Case Study: Fuel the Cause

Our partnership with Nittany MinitMart, a convenience store with 28 locations across Central Pennsylvania, began in 2022 when we joined as their marketing agency. Since then, we’ve worked closely with their team to craft compelling, high-impact marketing campaigns that drive engagement and strengthen their brand. From eye-catching store signage and billboards to the development of their mobile app and website, we’ve helped shape a cohesive, visually powerful presence that resonates with customers.

Through thoughtful collaboration with the Nittany Team, creative storytelling, strategic design, and a deep understanding of their community-focused mission, we continue to elevate the Nittany MinitMart brand year after year.

Fuel the Cause–an annual fundraising campaign led by Nittany MinitMart, bringing together customers, sponsors, and local communities to support volunteer firefighters–is one of our favorite annual projects.

A poster from Senergy's first Fuel the Cause campaign in 2023.

Since its inception in 2019, Fuel the Cause has grown year over year every single year, raising more funds and making a bigger impact on the communities Nittany MinitMart serves. We’re proud to work alongside Nittany's internal team of food service, merchandising, and operations experts. In our first year working on Fuel the Case, we helped drive an increase in total funds raised from $117,000 in 2022 to $149,000 in 2023. In 2024, that number soared to nearly $178,000—a testament to the power of strong branding, compelling storytelling, and a campaign that resonates with both customers and sponsors.

Our role has been to refine and elevate an already strong theme and direction, ensuring that each year’s campaign not only maintains consistency but also evolves to keep engagement high. Through strategic design, storytelling, and execution, we helped Fuel the Cause reach new heights.

An asset from Nittany's Fire Company Fundraiser in 2021, before we joined the team and helped rebrand the fundraiser as "Fuel the Cause." Building on the foundation of past years, we refined the look and feel of the fundraiser with a new logo, impactful lanauage and design, and high quality photography.

A billboard for the 2025 Fuel the Cause campaign, featuring photography, logo design, and graphic design by Senergy.

Firehouse Foods

Our food photography and styling is our special sauce. Our approach isn’t just about making food look good—it’s about storytelling. For Nittany MinitMart’s Firehouse Foods menu, we created imagery that blends mouthwatering visuals with the core values of the brand.

By incorporating local firefighters into our shoots, we brought authenticity and emotion to the campaign, reinforcing the neighbors-helping-neighbors spirit that defines both Fuel the Cause and Nittany MinitMart. The result was a collection of high-impact images to drive sales but also strengthen the brand’s community-focused identity across marketing channels.

Firehouse Foods assets from 2021, the year before we took over food photography and design for Fuel the Cause.

A billboard from our 2024 campaign.

Digital assets created for the Nittany MinitMart app as part of our 2025 campaign, featuring an updated logo for the Firehouse Foods menu.

Store Signage: Maximizing Visibility and Engagement

Fuel the Cause wouldn’t be possible without the support of its sponsors, and we use excellent photography and trend-focused design to make sure those partnerships shine. Each year, we create compelling store signage featuring national brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Jack Link’s, and Red Bull. Our approach goes beyond standard product shots—we craft engaging, dynamic images that can be used across multiple marketing channels.

During our Fuel the Cause shoots, we visit fire stations throughout central PA and work with local volnteer firefighters to gather everything from fun and organic photos meant for social media to carefully composed shots for printed signs and billboards.

In addition to updating the look and feel of Nittany’s existing sign package, we work with their internal marketing team to constantly find ways to innovate and grow. From adding kiosk frames and card reader signs, experimenting with more durable outdoor materials for exterior signage, and working with our trade printer to create transparent door clings to put our promotions front and center for every customer who comes into the store. 

Sponsors and promotions need to be front and center in every Nittany MinitMart location, and our signage strategy ensures maximum visibility. Each year, we refine the campaign’s look and feel while maintaining brand consistency, ensuring customers immediately recognize Fuel the Cause as a staple event.

Delivering Impact Year After Year

Our partnership with Nittany MinitMart on Fuel the Cause has shown what’s possible when expert marketing meets a strong brand and a dedicated team. From elevating the campaign’s visuals to refining in-store messaging, we’ve helped drive real results—more funds raised, stronger sponsor relationships, and deeper community engagement.

Each year, we build on our successes, ensuring Fuel the Cause continues to grow in impact and visibility. If you're looking for a marketing partner who knows how to deliver results, tell compelling brand stories, and create campaigns that drive engagement, we’d love to talk.