Cravens boosted by overseas sales

Marketing agency Cravens says it has won £100,000 worth of new business in the Gulf region in the six months since it broke into the UAE market.

The Newcastle firm opened an office in Dubai in May after the 64-year-old company took the decision to attempt to offset the economic downturn in the UK market by tapping into buoyant overseas territories.

The group worked with UKTI to identified potential in the UAE and ultimately took part in market visits which led to the opening of an office in Dubai Media City.

Managing director Phil Coverdale said: “The domestic market for creative services is extremely competitive and trading conditions continue to be challenging. By exploiting the potential of international markets we are not only providing opportunities for commercial success, but also creating a positive entrepreneurial energy within the agency.”

Jayne Pickersgill, one of UKTI’s International Trade Advisers who has been working with the company, said: “The advertising and marketing communications sector is a highly-competitive field but once again a North East company has proved it has the expertise and knowledge to successfully compete on the world stage.”

The UKTI is aiming to help create an additional 500 exporting companies in the North East by 2015.