Valley PR Blog

Impress acquires Smithco Marketing

By Dan Wool on July 16th, 2008 In Agencies

B2B high tech and life sciences specialists Impress Public Relations has acquired Smithco Marketing + Communications. Both companies are Phoenix-based. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The acquisition includes Smithco assets, clients and personnel and gives Impress the in-house capability to offer fully-integrated marketing solutions. Smithco founder and CEO, Kelly Smith Bramlett, will lead Impress’ creative department as director of creative services.

“Over the past few years, we’ve watched large ad agencies buy up smaller PR firms to add a PR capability, almost treating it as an after thought,” said Martijn Pierik, CEO of Impress. “In the B2B market segment especially, that approach runs counter to our philosophy, in that we see strategic communications and public relations as the core component to any effective marketing program. With focus on strategic communications, we are offered immediate access to executive-level management and involved up front in the overall business and marketing strategy. Using creative strategies to visualize and shape the plans already in place offers clients a considerably stronger integrated package that is directly linked to, and an informed part of, each company’s strategic and branding plan.”

The companies had worked together over the past two years and had complementary client rosters and industry focuses. By becoming a single entity, Impress plans to streamline services while significantly adding capabilities for current and future clients.

In addition to Phoenix, Impress has offices in San Francisco, California; Portland, Oregon; Providence, Rhode Island and Manchester, England. Impress also offers in-house PR services for China and Taiwan, and global support through strategic partners in Seoul, Korea and Tokyo, Japan.

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