Since its formation in 2001, Avicom Marketing Solutions has continued to grow by adding new services for its customers.
Last year, Avicom reported a 54-percent growth in revenues and added an office in New Jersey, and all signs are indicating that the company will continue to grow, said Jeff McChulloch, co-president.
Avicom evolved from McChulloch Design Group, which was founded in 1986 and specialized in design and multimedia services.
Co-presidents McChulloch and Tim Kubina formed Avicom to expand the creative services of McChulloch Design and to add capabilities such as branding, fulfillment and print management.
“Our plan was to turn Avicom into a full-service advertising agency, not based on what existing ad agencies were, but on what they will be,” Kubina said.
The company continues to evolve its services to meet customer demand. When a client needed public relations, Avicom created a PR department, McChulloch said. Recently, the company added a video studio capable of shooting a feature-length film because clients wanted to get into social media.
Earlier this year, Avicom launched a new political and public affairs practice. The company is now a single-source campaign communications provider for political candidates and issue organizers, according to Avicom public relations director Karl Robe. Veteran political strategist Chris Lato leads the new political and public affairs practice.
The key to growing trust with clients as an advertising agency begins with listening to them and adapting services to meet their needs, Kubina said.
“We don’t walk in and rearrange their furniture,” Kubina said. “We build relationships with our clients and learn their business inside and out.”
The company has to be flexible because every client has to be approached in a different way, McChulloch said.
“Every company is in a different position,” McChulloch said. “We really have to dive in to build a deeper understanding of what they want to be and to help them be more successful tomorrow.”
Avicom uses charity as a way to create bonds and partnerships with its employees and clients. Rather than giving gifts at Christmas to its clients, the company donates money to a charity in their name, often choosing a charity in which an employee is personally involved.
“Giving back to the community is a wonderful thing,” McChulloch said.
Avicom Marketing Communications
Address: 2120 Pewaukee Road, Suite 200, Waukesha
Website: www.avicomdirect.com
Industry: Marketing, advertising, public relations and social media (video and web)
Annual revenue: $5.8 million
Employees: 53
