IT’S ALL ABOUT STORY

 

We believe that Story is what give us our identity. It’s what gives us our purpose in life.

Stories are what makes us understand each other better and want to create a relationship. That’s true for friendships. And business.

Empathetic stories are the most powerful way to reach your marketing goals with customers, donors, partners and investors.

Furthermore, research shows that video is the most powerful and quickest way to help emotions reach the brain.

So let us help you find that powerful story and we’ll help you tell it so it sticks.

 
 

who is Sticky Story?

 

We help companies rediscover their "why" and tell it in a powerful way so it sticks. The 'why' is our belief system. It’s the moral of our story. And people want to do business with like-minded people. This is how we start to build relationships with our customers. This, of course, is the cornerstone to trust, respect, loyalty, and ultimately, company growth.

I have been a storyteller my whole life. I was even a recording artist telling stories through music I have written. Some of which were even in the Billboard charts. (Just Google Search me.) Stories know no boundaries. Ads. Music. Video. Poems. Pictures. If you feel something in your heart, it’s because a story was told. Even with no words, your mind is a meaning-making machine and it will make up a story that fits with all the experiences it has at its disposal.

When you know how to tell a story just right, then you can emphasize what you want people to know and if they have the same belief system as you, voila, a friend (or investor/partner/employee/customer) is born.

We are a small band of storytellers who love to tell stories that inspire others to act. We come from an advertising background instead of a film background so we understand the concerns of clients and the need for films to not only inspire but to make people do something after they've watched them. 

How is your company telling its powerful story? If you're stuck, we can help make it stick. 

 
 
 

Nonprofit Work

At Sticky Story, we understand that nonprofit organizations face a unique challenge: telling an emotional story that inspires action, while also appealing to the rational side of potential donors and supporters. That's why we specialize in crafting compelling narratives that blend emotion and logic, creating a powerful story that drives real results.

We know that business people need rational reasons to make decisions, even when supporting a cause as emotionally charged as helping those in need. That's why we approach every nonprofit storytelling project with a strategic mindset, creating a narrative that speaks to the heart while also making a clear and compelling case for action.

Don't just take our word for it - try watching any of the nonprofit stories we've produced without feeling something in your heart. We believe that our approach to storytelling can help your nonprofit stand out and make a real impact in the lives of those you serve. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you tell your nonprofit's story in a way that resonates with your audience and inspires action.

BOSTON COMMUNITY CAPITAL

This is a Gala video that celebrates the organization’s Belief system for partners, investors and recipients to rally around. The empathy is wrapped in money which is what it takes to make things happen. This organization doesn’t believe in handouts, it believes in empowering people and in the end, making investors money. This concept reflects that sentiment. (The collage artist is Mark Wagner and he is truly amazing.)

 

URBAN EDGE

This is a Gala video to celebrate the 40 year anniversary of an organization that has done so much to help Boston’s inner city. It was pleasure and an honor to write this song that describes the legacy of Urban Edge. Music producer, Malik Williams did so much to bring this endeavor to life.

 


BE BOLD, BE BALD

A cause to help find a cure for Cancer. A shoutout to Max Esposito for filming this, to and Brian Cassin for his editing finesse.

 

BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER - Fundraising

Boston Medical Center is a nonprofit hospital that has a huge heart- they accept everyone and refuse no one. And the care these people get is state of the art and second to none. Just watch the videos to understand the real power of BMC. When played at their Gala events, hearts are filled with hope and wallets open.

NeighborWorks

This is a gala video that became an anthem for the company -a financial organization that helps families afford a place to call their own, often of which they build with their own resources and partnerships.

 

Wicked Good Cause :30 TV Campaign

GALA FUNDRAISING VIDEO - Wicked Good Cause helps people on Boston's South Shore deal with unforeseen illnesses and tragedies. Focusing on the positive is key to fundraising which is how we approach every story we tell.

