SmallBox is "a growing team of thinkers and doers who are passionate advocates of meaningful work for clients and the community." Their staff combines their talents in marketing, design, creative services and technology to help companies prosper on-line. Located at 6219 Guilford Avenue in the former Broad Ripple Library branch connected to School 80, CEO and Co-founder Jed Banner described his entrepreneurial path.

"I started my first business in 1999 called 'StuffE' that was an EBay consignment company. I was working with antiques dealers where I discovered and sold antiques on EBay. That evolved into Antique Finder, an auction house that is up and running at 55th Place and Rural Street. During that time, we were using the web to do marketing and as I found out, my passion was around the web marketing more than selling stuff. I started Smallbox in 2006," he explained.

The other companies that Banner has created share a common bond. "Every business that I've started has been in Broad Ripple or South Broad Ripple. I just love the walkability, restaurants, bars, parks and the location to other areas of town, like the Northside and downtown. It has the right mix of cultural amenities," he noted.

Among those cultural amenities in Broad Ripple are projects that Banner has either solely created or been involved with. He co-founded SmallBox with Joe Downey, co-founded Antique Finder with Dan Ripley (www.antiquefinder.com), founded the Broad Ripple Music Fest (www.broadripplemusicfest.com), Musical Family Tree (www.musicalfamilytree.com) and co-founded Springboard Marketing (www.springboardmarketing.com), in addition to other ventures. Each of these has created a lasting social influence in the local community. He was named Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Advocate of the Year in 2011.

"Musical Family Tree started about ten years ago and its mission is to spread Indiana-based music. We have a 501(c)(3) that has been archiving Indiana bands for 10 years with over 1,000 bands at this point. We've been doing a lot of reviews, articles and special projects and will be focusing on ways to help youth expand their music in the community," he said.

While SmallBox utilizes technology, their employees' skill sets and resources in helping clients make the company unique. "Technology is really secondary to us. We're focused on marketing. How can we communicate that message for a client to their audience? The platform for that is usually digital where the culture powered marketing comes from. We speak to the 'why' of the client's business and not just the 'what.' We build the solutions as well as build the marketing for a client that right now is as much a conversation as anything," Banner emphasized. Their art of communication with a client and how they can help them achieve their objectives makes it a special work environment. Weekly meetings bring a genuine sense of camaraderie to the firm.

SmallBox approach with clients through strategy and planning, creative and user experience design (also known as UX), development and technology, marketing and keeping employees engaged is part of their cultured-powered marketing philosophy. Work examples at: www.smallbox.com/services allow viewers to browse the fruits of their labor while Banner elaborates on his company's culture at: www.smallbox.com/culture.

"We probably have three or four national clients at this point, but we have some clients in Bloomington and Muncie within drivable distances," he mentioned. Some SmallBox clients include Finish Master, United Way of Central Indiana and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

SmallBox employees' diverse talents provide clients varied approaches on projects. When future Director of Marketing Services Dan Fahrner met Banner, his managing concert productions at the Vogue and interest in marketing led to him running the Broad Ripple Music Fest where they share their passion for music. Fahrner also assists with business development. Designer Sarah Herbert is an accomplished painter whose murals can be seen around her hometown of Greenfield. Fellow designer Nick Klooz volunteers for the Indianapolis International Film Festival and uses his 3D degree in character animation from the Savannah College of Art and Design at the company. Chief Culture Officer Sara McGuyer balances marketing, human resources and business development in telling SmallBox story. She also volunteers on the IIFF board. (www.indyfilmfest.org) and writes movie reviews for My Old Kentucky Blog (www.myoldkentuckyblog.com). Content Producer Teresa Tatum fine-tuned her writing skills at Live Nation, Clear Channel and Southern California Public Radio. Company co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Joe Downey's affiliation with the Bloomington music scene composed his involvement in creating Music Family Tree with Banner. Client Success Manager Kasey Bradley combines his journalism degree with his yen for marketing in helping Smallbox quality assurance practices operate well. While these are just a few staff profiles, more can be read at: www.smallbox.com/our-team.

A recent Open House ('boxtoberfest) in late October "brought our friends and clients together in connecting people. A lot of this is allowing organic connections to happen," Banner reflected. Through events like this, SmallBox introduces themselves to the local community.

Though the Broad Ripple library branch on Guilford Avenue has long since moved, its knowledge base has evolved from books to creative ideas from entrepreneurs. The learning aspect is educating companies in a novel approach as the economy changes.

Jeb Banner's entrepreneurial vision and his multi-talented staff create unique marketing solutions for clients. They can offer you and your company culture-powered marketing ideas from their historic location in Broad Ripple.