712Creative

09/05/2026

Apparently we did leave the office in August. 😆
Between client visits, community events, projects launching and lots happening behind the scenes, last month was A. BUSY. ONE.
We soaked up the last full month of Wisconsin summer and spent time with so many great people.
Here’s August at 712 in a few seconds.

09/03/2026

We have some pretty cool clients. 😎

We spend a lot of our days looking at screens - working on brand strategies, logos, websites, campaigns, graphics, and all the other things that come with agency life. So, one of our favorite parts of what we do is when the work gets us out of the office and into our clients’ worlds.

Case in point: I stopped by Marathon Flooring recently and discovered an old-school Scout hanging out in their showroom - complete with the Marathon Flooring logo. Obviously, I had to climb in. 😂

Getting to know the people and businesses we work with is one of the best parts of the job. We get to see what they’ve built, hear their stories, learn about industries we might otherwise never experience up close, and occasionally sit in cool vintage cars.

Not a bad gig.

09/01/2026

One of the most fascinating things about branding is this:
Your brand doesn't exist solely in your office, on your website, or in your marketing materials. It exists in the minds of the people experiencing it.

Every interaction shapes perception.
Every message sends a signal.
Every visual, every conversation, every review contribute to the story people tell themselves about your business.

And sometimes that story is very different from the one you think you're telling.

That's why branding isn't just about creating. It's about understanding.

Understanding how your audience sees the world, what they value, what they notice - and what they ignore.

Because ultimately, your brand isn't what you say it is. It's what they believe it is.

Building a brand? Rebranding? Refreshing? We have been defining brands all over the world since 2010. You can reach out for a consult at 715.298.3746 or contact us at www.712creative.com.

08/28/2026

Last week, we stopped by Katzenbarkers, one of the local businesses we’re currently working with on brand strategy.

It’s always nice getting out from behind the computer and spending a little time in our clients’ world. We got to check out their bright and clean store, see what they offer, and get a feel for the brand in real life.

And if you are a local pet owner and haven’t been to Katzenbarkers yet, definitely add them to your list! They’re a locally owned pet store focused on healthy, high-quality food and products for dogs and cats, with a team that really knows their stuff.

We’re excited to be working with them and can’t wait to share more as their brand strategy comes together!

08/24/2026

Out & about at the last Wausau Night Market of the season...

One of our favorite things about summer in Wausau is seeing downtown packed with people shopping, eating, exploring, and supporting local businesses.

We made it out to the final Night Market of 2026 last Thursday and, as usual, ran into plenty of old friends and discovered a couple of new businesses along the way!

Events like this are such a good reminder of just how many creative and entrepreneurial people we have right here in our community.

Let’s turn the comments into a local-business recommendation thread! Who did you discover (or rediscover) at Night Market this summer? Tag them below so the rest of us can check them out.

08/20/2026

Yesterday we attended the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce's quarterly Powering Innovation in Marketing event. This session was extra cool because we were the first group to meet in the newly renovated Powerhouse! (How gorgeous is this space?!)

Originally built in the early 1900s, the powerhouse once powered a streetcar. Now it’s been beautifully renovated into a business and event space overlooking the river. A pretty fitting home for Powering Innovation.

We enjoyed a great presentation on AI search optimization, caught up with familiar faces, met a few new ones, and got a first look at a really cool piece of Wausau history brought back to life.

It was nice to get out of the office, learn something new, and connect with our local marketing community!

08/18/2026

We took our creative meeting analog. ✏️

I think the team was a little surprised when I showed up with actual printed brainstorming worksheets. (Because who uses paper in 2026? 😂)

But we grabbed some caffeine, put the screens away (mostly), and spent some time brainstorming social content the old-fashioned way at The Pinery. I think we had way more fun than we planned.

There’s something different about putting pen to paper with your team. It gets you out of your normal work mode and makes a little more room to play with ideas.

So, consider this your reminder to occasionally take the meeting out of Teams/Zoom/Slack/whatever, grab some coffee, and scribble.

10/10. Would analog again. 😎

08/17/2026

We want to take a moment to recognize ALL of the incredible nonprofits making a difference in our community. 💙 We are grateful for your work!

We also want to give a special shoutout to the organizations that have partnered with us over the years and/or trusted us with various aspects of their branding and marketing. We are honored to support the important work you do every day.

Together Marathon County
B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation
Maple Grove Foundation, Inc
Children's Imaginarium
The Neighbors' Place
Elwyn Re*****on Foundation
Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin

Thank you for everything you do for our community!

08/13/2026

Habits spread. Surround yourself with peers you actually want to imitate…

Five parrots had to be separated at a wildlife park after they refused to stop swearing at visitors — and then laughing about it. 🦜🤬😂

Billy, Eric, Jade, Elsie and Tyson arrived at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park from different homes within the same week. It did not take long for the African greys to start cursing at each other, shouting at guests and encouraging nearby parrots to copy them.

Staff hoped placing them with older birds would calm the language down.

Instead, the swearing spread.

Because African greys are highly intelligent and excellent mimics, the birds also copied the laughter of amused visitors — creating an ever-growing chorus of parrots insulting people and cracking themselves up.

08/11/2026

Wanted to share a sneak peek of the new identity for Learning Grove ABA! We started with refreshing their brand strategy and creating updated brand messaging. Then we reworked their existing logo and created a cohesive color palette, typography, and a new set of custom graphics that will help the brand feel more cohesive and recognizable.

A rebrand doesn't always mean throwing everything out and starting over. Sometimes the right move is figuring out what's worth keeping, what needs to evolve, and how to build a stronger visual system around it.

More from this project coming soon!