The Splinter Group

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Carrboro, NC
The Splinter Group

The Splinter Group provides design, marketing and advertising services to clients who understand that big ideas don't need to come from big firms.

And that big results often follow big ideas. The Splinter Group began in 2000 after branching off (splintering, if you will) from Disney-owned Mammoth Records. After working together at the record label for twelve years as GM and Creative Director, respectively, Steve Balcom and Lane Wurster decided to get into a more honest line of work — advertising. Our idea was to take what we had learned about branding and marketing music products and offer it to businesses and organizations that were interested in a more creative marketing approach. Sixteen years on, The Splinter Group has stayed true to its mission and has earned a reputation as one of the most agile, creative shops around. We tell compelling stories about things we believe in, whether it be a retailer, a restaurant, a brewery, a technology company or a band. We seek to capture the essence of our client’s work (both what they do and how they uniquely do it) and turn that into an easily-understood narrative. The story generally begins with a visual identity and is then conveyed via a variety of modes, generally dependent on budget. While we see ourselves as brand developers, The Splinter Group is a full service agency. Each and every day you will find us designing collateral, developing websites, planning media, devising PR campaigns, creating social media and loyalty platforms and doing just about anything else our clients need or want. We collaborate closely with our clients, creating custom work that is inspired by their personalities and unique approaches. We undertake this task with a tremendous sense of responsibility and respect. Over the years we’ve developed a few operating beliefs:

1) Marketing can’t be more important to us than it is to the client.

2) The worst type of client is one you don’t care about impressing.

3) The second worst is one who knows exactly what they want.

4) We’ve kept our shop small and we don’t have a B-game. If we can’t give a project our best attention, we’ll pass rather than disappoint.

5) With no disrespect to Keith Richards, Mick Taylor was the Stones’ best lead guitarist. If you’re still reading this, we should talk…

10/26/2026

Happy Monday! The other week we had the chance to grab some BTS content of menu items from The Eddy Pub. From the most scrumptious brunch plates, charcuterie, to dinner staples, The Eddy has got it all.

10/23/2026

We got an exciting weekend in Carrboro! Check out The Popsicle Concert Extravaganza at the Cat's Cradle on Saturday, and the Biscuit Festival on Sunday at the American Legion Post 6 off of Highway 54 West, Chapel Hill.

10/22/2026

Congrats to Tesoro, who was just awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide! An honor well deserved and a testament to the creativity and care David and his team put into every service.

10/20/2026

We had a big time seeing our friends from Goodnight Brothers and Lady Edison in action at the NC State Fair, where Country Ham is back in a major way! After a 27 year absence, the Country Ham Competition returned and Goodnight Brothers cleaned up, winning in multiple categories. Sam from Lady Edison, President of the Country Ham Association, took home bronze as well.

Tony Snow from Goodnight Brothers constructed a ham house to depict the tradition of ham curing and put on demos where fairgoers got to try their hands at the craft. The ham house will be up for the rest of the Fair, so swing by Heritage Circle to learn about one of our great culinary traditions. 🎠🎡🥓

10/15/2026

Memphis just got bigger and badder with the opening of the 29th BBB location. We gave the restaurant, located in the happening Cooper Young neighborhood, the royal treatment with custom graphics inside and out. Chef John Currence also commissioned a piece of work from Memphis folk artist Lamar Sorrento for local flavor. We're currently working on graphics for two more BBB locations that are opening this fall.

10/13/2026

We just wrapped up an exciting environmental design project for the North Carolina School of Science and Math. We were hired to redesign the timeline graphics at their Durham and Morganton campuses, highlighting significant points in the history of NCSSM. The panels feature imagery of key figures including Governor Hunt and Senator Sanford and such alumni as musician Rhiannon Giddens and astronaut Christina Koch. Big thanks to Accent Imaging for flawless production and installation of our design.

10/09/2026

Carrboro and Chapel Hill are action-packed with upcoming events and we're honored to be the design and promotion crew behind them. Between Bike Loud! (tomorrow, 10/10), The Chapel Hill Biscuit Festival, The Popsicle Concert Extravaganza and the ongoing happenings at The Carrboro Farmers' Market, big fun is in the air. See ya there!

10/06/2026

The third-annual Bike Loud! event is this Saturday and it looks like we're going to have a beautiful day. There are courses of 22, 55 and 66 miles for the cyclists, and a post-ride party featuring live music, food trucks and Steel String B**r for the rest of us! Come on out to Pluck Farm for a community celebration with all proceeds benefiting the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation.

09/29/2026

Big news out of the Sandhills! The votes are in and James Creek C***r House was just named the #2 C***ry in the nation in USA Today's Readers Poll. As fall rolls in, now is a perfect time to make the trip to Cameron to find out what makes James Creek such a magical place. We're raising a virtual toast to the entire JCCH crew. You'll always be #1 in our book!

Address

605 W Main Street, Ste 201
Carrboro, NC
27510

Website

http://thesplintergroup.net/

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