TIMBUCTOO IS THE BRAND CONSULTANCY THAT BUILDS BRANDS THROUGH TRUTH AND BEAUTY.
(IT'S THE SECRET TO GREAT BRANDS.)
At Timbuctoo we’re committed to truth and beauty, and how they build brands -
cultural truths, category truths, brand truths, and consumer truths, and the ways they come alive in culture.
Because few things are as powerful as starting with these truths, and then finding beautiful, human ways to express them.
Because technology changes. People not so much. We're interested in what stays true of people, whichever medium it's expressed in. And where there are shifts, we look at emerging cultural practices, not just emerging technology.
Just the truth beautifully told.
Truth and beauty create value in new and unexpected ways.
At Timbuctoo we believe in going further - to uncharted territories to create creative, human brand strategies.
That's how we get to know people, and how we know what moves them.
Timbuctoo is a collective that prizes diversity of perspective and ideas, and celebrates "humanity"—and believes in working hard to get to the deeper truth. Which means we actually speak to people, and actually listen to them.
That's why we shape our research and thinking through different lenses - anthropology, culture, art, music, economics, stories.
Essentially, we ask: What do you believe? And what are you going to do about it?
To help companies and organizations answer that truthfully and beautifully, we are fiercely independent. We are not bound to any outcomes—not ads, not digital builds, not content or influencer strategies, not data or any new shiny things, which is why we pick our partners carefully. We want to care enough to be committed to their success. Or even invest in their success. We want to help them make the world a better place. We believe in the personal, specificity, truth and beauty.
WHAT WE OFFER
Essentially Three Things: Truth and Beauty, and how they shape Brand
Brand Strategy is simple, but it’s not easy. (And if it is, you’re doing it wrong.) We focus on the essentials because while so much changes, these things don't…
This we apply to:
BRAND STRATEGY
INNOVATIVE, HUMAN-FOCUSED RESEARCH
STRATEGY FOR START-UPS, WHO WANT TO TELL A POWERFUL STORY, AND GET INVESTMENT
STRATEGY FOR ART ORGANIZATIONS, TO ARTICULATE THEIR UNIQUE VALUE IN THE WORLD, AND GET FUNDING
BRAND CAMPAIGNS
TRUTH
IT’S OFTEN HARD, BUT ESSENTIAL.
Truth is one of those things everybody claims they want, but that’s often—and ironically—not true. We really get that it can be uncomfortable, but it's still the most reliable method to surprise and move people.
Because we, the people, know the truth in our very bones. When we see it.
There are Four Truths we're concerned with.
What's true in culture that helps us, what's true in the category that we should know, what's true of your product or brand, and lastly, and perhaps most importantly - what's true for the people who we want to buy our product or service.
BRAND
STAND FOR SOMETHING.
Brand, we think, is a simple proposition:
What do you believe, and what are you going to do about it?
What do you, or your company, want to achieve in the world. (Beyond making money.)
It could be humble, it could be inspiring, but it’s got to be true.
WHAT THEY SAY
Theo is genius! We searched the world for the best creative minds to work with and our search lead to Theo. After 15 years in marketing working with many agencies I can say I have finally found the difference between average and great. Theo is a big picture strategist who intimately follows and understands human behavior and world trends. He then has the ability to merge these with business objectives and distill the information down into a cohesive strategy and briefs that both the creative teams and business leaders both understand. The only time you shouldn’t work with Theo is if you have a boring project, he shouldn’t be wasted!
—Darren Walls, Founder Sportshosts
HOW WE WORK
THE
TOOLS
LEGEND
We'll help you articulate your brand's unique, compelling story - using more creative tools than most. And it definitely won't be bland or boring.
Because the best story wins.
SPEAK UP
A brand needs an identifiable voice to be heard above the din.
We help you find it.
PUNCH
Lace up. Everyone has a strategy until they get punched in the face.
Truth vs counter-truth.
Let's rumble.
PREDATORY
THINKING
Great stories, told by brands, create memories. Which are proven to be the best way to create value, by increasing demand and lowering price sensitivity.
ELEPHANT
TAMER
Remember the metaphor of the rider (System 2) and the elephant (System 1). Mostly we try to get a big, lumbering animal to move slightly, and slowly in a new direction.
THE WALK
Walking increases creativity by 60% via Stanford Research. This is a walking exercise. A sort of pilgrimage to good ideas.
THE MUSEUM
OF
A way we get people to create museums for their lives, as a rich source of learning and magic.
COLLABORATORS
WORKING WITH WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND PROJECTS IN CINCINNATI, NEW YORK, DENVER, DETROIT, SYDNEY, CAPE TOWN AND SAN FRANCISCO…but mostly in charming Cincinnati with regular stints in Detroit and New York.
SOME OF OUR TEAM’S WORK
WHO IS TIMBUCTOO?
Theo Erasmus:
Journalist, sea lion trainer, boxer, creative director, Head of Strategy, MD, founder, activist. Theo has done this before—For the likes of Ogilvy, Euro RSCG, DDB, FCB, Leo Burnett, membrane, Possible. And with some famous brands such as Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Puma, Jeep, Fiat, Alfa, Vodafone, Danone, Western Union, KFC, Wavepool, The Africa Center, The Consortium for Innovation etc.
Often, with remarkable success.
theo@timbuctoo.org
OUR MISSIONS
HELPING BUSINESSES BECOME BEAUTIFUL. Timbuctoo helps companies and causes we love tell their story and start small, powerful, ethical movements and rebellions…at first.
CONTACT US
SPORTSHOSTS:
CONNECTING PEOPLE THROUGH SPORT
Creating a platform for fans to connect to other fans and form bonds with a cheer in their throat and warmth in their heart.
Luk:
BEAUTY GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
Beauty products made from food, without any of the bad stuff. And delicious.