 

The 2017 Winter Ball Gala commercial campaign went so well, Wicked Good Cause asked Sticky Story Inc. to create a 5th Annual Ball video for 2018 to tell the stories of many of the recipients. The chalkboard gave us an opportunity to put every recipients name on the board while hearing heartfelt stories. 

 

Jimmy Fund Walk :30 TV Spot

Looking for something a little different for their Jimmy Fund Walk, we created an animated campaign to stand out from the fundraising commercials.

 

HealthCare

Great healthcare storytelling can inspire and motivate investors, donors, and patients to take action for the common good. Our healthcare division is dedicated to crafting compelling narratives that connect with audiences on an emotional level while providing a clear case for action. Whether it's videos, marketing campaigns, or connecting with investors and donors, we understand the unique needs of the healthcare industry and are committed to delivering outstanding results. Contact us today to learn how we can help your organization make a real difference.

 

ALDEYRA THERAPEUTICS - A publicly traded BIOTECH COMPANY

How do you use video to sell to investors? When you’re trying to sell investors on a treatment or cure for a rare disease, the first thing you have to do is educate the investor on what the rare disease is. This can be time consuming if the story is not concise and accurate. Video is a great way to tell a story quickly so the investor is now emotionally invested in the disease and is now open to how he/she can get financially involved.


ALDEYRA THERAPEUTICS - TO HELP EDUCATE POTENTIAL INVESTORS ABOUT A RARE EYE DISEASE AND ITS POSSIBLE TREATMENT

 

ALDEYRA THERAPEUTICS - TO HELP EDUCATE POTENTIAL INVESTORS ABOUT AN ORPHAN DISEASE CALLED SLS AND ITS POSSIBLE TREATMENT

This is the story of a young woman, Olivia, who has a rare disease called SLS. And a company called Aldeyra who thinks they just might have a cure. And what that discovery will mean for both of them. 

Sticky Story Team: Producer/Director/Writer Steve Kolander, DP Brynmore Williams, Editor Peter Rhodes

 
 
 
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Mass Eye and Ear Hospital - an international center for treatment and research

SELLING EXPERTISE AND CUTTING EDGE TREATMENTS TO SET MEE APART FROM THE FIERCE COMPETITION THAT EXISTS IN BOSTON


This is the story of a 9-year old girl who was born deaf and can now hear perfectly well. A true miracle. This is the kind of hospital that you want to go to if you have problems of any kind with your five senses.

 

Mass Eye and Ear - This campaign’s strategy is to show that MEE is a research hospital that is always thinking of how to help patients live life to its fullest.Because of this, we are experts in cutting edge technology and treatment. As our execution of this idea, we showed our scientists with patients emanating from them to symbolize what it’s really all about.

 

Biotech COMPANY - Design That Matters 

Design That Matters is helping save children's lives in developing countries by creating a device that cures Jaundice. They have created the Firefly which has no moving parts that can break in the harsh conditions often observed in the developing world.  Their CAD design tool of choice is SolidWorks. SolidWorks is helping celebrate the lives of engineers and designers who invent things that help make the world a better place. 

Writer/Director/Creative Director: Steve Kolander  Art Director: Christian Williams  Director of Photography: Jeff Powers  Editor: Brian Cassin  Account Executive: Paul Dome

Mass Eye and Ear Hospital

Writer/Co-Director/Creative Director: Steve Kolander  Co-Director/Art Director: Christian Williams  Director of Photography: Jeff Powers  Editor: Brian Cassin  Account Executive: Paul Dome

 

SYNTOUCH - BIOTECH COMPANY THAT DESIGNs 'TOUCH' TO THOSE WITH A PROSTHETIC HAND

Syntouch uses tactile sensors to mimic the human fingertip. I know, it sounds like sci-fi stuff. That's why I love this healthcare category. Technology is amazing. And they use SolidWorks CAD software to design this futuristic kind of thinking. 

