A pivot in the Hile Creative business model is paying dividends for the Ann Arbor-based firm a little more than a year after it was executed.
The digital advertising firm made a shift from project-based work to more comprehensive branding for long-term clients. The move paid off. The 30-year-old firm's revenue is up 10 percent and it's looking to hire two people to its staff of 12.
"Our sweet spot is to work with companies that need help defining themselves in their competitive space," says Dave Hile, founder & president of
Hile Creative. "The question we always ask clients is why do you matter? Why would someone choose you over your competitors?"
Hile Creative grew by bringing on some more long-term clients, such as
Venturi, a Traverse City-based maker of bathroom products. Hile Creative has also expanded its work with existing clients like Beaumont Hospital, Ann Arbor-based
Heatspring, and the University of Michigan.
Hile Creative is looking to hire a graphic designer and web director now because it's aiming to do more video work for its clients. The company is betting more and more companies will turn to short videos to help them tell the stories about them and their products.
"More and more information, especially complex information, can be easily described through animation and videography," Hile says.
Source: Dave Hile, founder & president of Hile Creative
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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