News Article

The Daily Reflector
October 7, 2005

Advertising company needs no advertising
Marketing, public relations business grows into third location in three years
By Mike Grizzard

     Evolve Inc. is living up to its name, both for its clients and itself.

     The creativity of the advertising, marketing and public relations company, founded by Virginia native Will Daugherty, has spawned growth to the point that prospecting for new accounts is no longer necessary.  Meeting the demand has meant more specialization and additional staff - and room to accommodate them.

     Evolve on Monday began settling into its third headquarters in its three years, relocating from downtown Greenville to 1210-B Arlington Blvd. in front of Brone Chiropractic in the former location of Kiely Financial Services.  The 2,300-square-foot office has 10 employees along with Daugherty, including a recently hired media buyer.

     "I've made sure we've reinvested everything we've made back into better people and better facilities so that we can continue to improve on our vision for efficiency and quality of service," Daugherty said.

     Daugherty came to Greenville about five years ago when his wife accepted a position with Pitt County Memorial Hospital.  He worked in marketing and as president of a local company before stepping out on his own.

     The on-man operation out of his home, with some subcontracting for design work, added full-time help and secured an 800-square-foot office after just three months.  Moving again provided almost twice the space.

     "At the time, we were not completely sure we could fill the building within the lease term, but we filled it in 90 days," Daugherty said.  "By the end of the lease term, we had fully outgrown it and in order to add the next set of staff members... we had to have a place for them to sit."

     Daugherty said Evolve has worked for more than 100 unique businesses in its three-year history, with a client base concentrated in North Carolina and Virginia but extending north to New Jersey and west to California.  Referrals have replaced prospecting in landing new accounts, and growth is being held to 40 percent per year.

     "We're not really out there pitching right now to get new accounts," said public relations director Brent Anderson, a California native who graduated from East Carolina University.  He has been with Evolve for on year since returning from a brief stay in his home state.

     "The things that are coming in the door right now are from referrals from either past or current accounts," Anderson said.  "... Our clients are selling our work and our people for us."

     Daugherty said Evolve's services can help an existing company "go to another level" or guide a startup, providing everything from logos and letterheads to a long-term marketing plan.

     Evolve works with clients on a project basis or as agency of record, providing a range of services that includes marketing strategies, advertising campaigns, web site designs, branding, packaging and brochures.

     "The requests are all over the place, but they tend to come and ask us to take them some place they can't go on their own," Daugherty said.  "And we do get  the occasional startup which is fun.  You get to see a lot of dreams, and bringing them to life is really rewarding for us."

     Daugherty said integrity and being an advocate for a client is at the core of Evolve's success and long list of referrals.

     "I think on of the reasons that we're so successful is when customers come to meet with us, they make a connection with people in the agency," he said.  "... They see us step in and service only them and never ourselves.  We take that really, really seriously in making sure that all of our recommendations are for the, period.

     Evolve will hold an invitation-only party and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 27 at 4 p.m.

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