Today we’d like to introduce you to Bret Sano.
Bret, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
We were three senior level agency types who were getting close to the glass ceiling, and we’re given the opportunity to start our own agency so we took a chance and jumped. That was in September of 2008. Little did we know that we were headed straight into the worst economic recession the U.S. had seen in 40 years. Surviving and thriving as a startup in the worst possible conditions only made us stronger and has given us the confidence to take on risks and opportunities we might not otherwise have considered. It forced us to be creative with the business while also being in the business of creative.
Has it been a smooth road?
Excluding the 2008 economic recession, our biggest struggles stem from two things: growing pains, and industry change. Growing means change, and it has forced Brandon and myself to expand our roles beyond just creative design work. HR, banking, investment, management, sales, operations are all things we did not go to college for and have had to learn ‘on the job’ for better or worse. The changes in our industry are to me the ultimate hurdle. Technology is changing the deliverables and end product philosophically and tactically. Translating creative across different media has always been a requirement, but the evolution of creative content has really ramped up and provides new challenges every day.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Caliber Creative – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Caliber is brand development agency. Our core service and strength is building a brand experience and personality that embodies a point of difference and is well crafted. A perfect example is our work done for Deep Ellum Brewing Co. It’s probably what we’re most well-known for here locally and in the state of Texas. However, what separates us from all of the other creative firms doing fun, hipster retail brands is the fact that we do outstanding work in the B-to-B environment as well. We’ve have and continue to produce high quality annual reports, sustainability reports and corporate branding. So we’re well equipped to handle both B-to-C and B-to-B.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like best about Dallas is the wealth of opportunity. I think it’s the best market in the state for jobs, housing, entertainment – almost anything you could want. There is one glaring aspect that is missing for me, and probably. What I like least about our city. And that is the lack of ‘the great outdoors.’ Having grown up in San Antonio with easy access to the Texas Hill Country, I do miss scenic, natural beauty and activities. When I first moved here, I was kind of aghast at the amount of flatness and the amount of concrete. I eventually found hills and trees here, but you really have to hunt for it and ‘want it.’ On the bright side, that makes vacations and getaways to the mountains or the oceans that much more special.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.calibercreative.com
- Phone: 214-741-4488
- Email: info@calibercreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calibercreative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaliberCreativeTX
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/calibercreative/

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