No slip ups ensures good year for Top Banana

EVENTS organiser Top Banana has marked its most successful year to date with a corporate rebrand.

The Stourbridge firm, now in its 15th year, has invested £250,000 in the opening of a new London office and continued to grow its team to 42 employees.  

The 2013/14 year saw the business increase turnover by £2m and its client spend by 40% year-on-year, with a record-breaking January.

The company has ambitious growth plans to increase turnover by a further 112% for 2014/15 and to double in size by 2020. Its approach has been aided by the delivery of events for major international brands including Danone, Primark, Gucci, Bacardi and Barclaycard.

Nick Terry, Managing Director, said: “There’s no doubt that this is exciting times for Top Banana. Our continued growth and success means that we are now one of just a handful of Midlands based event companies in the UK’s top 30.

“The recent rebrand is an important part of our continued growth plans and has been designed to support our premium offering and positioning within the events sector.”

“The opening of our London office is both a strategic and practical move to place us closer to existing and prospective London-based clients and to reduce travel time, cost and carbon emissions.” 

Koala bearing up well with new client wins

BIRMINGHAM-based TV production company Koala has won the annual contract to produce all TV commercials and mailer shots for Hillarys, the made to measure blinds company.

The contract win follows similar deals with Police Watches, Mazuma Mobile and PGA Catalunya. The Maz character accompanying the Mazuma Mobile ads was created by the Koala team, as is Warren-T, created for Warranty Direct and voiced by James Nesbitt.

The production company has tripled in size over the past 12 months and the team has now moved to new premises in St Paul’s Square to accommodate the expansion of the business.

Managing Director Phil Brice said: “We’re excited about the creative potential our new offices will allow, and hope to build an artistic space to inspire both our clients and staff.”  

Shackleton explores new role at Plinkfizz

MARKETING and communications agency Plinkfizz has brought in Anna Shackleton as Director of PR.
 
In her new role, Ms Shackleton (left) will strengthen the agency’s PR offer, building strategic PR campaigns for retail, education, manufacturing and professional services clients and developing the business’s PR portfolio.
 
Fiona Hawkins, owner and MD of Plinkfizz, said: “We recognise the opportunity to really develop our PR offer and are thrilled that Anna accepted the role as PR Director to spearhead and grow this part of the business.
 
“2014 has been a strong year for Plinkfizz.  We have moved offices to accommodate our expanding team and will soon be announcing new hires to our creative studio and a new Marketing Communications Project Manager.”

Ms Shackleton was previously with Golley Slater as head of PR in Birmingham and associate director in London, where she led award-winning campaigns for Skoda UK and The Big Lunch and provided senior support to the Hilton Hotels & Resorts team.
 
Before joining Golley Slater, she spent four years with McCann Erickson, working for the likes of Mercedes-Benz World, npower and Sharpie, and four years with Leader Communications working for Blenheim Palace, Global Snow Shows and Touchwood shopping centre.