Marketing consultant, Fractional CMO, brand strategy, energetic speaker, foodie, soccer player, and proud Dad

I’m passionate about marketing and building brands, and that energy is evident from the first moment of interaction. My approach combines curiosity with strategic thinking and creative solutions to help businesses stand out and grow through effective marketing.

With over 20 years of experience, I’ve led transformative projects across diverse industries, including technology, medtech, consumer goods, and professional services—serving both B2C and B2B clients. In 2012, I founded Common Giant, where I helped companies harness branding as a competitive advantage in a crowded marketplace.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked client-side managing retail stores up to $52MM in revenue, served as VP of Brand Strategy on the agency side, launched an agency with global clients, and acted as a fractional CMO for multiple businesses. My experience spans branding, marketing strategy, and creative execution across a variety of business models.

"The guy you want in the room." - Former coworker.

I believe in these four core principles:

1 - Marketing is a business practice. 
It’s not just about promotion. Marketing is a series of levers to pull for higher profits.

2 - Know the customer as much as you know yourself.
Understand what, how, and where your customers buy to serve them best.

3 - Grow the orchard while you sell the fruit.
Focus on long-term brand growth while capitalizing on immediate sales.

4 - Boring is expensive.
Mediocre marketing is forgettable, less effective, and costs more in the long run.

Beyond my work with brands, I'm an enthusiastic keynote speaker, delivering engaging talks on branding, marketing, creative problem-solving in business, and effective marketing strategies to audiences of all sizes.

Phillip Oakley

Special Sauce Branding

We help companies launch, rebrand, and grow.

I've launched and rebranded more than 100 brands in my career. My experience stretches from huge Fortune 500 companies to startups. 

Our sweet spot at Special Sauce is helping new, rebranding, and growing companies optimize their product, brand, website, and marketing for growth. We plug into your company as part of your team. You get our crew of expert strategists, designers, developers, and performance marketers who will take care of your positioning strategy, messaging, visual identity, website, and marketing. 

If you're looking for a partner who can grow your brand and run your marketing so you can focus on delivering a killer product, let's chat: 

andrew@specialsaucebranding.com 
http://specialsaucebranding.com/

Founder

CPG MBA

There's no school for CPG, but now there is a weekly email sharing tips, interviews, and resources from veteran CPG entrepreneurs and professionals. Join our email list for access to our upcoming panel discussions, workshops, and community.

https://cpgmba.com/

Co-Founder

Harvest

I sold Harvest to my business partner in 2018 in a very amicable split. 

Harvest Creative is a branding firm that excels in research, strategy and creative execution.

At Harvest, I managed all internal and external creative, strategy, programming, PR, photography, project management, and administrative teams to ensure timely delivery of all client projects. I also set P&L goals and company budget plans. 

Our project successes included a mix of marketing and branding/rebranding initiatives, digital work, and environmental design for clients in a range of industries. Some highlights include leading the rebranding of the Wendy’s Kids’ Meal program that is now in every Wendy’s in the US, development of Tractor Supply’s Neighbor’s Club loyalty program, developing branding and positioning for True Temper Golf to protect their position as the #1 shaft in the world, and design of eight Whole Foods stores.

Owner

Sotox Sports Management

Managed top North American professional cyclists and triathletes. Negotiated primary rider contracts and sponsorship agreements.

Vice President

I help companies like yours grow. 

I've done cool things with companies like Wendy's, Walmart, ButcherBox, True Temper, Whole Foods, Tractor Supply, Smith & Nephew, Mimeo, Kayem Foods, and a bunch of other fantastic companies across the country. 

Now, I help companies launch, rebrand, and grow. 

If you've got a proven product, we'd love to help make it a raging hit. 

www.SpecialSauceBranding.com

I'm proud of Special Sauce, but it's my other 5 kids I'm most proud to have fathered. They're always going to like me no matter what you think. Hope you have someone in your life like that as well. 

Lover of riding bikes up mountains and skiing down them.

taplio

The Battle

Phillip Oakley

Andrew Holliday

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