Local Tech Wire

By Patricia Staino

Triangle Marketing and Communications Firms Buck Belt-Tightening Trend

RALEIGH — Some of the bigger, more established agencies will be saying, “What are they thinking?” At the very least, there is going to be some finger wagging. But 919 Marketing thinks the time is right to launch new undertakings and build new relationships in marketing and communications.

Even as many so-called marcom agencies have cut back or even shut down in the Triangle and elsewhere, 919 Marketing is clearly going against the flow.

The big news at 919 Marketing (www.919marketing.com) is the new business calls—half a dozen in the last two weeks alone. The difference is, this is just business as usual for the four-person firm. In the last six months, they have retained all the clients on their roster and added four new ones. Not too many Triangle agencies can say that.

919 services small, emerging technology firms, among other companies, and according to founder David Chapman, who worked for agencies in the communications giant Interpublic Group for 13 years, “It’s pretty apparent to me that the small and mid-size companies are doing better than the larger.”

They key to 919’s success seems to be the solid results they show clients. One client, Springboard Hosting, which started in June 2001 and has worked with 919 Marketing since, has gained more than 100 customers in that time.

“When I see mass media saying things are getting better, that doesn’t hold a lot of weight with me,” says Chapman. “But when I see new calls picking up—that means something.”

919 Marketing provides clients with branding and media relations services, a development center for the creation of collateral materials and a strategic planning service named LINK, which is its most widely used service. “Our LINK planning is really resonating the most,” says Chapman. “Every company we talk to seems to be looking to reload. I think there is a real assessment going on. Things are picking up and people are more optimistic.”

919’s newest client is the gourmet candy company Maxwell’s.