March 10, 2025, Fayetteville, NC – It was the mid 1970’s. Young folks flaunted their flamboyant fashion. Real men ate quiche in secret. The Super Bowl was just reaching its first decade. And disco ruled the world, though many agreed, “How long can disco on!” It was also a time of significant business development and cultural transformation in greater Fayetteville. Enter Hodges Advertising Associates. The agency was founded in October 1974 by the late Jean Hodges, who believed there was great need for marketing, advertising and public relations services to support all that was happening in her new hometown. From a single-client, one-woman show, Hodges quickly grew to have a diversely talented staff serving clients wih local, regional, national and international operations.
Today, as they like to say, Hodges Advertising Associates is still ‘ad’ it. “We’re marking more than 50 years in business with a year-long celebration,” said Anna Hodges Smith, Jean Hodges’ daughter and the agency’s current owner/president. Hodges is now the longest-operating Fayetteville-based marketing, advertising and public relations firm still in business here. They’ve become a stalwart of our community for the creativity they bring and the marketing partnerships they’ve established with clients in the region. The agency has also provided countless hours of pro bono work for local non-profits, while the leaders and individual staff members have served on many boards and committees.
Commenting on the many changes the agency has seen over the years, Smith noted, “Even the design and art production at the ‘creative core’ of our business have become technology-driven.” Sophisticated computer programs allow the agency to work more quickly and easily make changes. Creatively, it allows them to do things they couldn’t even imagine in 1974! Web-based and social media marketing have opened a whole new realm for clients – which includes the ability to keep their message constantly updated and reach a wider audience, especially younger generations. “However,” Smith emphasized, “while evolving technology provides us with valuable tools, market savvy and creative inspiration are still the foundation for achieving clients’ success.”