Member Article

Karol celebrates 21 years in business

Newcastle-based Karol Marketing Group is celebrating a landmark anniversary this month.

The full service PR and marketing consultancy, which is currently undergoing further expansion, is marking 21 years in business by sending all of its clients a very special birthday cake.

But instead of traditional sponge, butter cream and icing, clients will be tucking into ‘Karol’ Mint Cake – an acknowledgement of the firm’s origins in the outdoor and adventure sports sector.

Karol Marketing was launched by Stefan Lepkowski in 1992 after leaving Berghaus and since then has worked with a wide range of high profile North East organisations, including Newcastle University Business School, Newcastle Great Park, JR Holland, The Toffee Factory, Darlington Borough Council and Newcastle International Airport, as well as prestigious brands such as Nike, Reebok, Karrimor and O’Neill.

The firm, which has its headquarters in Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley, has won more than 70 industry awards and was named PR Consultancy Team Of The Year five times.

Recent client wins include The All In One Company, a bespoke on-line ‘onesie’ manufacturer based in Northumberland and Signature, the leading awarding body in deaf communications, which has its headquarters in County Durham.

Stefan, who launched Karol following a successful career with Berghaus, said: “When I started in PR we used to sit on the floor sticking captions on photographic prints and stuffing envelopes with press releases. Times have changed a great deal since then!

“I never imagined Karol would have been as successful as it has been, but 21 years later I realise we have still only scratched the surface.

“I am extremely grateful to all those clients who have placed their trust in us and to the many journalists who have helped us along the way.”

Karol has recently been working with foreign-based clients, such as Scandinavian retail powerhouse Airport Retail Group (which launched its pilot store in Newcastle International Airport), German leisure group Vaude and Italian company Asolo, who are all using the firm’s expertise and market knowledge to engage with the UK market.

Stefan concluded: “We have a strong, highly experienced team in place and due to a number of new client wins, are on the look-out for new talent.

“The next five years are going to be very exciting!”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Karol Marketing Group .