Courtside Marketing: From Digital Dreams to Full-Service Partnership

How a Basketball-Inspired Marketing Company Evolved to Serve Southwest Iowa's Branding Needs

When Jahde Osborn moved to Harlan nine years ago, she brought with her a vision for helping local businesses connect with their communities in meaningful ways. What started as a side venture in digital marketing has grown into a comprehensive branding and promotional company that puts partnership at the center of everything they do.

"We both played college basketball," Osborn shares about the company's origins with co-founder Chris Rhoades. "We named it Courtside Marketing because we wanted our clients to feel 'Courtside'. Our goal is to make sure you are seen and stand out from the crowd, which inspired our slogan: 'Be seen, get Courtside.'

From Tourism Magazines to Digital Marketing

The journey began in 2015 when Osborn and Rhoades, who had worked together at a family-owned newspaper company in Blair, Nebraska, recognized the growing need for digital marketing services among smaller businesses. They started Courtside Marketing as a side project, focusing primarily on social media management and logo creation for local restaurants, dental offices, and other service businesses.

"That was really when social media started for businesses, and no one really knew a lot about it," Osborn recalls. "Companies knew they needed to be on social media, but to what extent? At times, it was a hard sale encouraging them to hire us to create their content, but it was now apart of most marketing plans."

The turning point came in 2016 when Rhoades had the idea to purchase CiShirts, a screen printing company in Elkhorn. This acquisition would prove to be the "final puzzle piece" that transformed their digital-focused startup into a full-service marketing company.

The Partnership Approach

What sets Courtside Marketing and CiShirts apart isn't just their range of services—it's their philosophy. Rather than pushing clients toward predetermined solutions, they focus on understanding each business's unique needs and building lasting relationships.

"We're looking for more of a partnership approach, rather than just trying to sell them a social media ad or 50 t-shirts," Osborn explains. "Let's create a partnership and meet with you and see what exactly we can help you with to help your business grow."

This approach proved prescient as the digital marketing landscape evolved. When platforms like Canva made it easier for businesses to handle their own social media, Courtside Marketing was already positioned to help in other ways. They discovered that while social media needs were becoming more self-service, the demand for branded promotional products was exploding.

"Most business owners are proud to wear their apparel around. They want to purchase items that have their logo on it, to share with their employees, family and to give away," Osborn notes. "That avenue of our business grew and grew more excitement with our clients than social media."

Comprehensive Branding Solutions

Today, the company operates as what Osborn calls a "regional marketing company," serving clients from southwest Iowa to the Omaha area to Des Moines. Their services span the complete spectrum of business branding needs: screen printing, embroidery, custom uniforms, promotional products, commercial printing, and design services.

The dual naming structure serves their diverse client base well. "We are one company," Osborn explains. "Courtside Marketing purchased CiShirts, but CiShirts is so well known in the Elkhorn area that we did not want to lose that." The Courtside Marketing brand focuses more on promotional items, commercial printing, and local branding services, while CiShirts handles the apparel, screen printing, and embroidery side of the business.

The company's strength lies in their ability to see the bigger picture of a client's brand. "Maybe they have a logo, but that's all they have," Osborn explains. "They don't have a branding guideline book to ensure consistency across all their marketing materials."

Their team of designers works to create cohesive brand experiences, ensuring that whether a client needs business cards, tumblers, or custom apparel, everything maintains a consistent professional appearance. "A company's Brand is very important. You want people to recognize and know what you do by just seeing your logo."

Innovation in Customer Experience

One of their most popular offerings is custom online stores for businesses and athletic organizations. These branded e-commerce platforms solve common pain points for both corporate clients and sports teams.

"That's a key focus for companies," Osborn explains. "We can create coupons, so if they have an employee of the month, they can buy something branded for themselves. We offer an online store with company apparel and accessories, making it easy for employees to shop."

For athletics, the online stores eliminate the hassle of collecting payments and managing orders. "The coaches don't have to collect a bunch of checks for all these items they're ordering," Osborn notes. "They can just send parents and community members the link. We create a nice flyer and social media graphic with QR codes that direct athletes and parents to those online stores."

Community-Centered Operations

With roughly twenty full-time employees and a hands-on ownership approach, the company maintains what Osborn describes as an "all hands on deck" culture. The four co-owners work directly with clients, and everyone from designers to production staff collaborates to ensure quality outcomes.

"Sometimes the owners of the business are in back catching shires off the dryer" Osborn reassures. "We're all hands on deck, we all have titles, but we're all working together for the same common goal."

The company's Harlan location, situated in the former Jacobs Photography building across from the old library, serves as more than just an office, it's a community hub where local business owners can drop in to discuss projects, pick up orders, or simply talk through marketing challenges.

"I prioritize building face-to-face relationships to understand my clients' needs in Harlan and Shelby County," Osborn explains. "In a small town, people tend to support local businesses first. As long as you maintain that partnership and deliver quality service, Shelby County residents will choose to shop locally."

Making a Difference

Beyond commercial work, Courtside Marketing and CiShirts take pride in supporting meaningful causes throughout their communities. They've worked on fundraising campaigns for individuals facing medical challenges and donated services to various community initiatives.

"It can be just creating a simple wristband that you see people wearing, but it's for a cause. It's fulfilling working for those passionate people and donating back to them."

Osborn's community involvement extends beyond her business. She serves on the Harlan Chamber of Commerce board, the Athletic Booster Club board, and the Dream Playground project board, allowing her to stay connected with the pulse of local needs and opportunities.

Building Brands, Building Community

As Courtside Marketing and CiShirts continue to evolve, their commitment to genuine partnership remains unchanged. In an industry where many companies focus solely on transactions, they've built their reputation on relationships—understanding that when local businesses succeed, the entire community benefits.

Whether it's helping a startup establish their first professional brand guidelines, outfitting a youth sports team with custom uniforms, or supporting a community fundraiser with promotional materials, they've positioned themselves as more than a vendor. They're the marketing partner that southwest Iowa businesses turn to when they want to make a lasting impression.

"We want to be that overall marketing company that we can assist our clients' needs," Osborn concludes. "It doesn't have to be everything, but want to be able to find that avenue for business to succeed."

For Osborn and her team, success isn't measured just in orders fulfilled or logos printed—it's in the long-term partnerships built, the community events supported, and the local businesses that thrive with professional branding behind them. In a world of digital-first marketing, they've proven that sometimes the most effective approach is simply showing up, listening carefully, and delivering exactly what their neighbors need.

Visit Courtside Marketing at their Harlan location at 1202 7th Street, or explore their full range of services at cishirts.com. Connect with them on Facebook, or reach out directly at jahde@courtside-marketing.com. For immediate assistance with your next branding project, call 402-289-2462.