DFS Creative Concepts

🥳 A-List Client List + The A-Team 🥳 Thank you to the readers of Greenville Business Magazine, Charleston Business Magazine, Columbia Business Monthly, and B2B: The Grand Strand Business for propelling us at dfs creative concepts to the final round in the SC Best in Business Awards! We are honored to have made it to the final voting period. We'd love your vote for our two categories: Best Woman-Owned Business and Best Ad Agency / PR / Marketing Firm. Click the link below to read a note of thanks and reflection from our team. We love what we do, and who we work with. 🩵

DFS // Nominated for SC Best in Business Awards 🌟 Vote Now

A glimpse into what we've been up to over at 1011 East Washington so far this year. Check out our recent newsletter update. Have you seen us lately? Click here to find out ➡️ https://mailchi.mp/6698eda94fb8/seen-us-lately

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cc // Dorothy Self + Kayla Carter Currey + Amanda Glenn + Stephanie Swenson + Anna Clanton Champion + stephanie tew + Macale Fusco

*found object series, cont’d* when it comes to creating, it doesn’t stop in our office. of us is now addicted to creating outside . don’t get us wrong, the tomato pies have been great but we are desperately seeking recommendations of other things she can start creating - submit all recs to [email protected].

*found object series, cont’d.* it started as a weird joke involving moving this mouse around the office, and sweet amanda still hasn’t figured it out. it’s okay though because she’s “techy” and hasn’t noticed it yet.

hello, Fall? we’re ready for you.

*found objects series, cont’d.* we appreciate a good user experience when we see one. s/o to this amazing chocolatier company who not only sent us delicious treats, but also a pretty place for kayla to store her essential oils for her office.

Malcolm Long, Chief Executive Officer, Mattress By Appointment Australia
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“When asked by Dorothy about a testimonial for dfs creative, I had no hesitation in saying yes. In fact, I find it a privilege.
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I first met Dorothy and her team in May of this year. My immediate impression was, "This is a class act." I had no hesitation signing an engagement with the team even though I operate in another country roughly 10 time zones away.
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I have no regrets; they are transparent, experts in digital marketing, and they are always available in spite of the time differences. But more importantly, they care.
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I know they will play a major part in my continued success.”
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Thank you, Malcolm! You and your team are a joy and an honor to work with.
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Mattress By Appointment Australia, the newest addition to the Mattress By Appointment LLC family, has seen unprecedented success since engaging with our team. From website design & build to launch, our seamless approach and Malcolm’s steadfast commitment to opening MBA Australia with a *bang* have been a winning combination. A targeted technical digital advertising campaign has resulted in an influx of interested and committed owner-operators in the first 30 days!
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THAT is the dfs difference.

*found object series, cont’d* surprise surprise - yet another formula guide spotted on macale’s bookshelf.

*found objects series, no.001* today marks one week since we moved into our new building, a gorgeous historical number posted up on east washington street. introducing our new *found object series*, where we highlight things found in our creatives’ offices. first up: dorothy’s essential object: CHANEL no.5.

we work in color. fresh off the press from today’s color brainstorming sesh.

we’re not shy about the fact we are female-owned, female-operated. when you are a mother and a woman in business, sometimes lunch is your only true dining opportunity. our clients always appreciate a good lunch meeting, and we are happy to oblige!

we've been a little busy lately, allow us to reintroduce ourselves... ✌️

Allow Us to Reintroduce Ourselves...

we’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. we have a thing for color theory, and in our book leopard is always a neutral. follow us for more random creative thoughts as we brainstorm for several new accounts, and the interior design of our own building.

Working with Paul Brocklebank and his team at Canal has been nothing short of an honor and a pleasure.
From custom website design to print collateral, multimedia production, technical digital advertising, logo designs for innovative telematics products, and everything in between. . . We’ve been there for it all. The team at Canal has been a loyal partner to and an integral part of our team.
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Keep on truckin’ - we’re in it for the long haul with you.

We are proud to be working with MetroConnects on the Clean Water Forward campaign!

We are honored to be a part of spreading the initiative to educate and bring awareness to the public about improving the infrastructure in Greenville and creating a sustainable, well-maintained and reliable wastewater system.

