BusinessApril 18, 2016
'I don't stand still': Robbie Spurlock tells stories of businesses and people via KR Film + Media
Some kids dream of being pirates or baseball players or astronauts. For Robbie Spurlock, the goal was always to be a business owner. That dream came true about a year ago, when he launched Katholokos Republic, a Cape Girardeau firm specializing in graphic design, photography, video production and web design. ...
Interview By Robyn Gautschy
Some kids dream of being pirates or baseball players or astronauts. For Robbie Spurlock, the goal was always to be a business owner. That dream came true about a year ago, when he launched Katholokos Republic, a Cape Girardeau firm specializing in graphic design, photography, video production and web design. The business is growing, and this month moved into a new studio at 1227 Broadway. We asked Spurlock to shed some light on his inspiration, his marketing tips for other businesses and what's next for KR Film + Media.
__Business Today: First, some background on you: Could you share your education and career history? What led to you owning your own creative business?__
__Robbie Spurlock:__ I grew up in Cape Girardeau, where I also earned both of my degrees from Southeast Missouri State University. I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in visual communication in 2008, being the first class out of the River Campus. I went back to finish film school at Southeast in 2011, earning a Bachelor of Science in film production in 2012. After that, I was the art director for SNL Marketing until I officially founded KR Film + Media.
I realized I wanted to own a business from when I was a little boy growing up, but it's something I didn't know how to act on for a long time. The idea resurfaced while I was going to university. I discovered the name for my company in 2004, and now here in 2016, as president of KR Film + Media, I get to see it on display along Broadway, covering the black awning.
Primarily, I was led into this business because I wanted to make movies. That is still very much a part of me. It always will be. I think it comes from a need to tell stories. I'm a writer, which people don't really know. I've written a novel I have sitting at home, complete at over 100,000 words. There are screenplays and drafts for other stories, too. That's where all of this comes from with me. Now I've figured out how to tell stories for a living. One of the most intrinsic elements of being human is telling stories, and that's what I set out to do every day with my clients.
__BT: How has your business grown since you started? What are your primary areas of focus?__
__RS:__ Today KR Film + Media has offices in two locations, both in Cape Girardeau. The first is down at Codefi (on Broadway) and the second is across from the (Southeast Missouri State University) campus waterfalls on Broadway. The company specializes in graphic design, photography, video production and web design. I will say that video has been my focus for quite some time, but my background allows me to also work on company branding projects. A new area that I've specialized is social media, and I develop that from the design of digital ads and posts to video campaigns that tell a client story over multiple channels.
__BT: Tell us more about your work with video. What do you love about this aspect of media?__
__RS:__ One of the best aspects of video is that it's a chance to really speak to your audience on an emotional level. Video involves the layering of images and sound in a way that design alone can't quite do.
__BT: What are some new or unexpected ways businesses can benefit from using video in their marketing plan?__
__RS:__ I think one of these I've touched on, and that is with social media. I've seen it grow recently, and this is most certainly going to become the norm. People react to video, and if they're interested in the company, they'll take the time to watch. You just don't get that kind of power with text.
__BT: You also have a drone -- very cool, and something we're hearing more of lately. Why is that a valuable marketing or business tool? What other possibilities are on the horizon for drones?__
__RS:__ Oh yes, that's Tracy. Yes, I named my drone -- or a friend of mine got to name it (Tracy Bonner at The Bank of Missouri). I've been flying drones for two years, and I've watched the industry progress in that time. It's much easier now to get one flying, and the technology has added so many amazing features. For me, a drone is just another tool to capture an image, like my 4K cinema camera at the studio. I think it's not so much about the tool as it is the story and the reason why you might need a shot from the sky. The drone industry is opening up opportunities in several fields, not only with what I do in videography, but also in agriculture and real estate. Here in the next few years, your Amazon orders will arrive from a drone. It's not that far off now.
__BT: What inspires you? Where do you get your ideas?__
__RS:__ Honestly, the people around me, right where I am. Good stories are everywhere. I've had the honor of meeting some of the most extraordinary people right here in Cape Girardeau -- from watching David Fincher direct "Gone Girl" to seeing the amazing business leaders I've gotten to know reshape the business environment here in my hometown.
__BT: What are your favorite projects to work on?__
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__RS:__ I tend to work with a client for a longer term. KR Film + Media can carry out a message in multiple ways over a longer period. Social media is a perfect example of that. Mail gets tossed more than it gets read, but everyone is on their mobile devices. It's an incredible time to be in this business. The reach you have today is astounding.
__BT: What area (or areas) do business owners tend to overlook when it comes to marketing? Why is it important to hit those areas?__
__RS:__ Oftentimes I think business owners overlook how important marketing is for them. It's imperative that you set aside a monthly budget for marketing. If people don't know about your business, then you don't have top-of-mind awareness. How will you get new clients or grow your business without it?
It's important to budget 10 percent for a marketing budget. If you can't do that, then do 2.5 percent or 5 percent, or something small and scale it up from there. Without marketing, people won't know about your services that you can offer as a business. Businesses that constantly use marketing are the ones that continue to grow.
When making a budget for the year, you have to budget for marketing. Set it aside for your business, just like a bill, so you can hire a firm to develop a marketing plan that works for your business. It should be made one of the top priorities for your business. It makes me excited to see when a business moves in that direction, because I get to build those strategies with a client to develop a marketing plan that works best for them.
__BT: What is your best overall marketing advice for business owners?__
__RS:__ Content is king, and that means keep it simple. I've seen websites and designed print materials cluttered with too much information. I think that's just the designer in me. But look, no matter what format you're using, you're always up against the attention span of your audience.
__BT: What's next for you and your business?__
__RS:__ I want to grow in another larger market and expand some of what I do in each department. This is a four-in-one company, and I'm wanting to expand those areas of interest. I want to change industry through design and media. In the next five years KR Film + Media will be a dominant firm and will accomplish those goals. Developing a business has been the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's reaching the point now where those goals are already being accomplished. In April, I'll be shooting video in St. Louis and in New Orleans for an international firm, so I'm pressing ahead.
__BT: Anything else you'd like to add?__
__RS:__ I believe this will be an incredible year for KR Film + Media. I'm excited to be in this community doing what I do. I won two more American Advertising Federation Awards earlier in the year, so the momentum is there to make the most of it. I don't stand still, so I like tackling the next big project.
I'm involved in the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce. I also participated in Leadership Cape. Currently, I'm serving on the board of directors for the Tri-State AMP, the regional chapter of the American Advertising Federation. There are a few new things I'm wanting to launch, probably later in the year. These involve the arts and other ideas for companies or projects I'm pursuing.
An uncle of mine, Leon Heise, who painted some of the murals on Cape Girardeau's river wall and a few others along the landing in downtown Cape, always told me, "Never give up." Don't ever give up on your goals. There will be those that tell you it can't be done, but that's what drives me. If you tell me no, I will find a way and do it. I think it was Henry Ford that said, "Whatever you think you can do or not do, you're right."
My momma, Mary Spurlock, told me growing up, "Can't can't do anything." She was right. You have to keep up the fight. Rage on against the dying light while you still can.
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