Team - Writer/Director/Creative Director: Steve Kolander  Art Director: Christian Williams  Director of Photography: Hillary Spera  Editor: Brian Cassin  Account Executive: Paul Dome

 

DIAGNOSTICS FOR ALL - A BIOTECH COMPANY THAT IS DESIGNING A DEVICE THAT CAN DIAGNOSE EBOLA IN JUST 45 MINUTES

Ebola tests in the developing world takes anywhere from one day to 5 weeks. Diagnostics For All is developing a rapid diagnostics test that will give results in just 45 minutes. This is a game-changer. And it was created using SolidWorks CAD software. SolidWorks is the industry standard and is embraced by game-changing companies and their engineers and designers.

Team - Writer/Director/Creative Director: Steve Kolander  Art Director: Christian Williams  Director of Photography: Jeff Powers  Editor: Brian Cassin  Account Executive: Lisa Johnson

 

BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER - FUNDRAISING

Boston Medical Center is a nonprofit hospital that has a huge heart- they accept everyone and refuse no one. And the care these people get is state of the art and second to none. Just watch the videos to understand the real power of BMC.

Team - Writer/Director/Creative Director: Steve Kolander  Art Director: Dana Ferruzzi Writer: Tara Hofer  Director of Photography: Brynmore Williams  Editing Facility: Engine Room  Account Executive: Jennifer Giampalo  

Beth Israel Lahey Health

Beth Israel Lahey Health is a world-class teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and cutting edge in its technology and in the way that the myriad of disciplines communicates with each other. The result is fantastic care and results for patients. Each time my partner, Christian Williams and I tell a story there, they are incredibly accommodating to whatever we want to film. And that’s not an easy task for a hospital.

FINANCIAL

The Financial industry often gets a bad reputation for being cold and impersonal, focused solely on numbers and profit. However, at our agency, we believe that finance is actually an incredibly emotional industry that affects people's lives in profound ways. It's not just about dollars and cents - it's about the dreams and aspirations that money can help make a reality.

We understand that the decisions people make with their finances are often deeply personal and tied to their values, hopes, and fears. Whether it's saving for a child's education, starting a business, or planning for retirement, these financial goals can have a profound impact on a person's sense of security, purpose, and fulfillment.

That's why we believe that financial companies have a unique opportunity to connect with customers on an emotional level by telling empathetic stories that resonate with their hopes and dreams. By focusing on the human side of finance, we can help these companies build strong relationships with their customers and inspire them to take action towards their financial goals.

If you're looking for a partner who understands the emotional side of finance and can help you tell stories that connect with your customers, look no further than our financial division. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you build a stronger, more empathetic brand.

 

Boston Community Capital

BCC invests in low-income communities so they can be self-sustainable and prosperous. This company with over 1 billion dollars in assets has a vision and will get it done with you or without you. They would rather do it with you.  Watch as collage artist Mark Wagner creates a model urban community from pieces of money as BCC creates a relationship with his partners, investors and recipients in this Gala event video by sharing its belief system.

 

Urban edge

Urban Edge asked our team to create something unique; something that would be special for their 40th Anniversary. After spending over 8 hours with the Urban Edge team, we created a song that told the story of the trials and tribulations of this amazing organization. The moral to their story is; "When you find respect, you're home." Steve Kolander (CEO and Founder), was honored to write the song and enjoyed it being sung by the citizens of the Urban Edge community. Music producer Malik Williams was instrumental in this endeavor.

 

NeighborWorks

This is a gala video that became an anthem for the company - a financial organization that helps families afford a place to call their own, often of which they build with their own resources and partnerships.

 

SOFTWARE

Glance software

Software is supposed to make our lives easier. So why is it that so many apps and websites actually makes us more stressed? This video tells the story of a company that has found a way to use humans and technology together to make a better web solution.

 

SolidWorks 3D Software

This is the industry standard in 3D software. This audience doesn’t like to be advertised to. So instead, we celebrated engineers who are rockstars in the inventor space and simply showed how they used the software to create something the world didn’t even know it needed.

