Evans Hunt expands as business booms
Four years ago, Dan Evans and Bill Hunt launched the strategic digital marketing company Evans Hunt Group, taking space on the first floor of the character Cooper Block at the corner of 10th Avenue and 7th Street S.W. Today they are busy expanding into the 6th floor as success has meant the need to double their space to 11,000 square feet.
Evans is a former president and Hunt was senior vice-president of Critical Mass, a Calgary-based firm that worked only for top-brand clients, such as Mercedes-Benz and Rolex, based in the United States. None of its work was created for Canadian firms, which meant a lot of travel for its senior people.
Evans and Hunt preferred to stay around home and started their own company with the idea of limiting it to helping local firms and organizations with their digital marketing requirements.
They have been very successful in the local market, however, Evans says calls from old friends that were former clients has resulted in 25 per cent of business today with corporations in the United States.
And they are major firms such as Clorox, the global giant manufacturer of various food and cleaning products, for which Evans Hunt is providing social media marketing campaigns for Glad bags, Brita water filtration and Pine-Sol cleaning products.
The increase in south of the border clients is one reason for the decision to increase workspace, but without the need to travel so often. Much of the sixth floor addition has been renovated into five conference rooms where thanks to the latest technology, out-of-town clients can be communicated with and supported effectively.
The remainder of the large floor-plate houses a group of Evans Hunt’s all-star team of creative people. Now numbering 50 employees, none have left and no client has left since the company was launched.
Much of their work has been in support of local promotional agencies such as Calgary Economic Development, The Calgary Hotel Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Calgary and Calgary 2012.
The contacts and reputation of Evans Hunt strategist Jim Button, former vicepresident marketing at Big Rock Brewery and owner of Village Brewery, have seen the agency double its business in the past two years.
Another major hospitality account is TraveLodge Canada, one of the country’s largest hotel chains with over 90 independentlyowned properties that Evans Hunt provides with both digital and off-line production.
Its stable of local clients also includes well know names like Shaw Communications, WestJet, Albi Homes, Big Rock, Qualico and Fortis. The growth continues in North America and Evans says he has now set his sights on Europe.
The University of Calgary’s research study on enhancing construction productivity has received more funding to be dedicated to more studies that will lead to new innovation.
Industry stakeholders EllisDon Construction Services and Stuart Olson Dominion Construction have been partners with the university since the program began eight years ago; both have made further contributions with presentations of cheques in the amount of $100,000 each.
Tuesday afternoon Phillipe Zeller, Ambassador of France to Canada, cut a ribbon to open the new downtown premises of Alliance Francaise on the ground floor of the BP Centre. In the evening he spoke to a gala dinner at the Calgary Golf & Country Club and used the occasion to present Gerard Carlier, RBC financial planner, with the coveted Legion of Honour.
The award is given for outstanding merit acquired in the service of the nation and recognized Carlier’s 10 years as honorary consul of France in Calgary.