The IMAA, the national, not for profit industry association for independent media agencies launched last year. Since then it has continued to grow its membership base and make a series of big announcements, including its trade credit deal and a number of new media partners.
Mediaweek has been profiling members of the IMAA, previous features can be found here. This week we spoke to the co-founder & head of media for Hotglue Lewis Hearn, who is one of three founders alongside Nick Smith (head of digital & social) and Matt Hearn (head of content).
Over a 27 year career, Hearn held senior roles in the industry including general manager at Starcom MediaVest Group, national media manager at Toyota Motor Corporation, group media manager at TMS, business development director at Time Inc Magazines. He then co-founded Hotglue in 2010.
The agency offers three pillars of service that include:
• Media strategy, planning & buying
• Social media strategy, content & community management
• Content production (including still photography, video for web and social distribution and commercial production)
See our chat with Hearn below:
What is the History of your agency?
Hotglue began operation back in 2010 with its three founding partners built on three core business pillars. With consistent growth over the past 11 years, Hotglue now works in partnership with some of Australia’s most recognised and trusted brands. The Hotglue agency model has been developed based on the understanding that brands want to work with experienced, nimble and efficient agency partners at the right price.
We’re proud of what we’ve achieved over the past 11 years, having recently been recognised with inclusions within the 2018 Financial Review ‘Fast 100’ and even more recently the Financial Times 2020 & 2021 High Growth Companies in the Asia Pacific along the Top 10 Best Places to Work by the Financial Review.
Who are some of your long term clients?
HSV and the Walkinshaw Group along with Cobram Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oils and the Boundary Bend Olive Group have been with Hotglue since inception and we’re very proud of the long-term successful business relationships we’ve established with those brands.
Do you have any recent client wins?
Over the past 2 years, the business has experienced significant growth through new business wins, including brands such as Bulla Dairy, Saputo, Martin & Pleasance, New Age Caravans, KingGee & Hard Yakka, IVECO, Mountain Top, Kiehls, SkinCeuticals, Maybelline, L’Oreal, Garnier, La Roche-Posay, Nu-Lax, Melrose and a number of new brands which we’re currently in the process of on-boarding and will be announced very soon following a very successful start to 2021. We’re also very proud of the work we’ve been doing in the not-for-profit space including key campaigns for SANE Australia and Make A Wish Australia.
What has it been like being part of the IMAA?
In the challenging and evolving media and marketing landscape, independent media agencies continue to offer local and global brands highly valuable, experienced and genuine agency partnerships built on trust, transparency and measurable business outcomes. The IMAA provides a platform for support and collaboration between independent agencies Australia wide, showcases the benefits of working with independents and reinforces the financial benefits to the economy by supporting 100% Australian owned agencies.
Hotglue are proud to be partnering with the IMAA to help support and promote the importance and continued growth of independent media agencies across Australia.
If you are interested in hiring Hotglue you can visit there website here.
