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At Schaefer, we believe collateral still matters—when it’s intentional, well-crafted, and built to do real work. In today’s digital world, print gives brands a tactile way to communicate credibility, spark conversation, and leave a lasting impression.

Below, we highlight four recent collateral projects that showcase how thoughtful design, clear messaging, and smart strategy can help solve real business challenges—and drive impact you can hold in your hand.

Clarifying a Vision for Growth: Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership

Challenge

As the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership (FWEDP) worked to elevate the city’s business profile, it needed a professional piece that clearly communicated its role in the market and differentiated it from other organizations. With investment conversations on the rise, FWEDP needed a tangible leave-behind that could quickly and persuasively tell their story—without relying on dense materials or outdated decks.

Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership

Solution

Schaefer crafted a polished, strategically focused brochure designed to clarify FWEDP’s identity, mission, and value. By anchoring the narrative around three simple pillars—who FWEDP is, what they do, and why it matters—we created a tool that made the case for investment in Fort Worth’s long-term future. Clean design, intentional messaging, and a tone of strategic optimism helped frame FWEDP as a forward-looking growth partner.

Pullout Card for Fort Worth EDP

Impact

The new marketing collateral quickly became the primary tool for investor outreach, helping FWEDP leadership establish clarity and credibility in critical meetings with business leaders and civic stakeholders.

Igniting Innovation: Texas A&M–Fort Worth

Challenge

With the launch of its new downtown campus, Texas A&M–Fort Worth sought a signature piece that would not only generate excitement and build community pride, but also resonate deeply with a highly influential audience of civic leaders, potential donors, and stakeholders shaping the future of Fort Worth.

Texas A&M Building

Solution

Schaefer designed and produced a dynamic printed brochure that distilled the ambitious multi-phase project into a clear, compelling narrative. Crafted specifically for a strategically selected audience, the piece leveraged bold imagery, future-focused messaging, and clean architectural layouts to spark vision and momentum. The result positioned the campus as a powerful catalyst for innovation—both locally and beyond.

Full Spread Texas A&M

Impact

The brochure became a cornerstone communication tool at events, donor meetings, and stakeholder engagements. Its effectiveness in articulating the campus vision and galvanizing support was recognized with a Gold ADDY Award and won Best of Print at this year’s Fort Worth American Advertising Awards. The piece played a key role in helping Texas A&M–Fort Worth lay the foundation for its next chapter as a regional hub for research, collaboration, and economic development.

Featured Case Study

Igniting Progress: How Texas A&M–Fort Worth Became a Catalyst for Innovation

With its new downtown Fort Worth campus, the Texas A&M University System set out to create a lasting legacy of innovation, workforce development, and economic transformation. Schaefer was tasked with creating a campaign that not only communicated this ambitious vision…
TAMFW Header

Elevating Peer Reputation: Texas A&M School of Law

Challenge

Texas A&M University School of Law sought to climb the U.S. News & World Report rankings by strengthening its peer reputation among Law School Deans, faculty and thought leaders nationwide. But the team needed a sustainable, professional outreach system that could deliver consistent, brand-aligned communications throughout the academic year.

Setting the Bar with Texas A&M

Solution

In both 2023 and 2024, Schaefer created a modular direct mail system—custom-designed to balance brand precision with flexible, repeatable execution. Each wave of communications reinforced key messages around academic excellence, program momentum, and leadership in areas like intellectual property and dispute resolution.

All Cards for Texas A&M

Impact

The print framework supported seamless campaign deployment over multiple years and contributed to Texas A&M Law’s rapid rise in national rankings—from #29 in 2023 to #26 in 2024—and now #22 in 2025. What began as a rankings initiative evolved into a long-term reputation-building platform.

Texas A&M Cards Spread Out

Launching with Local Credibility: Bank of Texas San Antonio Expansion

Challenge

When Bank of Texas expanded into the highly competitive San Antonio market, they needed to build brand awareness and community trust from the ground up. Reaching diverse audiences—including young families, retirees, small business owners, and Spanish-speaking households—was critical to the bank’s success.

Bank of Texas Direct Mail

Solution

Schaefer developed a library of localized print pieces, including teaser handouts, checking account offer postcards, business direct mailers, and community magazine ads. Each asset was tailored to resonate with a specific audience segment while reinforcing a central brand promise: Bank of Texas isn’t just opening new doors—they’re investing in the neighborhood.