Meet Amanda, our newly minted ✨Marketing Technology Manager ✨
Amanda works hand in hand with our corporate account managers on all dfs creative accounts. Her lengthy list of professional accomplishments makes her the perfect fit to manage the intersection of creativity and data-driven precision, ensuring our clients gain & maintain a competitive edge.
Amanda’s core focus areas include:
✨Leveraging emerging technologies to optimize campaign performance and ROI for our clients
✨CRM integration and implementation for clients
✨Utilizing data-driven insights to inform strategies, audience targeting, and campaign optimization
✨Maximizing our clients’ involvements with our technical digital advertising offerings, including ad servers, data management platforms (DMPs), demand-side platforms (DSPs), and other marketing automation tools
✨Custom app and website strategy and design

Welcome home, Amanda. Now that you are here, we can’t remember what it was like without you. You are so loved!

Have a seat, our clients are spilling the tea.

Mattress By Appointment was one of our first clients. We have grown in tandem for the past ten years. When it comes to marketing, there’s nothing dfs creative hasn’t produced for Edwin and his entire team.
Being part of the MBA journey to where it stands today, with 500+ owner operators domestically in addition to internationally expanding into Canada, the UK, and now both Australia and New Zealand, has been an unparalleled honor.
Edwin is not only a client, but a cherished mentor and friend to all of us at dfs. We are grateful for him and his company each and every day.

Meet our collegiate interns - Ashlyn & Evan ✨

Ashlyn is a driven and creative senior marketing student at Clemson University, where she is pursuing a minor in management. Upon completing her degree this upcoming December, Ashlyn plans to build a career in digital marketing and/or graphic communications, with a focus on creating engaging designs that connect with clients.

Evan is a rising Junior at the University of South Carolina, hailing from the charming city of Greenville, SC. She is currently pursuing an advertising major with a minor in hospitality, and she is set to graduate in 2025. Evan is also an active member of the Kappa Delta sorority on campus, where she plays a vital role in the upcoming recruitment year.

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Meet Dorothy Freeman Self, our founder. 🌟 With 15 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and brand building, she has made a significant impact both locally and internationally. Through her formative years in San Francisco, CA and Jacksonville, FL as well her degrees from Furman University she's been driven by a passion for creativity. Since its establishment in 2013, dfs creative has grown exponentially, serving clients across the globe.

Dorothy's achievements have been recognized by industry publications, and her commitment to ethics and transparency led to dfs creative concepts receiving the Business of Integrity award from the Better Business Bureau Upstate SC She was also recognized in the inaugural class of SC Women in Business, by readers of Greenville Business Magazine Columbia Business Monthly and Charleston Business Magazine dfs creative was also voted by SC residents as the #1 Women Owned Business in the state in 2021.

As Chairwoman of an Upstate non-profit advertising review board, Dorothy focuses on promoting ethical and effective advertising practices in the marketplace. She shares her knowledge as a published author and guest lecturer at universities like Clemson University and the University of South Carolina inspiring the next generation pursuing careers in promotional and international marketing. 📚🎓

Dorothy cherishes every minute with her son, Freeman, and their “spirited” dogs Sullivan and Zoe. They recently began companion planting, cultivating fruits and vegetables and learning about the power of sustainability at home. Hailing from the Clay Matthews football family dynasty, it comes as no surprise to find Dorothy, Freeman and their furry friends watching literally every NFL game. 🌱🏈

Introducing Kate, our first graduate of the dfs creative NextGen Mentor Program! 🎓🌟 This program, in partnership with Greer Middle College Charter High School, invests in the next generation of creatives. As a talented alumna of GMC, Kate discovered her passion for art and design, excelling in her studies. Now, she's pursuing a graphic design degree at Liberty University, fueled by her creativity and desire for positive impact. 🎨💪

During her time at dfs creative, Kate honed her skills and gained invaluable experience in the field. As a result, she decided to pursue formal training in graphic design. Her exceptional performance led to an immediate full-time summer position as an executive support specialist. From client communications to creative support, Kate assists Dorothy with various tasks and ensures a smooth information flow. She also contributes to expanding our creative library of materials. Together with Dorothy, she shapes the agency's creative direction. 🤝✨

