EP007 | What a Buyer Looks for in an Agency

Bulletproof Agency Network Podcast

https://www.bulletproofagency.com

@BulletproAgency

Bulletproof Agency proudly presents this podcast

In this episode Andy Johnson is joined by Stuart Brown (Magnetic North), and Erica Ingham (Media Com North) at prolific North Live, as they discuss what buyers look for in an agency and what’s involved in selling your business, in front of a live studio audience.

Topics covered in this episode:

• What are the most important considerations when looking to buy?
• Why haven’t there been as many transactions in the creative sector?
• Aligning your aims with those of your potential buyer, and the importance of cultural fit.
• Erica and Stuart discuss their approaches to openness and communication with staff, and the importance of managing expectations.
• Advice for those looking to sell or buy in the creative sector.
• The importance of financial and emotional readiness.
• What makes buying in the creative sector unique?
• Stuart discusses what he looks for as a buyer.
• When to think about selling and how to prepare to do so.
• What makes a business stand out from the crowd to potential buyers?

Guest BIOs

Stuart Brown

In a career extending over 30 years, Stuart has managed, owned, invested in and disposed of a number of businesses where the commercialisation of new and evolving technologies was key.

His last investment was as Investor Director in a marketing services agency specialising in SMS marketing and response. Over a 7 year period the business was taken from loss to profit and successfully scaled across revenue, margin and operating profit, returning in excess of £7m to investors and shareholders.

Today Stuart is an investor director in MagneticNorth, a Manchester based digital design studio specialising in User Experience and Design for clients including BBC, Hull City of Culture, Co-op and Airbnb.

Website: www.thisismN.com

Twitter: @mNwork

Erica Ingham

Erica has been CFO at Mediacom North for nearly three years, a business on a strong organic growth and acquisition trajectory. She is responsible for Mediacom North’s Finance, HR and Legal and Compliance functions. Having graduated from Reading University with a BA hons in French, Erica joined the M&S Finance graduate trainee programme. She subsequently specialised in Media working for BBC Radio, MTV Europe, Liberty Media and 20th Century Fox. Latterly, Erica ran her own business providing fundraising, acquisition and sale advice to Media companies. Erica has spent a large part of her career abroad working on the set up of the first VoD service in Europe. She holds a Diploma in Board Direction and is also a Non-Executive Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Website: http://www.mediacomnorth.co.uk/

Twitter: @ericaingham1

Presenter BIO

A journalist and broadcaster for nearly 30 years, Andy runs his own media consultancy in Manchester working with clients like Weber Shandwick, the NFU, and the Institute of Directors.

Andy started in print before 17 years as a BBC presenter & reporter, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Five Live & the Today programme. For five years Andy presented the award-winning BBC1 current affairs programme Inside Out, travelling across

Europe making documentaries on terrorism, the smuggling of illegal guns into the UK and the Manchester IRA bomb. He also made films with Sir Bobby Charlton, Yoko Ono, Lord Heseltine and Johnny Marr.

Find out more about Andy’s media consultancy: www.andyjohnson.tv

Thank you for attending and hope you enjoyed the show. Please subscribe to our podcast for more industry discussions with more fantastic guests.

Next Episode

Another episode from Prolific North Live is next, with guests Steve Kuncewicz (Slater and Gordon) and Mark Stringer (Ahoy) who will be discussing the delicate art of picking your fights.