Richard and Adam Benjamin of Starke Marketing.
Los Angeles is the unofficial marketing and advertising agency capital of the world. There’s a joke in the industry that if you throw a rock in the air it’s bound to land on an agency. With so many out there, it’s reassuring to know there is an Old Pasadena agency operated by brothers who grew up locally that’s playing in the big leagues but still very accessible.
On the outside, Starke Marketing seems like your average advertising agency. A blend of mad men meets the modern world. There’s a bar in the office (multiple actually), frantic whiteboard sessions in the conference room, a trendy playlist on the speakers, and the aroma of coffee drifting through the space.
Starke Marketing started as predominantly a design agency, but in the past 7 years has grown into something of an advertising, marketing, and media buying powerhouse. How did they do it?
“Our team,” says Adam Benjamin, who with his brother Richard founded the company. “Richard and I both knew that to build a company that delivered powerful results for our clients, we needed the best minds, best designers, and the most talented people we could find. Starke’s success is one hundred percent because of the team we’ve assembled.”
No doubt that’s true, but another part of the story has to be the passion the pair have for being in the industry. The two brothers had always dreamed of going into business together.
Adam’s background was in sales and marketing, and Richard had a background in development and organizational psychology.
They spent years talking about starting an ad agency and how they would build it. They talked about what was wrong with the current agency world. They discussed how they would do it differently. Over time, what once seemed like just a dream started to take on an air of inevitability. It wasn’t much longer before they quit their jobs and dove full time into building Starke Marketing.
In the years since, what started out as just a two-person operation has blossomed into a thriving and growing business that has attracted clients both small and large. Their client roster includes Red Bull, Mattel, USC and other instantly recognizable names.
Building a talented team is definitely an essential part of any successful business. But all teams need a mission to drive them.
“Unlike most agencies, we’re razor-focused on revenue. We don’t hide behind revenue numbers, we run to them. Whatever we’re doing, we’re thinking about how it affects the bottom line of our clients. We don’t care about anything else,” Adam said.
“I think this has been something that our clients have really appreciated. Whether things are going well or not, they know that we’re in it with them. Building a successful business isn’t a straight line. It takes constant adjustments, new marketing strategies, new content, and lot’s of problem-solving. We are an extension of our client’s businesses, not just an agency.”
Starke Marketing is a real Pasadena success story. Two brothers who attended local high schools are now employing other people from the city and working with some of the top companies in the country.
Starke Marketing, 625 Fair Oaks Ave, Suite 383, Pasadena, CA 91030. For more call (626) 209-1194 or visit https://wearestarke.com/
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