An unusual vision of marketing that has lasted
for a reason

30 Years of Marketing Innovation: No Flash in the Pan

Charlie Williams opened the doors for business at Williams Company on October 1, 1979. While his first client (who is still our client 30 years later) fondly called him "Williams & Self," it wasn't long before Charlie added to his client roster, his payroll and his love for the business.

By the mid-1980s a young New Zealander named Gerry Randall finished up his studies at Charlie's alma mater, Indiana State University, and began his career at Williams Company. When Charlie and Gerry became business partners, our name changed to Williams Randall, and it wasn't long before we expanded to Indianapolis. We still have offices in Terre Haute and Indianapolis and have worn grooves in I-70 between the two cities.

By the early 1990s, Williams Randall was one of the first advertising agencies to move into website development. In fact, our entrée was so early and on target that Gerry was named the state's Ad Person of the Year by the Indiana Federation of Advertising Agencies due mostly to our advancement into web.

We like to joke that we survived 70s disco, 80s big hair and the many booms and busts of the 90s and 2000s because of our agile and intelligent approach to marketing. We've successfully navigated the trends and fads. We've made smart decisions (such as hiring exceptionally dedicated and talented staff) that often kept us ahead of the game.

What's with that logo?

In case you've been wondering what our logo represents, here's the answer: The white lines inside the oval represent two crossed beaks of a chough (pronounced chuff; it's a European bird with glossy blue-black plumage and red legs) and a kiwi (the legendary feathered friend of New Zealand). The original Williams Company logo sported a lone chough, paying homage to the Williams family crest carrying the same bird.