About Us
We’ve hatched a lot of great ideas…
Mission
Our Aim. Our Values.
Our business is to help you create landmark new home communities — projects that are memorable and profitable. We provide insightful research and exceptional, well-targeted recommendations for site and land planning, community positioning, architectural design, pricing, theming and marketing strategies.
What support do you need?
Accurate & visionary Market Studies?
Architectural guidance?
A knockout sales office?
A winning coach for your sales team?
A liaison for the Sales & Marketing team?
Our mission is to help sell more homes and create value with both builders and consumers.
History
We Made Opportunity Knock
About 30
Years Ago
1991: When we opened our doors in the San Francisco Bay Area, the country was in the middle of an economic recession. Houses weren’t selling. Developers were nervous. But, having orchestrated the marketing for California’s largest homebuilder for over a decade, pressure was not uncommon. In the early days of Bernard Marketing Associates, we set out to get marketing done on a budget, and help builders turn their dollars faster. It worked.
1994: We had 24 active clients both public and private. Projects big and small were in our portfolio and we focused on those where we could have the most fun and make a real difference.
1996: Expansion continued throughout the western United States with clients like Del Webb, Standard Pacific and Centex adding to the roster.
1998: We moved into larger offices in Walnut Creek, California. Our client list was an equal balance of private and public builders — Florsheim Homes, Kiper Development and SummerHill Homes rounded out our portfolio.
About 20
Years Ago
2004: In the spring season we opened an East Coast office in Connecticut to expand our client base to both coasts. Now we bring both tradition and innovation to our practice and play in the major population centers of the country – where the real estate markets are most dynamic.
2005: The company name evolved to The Bernard Partnership, and a new logo and graphics look was launched. Marketing outreach was largely in print and radio, and few builders had a website.
2006: Our team garnered more than 100 industry awards and accolades including:
Professional Builder Magazine Design Awards
Builder Magazine Design Awards
Gold Nugget Awards
Elan Awards
MAME Awards
Best in American Living Awards
2009: Persevering during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, we helped builders to re-tool, cut costs and pause projects waiting for a better market. The rental market roared into full swing, as more customers chose this alternative.
About 10
Years Ago
2010: Our clients revitalized dated product lines and introduced more affordable communities to the market. It's back to basics and doing marketing on a shoestring budget. Online innovations are the norm, and digital outreach is a critical path to marketing.
2011: Celebrating 20 years in business meant that the doors were still open, as the industry was going through a major consolidation.
2014: New projects are coming out of the ground, landplans are dusted off, and we mark ten years as a bi-coastal business. We bring knowledge of national markets to help generate ideas for innovative product lines and programs.
2015: Marketing plans combine traditional and internet media; projects become more mixed-use and the days of just rolling product off the shelf are over. Customers are more lifestyle-driven, and several buyer cohorts are now active in the market.
2018: Both coasts are operating in full swing, with the housing recovery well underway into year six “post-recession”. Rentals exceed for sale production numbers. On the ground, every sale is still made one customer at a time, one conversation at a time.
About now
2020: Covid-19 hits, and it forever changes the way we do business. In 3 weeks, virtual tours; FaceTime sales and E-documents became standard procedures!
2023: Our team evolves to include the “Next Gen” of family members. Experience and freshness make a wonderful combination.
“We are proud to have Debbie and her team working on our business for over 30 years, and several up and down cycles. In the early years, they helped to take us from 35 to 450 deliveries annually, and no matter the volume, they continue to innovate, particularly in product design and positioning in the market.”
Randy Bling, President, Florsheim Homes
Our Strategic
Marketing Approach
It’s all about Partnership
We are well-known for getting the most out of everyone on the team—by personal and experienced engagement.
We can address many issues: Strategic Planning, Marketing Direction, Sales, and Leasing.
We easily combine fact-centered research analysis with creativity. This intuitive marketing ability creates a greater insight into your target audience.
When you’re planning a development investment, you want to eliminate risks. Look to us to “Dig Deeper” and understand the target audience exactly, so your project is dialed into current demand and trends.
Our team has worked on it all—from 12 lot urban in-fill projects to Masterplanned Communities of 2000 homes — airbase conversions to age-restricted developments — conventional single-family subdivisions to high-rise apartments—mid-rise condos to high-density mixed-use.
If it has a roof over it, we have probably been on the team.
Macro Analysis, micro site management. We work hand in hand with you, the engineers and architects to maximize site utilization, while creating character, destinations and livable neighborhoods.
Value and design-driven land plans will get you to a project approval with the cities and counties, and to sales success as well.
Architectural Guidelines
Land Plan Direction
Product Mix
Floorplan & Elevations
Unit Plotting
Value Engineering
