Building and evolving brands

Hi, I'm John, Chief Creative Officer at Herman-Scheer, a strategic and creative brand consultancy. We believe the businesses that prioritize connection over transaction are the ones that succeed. 

Since 2010, Herman-Scheer has helped change the way businesses make people feel. We have big heart and daring instincts. A sunny disposition and assertive gait. 

I consider myself a people-people kind of person, enamored by how brands connect to people and how people connect to brands. I love working with businesses that—put simply—keep people healthy and happy.

My career journey has been about embracing the idea that friction makes fire. 

I believe in mixing the intuitive and familiar with the audacious and novel, creating a healthy tension to captivate and engage. This friction, this interplay of ideas, is where I believe brands find their true voice and distinctive edge.

Alongside Chapin, (The Herman to my Scheer), we’ve built an agency with a strong POV: great health and self-care brands create narratives and identities aimed at changing behaviors—experiences so compelling that customers stick with a product or service even before they see the tangible benefits.

If you're in the wellness industry looking to evolve your brand toward lasting impact, let’s talk shop.

Feel free to reach out here or email me at john@herman-scheer.com.

John Scheer

Roughly 3 years ago, Chapin Herman and I were on a road trip -- he turned down whatever podcast we were listening to and said something along the lines of...

"John, I think we should go all in on this health & wellness space. It aligns with our own values, the work we've been doing already, and I am really bullish on where the industry is headed..."

The potential of closing off the door to the amazing variety of work I assumed we would miss out on kinda bummed me out at first...

After a wee bit of rumination, I realized this was the opportunity to help build and transform the brands that keep people healthy and happy.

Purpose!

And personally, I had just had my kids, my folks were getting older and battling disease, middle age breathing down my wife and I's neck...

I was in.

Fast forward to today. 

Our business has never been healthier, nor have I! 

The companies that work with us are no longer comparing and contrasting us to a bunch of other great agencies with amazing-looking portfolios. 

Instead, they're making a decision to start on third base. 

A choice to work with people who have completely immersed themselves in the world of healthcare, self-care, and well-being.

Who deeply understand the psychographic profiles of early adopters of preventative health modalities, to the mother of 3, juggling life through the aisles of mass market retail.

We’ve now helped dozens of businesses at all different inflection points navigate and grow within this growingly competitve and complex space.

And dare I say we’ve had some fun doing it...

If you’re ready to pull the future of health care, self-care and wellbeing forward…give us a shout and stay tuned with my posts :)

Building and transforming the brands that make generations healthier.

If you've had your finger on the pulse of D2C marketing at all in the last ten years or so, you've no doubt heard of my friend, Nik Sharma...

After years of reading his trusted weekly newsletter, shared clients and fun event run-ins -- I finally got the chance to chop it up with him and talk shop on his podcast Limited Supply. 

Nik asked me about my POV on branding, what it really means - specifically at Herman-Scheer.

If you don't have the time to listen, I've asked Chat to TLDR(L) our convo; 

📌Branding isn’t your logo. It’s your clarity.

In the latest Limited Supply episode, Nik Sharma and John Scheer break down what branding actually means — and it’s not just colors and fonts.

✅ Branding is strategic, not cosmetic
✅ It’s about clarity: who you are, who you serve, and why you matter
✅ Great branding starts before design or marketing
✅ Your brand strategy should align with your business goals
✅ Skip this, and you’ll pay for it later in confusion, wasted spend, and weak positioning

Your brand is the foundation, not the finishing touch. Build it with intention...

Open article: S15 E3: How to Actually Think about Branding by open.spotify.com

S15 E3: How to Actually Think about Branding

bluesoup

Founder & CEO

I’ve worked in the advertising industry for 25+yrs, spending my early career in large London media agencies; Lowe Howard-Spink, The Media Business, MindShare & MediaCom.  I worked on brands such as Tesco, Wickes, Ford, RAC, Audi, Ruddles Brewery, HMRC/COI, etc etc.
 
I relocated to Devon and launched Bluesoup in 2008, I wanted to bring my big agency experience and offer something truly special for brands both big and small. Since then the agency has grown from strength to strength with our team of 12 talented, strategic, creative and insightful individuals. 
 
I continue to head the agency and get involved in the creative and solutions process, keeping our fabulous clients and team happy.
 
What makes us different?
 
-Response focused
-Experience & Expertise 
-Accountability
-Creative
-Transparency
-Relationship
 
Bluesoup’s Directors maintain a direct and hands on approach with the clients of the agency. On a RAR survey, Bluesoup averaged in excess of 90% for client satisfaction, we don’t roll in the big guns to win business then walk away and leave you with junior staff. 
 
When it is safe to do so our kettle is always on, you’re always welcome to nip in to meet the team and see examples of our work.  And if you give us some notice you can even experience a locally baked scone along with lashings of Devon clotted cream.  Life doesn’t get any better. 
 
Alternatively we’re happy to jump on a Zoom call or come to meet you at your offices.

Founder & Managing Director

Edukid

Edukid is a UK charity that helps children living in acute poverty abroad. Support is given through educational scholarships, therapy and long term sustainable, self sufficient initiatives.

