Our Agency DNA
In the late summer of 1988 Iris Sleight, a highly successful 30-something advertising executive was met with an unfamiliar challenge; she and her husband Andrew were expecting their first child. Having worked since her early teen years, Iris decided to take a break and try her hand at being a full-time mom. She resigned her position at a Kansas City Ad Agency, decorated the baby room and focused on entertaining everyone at the Lamaze classes. (Her first question was, “when do we talk about anesthesia??)
The big day finally arrived…
and the Sleight’s daughter was born Aug 30, 1988. After a few days of endless nights, diapers, and colic, Iris was ready to go back to “work”, but she was determined to work from home. So, somewhere between the changing table and the kitchen, the vision for Sleight Advertising was born.
Driven by integrity, as always, Iris talked it over with her former boss and agency owner Rick Miller. He gave the Sleight’s his blessing for the new agency. Iris didn’t take any clients she’d worked with at Rick’s agency, and started with nothing but a phone and a new thing called “a fax machine”.
The agency grew steadily over the first 10 years with a primary focus on Media Negotiation and Placement. Andrew had a full-time career in Medical Sales, but he provided off-hours consulting assistance, as the client base continued to expand. Finally in 2000, Andrew joined the agency full-time and began to make plans for the agency to expand into the creative world.
Today, “SA” is a full-service agency at work in markets across the nation. With a staff of 15 gifted media and creative professionals, Sleight Advertising serves over 100 clients in business, fashion, medical and service industries.
Indeed much has changed since those early days, but the DNA that started it all is thoroughly infused throughout Sleight Advertising. Look deep within any department and you will see the same telltale signs; a passion to provide phenomenal service, creative innovation, and excellent results supported by total commitment to integrity. While technologies will evolve and economic conditions will continue to ebb and flow, of this you can be certain, these foundational values will never change.
