we build meaningful brands
The most authentic, meaning-filled brands understand the drama of the marketplace and the character they play in it. They know who they are, what they’re about, and they invite others—consumers, employees, and stakeholders—into their unique character story. Their character story becomes their throughline, an authentic theme that drives connection and growth.
We help brands identify their throughline and pull it through every brand decision—brand identity, brand strategy, growth strategy, brand communication, culture formation, product strategy, packaging design, and production.
making meaning requires a different approach
1.
Our Work is Grounded In Your Unique Identity Story
Rather than projecting messages your consumers want to hear, we begin by understanding and defining your story, identity, and purpose. This forms your throughline, the unique theme that helps drive meaning, inform strategy, forge human connection, and create long-term brand value.
2.
We Strategically Engage Across Your Business
Meaning is communicated internally and externally with every decision you make and every message you send. We ensure your brand meaning runs through every aspect of your business so that what you do aligns with who you are.
3.
We are Built to Deliver Deep Work
The biggest brand challenges require robust business and category knowledge, intentional focus, deep thought, and focused work. We work with a select number of clients so you always get the best thinking and the best work.
Our client partners
“Throughline helped us capture our vision and bring our brand story to life. Now, we share that story—the return to the agrarian and community roots brewing—with every beer we pour, every person we hire, every merchandising decision we make, and every plant we put in the ground.”
— JESSE GAGNON, FOUNDER - ORTHODOX BREWERY
meet The founders
Nicholas Sammer
CoFounder - Chief Brand Strategist Nicholas is driven by what he calls garden work—using the raw materials of the world to grow beautiful, timeless, and meaningful things. It’s this ethos drove him into the work of brand-building. Throughout his career, he’s helped grow 100-million-dollar petcare brands, created apparel brands from the ground up, and partnered with some of the world’s most recognized brands to transform their customers’ retail experiences. Nicholas understands the art and science of brand building, and nothing brings him more joy than working with organizations and entrepreneurs who are focused on creating sustainable brand growth.
Seth Haines
CoFounder - Chief Storyteller Seth sold his first short story on the elementary-school playground, and he’s been writing ever since. He carried his passion for writing into the practice of law, where he mastered the art of complex and technical storytelling. Outside the courtroom, he continued pursuing longform storytelling, authoring two books and co-writing and editing over thirty others, including a New York Times Best Seller. His experience in law and storytelling has given him the unique ability to identify universal narratives, characters, and themes, and he uses these skills to help our clients clarify who they are and how to communicate their truth to the market.
Let’s talk.
We live for conversations with leaders who are serious about brand building. If that’s you, let’s make meaning together.