AN East Perth-based business-to-business marketing communications firm has been the first foreign company to be named as one of the top agencies globally by a US marketing strategy magazine.
Celebrating its 20th year in operation, imageseven – which recently rebranded from image7 to mark its two decades of focus on business rather than consumer marketing – was included in BtoB magazine’s Top Agency 2010 annual feature.
Relationship-focused imageseven managing director and founder Brad Entwistle appreciated the recognition from one of the sector’s major publications while pointing out titles or awards weren’t everything.
“When you get recognition on an international selection of BtoB marketing communications firms, it’s nice, it’s very nice,” Mr Entwistle told WA Business News.
“We have made a point of never chasing awards; most aren’t worth anything, our job is to work on behalf of the client and if anyone should be at the front it should be the client.”
Mr Entwistle said trust was at the heart of the business’s success, which he started after careers in retail, wholesale and manufacturing and a tilt at producing radio, which stemmed from his love of all things communication.
“The buzz isn’t making a sale, it is delivering growth for a client,” he said. “We go to extraordinary lengths to deliver on what we promise and that, unfortunately, makes us stand out.
“Clients that have been with us for five, six or seven years are not uncommon – Capricorn Society has been with us for 20 years.”
He said his focus on close relationships with clients resulted in approximately 98 per cent of his business coming through referrals.
“One of the things we go through when inducting new staff is that we talk about treating clients as friends – not heading to the pub with them, but being someone who looks out for their best interests,” he said.
