"The inspiration for doing it was multifaceted. We're working in an industry that, if you stand still, the tendency is you can become, increasingly, irrelevant." In the latest episode of Happy Teams, Chris Jones, CEO of Space & Time, shares his agency's journey during the pandemic.
Recognising the need to adapt to the changing digital landscape and client needs, Space & Time embarked on a repositioning to become a growth marketing agency. They focused on developing new capabilities in technology, training, and performance creative to provide holistic, value-driven solutions for their clients.
Key takeaways from Space & Time's journey:
- Embrace change and innovation to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry.
- Develop authentic solutions that align with your agency's strengths and expertise.
- Engage external experts to help set the "North Star" and gain perspective during the transformation process.
- Prioritise the "why" behind the change and get your team on board early to drive motivation and success.
Chris emphasises the importance of having genuine commercial partnerships with clients, focusing on solving their long-term challenges and driving growth. To support this mindset shift, Space & Time brought in Sam Conniff from Uncertainty Experts to help their team embrace change and develop a solutions-oriented approach.
The agency also established three core values: find solutions always, help others, and make a difference. These values have been instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and client-centricity.
While the transformation journey had its challenges, Space & Time's growth and success speak for themselves. The agency has outperformed industry benchmarks, with low staff attrition, long-term client relationships, and a 10% growth rate (adjusted for inflation) in the past 12 months.
For agencies considering a similar repositioning, Chris advises staying authentic to your strengths, seeking external expertise, and prioritising the "why" to get your team motivated and invested in the change.
