Bullard & Black closing after 35 years
Star-Bulletin staff
The
Bullard & Black Advertising Group has closed for business after 35 years in Honolulu.
Partner Gib Black said the business officially closed on Friday, but will finish up paperwork and other accounting work until the end of the month. Six employees were given notice at the beginning of the month.
"There are a number of reasons for closing," said Black. "We've had some accounts that have not done well and weren't able to pay us, and we made other decisions that were wrong. We just felt it was time to close."
Black, 62, however, said he did not plan to retire. Given that he loves marketing, he said he would be exploring other options in the field.
Bullard & Black provided strategic planning, media planning, print collateral, print and broadcasting advertising, in addition to direct mail and events services.
Gib and Jackie Black opened the ad firm, originally called Gib Black & Friends Inc. in 1972 as a small, boutique agency.
The name was eventually changed to Gib Black Advertising Group until ad veteran Patrick Bullard joined the agency as an equity partner and vice president in 2004. At that time, the firm's name changed to the Bullard & Black Advertising Group Inc.
Some of Bullard & Black's longtime clients were Pacific Harley-Davidson, Tori Richard and Roy's Restaurants. They also did ads for Papa John's Pizza, Saint Louis School, and the Windward Car Dealers Association.