ACM Designs: Helping a Luxury Design Firm Establish its Brand—And its Business

Marketing Strategy + Marketing Department Service

The Challenge

ACM Designs came to us with big ambitions—and a small footprint.

They had just relocated their office from Toronto to Haliburton, Ontario. Not only were they a new brand there, they were a young company with just a few completed projects. In a region where a few well-established firms already dominated, ACM needed to stand out quickly and credibly to attract the right clients.

The goal: build a high-end brand presence from the ground up and position ACM Designs as the number one agency for mid- and high-end interiors in Haliburton.

Our Work

Over a five-year engagement, we served as ACM’s full-service marketing department—setting strategy, building a plan, and executing every piece of it.

Step one: look the part.
We started by refining their brand identity to reflect the level of work they wanted to attract. While we kept the original name and core branding elements, we gave everything—from the business cards to the website—a polished, upscale feel.

We also improved the messaging to convey our key messages (best fit, our offering, what customers can expect from us and why they should choose us over the alternatives.)

Step two: make some noise.

With the foundation in place, each year we’d update our strategy (our moves to achieve that year’s goals) and execute the 12-month marketing plan. Each year we had different goals and measures of success, from visibility and credibility to lead generation and launching new services. The tactics included:

• Print and digital sales collateral

• Outdoor signage (lawns, buildings, and more)

• PR 

• Social media (including a strong focus on video)

• B2B efforts with associations and the local business community

• Award applications

• Targeted digital ads

• Blog content and a regular e-newsletter

• Community events

As always, we measured and reported on everything we could to understand the ROI of marketing.

Results

Within a few years, ACM Designs went from under-the-radar to overtaking the decades-old leader. Their client base expanded, their reputation grew, and the team grew to meet the demand. The firm scaled from two people to eighteen people (including a full-time marketing coordinator) and moved offices multiple times to accommodate their growth. 

They didn’t just look like the best in town—they became the top design firm in the region, and we’re super proud to have played a part in their success.