Motocycz - the world’s fastest motorcycle

 

Aldebaron -The Human Helping Robot

 

The Kite-Propelled Ship

 

SolidWorks 3D Software Campaign

A mini reality TV series where we use design engineers to star in our SolidWorks comedy. This campaign won an Effie for it’s effectiveness - increasing software sales by 23%.

The Pilot Episode

 

Episode 8


 

fitness/lifestyle

REEBOK

FUEL THE FIRE

This is an online series that recognizes the elite fitness instructors as unsung heroes. They wake up early every morning to get the rest of the world’s health-conscious ready for their day - building muscle, losing weight and building confidence in their clients -often at the expense of their own health.

David Jack

 

anthony pettis - UFC world featherweight champion

 

Eric - Former Gang Member now Fitness Instructor

 

Powerlifters part 1 - Mark bell and jesse burdick

 

Zap Fitness - marathon camp

 

Powerlifters - Part 2 Mark Bell and Jesse Burdick

 

Nicholas Pettas - The Blue-Eyed Samarai

 

Bodybuilder - Pavel Polouktav

 

Gymnists - Carl and Kelly


 

real estate

Some people say that you can’t tell a story with real estate. I say that real estate is probably one of our most emotional purchases we will ever make. And anywhere there is emotion, there is a story waiting to be told. With words or with pictures, a story is what creates a relationship and once that relationship is forged, it is extremely powerful and it awakens that irrational part of our brain that say, “I want it no matter what.”

Compass Realty

After creating the video for this property, it sold for $20,000 above asking price. Stories are what gives anything its value -how it makes you feel, not what it is.

 

adams montessori school - where architecture and emotion meet

Because of the Covid Pandemic, visitors were not allowed to enter schools during the summer. The question became, "How do we get prospective families to want to sign their kids up for the following year?" We decided to create a virtual tour of the property. Still photos of an empty school seemed sad and lifeless. So we used a camera to sweep through the school like a child seeing the school for the first time. The result - while other schools were closing because they couldn't afford to reopen, this Montessori school had to turn families away because they had already reached full capacity. (This challenge is what gave me the additional idea that this was the way to sell real estate - to bring someone through the property using personal touches in addition to seeing the ‘brick and morter’ while also finding a piece of music that reflects the emotion that they should be feeling while watching. The result is powerful.)

 

Eastman Hill Stock Farm- Bed and Breakfast

This is an AirBnB property is in Lovell, Maine. 250 acres of pristine paradise. There are three properties to rent at this location. This particular property is a Greek Revival home that was built in 1833 and refurbished in the 1990s. My goal was to not only capture the physical house but more importantly, to capture the emotions of its surroundings so that the viewer creates a relationship with this property just by seeing a picture.

exterior properties and surrounding areas

Sometimes I rely on the bones of the structure itself to create emotion. Sometimes I rely on the skies to trigger those emotions. Other times, I’ll use astrophotography to create the romance I want to convey. Other times, the sheer size of a property is begging for an aerial shot. The seasons themselves give us an emotional tug. You just have to size up the situation and decide what it takes to move, motivate and inspire someone to want to learn more or better yet, want to have it right away.

ad campaigns - brand storytelling

Advertising is about more than just selling a product or service. It's about creating a memorable brand story that resonates with your target audience. At Sticky Story, we believe that brand storytelling is the key to unlocking the emotional connection between consumers and brands. By making your audience feel something - whether it's humor, surprise, happiness, fear, or intellegence - you can create a powerful relationship that inspires trust and action. Let us help you craft a compelling brand story that sticks with your audience and drives results. Contact us today to learn more.

Client: GymIt

Project: Start a new gym from scratch. Give it a personality and voice. Don't spend too much. So we named it GymIt, created the character, Gymbo, created ad-like things that lived within a 1-mile radius and treated this gym like no other. The "stickiness" is a no-nonsense gym that speaks in a no-nonsense way. The gym has since won numerous awards for their marketing and their gyms. 

