FOR a small company with its roots planted firmly in the regional media and creative industry, Bolton company Relative Marketing is facing this year in buoyant mood.

It is called Relative because it was started by brothers Robert and Simon Barlow who, with digital marketing manager Martin Bradley, apprentice Joe Swarbrick and Gail Escott on admin and accounts, make up the agency which has forged a strong reputation for innovation.

The brothers both worked with their father, John, in the well-respected Manchester city centre agency Gillett and Bevan Ltd. When he retired in 2011, Robert and Simon decided to start their own full-service agency in a small sub-let office in their home town.

With only one part-time staff member, they started to attract new clients including coach company Tyrer’s, builders A Connolly and greenhouse experts Hartley Botanic.

“We’ve always felt it was very important to build up a good relationship with our clients,” explained Robert. “We act as a marketing department for them and want to really understand their business so we, as well as them guiding us, can innovate for them effectively.”

The stance paid off and more clients joined them. “What we wanted to do from early on was employ someone to take our digital marketing service forward,” said Robert. “When we found Martin Bradley we realised we had just the right person for this.”

This move has not only allowed them to offer a more comprehensive marketing service that better reflected the way the industry was moving but has also anchored them firmly in the regional business scene.

In September, 2014, they moved into larger premises in historic Wood Street in Bolton town centre. By December they were on track to be 12 per cent up on the previous financial year and now have 25 clients with whom they have forged a lasting relationship. “Over the past 12 to 24 months we have seen a steady growth in many of our clients’ businesses with increased turnover and profitability,” stated Robert.

They believe there is a “much more positive feel about business in general, with companies looking to spend more on marketing their brand and on digital marketing in particular.”

In 2016, they hope to employ two more staff and move into bigger offices in the same building, with an increased turnover. “But,” added Robert, “we still aim to keep listening to what our clients want and responding to this and their needs.”