Doe-Anderson is one of the oldest continuously operating advertising agencies in the United States;[1] and it is the oldest independent agency in the US.[2][3] The agency has served some of its clients for more than 50 years, including Maker's Mark bourbon and Hillerich & Bradsby, makers of Louisville Slugger bats and equipment.[4][5] In business since 1915, Doe-Anderson currently has 130+ employees and offers communication services including brand positioning, strategic planning, creative execution, media buying and planning, digital services, print and broadcast production and public relations.[6] The agency is a member of the Advertising and Marketing International Network (AMIN), and of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's).
In 2024, the agency earned B Corp certification joining a global network of businesses who have met high standards for social and environmental impact.[7] Doe-Anderson also official updated their registration to a Public Benefits Corporation (PBC).[8]
Background
Doe-Anderson was founded as the Elmer H. Doe Agency in 1915 after Elmer Doe left his post as J. Walter Thompson Copy Chief when he met and married a woman in Louisville, Kentucky[1] In 1925, Doe hired family friend and former paint salesman Warwick Anderson as an unpaid copy trainee. After attempting to fire him multiple times, Doe took a liking to Anderson and promoted him to partner on January 1, 1934. The agency officially changed its name to Doe-Anderson in 1939 and was incorporated in 1958.[1]
The agency uses an acorn as its symbol, representing the concept that ideas can develop into business-changing forces. Or, as Warwick Anderson related it, "Giant oaks from tiny acorns grow."[1]
Though Doe-Anderson has always been headquartered in Louisville, its street address has changed many times. When the agency opened in 1915, it was located in the Keller Building.[1] Doe-Anderson moved to the Columbia Building in 1927, to the Starks Building in 1932, and to the Martin Brown Building in 1936. After the Ohio River Flood of 1937, the agency moved to the Commonwealth Building where it stayed until moving to a Victorian home on East Broadway in 1972. After a stint on Main Street, home to whiskey row, Doe Anderson moved to 680 S. 4th Street on the same land they once occupied in the 1930s. In 2016 a branch location of Doe Anderson was opened in Columbus, Ohio at 629 N. High Street.
In 1950, Doe-Anderson hired Louisville's first female media director, Pat Porter.[1]
In 1958, Warwick Anderson established the Doe-Anderson Profit Sharing Trust, offering company equity to all employees.[1]
Doe-Anderson won the Hillerich & Bradsby account in 1971, beginning its long relationship with the Louisville Slugger brand. The agency still holds this account today, with H&B brands now including Bionic Gloves and PowerBilt Golf.[5]
In 1973, Doe-Anderson began working with Maker's Mark.[4]
In 1985, the agency opened Kentucky's first separate public relations division, which still operates today.[10]
In 1988, Doe-Anderson's TV campaign for Ashland Oil, which promoted keeping kids in school, was honored for its effectiveness by being read into the US Congressional Record, and by being incorporated into a nationwide public service campaign.[11][12][13] Ashland Oil was also invited to a ceremony at the White House in recognition of its efforts.[14]
After the Affordable Care Act passed, Kentucky became the only Southern state to host its own health benefit exchange.[15] In 2013, the Commonwealth of Kentucky awarded Doe-Anderson a multimillion-dollar contract to market kynect – the state's first-ever health benefit exchange – to Kentuckians.[16] kynect has since been cited as a national success story and was praised by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union address.[17]
In 2013, Doe-Anderson received international acclaim for its "Prepare for Real Life" campaign for Mercy Academy. The campaign was featured on NBC's TODAY show, among other national and international outlets.[18]
For Doe-Anderson's 100th anniversary in business, Louisville's Frazier History Museum is showcasing the firm's history with the exhibit "The Power of Persuasion: 100 Years of Doe-Anderson" from August 1, 2015, to February 14, 2016.[2][3]
The All Hands Black Owned Small Business Program was launched in 2023 offering pro-bono services to local business owners.[19]
In 2024, ADWEEK covered Doe-Anderson's 50-year client-agency relationship with iconic bourbon brand, Maker's Mark.[20]
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