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438Marketing, which has offices in Knutsford and London, has reported a record year of growth in the same year that it marks its 10th birthday.
Turnover at 438Marketing rose by 35% YOY while staff numbers have also increased in the past 12 months, now reaching 30 across the two offices.
Already this year, the business has added four new clients to its impressive and long-standing client base, having been appointed as integrated marketing partner to First4Lawyers.com, Deezer, Carers Trust and Crest Garden.
These businesses join 438Marketing’s already enviable client list that includes TNT Express, Henkel (Pritt, Sellotape, UniBond, Loctite, Solvite), Chrysler Jeep, Subaru UK, Isuzu UK, Williams Group, JD Sports PLC (Millets, Blacks, Peter Storm, Eurohike, Brasher), Uni-ball (Mitsubishi Pencil Co.), Aston Martin, Willis Towers Watson, VIP E-cig, The Magic Circle, Element, St James’s Place, Ryman the stationer and Freebets.co.uk.
Andy Whitmore, who founded the business in 2005 alongside Paul Keen when they both broke away from TBWA/Omnicom, puts the phenomenal growth down to not following ‘dinosaur agency rules’ in terms of approach and agency structure but creating a bespoke business model that better meets the needs of brands and organisations operating in a 24/7 multi-device consumer world.
Andy Whitmore explains, “Clients demand a different type of marketing partner compared to ten, or even five, years ago. They need agencies that are agile and integrated, not ‘linear, hierarchal and dare I say overpriced like many of large more traditional agencies still are.
“There is also a downside to working with specialist agencies. Don’t get me wrong expertise is great. Of course it is. And many of these disciplines are a vital part of the marketing mix. But whatever the brief, specialist agencies start with the channel. They have to. But we feel in today’s multi device, multi-channel world it’s better to start, not with the channel, but the customer; building motivating propositions around audience insight and then delivering a campaign not based on what we sell as an agency, but what is best placed to deliver the most effective results – be that a mix of digital, TV and DM or a completely different use of channels.”
Andy added, “Consumer behaviour and how brands deliver customer experience demands a new way of working, We believe by taking a fresh approach to meeting client needs we’re fully geared up to make 2016 an exceptional year for 438,.
“In 10 years we’ve been lucky enough to develop effective TV campaigns for Ryman the Stationer, Boux Avenue, LACA, Fish hair care, Isuzu, New York Bagels, No More Nails, Loctite, Pritt Stick, Sellotape, Uniball and the world’s most talked about electronic cigarette brand, VIP.
“Our digital team were instrumental in the development of AA.com, Lastminute.com and PartyPoker.com – as well as developing hundreds of digital solutions for our other clients. Until now we’ve never been very proactive in shouting about what we do. But following our 10th anniversary last year, we hope to be sharing our Birthday cake with a few more clients.”
438Marketing delivers integrated brand communications that spans broadcast and print advertising, CRM, digital, media, packaging and instore.
Its newest appointments will see the agency create a fully integrated campaign for the Carers Trust’s annual ‘Britain’s Best Breakfast’ event that aims to generate awareness and funds for the UK’s 7 million unpaid carers; and an above the line consumer-focused campaign for Crest Garden’s FloPro and Kent & Stowe brands.
In addition the agency has just been appointed by Deezer, the music streaming brand plus First4lawyers, for whom the agency will be creating a new integrated strategic awareness campaign.