Edukid currently support around 3,500 children in Asia, Africa, The Middle East and South America.

Edukid also run a UK Schools Global Citizenship Programme for UK schools. This links students in the UK with their counterparts in Edukid projects, providing a two way learning platform. The programme links heavily into the UN Sustainable Development Goals and seeks to educate and empower a new generation to explore their own identity and role in the world.

Chair Of The Board Of Trustees

Artavia Advertising Ltd

I was brought into strengthen the operational Board and develop the media offering outside of the core classified press competency.  I worked closely with the 10 offices on their key clients, on pitches and on developing their media strategy and media planning skills.  I also worked hard to establish stronger relationships with key media suppliers as well as introducing creativity to planning, together with an awareness and understanding of accountability. The highlights of my time at Artavia were using 10,000 daffodils to prove a point for Cornwall Tourist Board in London and sending pots of clotted cream through the post for a cottage agency...(email me if you'd like to hear more!)

Media & Planning Director

Interactive Digital Sales

Working across a portfolio of digital TV channels such as UK Gold, Bravo, UK Style etc, I worked directly with clients and stations trying to develop innovative sponsorship packages as well as working on the launch of new stations.

Commercial Development Manager

ids - Virgin Media

Client Sales Manager

Mediacom

Brought back (having been at Media Business previously) to work on the newly won VW/Audi account as a result of previous motors experience.  I headed up the media strategy & planning for the Audi account on a day to day basis.  Whilst at MediaCom I was on the successful pitch teams for the Greene King, RBS/NatWest, Met Police & HMRC accounts and went onto manage the media strategies for these.  Also helped develop the annual staff training programme run by Associate Directors.

Associate Director

Mindshare

Part of the media planning team working on the Ford Account.  Whilst at MindShare I worked across the complete car range, commercial vehicles and Motability as well as helping execute and maximise the sponsorships of the Millennium Dome and Rugby World Cup.  I worked on the launch of the Ford Focus and Ford Cougar and for both developed innovative solutions involving readers of Top Gear Magazine whereby we took readers to Le Mans or held a track day with Tiff Needell.

Media Manager

Media Business

I worked across a broad portfolio of clients including; Mazda, Babyliss, Arniston Bay and was part of the "virtual agency" created to rebrand & relaunch the RAC.  I planned and bought all media from press to radio, cinema to outdoor.  I left as I was headhunted to work on the Ford account due to my motors experience.

Senior Media Planner/Buyer

Lowe Howard-Spink

I worked primarily on the Tesco account.  I began by managing the regional activity for new store launches as well as the ongoing local store support before being promoted to assist with national advertising.  I also managed the Wickes account given my knowledge & understanding of regional media and assisted with the planning & buying for Reebok.

Media Planner/Buyer

Carlsberg-Tetley

Media Executive

Experienced Travel & Tourism Media & Advertising Expert | Helping companies sell holidays and amazing days out. Eden Project, Exodus Travels, Journey Latin America etc

I’m Ben Duhig, the Managing Director of Bluesoup, a leading full service advertising agency for travel and tourism brands with a soft spot for ethical, responsible and sustainable businesses. 
 
The agency has an enviable wealth of experience; we’ve worked with Ford, Tesco, Wrigley’s, Natwest, Audi and BP Castrol. Career highlights include launching the Ford Focus, developing pan-European TV campaigns for Wrigley’s, being part of the team that rebranded the RAC and winning a New York advertising award for Audi’s media strategy.
 
Based close to the glorious Atlantic coast in North Devon, we have clients from Scotland, to West Wales, Cornwall and London and we work across multiple sectors including FMCG, Property, Travel and Education. 
 
What we do:
 
- Advertising strategy development
- Design and branding
- Offline media planning & buying
- Online media planning & buying; PPC/Digital Display/Paid Social/Retargeting/Programmatic
- Organic Search
- Online content creation
 
Results mean everything to us, our clients success is always a key driver in what we recommend, by delivering the greatest return possible. 
 
Some examples of our work:
 
1. We helped Farm & Cottage Holidays (now The Travel Chapter) increase sales by 71% on the back of a regional TV test
2.     The Eden Project enjoyed its best summer ever thanks in part to a 96ft aerial banner which registered the highest ever recognition for a paid medium
3.     We increased clicks by 18% whilst also driving down CPCs by 17% within 4 months of taking on the PPC account for Imagine Ireland, an Irish holiday cottage company (from a specialist PPC agency!)
4.     Our regional focused campaign for Journey Latin America contributed to a 47% surge in new website visitors, resulting in a 56% uplift in goal conversions
5.     We were behind a new TV campaign for TGA (mobility scooters) which resulted in their first ever £1m month of sales
6.     We increased the CTR for Marjon University’s PPC by 145% - which resulted in a jump of 144% for people registering for clearing
7.     We secured 1st page SEO rankings for KWs such as “Mobility Scooter” for Monarch Mobility
8.     We’ve won international packaging design awards for our work with Lyme Bay Winery
 
We’re experts at what we do, if you are looking for an advertising agency that’s a breath of fresh air, puts clients first, has plenty of ideas, solutions and a track record of success I’d love to have a chat, please feel free to drop me a message.

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The Battle

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Engagements

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