Kade Kimber

About Kade Kimber

I have yet to see a business outcome influenced because someone was “gifted” a tumbler with a logo on it. But companies keep throwing money at branded merch and promo items disguised as gifts, handing them to clients and employees in the spirit of \"brand awareness\"…yes, to the very people who are already most aware of their brand.And while recipients are hiding swag in that cupboard we all have where unwanted things go to die, companies are left wondering why their gifting spend feels like a sunk cost. Rinse and repeat.(Usually every December.)It didn\'t take long in my corporate marketing career to see this as an annoying-but-fixable problem. Except, stakeholders weren’t interested in hearing new approaches. So, in 2014, I launched my business on the side with a fundamentally different belief about how corporate gifting should look.Three months in, I got the call to handle gifting for the U.S. Women\'s Open. I had no roadmap for that. I just had a point of view (and a rather great craft room…)That one event led to gifting for companies like SAS, Marriott, Morgan Stanley, and clients of The Ritz-Carlton. All by referral. My company grew entirely by people telling other people about the experience we gave them. A company based on the idea that authentic connection drives results grew solely through authentic connection. Coincidence? I think not.For ten years I ran Kimber & Oak alongside my corporate career. It grew to six-figure revenue as a side venture. I loved my marketing career and I loved my business, but I had to make a choice. In 2024, I left corporate to run my company full time. Today, my team and I design and execute full-service premium gifting strategy for organizations that are done wasting money on forgettable stuff. Except now, my point of view is down to a science.(No, seriously. We actually have a formula.) All these years later, I still may not know a lot of things, but I do know this: It\'s not about spending more. It\'s about meaning more.

Experience

1. Owner & Founder

   Kimber & Oak

   Oct 2014 — Present · Raleigh, NC, US

   At Kimber & Oak, we don’t treat corporate gifting as a year-end nicety—we use it as a year-round growth lever.Through our proprietary Authenticity at Scale™ methodology, we help companies use curated gifting to deepen relationships, influence key moments, and drive measurable business outcomes—without adding complexity or losing the human element.What we do:• Build scalable gifting strategies aligned with business goals• Design high-impact, brand-anchored gift experiences that build trust and loyalty• Manage seamless fulfillment and on-demand delivery• Support campaigns, elevate events, and strengthen year-round relationship marketingWe don’t just send gifts. We create intentional, strategic touchpoints that convert, retain, and grow your most valuable relationships—no matter the moment or the month.

Education

• Weber State University

  Bachelors, English/Communications-PR

  1999 — 2005

Skills

• Marketing
• Marketing Strategy
• Product Marketing
• Entrepreneurship
• Social Media
• Public Relations
• Communications Strategy
• Management
• Strategy
• E-Commerce
• Social Media Marketing
• Strategic Communications
• Business Development
• Technical Recruiting
• Online Sales / Ecommerce
• Leadership
• Training
• Account Management
• Human Resources
• Recruiting
• Newsletters
• Community Management
• Marketing Communications
• Facebook
• Public Speaking
• Blogging