Looking back (and ahead) on 7 years
Taking a look at where Digital Additive came from & where we’re headed
Digital Additive celebrates its seven-year anniversary this week! We thought it would be a great time to have a conversation with company founders Roxana and Kevin to see how the company has grown and changed in the last seven years — and what the next seven years might hold!
Where We Started
Digital Additive was incorporated on May 9, 2012, but the idea for the agency was planted long before that. Kevin and Roxana had worked closely on email marketing at a full-service agency and recognized a gap in the industry. They were eager to answer the need for a data-driven email marketing agency, but weren’t sure of when. One thing Digital Additive still champions to this day is the importance of meaningful relationships, so it’s no coincidence that a trusted partnership was where we got our start.
Roxana and Kevin had established a strong relationship with the team at Carter’s, so when the powerhouse children’s apparel brand sought an agency to help them grow their data and email marketing, the time had come. Carter’s had enough trust and faith in the intelligence and passion our team brought to the table to give us a try — and it was the opportunity we needed to go from idea to agency.
Digital Additive spent its first year and a half at a co-working space with a team of under ten dedicated people before moving to a temporary space at Zonolite in the beginning of 2014 while our current office space was being built out. Now, two build-outs later, we have a team of 45 people in our stylish, open concept space at 1075 Zonolite.
Biggest Changes
When asked about the biggest changes in the last seven years, Roxana noted the agency’s shift from a reactionary approach primed for seeking opportunities to build and grow to a more thoughtful, intentional strategy regarding how, where and with whom we plan to grow moving forward. While our dedication and level of effort have remained consistent since day one, this shift in our mindset has been a significant indicator of Digital Additive’s evolution.
Kevin noted shifts in the industry’s approach to data and its impact on the agency as the biggest change since our founding. Digital Additive offers relevant messaging and personalized email marketing, but it’s our commitment to approaching a customer’s data with trust and integrity that sets us apart. “Seven years ago,” Kevin observed, “the value of each person’s data and establishing respect in that regard were obtuse concepts. Now, it’s an everyday conversation.” He went on to observe that this focus on data has been a beneficial change for Digital Additive. We’ve always approached the thoughtful use of data as both a tool and asset as a win/win for our customers and their clients, so it’s gratifying to see the industry adopting the same approach.
The Next Seven Years
We can’t look back without also looking forward at what the next seven years might hold for Digital Additive. Beyond an increased recognition and trust in the agency for its smart approach to data and relevant one-to-one messaging, Kevin and Roxana both agreed that they look forward to seeing increased ownership and growth driven from within the agency in the upcoming years. Digital Additive has placed significant emphasis on cultivating a strong internal leadership team and creating opportunities for self-driven advancement. This organic approach to the agency’s future ensures we’ll maintain our commitment to our clients and one another while fostering the fun, creative environment we’ve all come to love.
