Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
I'm familiar with the hobby of trading baseball cards, or even Pokémon cards, but until now, I had never heard about "corporate" trading cards that come complete with illustrations and descriptions of classic office stereotypes such as "The Control Freak" or "The Gosseptionist." The characters were inspired by real people and designed to evoke stress-relieving laughter from any office crowd. The creative geniuses behind Salt Lake's Corporate Kingdom are Steve Hawkins, Tim Hall and illustrator, Joel Jarrard.
Steve and Tim met for lunch four years ago and discussed creating their future ideal ad agency Cohezion Communications. Corporate Kingdom came a few years later after Steve bumped into a woman in 7-Eleven who had recently purchased $1500 worth of Pokémon cards for her grandchildren. That experience sold Steve on the idea of trading cards as a creative project for the company.
Anyone in the workplace can relate to the 21 characters featured on the cards, mugs and calendars. Take "Big Mug Betty" for example. She is driven on by sheer carbonation, as she fills her giant plastic mug with soda throughout the day. Then there's "The Slacker" who works hard to avoid work. He can usually be found "sleeping at his desk under the cover of dullness." Then there's my favorite, "The Bean Counter" portrayed as an uptight, peevish fellow who attends double billing seminars. Sound familiar?
Tim tells me Corporate Kingdom cards can also help people recognize their own personality quirks. Just like one of the 12 steps — once you admit you're a control freak, for example, you can begin to grow as a person. These cards pay special tribute to those office characters we've all worked with or in some cases have been. They're just plain fun. Corporate Kingdom merchandise is available on the Web and at select gift shops locally.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
