The vibrancy of the advertising industry is sometimes a gauge of the local economy. If the success of Coffee Creative Studio is an indicator, KZN has legs.
Chris Micklewood thrives on engaging with entrepreneurs. His curiosity is one of the attributes that have been central to the growth of the advertising agency he directs.
Seven years ago, uMhlanga based Coffee Creative was started by four graduates fresh out of brand and advertising school Vega. Two of the original founders include the current digital director Scott Smith and Micklewood’s wife, Chelsea.
Now the husband-and-wife duo and partner Scott Smith steer an agency that has 20 staff and boasts an enviable client list that includes Spar, The Dolphins, Medshield Medical Scheme, and a clutch of overseas companies like an American-based recruitment agency, MSI, Miami Summer Camp, the UK-based Sloth Conservation Foundation, and a cosmetics business in Australia.
In the agency’s relatively short life it has serviced over 500 clients and nurtured a pool of talent, mainly in the online space. The growth has been down to a productive partnership and Micklewood’s smarts and understated appeal.
At school, he was an unwitting sports star. He went to Westville Boys’ High and though he says he wasn’t especially enthusiastic about rugby, he had a knack for it and spent five years after school playing club rugby in England, France and South Africa. A talented back, he learnt to read the game – which advanced him on and off the field.
After he got his commerce degree, he and a friend developed a strategy to help companies create online presence. Their web development business was soon a natural fit with Chelsea and Scott, and the new agency outgrew the garage they were operating from.
Coffee Creative Studio’s pitch is simple: in the digital world, first impressions count.
“So, we pull out all the stops to create websites, brands and digital strategies that best represent clients to their audiences and encourage business.” Micklewood says they service start-ups and larger corporates, tailoring the offering to suit the budget and the unique needs of each client.
As Coffee Creative Studio grew it developed more skills and capacity. While web development is the firm’s unique selling point, its offering now includes social media management, video production and podcast capabilities.
The range of clients and the problem solving required for each has kept the agency dynamic. “We are curious by nature,” says Micklewood, “but the business and the engagement with entrepreneurs keeps a constant flow of ideas. We are often launching brands and providing an e-commerce platform for them. This demands we add value, so our clients and their needs keep us relevant.”
Micklewood says Coffee Creative Studio’s challenge has been to grow to be able to service big clients but remain nimble and responsive to entrepreneurial culture. “It is down to relationship and attitude. If we can work collaboratively, we can understand a client and their unique needs and execute strategies to grab audiences.” *
Pictured above: Chris and Chelsea Micklewood – husband-and-wife duo in charge at Coffee Creative Studio.