Member Article

Online marketing company in rapid growth

ONE of the region’s fastest growing online marketing companies which is generating high street retailers more than £2m every month is targeting continued expansion in 2015.

Redu, which is based at Novus II Business Centre in Seaham, has developed online and social marketing channels that help consumers save money.

The company, which was launched by directors Darren Williams and Gary Hunter just one year ago, has already seen its turnover increase rapidly.

But both admit they’ve been amazed at the response they’ve had and have now revised their business plan to reflect the success Redu has enjoyed.

Chief Executive Officer Gary, 37, said: “When we launched we really didn’t expect to grow so quickly in such a short space of time.

“It has taken us one year to get to where we thought we’d be after three years and we expect our turnover to reach the £10m mark in year three or four. That’s a fantastic achievement for a new business.”

Redu, which works with many of the country’s biggest retailers, now employs nine people and hopes to add to its workforce with experience and apprentices over the coming months.

Gary added: “There is an opportunity for us to support young people and help them into work and that is extremely important to us.

“We have been helped by people in the past so why can’t we give something back to help others?

“With the business growing as it is we expect to be able to employ someone on an apprenticeship very soon which we believe would be a fantastic addition to the team.”

Redu has benefited from the support of East Durham Business Service, who helped the company choose the right office accommodation to meet their growth plans.

Gary said: “The support we’ve had from East Durham Business Service really helped the business take off because it gave us direction. The fact we could get the half price rent for the first few months kept costs down and we were able to invest that money into the business. That, along with other help they’ve given us, has turned the business into what we wanted it to be.”

Such has been the growth of Redu that Darren has been voted on a list of The Most Influential People in the North East in the 35 under 35 category.

The 33-year-old entrepreneur is the youngest on the list, which includes Duncan Bannatyne, Sir Peter Vardy and Paul Callaghan.

Darren is keen to keep developing the Redu brand and make sure that the company’s focus is always the customer.

He added: “We have to make sure that the customer comes first and their needs are always put at the forefront of our interests. Our reputation is built on trust and we want to keep that going.”

Denise Fielding, Operations Director at East Durham Business Service, said: “Redu is the perfect example of a company that has moved into Novus II Business Centre at Seaham and enjoyed significant growth. It’s the ideal environment for new and growing businesses to realise their ambitions.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .