CountryMax Adds Creative Director, Grows In-House Marketing Team

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Press release: CountryMax 

CountryMax Stores, a Western New York family-owned business with 18 retail stores, has hired creative director Brian Rapp and junior designer Jenny LaMar as the company ramps ups its in-house marketing capabilities.

Rapp, a Cazenovia resident and veteran of several Upstate NY-based ad agencies and most recently part of the in-house advertising team for Oneida Nation Enterprises and Turning Stone Resort Casino, brings decades of consumer marketing and branding experience to the fast-growing retailer.

LaMar, a Pittsford native, graduated from University of Delaware with her degree in Food & Agribusiness Marketing. Her responsibilities at CountryMax include graphic design and management for the company’s Facebook and Instagram channels, as well as store signage and decorating.

Working with marketing director Mandi Lenhard and director of sales Brad Payne and other in-house designers and programmers, the team will focus on increasing awareness of the CountryMax name as its regional footprint grows. Additional priorities include creating branded educational content for customers and employees, expanding social media engagement and honing the company’s email campaigns. Building this internal team reflects a national trend toward in-house marketing agencies.

CountryMax is always on the lookout for talented employees for its retail stores, and will soon be hiring an events coordinator to manage pet birthday parties, school visits, live education seminars and other events at stores across the state.