We don’t make waves. But we do make a splash.
Experience
Whether brought in as a direct report to the CEO, General Manager, CMO or Sales & Marketing Director, we never rock the boat. No matter if hired to audit an internal marketing team or take over a brand’s entire marketing strategy and manage their internal staff members, we don’t make waves. We simply make a splash with our results.
“Lit the spark that brought our iconic restaurants into the 21st century”
The marlo team led us through a strategic modernization of Kelly’s Roast Beef ahead of launching our franchise program and opening units across the country. Working with marlo marketing was not only a seamless experience, but it allowed us access to more experience and industry insight than we ever could have afforded with a traditional internal marketing team at a fraction of the price. From strategy to storytelling to messaging, to management of social media channels, developing a loyalty program, photoshoots, website, designing menu boards for inside and drive-thru needs and so much more, they lit the spark that brought our iconic restaurants into the 21st century and transformed how we presented the brand ahead of a critical time for our national expansion. Trustworthy, nimble, and responsive — I would hire them again and again.
NEIL NEWCOMB
CEO, Kelly’s Roast Beef Franchise, LLC
“Marlo took the brand and our success as her own”
I had the pleasure of working with Marlo and her incredible team during the opening of Puro Gusto Cafe in Washington, DC. It was the first entry into the US market for our brand, and we looked for an agency that would give us the gravitas and professionalism we needed, but also would be a true partner. We found that in Marlo, Yana and the rest of the team. The work was great, the relationship was incredible and Marlo took the brand and our success as her own. I highly recommend Marlo and her company to any group that wants a dedicated, talented, tenacious and FUN team to support their marketing, PR, social, digital and really any creative needs.
FRANK SICKELSMITH
Former Global VP, Autogrill
“The best marketing decision I have ever made”
I replaced my entire internal marketing team with marlo marketing. It was the best marketing decision I have ever made. Rather than trying to directly manage the hiring and work product of an internal team, or hiring a six-figure C-suite marketing executive who would then need to build a team or hire multiple agencies, we cut to the chase and went straight to the source: an ROI-driven, sales-centric team that had all of the resources we needed already built under one roof. The marlo team dove in head first with a ‘brand analysis’ to understand over 30 years of marketing history around our 27-unit chain and identify the opportunities to propel the brand — and that is exactly what they did. The team presented a comprehensive marketing plan that touched on branding, email marketing, loyalty programs, public relations, in-store promotions, online reputation management, internal & external communications and much more, and assured me and ownership that outsourcing our marketing department to marlo marketing was the right decision. Utilizing the marlo team enabled Margaritas to reduce overall Marketing G&A by 10% while reaping the benefits of a dedicated team of marketing professionals that think strategically about each initiative and each dollar spent to ensure maximum ROI. Their work resulted in setting multiple company sales records, including the company’s single day highest sales in 30 years. They convinced me that, with the right partner, an outsourced marketing solution is the right one. I’d hire them again in a second and would recommend to anyone else to do the same.
HUGO MARIN
Former President, Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
“Single handedly transformed our business”
Marlo and her team single handedly transformed our business over a period of 15 months in a way that we had never experienced. The team truly served as our outsourced marketing department, delivering on everything from a refreshed brand identity to crystal clear messaging; expert positioning for our staff to a new website; email marketing to engaging social content; literally everything from a paid advertising strategy to instilling consistency across the dozens of email signatures on employees’ emails fell under their charge. They also instituted a proactive media relations program that resulted in compelling coverage in American Way, Playboy, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Natural Health, USA Today and Palm Beach Illustrated, to name but a few. The proof was in the results: the phones literally started ringing off the hook. We secured 200+ more visitor bookings (an average visitor booking is three weeks) than the previous year.
SHEILA SKROBECK
Former Director of Sales, Hippocrates Health Institute
“Understands hospitality marketing inside and out”
We brought marlo in to audit our marketing department and recommend the most efficient and cost-effective model to nurture our growing portfolio of restaurants. At the time, we had 14 restaurants and a marketing team comprised of seven full-time employees — but the restaurant operators weren’t satisfied with the strategy and coordination of marketing efforts, the leadership team was frustrated by the team’s execution and the marketing team felt like they were struggling just to keep their heads above water with no ability or time to be strategic. We knew we were leaving money on the table.
The marlo team dug into every aspect of our marketing department — and how they worked with our operators — to truly assess and understand the challenges our stakeholders faced, as well as the opportunities available to us with the right structure in place. They delivered a thoughtful, thorough, and strategic recommendation for restructuring that empowered our team, maximized efficiency, and amplified profitability. We implemented their recommendations two years ago and I can confidently say that we’re very glad we did! We trust their counsel and since then have also hired them for a separate go-to-market strategy project. No question, the marlo team understands hospitality marketing inside and out.
TOM SHEA
Chief Operating Officer & President, The Briar Group