A major investment trust has acquired a significant minority stake in a Manchester-based social-first marketing agency.
This move is expected to boost the agency’s growth and expand its reach, particularly in the US.
Significant Investment
Manchester-based social-first marketing agency, Campfire Group, has secured an undisclosed investment from London’s Literary Capital. The firm describes its stake as a ‘significant minority’ holding.
The move aims to support and accelerate Campfire’s growth under the continued leadership of founders Alex Brown and Joe Gradwell. Established in 2019, Campfire focuses on technology and data-led influencer marketing services.
Core Services and Achievements
At the heart of Campfire’s offerings is their proprietary trend spotting and prediction tool, Spark. The agency has completed over 10,000 influencer collaborations to date.
This impressive track record has resulted in remarkable engagement rates and return on investment for its clients across a variety of industries. Their services include influencer marketing, strategy, organic social, paid media, content creation, and data analytics.
Growth and Acquisitions
The investment will bolster Campfire’s growth both organically and through strategic acquisitions.
The primary focus remains on enhancing its technology-centric proposition. Significant opportunities are currently emerging in the US market, which will be a key area of expansion for Campfire going forward.
New Leadership Additions
With the completion of the transaction, serial digital entrepreneur Jim Brigden will join as Non-Executive Chairman, while Paul Cooper will take on the role of Non-Executive Director.
Both bring extensive marketing and digital media experience from successful roles at Brainlabs, I Spy, The Search Works, and Overture. Their expertise is expected to drive further innovation and success for Campfire.
Strategic Partnership Vision
A spokesperson for Campfire termed the partnership a ‘pivotal milestone’ in the agency’s growth story.
“With the support of Literacy Capital and the strategic leadership of Jim Brigden, Campfire is poised to achieve extraordinary growth and innovation,” they added.
Future Expectations
Campfire is looking to the future with great excitement and anticipation.
The partnership is expected to open doors to new opportunities, facilitate investment in cutting-edge technologies, and expand its reach in the UK market and beyond.
Literacy Capital’s Portfolio
This transaction marks Literacy Capital’s 24th platform investment since the Fund’s inception in 2017.
Campfire now joins a growing group of innovative and exciting portfolio companies under Literacy Capital’s management, further strengthening the firm’s diverse investment portfolio.
Market Expansion
Looking ahead, the US market emerges as a significant area of focus for Campfire.
The agency aims to leverage the new partnership to explore and capitalise on opportunities across the Atlantic, paving the way for their next phase of growth.
Impact on Influencer Marketing
The strategic partnership highlights the increasing importance of influencer marketing within the digital advertising landscape.
As influencer marketing continues to evolve, Campfire’s tech-driven approach positions it ideally to lead the charge in innovative and impactful campaigns.
The investment marks a new chapter for Campfire, driving growth and innovation under new strategic leadership.
With a strong focus on technology and expansion, Campfire looks set to make significant strides in both the UK and US markets.