We won Creative Agency of the Year!

Two weeks on and we’re still floating on air after our win at the very first East Anglian Marketing Awards (EAMAs). Following an adrenaline-packed day at our Race to Base event, we got suited and booted, squeezed our sore feet into heels and brogues, and headed off to the awards venue. Get yourself a team that can do both!

We loved the buzz at Epic Studios, from the chatter around our table to spending far too long posing in the 360 photobooth. It was brilliant to meet and get chatting with so many of the familiar faces we see on LinkedIn and at networking, as well as seeing the sheer amount of raw talent this region has to offer first-hand. Walking away with an award? That was the cherry on top.

So, what are the EAMAs?

For anyone who hasn’t come across them yet, the East Anglian Marketing Awards are a not-for-profit programme recognising businesses in and around East Anglia. Previously known as the Norfolk Women’s Marketing Awards, founder of the awards, Grace, rebranded the programme to be more inclusive when it comes to recognising standout performances in the creative industry in this wonderful corner of the world. The vision behind them is to give the smaller guys a chance, celebrating local businesses and freelancers who often get overlooked at national awards.

The Creative Agency of the Year category commemorates agencies that come up with original ideas that solve problems, capture attention and deliver results for their clients. Entrants had to show how their culture and leadership support the team, along with the measurable impact their work has on clients and the wider community.

That focus on impact is what sold us on entering. Proving our work pays off for the businesses we partner with is core to what we do, so being recognised for it across the region feels pretty special.

What got us there

We’ve been doing this for 19 years now, and we’re pretty chuffed with how much we’ve grown and evolved along the way. Our rebrand at the start of the year turned some heads, and it gave us the nudge to put ourselves forward for a change. We’re usually much better at shouting about our clients than ourselves, but with the confidence and backing from our Communications & Social Strategist, Meg, she sat down with Ian and Emily to make sure we hit all the entry markers and put in our own submission.

It’s no secret that the last few years have been tough going for a lot of businesses. Growth is unpredictable, the landscape keeps shifting, and marketing budgets are under more scrutiny than ever. So we’ve kept a close eye on making sure every pound our clients spend with us is working hard. Despite the tricky climate, we’ve taken on more rebrands than ever before, our social workload has almost doubled, and we’re seeing clients smash their goals year on year despite everything that’s against them. We’re really grateful to our clients for trusting us with their businesses, especially at a time when every decision counts.

A big part of that comes down to how our team works. We wear our business hats as often as our marketing ones, which helps us connect the dots between a campaign and what it actually means for your revenue and ROI. The aim is for your budget to feel like a sustainable investment, with a strategy that scales up as your business grows.

Then there’s the relationship side. We want our clients to know their marketing is in safe hands, so that they can get on with running their business. That means being honest and approachable. It also means being on the other end of the phone when you need us. We’re also big advocates of seeing each other face to face, so the kettle’s always on at the studio if you fancy popping in. It’s how we build partnerships that last, and we’d like to think that’s why our clients stick around.

A few thank yous

Winning this award means a lot to us, and we know we didn’t get here on our own. We’re incredibly grateful to every client who has trusted us with their business over the years. We’re also really proud of our team, many of whom joined us early in their careers and have grown so much in their roles.

For our founder and director, Ian, the win was a lovely reminder of where it all started. 

It meant the world to win. It was an honour just to be in the same room as the finalists, so it’s hard to put into words. We often talk about our data and results, which we’re very proud of, but the reason those results happen is the team’s creativity. The name Nu Image was a nod to the rebrand work I was doing for businesses, giving them a ‘new image’, and brand presentation and storytelling are still an integral part of our marketing process today.

We’re thrilled to have been part of the very first EAMAs, it was a privilege to take part.

What’s next?

Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it? What we can say is that we’re very excited about our next chapter. We’re restructuring our marketing department to offer better value to our clients and incorporate a more built-in multi-channel approach to our strategies.  As well as strengthening our digital PR department as standing out and proactive methods become even more important than ever before. In line with this, we’re also bringing some offline guerrilla marketing back into the fold where appropriate as digital costs continue to climb. So, watch this space.

Until then, our award has pride of place in the studio, and we’re back to the day job, helping clients grow. 

If you’d like to see what we could do for your business, our free audit is a great place to start. Get in touch via our contact form or give us a call on 01603 859007.