Manchester ecommerce ‘collective’ Dark Matter acquires digital marketing agency
Dark Matter Commerce, the Manchester-based digital commerce transformation collective, has bought marketing agency This Is Digital, but hasn’t said how much it has paid, or the terms of the deal.
The acquisition marks another strategic step for Dark Matter Commerce, which previously acquired Brave the Skies and Bring Digital following an investment from Foresight Group in 2021.
Headquartered in Manchester, This Is Digital works for household brands, as does Dark Matter and between them the merged group includes Cotton Traders, Richer Sounds, Jessops, Formula 1, American Golf, Footasylum and Optegra on its client list.
The acquisition, supported with additional investment from existing investor Foresight Group, will bring the group’s headcount to approximately 180 and combined revenues to £16m.
Jon Woodall, CEO of Dark Matter Commerce, said: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome This Is Digital to Dark Matter Commerce. Andy and his team have built an impressive agency with a sharp focus on performance, culture, and innovation. We believe that This is Digital and Dark Matter Commerce have a shared vision to create something remarkable in the North West and beyond. Together, we can embody the spirit of ‘stay local, go further’, driving impact with our shared roots while extending our reach.”
Andy Mitchell, Founder and CEO of This Is Digital, commented: “Joining Dark Matter Commerce feels like the natural next chapter for us. We’ve always set out to challenge the norms in agency thinking and partner closely with ambitious brands. In Jon and the team, we’ve found a group that shares our values and our commitment to making a real impact. We’re looking forward to what we can build together.”
The acquisition was completed on 4th April 2025.
Advisers to Dark Matter Commerce included Cowgills Corporate Finance (Sam Davies, Brett Marsden, Ed Higham), Cowgills Transaction Services (Andrew Nelson), Cowgills Tax (Georges Daubney), Harrison Drury (Mark Traynor, Jennifer Murphy, Richer Williams-Bulkeley), Hybrid Legal (Jonathan Craig), Cactus (Mark Sainthill), Santander (Phil Mason, David Hitchmough), Rob Fawke (Gunner Cooke), and Hannah Eames (Dark Matter Commerce).
