Message with Upswing Creative
Reach out to us today to learn more about how our team can complement your marketing goals and deliver the thoughtful, meaningful creative you deserve. You can also connect with us for more info on our services, our past projects, and what you can expect from our future partnership. Let’s make something great, together.