Business Partners Dani Hamblett and Traci Pitman Run Innovative For All Brandkind Marketing Agency
By Jennifer Jordan

Creativity flows from many sources. For business partners Dani Hamblett and Traci Pitman, pop culture has provided a wealth of inspiration. In particular, the duo cites a popular phrase as key to their shared philosophy: “Walk it like you talk it,” inspired by the hit song by hip-hop group Migos. This motto describes the ethos of the local marketing and brand development agency For All Brandkind.

Traci and Dani opened Fab/co, the area’s first co-working space, in 2020. (photo by shane darby)

For All Brandkind (Fab) developed out of a continuing education course that Traci and Dani designed and taught at Texarkana College. The two first met in 2010, when Dani was serving as the editor for Appeal magazine, and Traci, then the design and creative services coordinator at TC, provided freelance design work for the publication. The women began to see each other in the OB-GYN waiting room in early 2011, bonding over being pregnant at the same time. A few years later, the tables turned when Dani, at this point a freelance writer, invited Traci to lunch and asked her to review the copy on Dani’s website.

“Traci liked my ‘conversational tone’ so much that TC hired me to do some copywriting for their website redesign—one of my first freelance gigs,” Dani said.

Traci and Dani after their lease signing for the FAB/Co space.

In 2015, the two mothers had the idea to teach a continuing ed course called Building Your Brand Online. “That’s the kind of thing we do for fun,” Dani laughed. A small business owner taking the class asked them to manage their social media, and from there, For All Brandkind was born.

The marketing agency combines Dani’s writing and business acumen (she holds an MBA) and Traci’s writing and design prowess (bolstered by a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in corporate communication) to offer a full-service experience for clients. Fab works its magic not only on social media strategies but also in branding, graphic design, digital advertising, website design and hosting, and public relations projects.

Brainstorming sessions flow when self-interest is set aside. “There’s no ego when we work together,” Traci said. (photo by shane darby)

What’s more, Traci and Dani also provide physical working spaces for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and more at Fab/co, their co-working space located on Texas Boulevard. Fab/co launched out of Traci and Dani’s own needs for a dedicated space as well as the needs of their clients. Living in Hooks prior to forming the agency, Dani needed a place to work while her son was in school in Texarkana.

“I would work from Starbucks or sometimes at TAMU–T where I taught on and off as an adjunct,” she recalled. “Traci and I had a regular work night once a week, where we would meet at the State Line Starbucks for two to three hours and work on projects or even have client meetings. During that time, I was reading about coworking spaces in other communities and wished we had something like that here.”

Dani started tinkering with a potential business plan for a local coworking space, and in January 2020, the perfect spot became available. She emailed Traci a pitch, and Traci loved it. Fab/co’s grand opening was “on the Friday in March when the world shut down for COVID,” Traci said. “And look—we’re still here!”

Fab has served a variety of clients, from preschools and local colleges to nonprofits and political campaigns. Traci and Dani have set some strategic goals to expand even further. One of their priorities for 2024 is to hire another graphic designer, which will allow them to take on more all-encompassing projects, such as their 2023 redesign of Mission Texarkana’s coffee concept, Humble Troll Coffee. They cite the branding project—which encompassed naming, creating a logo, designing packaging and merchandise, and more—as one of their favorite projects of 2023.

Transforming Mission Texarkana’s coffee concept, now known as Humble Troll Coffee, was a Fab favorite project of 2023.

Outside of work, Traci and Dani are the current co-chairs of the United Way Community Impact Committee. They also serve on the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce’s marketing committee, helping to plan and promote the local “Solarbration” of the April 8th eclipse.

As co-creatives, business partners, fellow community servants, and friends, Traci and Dani spend countless hours together. They leverage their complementary personalities and skill sets, as well as their deep respect for each other, to benefit their art, their clients, their community, and themselves.

“Dani is curious, hilarious, kind, giving, and fun,” Traci said. “We started this venture as colleagues, but she has become one of my closest friends. There’s no ego when we’re working together. Half the time, we can’t even remember which one of us came up with that good idea from our brainstorm sesh. We both want the outcome that makes our client shine the most.”

Dani concurred, adding, “We help fill in the other’s gaps. We complement each other well in that way. We truly do work as a team. I’m thankful for Traci. She’s an awesome teammate and has also become a great friend.”

Now nine years after the founding of Fab, Traci and Dani encourage new businesses and young creatives to heed three pieces of advice. The first is to act.

“Traci and I have learned so much by doing,” Dani said. “Just start somewhere. If something isn’t working, learn from it and pivot, but keep going.”

The second piece of advice they offer is to be patient and resilient. “We’re kind of in an instant-gratification culture right now, and one thing that I’m learning every day from our clients who are successful is that success is not immediate,” Dani said. “Hard work, discipline, following through on what you say you’re going to do, and treating people with kindness are the most important building blocks for any small business.”

The third piece of advice? “Walk it like you talk it.”

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