Being in branding and marketing for over 20 years, CEO and cofounder Angela Sandler has seen all forms of marketing come, go, stick around, evolve, work, not work, cause frustration, be innovative, be timeless, bring ROI, bankrupt budgets, cause frustration and elation, and overall confusion. ROI on marketing is a tough and difficult thing to analyze.

Yes, there are all kinds of tools and programs—but all in all, marketing, in most aspects, is completely a crapshoot. Throw in changing technology, limited time, limited budgets—it’s a wonder how any small business owner can keep up. How can you continue to throw marketing into the world—and watch it continue to be a mismatched jigsaw puzzle that only causes frustration, disappointment, and loss of faith in the system?

One thing that always seemed missing was the human connection. How can brands effectively build relationships with their customers and get in front of them, face-to-face? How can you woo a customer and build brand affinity? How do you even get to your customer in today’s busy world?

Chances are if you can provide a customer a good experience, speak to them, interact with them, and listen to them—well, then you have a customer for life.

Experience-based marketing defies traditional mediums of throwing marketing efforts to the wind; it pinpoints your exact target market, gives them an experience, brings them into your fold, and hooks them for life. We found this to be true with our own company: if you can get in front of your customer, give them a unique experience—you get loyalty.

Xplor was created because of the model that events work. Events bring people together. Events provide a platform for your message that you can express human to human, in an authentic way. Events and experiences bring a human element to marketing, in a time where connection is appreciated.

Xplor began after our previous company, kidzxplor, partnered with families, women, small business owners, and kids to be able to provide an experience or events. We found that through traditional forms of marketing and advertising, we weren’t moving the needle. We didn’t have the connection. Provide them a platform or an event or experience—that worked. We believed in it so much, that in September of 2018, we completely pivoted the company to focus solely on creating, curating, and connecting brands to people via social connection.

Part experiential-marketing company, part event innovators, part consensus builders, and part connectors, Xplor conceptualizes and brings to life experiences that impact bottom lines and result in real relationships. We are creative gurus, storytellers, innovation pioneers, and savvy connectors. We create brand stories communicated via experiences that will connect and provide unforgettable moments in time. We love to stay in the know and believe in the power of connection and collaboration. We weave influencer marketing within the clients and brands we work with to make sure that brands are represented on all levels.

We craft and curate those authentic, exclusive experiences and opportunities that humanize brands and enhance relationships because we are passionate about people and we believe that brands are just like people. Organizations are living, breathing, moving entities that deserve a human touch. From concept to implementation, we are there every step of the way, so that the client can engage smarter and move the needle with purpose.

We do this via strategy, access, and production. We think strategy is sexy and believe companies should, too. After extensive research and diving deep into business goals and brand mission, we conceptualize and create a plan that will drive visions forward. We build strategic partnerships that tap into the pool of audiences that matter to businesses. A matchmaker of sorts, we connect companies to our growing member list of influential individuals and families.

We make brands truly appealing to target demographics by producing unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experiences. We work with companies, organizations, festivals, charities, and foundations who want to engage employees and their families, foster collaboration and develop teams, launch new products or services, create connection with new demographics, celebrate milestones, enhance fundraising efforts, and drive attendance.

Integrated marketing has reached a new norm where consumers are expecting more from brands; they want to reach out and touch them, feel heard, feel connected, and have fun. By harnessing creative elements, working strategically, and providing unique experiences, we believe that experiential marketing is the future of marketing as a whole. Watch what we can accomplish—together.