The word on the street

24/03/08

Gloucester agency gets creative for growth

A Gloucester-based integrated marketing agency, which has been named as one of the top 20 agencies in the UK, has set its sights firmly on growth and expansion.

Earl & Thompson Marketing, located in Barnwood, was rated alongside hundreds of marketing and design agencies outside of the M25 and commended for the quality of its design, marketing and use of new media communications after totally transforming its approach to customer service.

The agency, which is currently on the Recommended Agency Register 2007, now hopes to build on this success and increase its revenue by 50% to £1.5 million over the next 12 months.

Commenting on this strategy Stuart Earl, Managing Director at Earl & Thompson Marketing, said its success to date would not have been possible without first changing the approach and direction of the business.

“To be rated as one of the top agencies in the UK by design buying companies is a tremendous honour and a positive reflection on the hard work and dedication of the team in making the business a success.

“In building on this achievement we have had to review not only our management structure, but also our service offering and really get to grips with what it is that we do that makes us better than our competitors. This has resulted in a stronger emphasis on quality rather than quantity, putting more resources into the strategic element of our business and focussing on sectors such as construction where we already had a solid track record.”

In helping Earl & Thompson Marketing reposition itself, Mr Earl turned to the UK’s largest chief executive development organisation, Vistage International (UK).
“It’s very easy to get bogged down in the minutia of a creative business such as ours. However I knew that if I really wanted to move the business on to the next level, I would also have to step back and consider my own development as a business leader.

“By interacting with other like-minded business owners and leaders within the Vistage framework, I was finally able to voice my concerns within a trusted environment and address any management and personal development issues head-on.”

Three years after joining Vistage, Mr Earl is very pleased with the results.

He said, “Earl & Thompson now employs 12 people and has a turnover of £1m which we plan to increase by fifty per cent over the next 12 months.”

This he hopes to achieve by growing the business’ current client base in the construction, recruitment and leadership development industries and extending its services on both a local, national and international level.

Mr Earl, who already employs his wife Michelle within the business, has also just recruited his 23-year-old daughter Holly.

“As the son of a farmer, I knew that I always wanted to have and run my own business. Hopefully I will also be able to offer that possibility to my own children.”

NOTES TO EDITOR:
About Earl & Thompson Marketing:
Earl & Thompson Marketing provides Intelligent Brand Communications and global solutions to a diverse client base - of which REHAU, Lafarge and Petroplus are all examples. Earl & Thompson Marketing Ltd stands apart from the crowd with the wide range of service lines; brand consultancy, copywriting, web design and production, photography, project management, CD-Rom and print management are just a handful. The past three years has seen the arrival and success of sister company Earl & Thompson Advertising Ltd, primarily set up for one client, ‘ETA’ now has a substantial client base of its own and specialises in providing creative advertisements, media buying and planning on a local, national and sector specific basis across the media spectrum.
For more info log on to www.earl-thompson.co.uk

About Vistage International (UK)
Vistage International and its global affiliates have more than 13,500 members in 15 countries, representing the world’s largest chief executive membership organisation based on revenue. Members meet in small groups every month under the same guiding principles – to help one another make better decisions, achieve better results for their businesses and enhance their lives and learning from hundreds of unmatched expert speakers. Vistage members are more successful than their competitors and, on average, grow their revenues at twice the percentage growth after joining Vistage.

Further information contact, M & M Communications on 079 5869 0659 or buzz@mandmcomms.com