Screen firm all set for outdoor summer boom
A fast-growing Wearside media company has added scores of new sites to its growing portfolio of digital screens, and aims to more than double its reach by next year.
Smart Outdoor – based at the Evolve Business Centre in Sunderland - now has 277 screens – 60 of which have been added during the last 12 months.
It plans to increase the consumer reach of its screens from 12.5million now to 28million people per week by this time next year.
Its rapid growth has also seen the business add five new members to its team and its clients include American Golf, Ellesse, JD and UFC.
Smart Outdoor was set up by Mark Catterall just over two years ago and now employs 19 people, with prominent large-screen sites across the North East, North Yorkshire and Central Scotland.
Mr Catterall said: “While the UK has been locked down, we have pushed ahead with our expansion with our plans, which we firmly believe will stand us in good stead when we re-emerge and enjoy a summer outdoors.
“Having been indoors for the past year, we know that out of home advertising will be bigger than ever this summer, and with a reach between our sites of well over 10 million people, we have a really compelling offer for businesses looking to connect with audiences.”
The company owns screens at the Tyne Tunnel, the A19, and Whitemare Pool, as well as sites like Stack Newcastle and Stack Seaburn.
As well as offering out of permanent screens, the company has seen demand for its events-led offer – screen hire - explode since the easing of lockdown measures were announced and is offering big screen hire, that enables businesses to deliver pop-up outdoor events.
Mr Catterall added: “We’ve been inundated with interest and bookings for the large format screens over the summer.
"Every sign is there that this will be a summer spent outdoors and we’re pleased to be right among it, with screens that will serve our clients’ messages to their customers.”