Case study · CX-04 REACH · CX-03 FORGE · Local services startup · Fremont, Ohio
Stinky's: a mascot, a commercial and a launch plan for a Fremont trash startup.
Two busy owners wanted to launch a residential trash and junk-removal business with a personality — “Stinky the Trash Skunk” — and had no time to run a brand project. Crossover built the launch plan, shot downtown Fremont footage, sourced and managed an animation studio for the mascot commercial, ran voice casting and storyboard reviews, and lined up the website plan and launch outreach.
1
Mascot: Stinky the Trash Skunk
6
Voice takes cast for Stinky
8
Downtown Fremont B-roll shots
5
Animation studios vetted
✓Launch plan✓Mascot commercial✓Voice casting✓Storyboard reviews✓Fremont B-roll✓Website plan✓Launch outreach✓Organic + paid ads plan
At a glance
ClientStinky's Trash Business — residential trash, junk removal and recycling (startup)
LocationFremont, Ohio
EngagementAug 2024 → 2025 — brand, commercial production and launch planning
ScopeLaunch plan · mascot & animated commercial production · local footage · website & marketing plan · launch outreach
StackCanva · animation studio partner · Fremont B-roll (1080p)
ResultMascot commercial carried through pre-production and review rounds with almost no owner time; launch plan and outreach ready
The challenge
A launch the owners had no hours for
The owners were already running another company full time. They wanted Stinky's to arrive in Fremont with a face — an animated skunk with a voice and a commercial — plus a site, a sign-up service and local ads. What they could not give was time: feedback came in gaps between jobs, and a creative project with a studio needs someone in the middle keeping it moving.
Crossover took the producer seat: plan, vendor, budget, reviews, and the marketing behind it.
- Brand and mascot to create from zero
- An animation vendor to find, contract and manage
- Voice, script and storyboards to approve with owners who were rarely free
- Local footage needed for the commercial and social
- Website structure, services and service areas to define
- Outreach and ad plan for launch
The approach
Produce it like a campaign, not a favor.
One plan, one producer, and every review packaged so the owners could answer in a text.
PLAN
Launch board
Services · equipment · site map · ads · sign-up
→
STUDIO
Animation partner
Sourced, contracted, managed
→
VOICE
Six takes for Stinky
Cast and shortlisted
→
STORY
Sketches & backgrounds
Rounds relayed for a quick yes / no
→
FOOTAGE
Downtown Fremont B-roll
Eight 1080p shots
→
LAUNCH
Site + outreach + ads
Outreach and channel plan ready
Owner time per review: one text message.
What was delivered
A brand, a commercial in production, and a plan to launch
Planned, produced and managed by the same person — the founder of Crossover.
01
Launch plan
Services (curbside trash, junk removal, recycling drop-off), equipment (toters, truck, trailer), site map (Services, Contact, Recycling, Service Areas, Where to Recycle, About, FAQ) and channels — organic and paid — on one board.
02
Mascot commercial production
Animation studio sourced, contract negotiated with full IP ownership for the client, pre-production meeting run, voice takes cast, rough sketches and town-wide backgrounds reviewed and relayed.
03
Fremont footage
Eight downtown Fremont video shots captured for the commercial and social content.
04
Vendor management
When the first studio stalled, Crossover vetted five replacement animators with review histories for the owners.
05
Website plan
Build the site first and swap the animation in when ready — so launch never waits on a render.
06
Launch outreach
A launch outreach plan assembled so the first customers hear about Stinky's on day one.
Timeline
From a whiteboard to a commercial in production
AUG 2024Launch boardServices, equipment, site structure and marketing channels mapped.
JAN 2025Studio sourced, footage shotAnimation partner contracted; downtown Fremont B-roll captured.
FEB 2025Pre-production and reviewsVoice casting (six takes), rough sketches and backgrounds reviewed with the owners.
MAR – APR 2025Vendor resetFive replacement animators vetted for the owners.
MAY 2025Website-first plan + outreachBuild the site now, drop the animation in later; launch outreach plan delivered.
Results
What Stinky's got
1
Brand & mascot
6
Voice takes
8
B-roll shots
5
Studios vetted
- A launch plan the owners can execute in phases
- A mascot commercial carried through casting, script and storyboards
- Real Fremont footage for the ad and social
- Contract terms that keep all IP with the client
- A vendor bench when the first partner stalled
- A website-first path so launch never waits on animation
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