Using a combination of thorough research and creative thinking, Mikula-Harris created the perfect brand strategy and ad campaign to promote tourism in Abingdon, Virginia.

The research showed us that Abingdon is best known as the home of the historic Barter Theatre, whose stage has hosted stars like Gregory Peck, Ernest Borgnine and Patricia Neal. The community also happens to be a terminus of the Virginia Creeper Trail, a very popular rails-to-trails project, along with a thriving arts community and dozens of locally-owned restaurants.

We used all of the insights and research to develop brand messaging that leverages the town’s most famous tourism asset in a way that also introduces the public to Abingdon’s other great amenities.

All local tourism offices want to promote local restaurants. Abingdon, Virginia chose to go a step further and promote restaurants that buy and serve products from local farms. With the help of a regional non-profit organization, the Rooted in Appalachia program was born.

An innovative program deserves exceptionally creative marketing. That’s exactly what happened when Mikula-Harris joined the team. In fact, the campaign won Best-in-Show at the Roanoke AAF ADDY Awards.

An eye-catching series of ads and posters cleverly point out the heritage of family farms in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. A website connects people to participating restaurants. The centerpiece of the creative family is a beautiful video that takes viewers from the field to the table.