Turnover skyrockets at Derby marketing agency
A Derby-based marketing and design business has tripled its turnover and grown its headcount by 60% after its founder took the simple step of enrolling on a 12-week management course.
MacMartin was founded in 2017 after sisters Claire MacDonald and Anna Hutton decided to turn their freelancing careers into a small business. The company now produces branding and marketing campaigns for clients across the UK.
The business reported a significant growth curve throughout 2020-21 but faced various barriers to maintain stability, prompting Macdonald to sign up for a Help to Grow: Management Course delivered by the University of Derby’s business school – a recipient of the Small Business Charter award.
The year before MacDonald took the course, MacMartin reported a turnover of £212,000, but has now seen that figure rise by almost three quarters to £456,000. The firm has also upped its headcount from seven employees to 12.
MacDonald, design director at MacMartin, said: “We took away so much from the course but there were three key points that resulted in our success. First, we learned about the dangers of spending too much time in the business and not enough on the business. We’ve now got into a really good habit of setting aside time each week to have more strategic conversations and plan our future.
“The second big takeaway was around processes. Working in such a creative environment often means the structures are put in place last. We’ve worked hard since the Help to Grow: Management Course to put a framework in place that helps us standardise our quality while leaving room for creativity.
“The final takeaway, and a crucial one for us, was internal communications. Before the course, my sister and I would try and do everything. Now we’ve reassessed where we want to be and where are strengths lie so have redefined our roles and learnt to stay in our own lane.”
She added: “The groups were a safe space, and I was given the chance to learn different ways of thinking. I also learned that as an agency we don’t need to do it all. We can narrow our focus and do more of the work we love to do.”
MacMartin is now planning a “digital declutter” campaign later this year to encourage businesses to evaluate and improve the carbon footprint of their digital activities.
Michael Hayman MBE, chair, Small Business Charter, said: “I’m delighted to have observed MacMartin’s journey so far and look forward to seeing how the business continues to explore new opportunities in the future.”
