Fuelling growth for creative entrepreneurs
About me…
I co-founded, scaled and sold an international, multi-million pound marketing insight agency called Tonic.
Since exiting the business in 2020, I now apply my knowledge and experience advising entrepreneurs along their own growth journeys.
I specialise in businesses across the creative and strategic sectors – advertising, branding, design, content, marketing, comms and insight.
Starting, scaling and selling a marketing agency
My own agency journey started in 2008 and ended in 2020. The highlights were:
Consulting to some of the worlds biggest brands across a variety of sectors, from T-Mobile, Sony Music, Channel 4 and Vans, to Diageo, Durex, eBay and the UK Government.
Leading a team as it grew from 3 to 50, merging with another agency and expanding internationally with an office in New York City, which hit £2m in revenue in year three.
Achieving 51% average YoY growth before selling Tonic to the Los Angeles-based marketing services firm, Material+ in 2016.
Overseeing a successful integration that, with growth of 140% over three years, made it Material+’s most successful acquisition to date.
Exiting the company in 2020, with the team and business in great shape, to focus on other opportunities…
Scale-up consulting for creative entrepreneurs
I work with a wide range of creative entrepreneurs and yet they all share one key characteristic – they are remarkable in their chosen fields. It’s because of this that they are able to take the plunge and launch their own businesses. They deliver exceptional work to the clients they’ve nurtured and build the foundations of thriving companies.
However, they all share something else in common – at some point along their journey, they realise that they need some support to take their business to the next level. As a business grows, its increased complexity and the demands of different functions – strategy, marketing, sales, finance, operations, people and culture – can become daunting.
And that’s where I come in.
I draw upon my broad skill set and extensive experience, and apply proven scaling up principles to accelerate growth ambitions.
How it works
I kick off every new relationship with an exploration phase, which gives me insight into your business and unlocks new ways of thinking about your business and your personal goals.
I then offer free, no-commitment chemistry sessions, in which we begin to delve into your business and its specific challenges and opportunities.
Where it goes from their depends on various factors but typically results in deep-dive projects and/or an ongoing relationship, ranging from monthly coaching / advisory sessions to one day per week working fully-integrated in your business.
Recent work has included: growth strategy and planning / financial modelling, budgeting and analysis / driving profit margins / senior team hiring and coaching / brand development and marketing strategy / sales and business development approaches / designing and implementing operations processes / international expansion / planning for mergers and acquisitions / post-merger and acquisition integration.
“Nick is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader. He has the gut instincts, vision and courage of a serial entrepreneur, but the sensibilities and experience of a professional manager. I met Nick in 2015 before we acquired the business he had co-founded. The company and senior team he built had a very strong foundation and was reflective of his creativity and his integrity. The next five years were a tremendous business success and a fun ride.”
— Jeff Reynolds, Former President of Material+
“I brought Nick in as an advisor to help me navigate the growth of my agency. He made a hugely positive impact on the business from day one and continues to provide my team and me with invaluable strategic and tactical advice, as well as taking on various projects in his role as Commercial Director. With his wealth of experience, business acumen and personability, Nick brings an inspiring and reassuring presence to the company.”
— Charlie Tarr, Founder and CEO of Woodrow