About
To understand the value Saxton Consulting Group brings to its projects, you need to meet the person behind the brand.Meet Ria Saxton
Ria launched Saxton Consulting Group in 2012 after more than 30 years in the advertising industry.
No problem is ever too challenging for Ria. (They don’t call her ‘the fixer’ for no reason.) She has changed policy and protocols across the industry, and is never afraid to think outside the box. What makes her so successful at what she does? In addition to her engaging personality, it’s her approach: She uses her creative sensibility, tech know-how, and operations prowess to help companies make things easier, simpler — while reducing cost.
“We’re creative, we’re process driven, and we love putting the pieces together.”
— Ria Saxton
Ria’s Impact
Before launching Saxton Consulting, Ria spent many years at Cline Davis & Mann, where she rose quickly through the ranks from production manager to Senior Vice President and Director of Creative Operations. In this role, Ria streamlined the creative operations process, integrating processes across all departments ultimately increasing the efficiency of the organization while generating revenue.
Always striving for ultimate efficiency, Ria approached management with the idea of starting up an independent production facility under the Cline Davis & Mann umbrella. As Managing Director, she was charged with all facets of the startup operation—from locating space, to hiring managers, and purchasing equipment. She developed a fully computerized database system to keep the operation running smoothly, and consolidated the production group of CDM under the newly formed Link 9 facility. During the first business year, Ria managed 120 employees and $10 million in business, which increased profits by 25 percent. The next year, she delivered 20 percent growth over the same period.
An Early Creative Life
Prior to Cline Davis & Mann, Ria worked on the creative side of things. She was president, creative director, and print production supervisor. In these roles she provided sales promotion, packaging design materials from concept to completion, as well as POP and trade advertising for fashion specialty markets. Her clients included Isotoner, Trifari, Izod, Monet, Richard Warren, Chase Manhattan Bank.
Previously, she was Creative Director and Art Director at Weiss/Watson and earlier at Revlon.
4 Things You Should Know About Ria
Ria’s First “Fixer” Moment
In college Ria had wanted to study art; however, her school didn’t offer it. Undeterred, and in true Ria-fashion, she convinced the school it needed an exchange program. They agreed, and Ria created its first ever student exchange program — and spent a year at Pratt studying art. It was an eye-opening experience. 3 days after graduation she landed her first agency job.
Ria Changed an Industry
Ria isn’t just a participant in the industry, she actively fosters change.
1978
Established color guidelines with Kodak for first backlit in-store makeup guide
1988
Piloted first TV jewelry show for JC Penney, precursor to shop-online television
1988
Piloted first TV jewelry show for JC Penney, precursor to shop-online television
1997
Established new guidelines for Pharmaceutical publication inserts with the pharma publication industry and AMA
2006
First industry contract between Center for Communication Compliance CCC and pharma. Established workflow for electronic distribution and reproduction of files to be compliant with copyright laws
2007
Piloted electronic workflow between clients while maintaining legal, financial documentation
2011
Managed and created workflow for client conversion of sales materials to tablet PC and implementing Closed Loop Marketing initiative
2011
Created first decoupled production hub for pharma industry. Established internal Medical Legal and Regulatory approval process for biotech company
2013
Created workflow for global marketing automation tool to reduce production costs and time to market while maintaining industry compliance
2017
Created workflow and best practices for oversees vendors and onsite production in Mexico and Central America while maintaining industry standards
2018
Test piloted Print-on-Demand in the packaging industry. A driver of variable print for Pop Up Stores and Co-Promote Packaging reaching local markets
2020
Integrated CGI imaging into promotional planning for sales meetings to reduce costs of comp preparation while enabling clients to repurpose the imaging for social media channels
Ria Embraces Change
Ria fully understands the technology necessary to implement proper workflows—she’s even created workflow database programs to do so. And though her roots are in print—her passion is in digital.
When a client needed to convert all print materials to digital for its salesforce they called Ria. Within 6 months she converted major brand promotional materials digitally and accessible via a tablet PC. While she was at it, she improved the client’s internal approval process to handle the new file formats. Ria embraces every aspect of digital and today is a leader in the ever-evolving landscape of digital and analytics.
Ria has embraced another change in the industry where Procurement is her new partner and the driver of packaging materials. Her role in the consumer industry is to uphold the creative integrity of a brand while meeting procurements goals. Manufacturing Process Management has allowed her to expand her process skills by reviewing the entire supply chain. As always she is thrilled to work in the ever-changing consumer industry also addressing sustainable cosmetics and food packaging, digital print and event driven promotional distribution.
People Look to Ria for Answers
Industry people look to Ria for the answers. She’s been on the board of the American Association of Advertising (AAAA) Print Production Committee and helped drive the change to reflect digital scope. (The committee is now called The Integrated Production Committee.) She is also a member of the Advertising & Creative Versioning Professionals, Data-Driven Marketers Network and Digital Marketing. In 1996 Adobe partnered with Ria; she gave a series of talks on ‘Making a Successful Transition,’ which was about making the move from Quark to InDesign.