A 2006 start-up founded by couple Ger Walsh and Graham Carroll in the box room of their home, will this month move into their new HQ, a bespoke 10,000sq ft warehouse, showroom and office on Dublin’s Long Mile Road.
Thinknblink will re-brand as The Blink Group, incorporating Wow Marketing, Propbox, Robot Networks, Blink Digital, Blink Christmas and Blink Staffing*.
The company now has 10 full time staff, supplemented by many as 200 part-time employees during busy periods. The move allows The Blink Group to further expand on its already extensive range of services. The Blink Group is a full service marketing and event agency that owns and operates six separate businesses. Each one of the companies provides services that are complimentary to each other.
In 2008 a recession hit Ireland and the couple quickly saw the opportunity to help the retail sector by creating unique, engaging, cost-effective and innovative ways to draw footfall to shopping centres and large retailers around the country. Ger Walsh says of this time “We were pushed out of our comfort zone by necessity and found ourselves and our small team coming up with concepts, creating and activating retail experiences with our staff delivering the magic. Today we are a full scale marketing and event agency handling everything for our clients from events to social media management and engagement with their followers”.
The past three years have given Ger and Graham the time to look at the business and future proof it for the years ahead. In 2020/1 with no events being planned clients invested in digital as did ThinknBlink ,who created the Santa Online Experience where children from across the globe logged on to meet one of the companies Santas. This online activity won an APMC award in 2021. In evaluating the business Ger and Graham believed it was the optimum time for a rebrand and so The Blink Group comes into being this month.
The six companies operate as one allowing for a clear channel of communication. The Blink Group can for a client oversee creative, set design and build, props, casual staffing as well as digital output. The Blink Group has become in affect the outsourced marketing department for big retail.
Graham Carroll said “Over the past few years retail has taken such a hit with a big move towards online shopping but what online shopping can’t offer the customer is the live experiences. We foresee retail investing in live events and campaigns in the coming years , reciprocity is retail’s way of fighting . We have been able to show our retail customers such as IKEA, Tesco, The Square Town Centre, and Liffey Valley Shopping Centre to name just a few that if you connect with your shopper , entertain them with fun, fashion and engaging experiences they WILL come back for more”.
Christmas is busiest time in The Blink Group diary with over 25 Santa experiences across the country being manned and managed by the team. Commenting on the festive period Ger says “ With our retail clients we start planning Christmas in February. From sourcing and building props and sets to finding that perfect Santa or elf! After Christmas it’s the other – what I call Hallmark dates that keep us busy such as Valentines and Easter. We are constantly trying to improve the experience for the customer which in turn reflects positively on our clients”.
Turnover across the group is €2.1m with the aim to hit €4.5m within the next three years. The Blink Group has identified a number of categories within the industry that will be added to its services over coming year and negotiations are underway to acquire two further businesses that will enhance The Blink Group offering.
The Blink Group*
Wow Marketing – creates marketing campaigns and solutions for retail and brands
Blink Digital – provides digital and social media services
Blink Staffing – provides short terms staffing solutions
PropBox – provides prop hire
Robot Networks - provides licensed costume characters as meet and greet alternatives
Blink Christmas - provides grotto design and Christmas personnel
For more information visit www.tbg.ie
Slán go fóill.