Social Media:  Once the personality was in place, GymIt could create their own conversations with their fans.

team included ae melissa dowler, senior copywriter bruce gray, art director tania o'brian, ecd steve kolander

 

Client: Norfolk Southern Railroad

Project: As the economy began looking for cleaner fuels and less dependency on foreign oil, we created a strategy to make Norfolk Southern fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. Through research, we discovered that trains get 410 miles per gallon. No other form of transportation even comes close. This shocking bit of news changed the way the industry thought of train marketing during the next dozen years. Our audience was investors and policymakers inside the beltway.

Norfolk TV Spots

team included gary kaczmarek, matt whitfield, bill tommasi, john gregory, steve kolander

 

Client: Orkin Pest Control

Project: This an integrated Orkin Pest Control campaign that demonstrates how to create a story across all types of media to give the message a "sticky" factor so that whenever you see a bug, you immediately want to call Orkin. (See movie below for integrated story.)

team included john gregory, gary kaczmarek, samantha bryan and steve kolander

 

Client: Bridgestone Golf

Project: Bridgestone Golf was introducing a new golf ball in an oversaturated market. They asked us to create an integrated campaign that would move product. This campaign was an Effie Award for its effectiveness. The name of the campaign is called, "Tobu," which means, "Fly far with emotion," in Japanese. The integrated campaign includes TV, print, banner ads, a website and an on-video game.( See movie below for integrated story.)

team included john gregory, gary kaczmarek, samantha bryan and steve kolander for jwt

 

Client: Long's Jewelers

Project: Position Long’s Jewelers as the expert when it’s time to get engaged. For the LGBT community, because marriage was just made legal, there were no traditions and customs, and Long’s Jewelers wanted to fill that void. This campaign was very much embraced by the LGBT community and won a plethora of awards.

Print

Website

team included art director rachel bukstein, copywriter tara hafer, account executive monica belling, ecd steve kolander

 

Client: Be Bold Be Bald

Project: Be Bold is a nonprofit organization that raises money to fight cancer. The idea is to get people to sponsor you to wear a bald cap for one day in solidarity of all those that don't have a choice but to go bald when they fight cancer. Because cancer is such a personal story, we used a ground roots movement to ask the community to get involved. We created a platform so individuals could start their own crowdfunding page and tell us all who they were going bald for. Hugely successful.

Website

Outdoor

Social Media

TV Spot

team included art director rachel bukstein, writer tara hafer, account executive monica belling, ecd steve kolander

 

Client: Reebok

Project: Reebok is the official sponsor of the NHL. They asked if we could showcase their new NHL apparel at Dick's Sporting Goods. The answer was, "Yes!"

team included associate creative director christian williams, account executive monica bellings and ecd steve kolander

 

Client: SolidWorks

Project: SolidWorks is fantastic 3D CAD software for engineers and designers.  Research showed that engineers don't watch advertising. So instead of advertising, we created an on-line sitcom starring the three personas that make up their audience.  All marketing dollars went to promoting the show in instead of the product and was extremely successful. The show ran for three years and the series won an Effie Award for effectiveness.  

team includes writer bruce gray, ecd steve kolander, art director tania o-brien, ae melissa dowler, director charles wittenmeier

The emotion of Music

Composer Virgil Thompson said it best: The quickest way to a person’s brain is through his eye but even in the movies the quickest way to his heart and feelings is still through the ear.” This is the power of music in film. All too often, music is an afterthought when concepting a story/video. At Sticky Story Inc, we consider music an integral part of the storytelling. And Steve Kolander's (CEO and Founder) background as a recording artist on Polygram becomes a real value to our clients. To hear some of Steve Kolander’s newest music, be sure to visit his Youtube channel at www.Youtube.com/SteveKolanderMusic

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