A North East-based creative agency working within the brand licensing industry is marking its 10th anniversary of being in business with an international client win. From its offices the Northern Design Centre, Gateshead, Blue Kangaroo has announced that it has been appointed to work with iconic US brand, Carroll Shelby.
During its 10th year, the creative team at Blue Kangaroo is working with the legendary manufacturer of high performance vehicles, such as the Shelby Cobra, Daytona Coupe, GT350, and GT500 to create a global retail guide for dealers of the iconic Shelby brand, to use in dealerships and mod-shops positioned across the world.
Jason Knights, managing director of Blue Kangaroo, said: “My business partner and I launched Blue Kangaroo in 2006, working from our respective homes, imagining of our ideal client. Just 10 years later, we’re living the dream; we employ a 15-strong team of incredibly talented strategic creatives, designers and project managers, working with big-name brands on an international scale.
“To have been awarded the contract with Carroll Shelby really is the icing on our birthday cake. As we celebrate our achievements a decade down the line, we’re in a really strong position for the next 10 years and beyond. It’s not just about the work we deliver but how we work that really appeals to our clients – we’re good people doing good work and care deeply about the projects we’re appointed to. So much so, I’m delighted to say that as this project with Carroll Shelby comes to an end, the team has already briefed us on another project they’d like us to work on in the future.”
Blue Kangaroo already works extensively with big-name brands in the UK such as Entertainment One, Warner Bros and BBC Worldwide, producing brand identities primarily from feature films and television shows, transferring the iconic visuals into packaging, point of sale materials and print, as well as providing product and character development services. In addition to its customer-base in the UK, the agency has also successfully exported its skills to the US, working with clients including Hit Entertainment, Mattel, The Walt Disney Company and now Carroll Shelby.
Commenting on its relationship with Blue Kangaroo, Neil Cummings, co-CEO of Carroll Shelby International and CEO of Carroll Shelby Licensing, said: “Strategically, we were really impressed with Jason and the team at Blue Kangaroo from day one. They understand our vision as a business, as well as the needs of our customers, working with us to find a solution that helps to grow and support our brands’ propositions and values.
“It’s not just their technical skills, but their ability to really understand and interrogate a brief, so that the work they produce provides us with a clear and consistent visual identity, portraying a message that is totally on-brand.”
Ari Kopmar, Executive Vice President for Consumer Initiatives at Carroll Shelby International, added: “We’ve found that working with a company in the UK also has great benefits for our business in terms of efficiency. Due to the time differences, Blue Kangaroo literally works on a project while we sleep, so updates, proofs and other visuals are already sitting in our inboxes, waiting for our attention when we get back into the office the following day. It means together we can turn work around quickly yet still to the highest standard that the Carroll Shelby stakeholders would expect of the iconic brand.”
Proving to be extremely successful in selling its services to clients outside of the UK, Blue Kangaroo was recognised regionally at the North East Exporters Awards, sponsored by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in 2015. In addition, the agency was shortlisted in the QBE New Exporter of the Year category at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards this year, and received a commendation by the esteemed panel of judges.
Jason concluded: “What with new client wins and repeat work, the recognition from the judges is certainly helping to round off our tenth year in business nicely. Although we weren’t overall winners of the category on the night, I could not be prouder of our team and the work that they produce. It’s not just about churning out designs and moving onto the next job, rather, our clients value our strategic approach to brand licensing and value our input, both as creatives and end-consumers of their products. This is just one of the many reasons clients choose to work with us – both at home and abroad – and is a major factor in our exporting success.”
For more information about Blue Kangaroo, visit: http://www.bluekangaroodesign.