Two established Portland-based marketing firms, Fish Marketing, and MBT Marketing Communications, today announced the formation of a collaborative. Both firms remain separate companies with their own slate of accounts, and will occupy suites 620 and 635 in the Olympic Mills Commerce Center at 107 SE Washington.
Fish and MBT have deep retail roots, and are about equal in billings, but earn revenue differently. Fish with a staff of ten, has a well-established digital marketing capability that contributes about 55% of revenues. The remaining revenue comes from brand strategy, traditional advertising and media. MBT employs ten, and is broadcast media oriented, with media contributing about 70% of its billings. The remainder of MBT’s billing comes from strategic planning, marketing and advertising services.
Doug Fish, President of Fish Marketing said. “It would be impossible for either of our companies to go out on the market and hire the expertise and experience available within the other company. In the marketing and advertising business, you can be small and do very well, or you can be large and do well. You want to avoid getting caught in the middle. This collaborative eliminates that problem. It allows us to add skills and capability without the large investment. At the same time we’re adding known quality and excellent reputations on both sides.”
Scott Thompson, managing partner of MBT added, “It’s a great fit, the skills and capabilities of each shop mesh perfectly, with little duplication and benefit the clients of both firms. For example, Fish Marketing can use MBT’s media buying experience in 10 Western States to supplement it’s media department. At the same time, MBT can utilize Fish’s digital expertise for our clients.”
In the past, both firms relied on independent firms for services outside their core expertise.
“Doug and I have known each other for a long time,” said Norm Myhr, Senior Partner at MBT. “Earlier this year we were talking about the future of our businesses. We both thought the now defunct Collaborative Group had a good idea in principle, and it could work for us. The idea of combining talents without adding expense appealed to both of us. We did a test flight earlier this year when Doug hired me to collaborate on strategy and creative for one of his accounts. Everything came together easily. The work ethic and care for the Customer is identical in both organizations” Finding the right office space took a while, but Craig Reinhart of Cresa Partners helped us find a great space.”
Fish Marketing was founded in 2003 by Doug Fish. Fish, a 32-year veteran of Portland’s ad community, previously founded Fish Advertising and worked at Gard and Gerber Advertising.
MBT, was founded in 2003 by former Fred Meyer Marketing Executives, Norm Myhr, Elwood Beukelman, and Scott Thompson.
The lease arrangements were handled by Craig Reinhart of Cresa Partners, Portland.
For more information contact Doug Fish, at (503) 972-8977 doug@fish-marketing.com or Scott Thompson at 503-232-7202 scott@mbtmarketing.com.