Get to know the people who make Springbox an exceptional agency. What Inspires You? is a series of posts that offer insight into our talented and creative staff.
Allyson Hoffman
Account Supervisor
What did you do before joining Springbox?
I've been fortunate enough to spend my entire career in the Austin advertising community. Before Springbox, I worked at Milkshake Media and was exposed to incredible brands and a lot of non-profit work. My favorite experience was helping launch KRTS, the public radio station in Marfa, Texas, with a Willie Nelson Valentine's Day concert, "Willie be my Valentine?". Before that, I worked at Sanders/Wingo, and very early on, worked with high profile Fortune 100 brands with a multicultural focus.
Where do you find inspiration?
Something happens when you have a child (mine is 18 months old and is officially the cutest, brightest and best dressed), an entire world of mommy blogs opens up. It's like getting membership into a really cool club except instead of whiskey and ping pong, you get organic hand sanitzer and sippy cups. Through this world I've been introduced to Design Mom, Design*Sponge, 100 Layer Cake and Oh Happy Day — not super mom-ish, but something to help you dream and make a more beautiful life.
I appreciate and learn from people who are passionate about their own passions. An inspiration voyeur, I suppose. Food, photography, music, pop culture, design, event planning — you name it.
Which websites have inspired you recently?
Gilt Taste - Gorgeous use of photography and minimal flash animation; even though they are still in beta, I find myself lost in their blogs and dream of buying artisanal sea salt for my table.
BHDLN - I love it when a great brand expands. You easily forget they are trying to sell you $300 headbands.
10x10 - I'm a news and information junkie. This site is gorgeous, intuitive and a brilliant concept.
Life and Times - So yeah, I'm a news junkie and also a Jay-Z fan. What Hova thinks is cool, so follows the world.
Which trends in interactive are you currently paying attention to?
Particularly e-commerce and how it relates to mobile. I'm fortunate enough to be paired with clients here at Springbox that are perfectly aligned in various ways to be at the forefront of these related emerging technologies. Apps and services, like Square and Google Wallet, are making it easier for anyone with an idea and the drive to start their own business and collect payment. It's really changing the way we interact with peers and society as a whole.