Spreading a Little Sunshine: Sagebrush Marketing helps Wyoming’s businesses grow

Sagebrush Marketing’s slogan is “Pro Wyoming Small Business,” and their goal is to work with businesses and lodging tax boards to help Main Streets across Wyoming flourish.

Jen Womack and her husband Chris created Sagebrush Marketing, LLC in April of 2008, and in 2020 they added a retail component to their business.

Sagebrush Marketing is a full-service marketing agency, helping clients with everything from radio to print ads and online materials. 

In 2022, they were able to purchase a building in downtown Newcastle and moved their marketing business and retail store to one location. 

“Small businesses are great at what they do, but when it comes to telling their own story, they may struggle due to lacking skills or time. We hope to fill that gap,” says Jen. “Our clients are primarily in Wyoming, but we do travel to South Dakota for some projects.”

Company projects

On a monthly basis, Sagebrush Marketing manages social media accounts, produces radio ads, sends print materials to press and more.

Sagebrush Marketing creates content for the Crook County Tourism Promotion Board under the “Devils Tower Country” brand and has created content for the Wyoming Pioneer Association. 

Recently, Jen completed a term on the Black Hills and Badlands Tourism Association Board of Directors, doing what she can  to get Wyoming on travelers’ itineraries.

The retail portion of the business features items created by nearly two dozen different Wyoming makers and creators. 

Jen notes, “We order in some items, but we also make items in house. The store is another way for us to put our graphic design skills to a good use, and at times, we make shirts and apparel for the local sports teams and businesses.”

Looking back

Jen graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1999 and went to work for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup the same year.

“I spent 10 great years there, traveling around Wyoming and meeting ranch families from across the state,” she explains. “It was a fantastic experience.”

While Jen was working for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, her and Chris worked on growing their business in the evenings and on weekends. 

“When I went to work for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup in 1999, I was the editor and Matt Roberts did the layout work and was my proofreader,” she remarks.  “Every Friday we helped with the mailing, and I can still tell you the zip code for nearly every town in Wyoming.”

“Shortly after I started, Tracy Alger joined the team doing sales and learning graphic design. She was extremely talented and took to it quickly,” she continues. “At the time, Del Tinsley owned the paper, and we had a great team. We worked together extremely well, and to this day, I still consider all of them as friends.”

Jen notes Tracy was instrumental in helping her start Sagebrush Marketing, and when Tracy passed, Jen found herself at a crossroads.

“It took me quite a while to decide whether to continue Sagebrush Marketing,” Jen admits. “But luckily, Matt and I had kept in touch over the years, and I reached out to him to see if he could help me wrap up projects Tracy and I had pending. This was nearly 10 years ago, and the two of us are still working together.” 

“Occasionally, I still find myself referring back to one of Tracy’s designs for information or inspiration,” Jen notes. “I’m glad we didn’t close Sagebrush Marketing, and Tracy will forever be a part of our team.”

Today’s business

Beyond Jen and Chris, Matt is still assisting Sagebrush Marketing, and  the company employs three part-time employees who work various hours in the retail portion of their business. 

Currently, Pam Brackett, Dilly Marchant and Becky Owens help with customers, create displays and handle the bulk of the front end of the business so Jen can work in the back room doing the creative work she enjoys.

“Fifteen years later, I am lucky to work with a great group of people again,” Jen concludes.

Jen and Chris have two grown sons – Bryce is an electrician with 21 Electric in Newcastle and Josh is attending Northwest College in Powell where he is studying to be an engineer and competing on the wrestling team.

For more information on Sagebrush Marketing, visit sagebrushmarketing.net or SagebrushMarket.net.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.