Meet Leslie Fox of LeslieFoxCopy in Glendale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Fox.

Leslie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a “New Yawk” born and raised copywriter, having grown up in Brooklyn, New York. I started as fine arts and Spanish major at Brooklyn College. I then transferred to SUNY at Oswego (that’s State University of New York) for Spanish and jewelry making. I came back to New York City and attended the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in advertising. I trained as an art director but switched over to copywriting because I was very strong in writing headlines and copy.

Career-wise, I started at the keyboard at Korey, Kay & Partners in New York City, writing print and radio for the Playboy Hotel and Casino and WCBS-TV News. (I even won an award or two for my work there.) D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles followed, with print and TV for Procter & Gamble. Next stop was Ogilvy & Mather Direct, where I learned the fine art of direct mail for American Express and AT&T.

Then, I went to a “bloody good” agency, Rapier, Stead & Bowden, a British shop set up in New York to service Air France Canada. At Clarion Direct, as Associate Creative Director, I produced direct mail and promotions for British Airways, CIGNA and Southwestern Bell.

I then ventured off on my own as a freelance advertising and marketing copywriter, working for advertising and marketing agencies, design firms and brands on both coasts — from Manhattan to Los Angeles.

I moved west to Glendale, California in 2013 and have continued working as a freelancer, on everything from direct mail, digital and web copy, to print, collateral, white papers, videos and presentations.

Has it been a smooth road?
There were struggles when I graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 1982. The advertising industry was going through a rough time and jobs were scarce — especially for junior copywriters. Also, because I’m a woman, I was only offered receptionist or administrative-type jobs, and would have to work my way up to a junior copywriter position. I found that men didn’t have to go through that route at all. In fact, while I was having to make coffee while answering phones and writing copy, a young guy was hired as a junior copywriter (it should have been me!).

Also, these days, with the advent of “content,” everyone fancies himself or herself a content writer — or copywriter. For true copywriters like myself, that is very frustrating, as copywriting takes talent — that’s why it’s part of the Creative department of an ad agency. It’s a whole lot more than being able to put two sentences together.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
LeslieFoxCopy Inc. (“LFoxCopy”) provides advertising copywriting to ad agencies, marketing firms, brands and just about anyone who needs anything written — well. I have over 35 years of experience as a copywriter and have worked on virtually every type of product or service, in virtually every medium. ( I don’t, however, work on pharmaceutical products/services — for ethical reasons. I believe many drugs are harmful and as a result, I won’t help promote them.)

So what is copywriting? Many people confuse copywriting with copyright. “Copywriting” consists of the words in an ad, a brochure, a website, etc.

What sets me apart is my ability to think strategically and across all media. I get up to speed quickly and can adapt to a variety of styles and tones — whether it’s for telecommunications, financial services, insurance, retail, real estate or hospitality.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Success is doing a job well done — where both the client and I are happy. It’s really very simple.

Personally speaking, helping someone is the most gratifying thing in the world.

Contact Info:

• Address: 220 East Broadway, #213, Glendale, CA 91205
• Website: Lfoxcopy.com
• Phone: 201-655-1927
• Email: Leslie@LFoxCopy.com

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