Serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk has said that “the best marketing strategy ever is to care.” I don’t disagree, but for us, it’s not a marketing strategy, it’s who and what we are. It’s our DNA. That is why we will spare you the slick PR spin and instead share a genuine insight into who we are.
Why does that matter?
The relationship between you and your creative agency is an extremely important one. Critical, even. You hire an agency to help you achieve your aims, whether that is increased sales, making your products and services more competitive, improved awareness or any number of other things.
To do that, you need to fit. If the relationship between you and your agency is a good fit, then everything flows nicely, but if there is a disconnect, then every day can be hard and horrible. That is the last thing we want for you. So, how do we avoid that?
Simple. We put our cards on the table so you can get a feel for our ethics, values and culture. That way you can decide for yourself if our behaviours and philosophy align with yours, or if you prefer to just swipe left and move on.
So with this in mind, we asked our clients ‘what are the things you want to know when you look at a company website but can never find’? It was through their responses that we created a summary of answers to their most frequently asked questions. Here it is… an insight into our corporate heart and soul!
WHO DOES THE BUCK STOP WITH?
Christine Clarke is the sole director. Christine started Studio 55 in 1995 and has been working in the business full-time ever since. Her brand is one of truth, and Studio 55 reflects that brand. This is why it is an agency with an aversion to bullshit.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY 'BRAND OF TRUTH'?
We tell it like it is. If we don’t think something will work, we’ll tell you. And we’ll work with you to develop a solution that we know will work. We don’t surprise you with unexpected costs. When we give you a quote, that’s what you’ll pay. When we say we’ll deliver something on a particular date, that’s when you’ll get it (or earlier). When we say that we’ll deliver something that will make you stand out from the crowd, we will do precisely that. Every time.
WHAT ARE YOUR NUMBERS?
Studio 55 has been around since 1995. In that time, we have had 98 staff, moved premises five times, owned four buildings and looked after 800+ clients of all sizes in every possible market segment and discipline. We have always been Brisbane-based but we work with clients all over Australia and the world. Those clients we mentioned? Many of them have been with us for a very long time. That’s what we do. Create effective relationships built on trust and truth.
WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR STARTING STUDIO 55?
While working as a young designer in various companies in the early 90s, Christine could see that clients were unhappy due to glaring gaps in the delivery of client service. Gaps are things that can trip you up, so Christine set out to fill them. As a result, Studio 55 was founded with a mission to deliver premium service and quality, in an approachable way, and at an affordable price point. 25 years later, this still guides everything we do, every minute of every day.
WHAT ARE YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH?
We are likable, knowledgeable and non-threatening. People trust us because we operate with integrity and consistency. And we always deliver.
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE WORK AT STUDIO 55?
We attract team members who share our values and ethics. In other words, the team at Studio 55 have integrity, they value client service and are driven to produce great work, every time. It is not an environment conducive to egoistic tendencies or wankery.
WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF DIFFERENCE?
We are highly intuitive. We instinctively know what our clients want (spoken and unspoken), and we make sure they get it. Every time.
DOES EXPERIENCE MATTER?
Absolutely. Our experience is our most valuable asset. It allows us to see the big picture and the small detail.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON CREDIBILITY?
22 years advising at the highest level AND executing consistently means that Studio 55 has real credibility that has been earned over time. This is what qualifies us to offer a complete end-to-end experience that delivers real value.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON ACCOUNTABILITY?
Christine leads from the front, and believes business owners should be visible, accountable, accessible and hands-on. She says, “No matter what day or time, if you ring my phone I will answer it… That’s part of the responsibility of owning a business”.
WHAT ARE YOU KNOWN FOR?
We are known for 3 things:
1: We lead and innovate in the delivery of visual communications for the corporate sector,
2: We operate with integrity,
3: We provide the highest level of client service,
And we do all three at once, at all times.
WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS?
Our clients are large, professional organisations across a number of industry sectors. Studio 55 works with people at every level across business units, divisions and teams. We create brands, build reputations, grow awareness, and promote all manner of programs, projects, initiatives and products for our clients.
WHAT DO CLIENTS MOSTLY USE YOU FOR?
We can do everything that you can see or hear. Brands, animations, publications, infographics, websites, digital strategy and execution. We know what people want from us on every level, and we give it to them.
We also cater to tailored requests, random one-off needs and last-minute, critically urgent requests.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS?
When we won our first job in 1995, we had one strategy. To do that job well enough that our client would want to use us again. It worked. Not only did they use us again, but they also referred us to others, which resulted in rapid growth for Studio 55. For 25 years, we have operated according to this strategy. It’s firmly entrenched in our business DNA.
And that first client? They’re still our client today.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE FUTURE?
In our opinion, these are the most exciting times for brand, marketing and visual communications that we’ve ever seen. Once an afterthought, visual communication is now firmly positioned where it belongs – as a key factor in the success of a company, project or product. Today, ideas are recognised as the huge asset that they are. We also believe that the future belongs to the innovators and to those companies that can connect with their market. After all, that is what has made Studio 55 such a lasting success.
So there it is… our DNA in a nutshell. If you have read this far, then at the very least you will know this… We care, we take our responsibility to you very seriously, and we absolutely will not let you down!
Have we missed anything that is important to you?
Do you have any other questions for us?
Would you like to know more about how we might be able to help you?
If so, you can contact us on 07 3216 0068 at any time.