We value our professional and personal relationship with Dean Marjorie Jenkins - USC School of Medicine Greenville, Dean of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. Now entering our fourth anniversary supporting her and University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville - we are honored to have worked on everything from admissions office virtual tour videos, public relations initiatives, graphic communications, technical digital advertising, and more.
Recently, we prepared collateral for Dr. Jenkins to use in her presentation to University of South Carolina deans about what makes Greenville's medical school the first, the best, and the only.
Thank you, Dr. Jenkins, for your trust in our team and for also inspiring us each day! You will forever be our Queen. 👑



Dorothy Self
Kayla Carter Currey
Anna Clanton Champion
Stephanie Swenson
Emma Kerr
Macale Fusco

Stephanie’s superior ability to execute marketing campaigns flawlessly and with ease makes her a strong asset for our corporate account management team. Having worked with brands varying in size and scale, and serving clients hailing from every corner of the country, Stephanie is known for being able to quickly identify what needs to be done – and then, getting it done correctly and ahead of schedule. Her clients and coworkers alike appreciate her speedy turnaround time, especially in an industry that demands things “yesterday”.

Stephanie excels at developing and maintaining strong relationships, and delivering outstanding customer service. With thorough knowledge of the latest technical digital advertising trends and technologies, Stephanie is dedicated to helping clients achieve their marketing goals and driving their business forward.

Stephanie joins our team with nearly a decade of experience in corporate communications and management. She gained invaluable experience in printing and account management with a renowned international corporation, working closely with major food care brands to fulfill graphic communication needs. Her work ethic is as strong as her design skills, and her creative talent knows no bounds.

Stephanie Swenson



Golf-Ed.
Mumma Property Partners - Blackstream, Christie's International Real Estate
Carson Speer Builders
INSTEL POWER PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Home Builders Association of Greenville
MetroConnects
Metatomic

WorkSmart Staffing is a family owned business committed to our community and the clients that they serve. WorkSmart provides a boutique staffing experience, by choosing to work with a select group of like-minded companies to which they strategically dedicate personalized time to provide an extraordinary service. They focus on working hand in hand with their clients to coordinate a customized plan that fosters the development of a productive WorkForce.
We are honored to partner with them on an array of digital marketing services as they continue to grow throughout the Southeast. They have high expectations, and we are proud to exceed them!

A rare hybrid of strong account management proficiency coupled with a superior graphic design pedigree made Macale the perfect fit for our team. Not only does she possess the ability to design logos on a whim, she has the strong management and communication skills to present them to varying audiences.

Her design process is thoughtful in its foundation, beginning with active listening as clients verbalize their visions. She then takes pencil to paper, and the rest is history. Clients appreciate having her at the table, because she not only does the designing, but she has mastered the art of truly absorbing expressed desires.

Macale effortlessly executes each project and helps brands tell their stories through perfect pairings of typography + color that are effortlessly intricate. Her passion for designing began after taking her first graphic design course in high school where she immediately fell in love with the art. During her undergraduate time at Clemson, she was among a select few invited to enter into a branding competition for the first student-led creative agency at Clemson via the Erwin Center for Brand Communications. Macale’s winning brand concept has now taken shape as Cadency.

Macale Fusco

Emma’s approach to multimedia production is unlike others in the industry, thank goodness. She never sacrifices form or function; she marries the two. The end result is an engaging deliverable that benefits, and raises, a client’s profile.

In an age where anyone with an iPhone is a “photographer” and anyone with any number of apps is a “videographer”, Emma unites best practices with creativity in an expert way. Working hand-in-hand with our technical digital team, Emma is the bridge between global creative ideas and the nitty-gritty it takes to produce a superior end product.

Emma is responsible for overseeing video pre-production and post-production, as well as managing multimedia projects, social media content, strategy, and various graphic design projects for our clients. Emma assists each of our corporate account managers on marketing tactics and designs to promote brands. With each project she is deliberate in her work and executes creative storytelling with grace.