When you ask highly successful people what the secret to their success is, most will tell you that they are doing what they love. It is many people’s dream to be able to combine their passion with their profession.
Kathleen Downs, owner of Market Street Marketing, is doing just that. She has combined her two passions – horses and advertising – and has created an extremely successful equine graphic design business.
We recently spoke with Kathleen about her career path and how she created Market Street Marketing, an advertising agency doing corporate and equine work since 1991. She is living out her llifelong dream combining a passion for horses and a passion for advertising.
“I decided I wanted to own my own company when I was 29 years old. I knew it was huge goal but I also knew that my love of design and my extensive schooling would serve me well,” said Kathleen.
Kathleen graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Psychology and Marketing. She built up her ad agency and continued to pursue on-going training in design for a number of years. In 1998, Kathleen was accepted into a masters degree program through Syracuse University in New York. This program takes applications from all over the United States, Canada and Europe, accepting only 15 students per year. A three-year program, Kathleen graduated with a Masters Degree in Design in 2000.
“I felt incredibly lucky to be accepted into this specialized kind of degree program. Syracuse University brought in some of the top advertising designers in the world to teach us in a very intensive format. I also had the opportunity to travel throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, visiting and tutoring with some of the best advertising agencies in the business. It was truly the experience of a lifetime and changed the caliber of my work.”
Kathleen owned horses when she was young and returned to riding and showing in 2003. At that time, she wanted to combine her love of riding and showing with her design work. She hired Chelly Bollinger, who has extensive experience in horses and showing and they began to create advertising campaigns for a number of equine clients. Chelly just returned from Congress placing 7th in Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation. “It was a great show,” said Chelly. “I had a blast!”
“We do both print and web work and have been fortunate to do some very creative work for people like Nancy Renfro Performance Horses, Kail Quarterhorses and Aspen Grove Ranch, to name just a few,” said Kathleen. “We’re excited to be able to offer clients solid creative design and give their print ads and web work a real edge in the marketplace. We are truly passionate about what we do!”
Market Street Marketing has a large advertising presence on GoHorseshow.com and has made a long-term commitment to advertise in the online magazine GoMag! Kathleen and Chelly feel “GoMag is a great value for one’s advertising dollar. Lots of exposure, cost effectiveness… the entire site is very well done. We couldn’t wait to be a part of it.”
Kathleen and Chelly are looking forward to a long future in equine advertising. “We’re looking for clients who want a real partner in creating a unique and effect ad campaign with them, be it in print, on the web or both,” said Kathleen. “We have fabulous clients and are truly grateful to be able to make a difference for them.”
If you’re interested in seeing some of Market Street Marketing’s work you can visit their website at www.marketstreetmarketing.com or call Kathleen Downs at 530.244.9202.
