Peter A. Mayer Advertising was founded in 1967 by Peter A. Mayer after a long career with Walker Saussy Advertising. He created an advertising agency that focused on New Orleans’ businesses and their needs. The agency kept their New Orleans roots even after Mayer retired by keeping the agency in the family through his sons who to this day continue to better New Orleans through their advertising campaigns.
The Founding
Peter Mayer and Dot Cahn founded Peter A. Mayer Advertising in 1967. Mayer left Walker Saussy Advertising after it merged with Henderson Advertising and started Peter A. Mayer Advertising down the street. This start-up had three employees and held three accounts. It was located on 315 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana and Mayer paid $50 per month for this space (“Our History.” Peter A. Mayer. http://www.peteramayer.com/culture/our-history/). As Mayer brought the agency to success, he also brought his sons into the company with him. Mark Mayer joined the company in 1986 and became company president in 2002. Josh Mayer joined the company in 1991 to become the creative director. Keeping the company in the family also keeps it tied to New Orleans as the entire Mayer family spent their lives here.
A Place to Call Home
Peter A. Mayer Advertising 2010. Photo by Jay H. Gard.
In 1970, Peter A. Mayer Advertising made its first move from 315 St. Charles Avenue to 816 Howard Avenue. In 1974, the company moved again, this time, just a ways down the road to 1000 Howard Avenue. In 1980, it relocated once again to 384 Camp Street, where it resides to this very day and even relocated after Hurricane Katrina. Location is very important in the advertising business, so like other agencies, Mayer Advertising moved to where the business was. Once they established a name for themselves, they were able to maintain one steady location.
In 1993, the firm opened an office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2005, the company established a temporary office in Monroe, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.
Advertising Relationships and Campaigns
In 1974, just four years after its founding, Peter A. Mayer Advertising formed a relationship with Whitney National Bank. This lasted over 30 years. In 1977, the company developed a relationship with the Times-Picayune; this lasted over 20 years.
Later, the firm worked heavily on promoting New Orleans. It campaigned for the New Orleans Saints, Louisiana’s football team. Its employees worked with the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism to campaign after the wake of tragic Hurricane Katrina. This campaign was called “This is My Louisiana”. In 2006, Peter A. Mayer Advertising launched LivesConnected.Com, a website chronicling individual tragedies and experiences relating to Hurricane Katrina (Mayer). This same year, AdWeek published an article about Katrina’s benefit (Jim Lovel. “Talent Zoo Aids in Hurricane Relief.” Northbrook: AdWeek, Sept 12, 2005).
In 2007, the company planted trees in city park for its 40th anniversary and worked with the Trumpet to begin the “Forever New Orleans” campaign. This campaign was specifically designed to “stereo the Crescent City’s Resilience” (Michael Karnjanaprakorn. “New Orleans Revisted.” http://blog.mikekarnj.com/?p=279. August 6th, 2007).
All of these campaigns are completely focused on New Orleans business and getting people to come to New Orleans to experience the city. The agency is unique in that they do not cater to the national interests, but instead focus on what matters to New Orleans business.
Awards and Achievements
Peter A. Mayer Advertising soared in the 1990’s and grew exponentially. In 1993, AdWeek named Peter A. Mayer one of the hottest agencies in 1992. In 1994, they received an EFFIE for work with Freeport-McMoRan. This hot company won the National ADDY in 1995 for work with the Tulane Hospital for Children. In 1998, this ad agency became the largest in the state of Louisiana and exceeded $50 million in gross billings in 1999.
In 2000, this advertising and public relations agency opened an interactive division. The next year, in 2001, the company employed over 100 people, for the first time. This same year, they were pictured on the cover of AdWeek. In 2003, Peter A. Mayer Advertising Division became Peter A. Mayer Public Relations, a division of Peter A. Mayer Advertising. In 2004, the New Orleans CityBusiness named Peter A. Mayer Advertising one of the top ten places to work in New Orleans. That same year, the company won its second EFFIE for their work on the New Orleans Saints Campaign.
In 2008, the company won its third EFFIE for WhyYouTeach.Org work in the recovery school district. Also in this year, it became an agency of record for the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. In 2009, it launched OpportunityLouisiana.Com (Mayer).