Print Magazine Ad for Bank of Texas

Impact

Through phased rollouts and localized messaging, the print campaign helped build an early market presence and established Bank of Texas San Antonio as an approachable, community-focused financial partner in a new region.

Featured Case Study

Breaking Into the Heart of San Antonio

For the first time in over 20 years, Bank of Texas expanded into a completely new market: San Antonio. With a flagship location opening in an affluent neighborhood, the challenge was clear. How do you introduce an unknown bank to…
Bank of San Antonio pattern

Print That Works Harder

Across sectors and audiences, these projects prove that printed pieces still play a powerful role in brand building and business growth. At Schaefer, we believe great collateral isn’t just about good design—it’s about telling the right story in the right way and making every piece work harder for the brand.

Ready to see how print collateral can drive real results for your organization? Let’s talk about what we can create together.

The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth recently hosted their 2025 Tarrant County Commercial Real Estate Forecast offering a dynamic view of where the market is heading over the next few years. From surging industrial demand and nearshoring trends to optimism in retail and shifts in the office sector, a variety of speakers shared data-driven insights that painted a cautiously optimistic picture. 

As a full-service agency with a special focus on real estate and economic development, we’re constantly looking for innovative ways to elevate our clients’ projects and investments. For that reason, the insights shared at the 2025 Real Estate Council Tarrant County CRE Forecast were especially valuable, offering a clear look at the industry’s trends and challenges. Below, we’ve distilled our top takeaways from this year’s event. 

Ken Schaefer at the Real Estate Council Forecast

Economic Indicators Point to a 2025 Rebound

Easing inflation, stable material costs, and continued demand in data centers, healthcare, and higher ed have created cautious optimism for growth.

Workforce and Labor Remain Critical

Even with a positive outlook, labor constraints continue to shape project timelines and costs, with competition for skilled talent poised to intensify.

Discussion at the Real Estate Council Forecast

Construction Cost Escalation – Still a Concern

Costs have risen more slowly than in previous years, but firms remain vigilant—particularly on large-scale projects where financing and contract timing are crucial.

Mixed-Use and Adaptive Reuse on the Rise

Shifting work patterns and demand for experiential spaces have investors and developers repurposing older properties into dynamic, multi-functional environments.

Sara Hull and Sara Norman

Sustainability: A Must-Have, Not a Nice-to-Have

Biophilic design, carbon neutrality, and eco-friendly building strategies are now table stakes, with “green” considerations central to most commercial real estate decisions.

High Retail Occupancy Marks the “Year of the Grocer”

Retail occupancy is strong (95%), with grocers claiming nearly half of new developments. Pop-up shops, technology-driven experiences, and eco-conscious offerings are also reshaping consumer expectations.

Featured Case Study

History begins in the future

Famous for its trailblazing history, Fort Worth still embraces its reputation as a “City of Opportunity.” Quickly becoming an epicenter of growth and innovation, Fort Worth offers an inviting community, talented workforce, and incredibly low cost of living, attracting people…
City of Fort Worth

Multifamily Demand Holds Steady Amid Fewer New Starts

While construction pipelines have shrunk from historic highs, robust absorption and stable occupancies signal ongoing renter demand, placing DFW among the Sunbelt’s healthiest multifamily markets.

Industrial Growth Driven by Nearshoring

DFW’s position as the second-largest industrial market and its proximity to Mexico continues to attract large-scale deals. Forecasters predict lower vacancy and rising rents as demand outpaces supply.

Robert Allen and Ken Schaefer

Office Market “Built Different”

Despite national headwinds, DFW’s office sector bucks the trend, seeing new district developments, ongoing tenant expansions, and a landlord-favorable environment where rents and escalations are climbing.

Capital & Investor Interest in DFW Remains High

Even with potential volatility ahead, investor interest in commercial real estate in the DFW Metroplex remains strong. DFW remains attractive when compared to competitive markets, thanks to its expansive land and green space, convenient airport access, lack of state income tax and a welcoming community that actively supports growth and success. 

At the Podium in The Forecast

Amid all the insights, trends, and data shared at the Commercial Forecast, one overarching sentiment remains: there’s tremendous opportunity in the DFW region. In Fort Worth specifically, meaningful economic development transcends bricks and mortar—it’s about forging strong partnerships, investing in people, and building resilient communities. That’s the vision we champion at Schaefer. We build brands that actively engage consumers and drive business results. We combine meaningful data about the market with insight and intuition to create value and bring real estate to life. If you’re ready to make your mark on the DFW market and beyond, let’s talk.