SAMUEL MARRIOTTDOWDING Founder and CEO, Marriott Communications
What did you set out to achieve this year?
Marriott Communications’ goals for this year were undoubtedly to grow our client roster nationally and also to become more disciplined in implementing an internal structure within the business.
Has everything gone according to plan?
Yes and kind of? We were fortunately able to further grow the business through securing several new clients across EMEA which we were incredibly happy with, although business planning and business structure development sometimes took a back seat in favour of nurturing these new relationships and partnerships.
There is a difference between working in your business, and working on your business, and moving forward I have to find a more disciplined approach in balancing these two aspects.
How has the business adapted following the pandemic?
To be totally honest, we did not ever have to. As we are a digital business delivering services digitally, the business began already adapted to this pandemic world.
Where the actual business itself was not affected by the shift in emphasis placed upon the need to go digital, this shift did ultimately allow us to market ourselves to bricks and mortar businesses and organisations as digital transformation and adaptation experts – something which was responsible for a great deal of our positive financial growth.
What are you most proud of this year?
Besides growing the business nationally and increasing our client roster, I have been so proud to receive industry commendations! I am really proud to share that Marriott Communications has officially won Integrated Communications Agency of the Year, and I have also been shortlisted twice for Entrepreneur of the Year and once for Marketer of the Year.
I did not start this business to receive praise or win accolades, so for this to happen organically, where our work is being recognised and our success as a growing creative agency is being acknowledged – it really validates for me that my company and I are on the right path.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve received this year?
“Keep going.” My dad, who also happens to be a successful businessman which is a massive advantage when advice is needed, always tells me that, regardless if I need advice on something positive or negative.
For me, this rings true in life in general, not just in business. The only direction we can move in is forward, and sometimes we have to take the good with the bad to experience the growth that comes from uncertainty and challenges.
How has your team changed?
For the most part the team has remained the same, however, we have also started to rely on outsourcing more as we have grown – especially for translation services.
Building a high-quality network of specialists and consultants has really been key in the way that we have been able to successfully manage our growth throughout the year.
What have you learnt about yourself this year?
That I have more resilience than I would have thought possible.
Owning and growing a business is never an easy task, and I have been faced with challenges this year that I would not have expected. Through sheer grit and determination (and a couple of existential crises!) I was able to overcome them, and having learnt from these challenges, I also learnt how resilient I could be in the face of uncertainty.
What’s been the most enjoyable business social event you have attended?
The North East Chamber of Commerce events are always great, and it is always a good time meeting fellow local businesses and entrepreneurs. However, the Prolific North Marketing Awards have got to be the most memorable of the year – putting hundreds of marketers and advertisers in a room (with a flowing bar!), you can’t not have a good time! There are some stories here probably best saved for another time.
Describe 2022 in three words…
Growth. Resilience. Purpose.
What are your aims for 2023?
As a business owner an incredibly important goal for me is to sustain our current growth trajectory, and to make sure that our growth is managed effectively. As an agency we will be continuing to scale the business and continuing our work within the EMEA, and we will also be identifying growth opportunities within the Americas too.
By the end of 2023 I am also aiming to grow the Marriott Communications team – specifically Communications Officer and Business Development roles.
