Big step pays off for video marketing firm

BY ROB SABO

Business started booming when Stephanie and Troy Herrera decided in April to make their digital marketing company a full-time venture.

Sambooka Group, which produces digital marketing pieces primarily through high-definition videos, was founded in 2006 as a source of supplemental income for the Herreras. But Troy, a 17-year veteran of the information technology industry, left his job at Patagonia to grow the business the couple runs from their South Meadows home.

"When he left Patagonia, the floodgates just opened," Stephanie says. "We were free to proceed as we wanted to."

Troy handles all the technical aspects of the business, from DVD editing, production, labeling and duplication to Web site creation, while Stephanie is the face of the company and is director of client services.

Since going fulltime the couple has significantly increased its customer base through client relationships and referrals. Local clients include CB Richard Ellis, Diversified Consulting Services and D'Andrea Golf Club.

The company shoots video and also farms projects out to Reno Sparks Video Production as needed. Customers typically are billed by the job and charged per hour for changes after the initial project is completed. The Herreras are the sole employees.

Examples of Sambooka Group's local marketing pieces include:

* A DVD video for CB Richard Ellis that visually showcases northern Nevada's realty submarkets and individual properties.

"We are able to show visually what the area was all about, as well as having the voice over that accompanies (the video) and tells people what to expect while they are here," Stephanie says.

* A 60-second piece for D'Andrea that received exposure from spots on flat screens at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport baggage claim to in-room videos at the Grand Sierra Resort.

"That is a good example of how they were able to take one piece and use it in a variety of different venues," Stephanie says.

Clients out of the region include the Washington, D.C.-based Business Industry Political Action Committee, which represents business interests in Congress, and several clients in Las Vegas, such as Brady Industries, which provides industrial cleaning and linen services to casinos in the Las Vegas area. Many of the company's contracts have come from Stephanie targeting certain companies for their services or via references from current contacts and clients.

"We find companies we want to work with and get in touch with the decision makers and pitch it to them," she says. "We give people an engaging way to learn about a company or a product."

Stephanie Herrera thinks video marketing pieces one day will be commonplace for many businesses. Sometimes Sambooka will put together a demonstration piece to use when pitching its services.

"People are so visually oriented that if they can just see what you are talking about then they get on board," she says.

Video marketing production is the company's main focus, but Sambooka also provides public relations and marketing assistance and Web design. Navigating contracts and operating a new business created a sharp learning curve.

"We have learned by being in business how to do business better for us," Troy says.

The company's Web site is sambookagroup.com.