A digital agency in Dorset which has helped more than 350 businesses and organisations grow their brands has got its 15th anniversary off to a flying start.
Digital Storm – founded by three people working from home in 2003 – has been awarded 20 projects across the county and the wider region as it celebrates the trading milestone.
They include a breast cancer information website for the NHS, creating an ecommerce store for a family-run jewellery firm and launching a new website for a yacht brokerage.
A Platinum Business Partner with Dorset Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Digital Storm is based at Old Christchurch Road in Bournemouth and currently employs nine people.
The business is owned by digital director Paul Andrews, creative director Damion Hazael and account director Lesley Simmons.
Lesley, who oversees business development, said: “This is Digital Storm’s 15th trading year – our crystal anniversary – and we are all incredibly proud of what has been achieved to date since 2003.
“We’ve helped 350-plus clients grow over the years through our fully integrated web, design and marketing agency services, optimising their brands through multi-media channels.
“To have such a strong order book, with 20 projects already in our landmark year, is testament to the work Digital Storm carries out nationally and internationally for discerning clients in the private, public and third sectors.”
An information directory and promotional website, through Poole Hospital’s Ladybird Unit, the breast screening clinic for 96,000 women in Dorset, is one of the latest projects.
Others include an ecommerce platform for Poole-based Forum Jewellers, which has been with Digital Storm since 2013, a new yacht brokerage website for Parkstone Bay Yachts and the design and the development of a brand-new food and drink directory and members’ community for Dorset Food & Drink.
A new website launched by Digital Storm promoted the China: Embracing Innovation conference, an initiative by Bournemouth Borough Council and supported by the DCCI.
The event took place on August 29th, at the Hilton Bournemouth, and brought together business leaders, civic leaders and other major stakeholders from the West and China together to explore commercial opportunities.
Further company news includes the renewal of a marketing retainer for Fabric Land, a fabrics and haberdashery chain which has an ecommerce website and stores across the South.
Digital Storm has also produced a range of marketing materials for the DCCI, which is the voice of business in Dorset with nearly 800 members.
In another development, the firm is a finalist in the Wirehive 100 awards, an annual awards night for digital agencies in southern England and being held on October 11th at the 02 Guildhall in Southampton.
Digital Storm has been shortlisted in a category covering the not-for-profit website of the year, for its work on Dorset Food & Drink.
Lesley added: “With continued growth comes a responsibility to the future – we are bringing in apprentices so they can benefit from the team’s extensive experience in helping clients increase market share through effective digital marketing.”
Other members of the Digital Storm team are Oli Evans, designer, Liam Geary, web designer and developer, Leah Leach, senior designer, Abi Saunders, web development, Theo Meddelton, marketing apprentice, and Curtis Williams, marketing project manager.
Paul, Damion and Lesley acquired Digital Storm in 2014 in a management buy-out from Field International, the Poole-based global engineering company with aerospace and defence clients such as Airbus and BAE Systems.
Field International acquired the firm in 2009 for in-house marketing support whilst allowing the team to work independently for other businesses.
Lesley has been with Digital Storm since 2005, with Paul joining in 2010 and Damion in 2012.
Three people, “with a strong passion and skill set for design, development and business respectively”, started up Digital Storm.
“Whilst the founders left some time ago, the business passion and expertise remains true today as it did 15 years ago,” said Lesley.
An early project focused on creative packaging designs for Wimborne-based Keith Spicer, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of speciality teas, including the iconic Dorset Tea brand.