Basingstoke: Purple Agency adds PR to its portfolio

The latest IPA (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) Bellwether Report highlights that marketers continue to increase investment in PR, a point borne out in the Basingstoke-based Purple Agency’s recent acquisition of PR specialists Navigate Design, which add PR expertise to its portfolio. 

Navigate (based in Petersfield) runs PR accounts for a number of high-profile organisations in the region including Portsmouth International Port and Lucketts Travel.

Purple (part of Adare) is a multi-award-winning agency with strengths in strategy, creative, data insight and digital disciplines. The acquisition of Navigate adds PR expertise, creating a Hampshire-based business with a truly integrated offering and strengths in all the growth areas of marketing.

As well as regionally-based clients such as IBM, Honeywell and Novartis, Purple’s client base extends nationally and internationally, with studios in Berlin, Rome and Istanbul. Purple also has specialist expertise in the B2B, travel, healthcare and sports sectors, recently having been appointed as digital and social media agency for the British Paralympic Association.

Navigate’s Gareth Gammon commented: “Our clients appreciate a personal and tailored approach, and know the value public relations can add to their marketing strategy. The combination of Navigate’s PR skills and Purple’s integrated expertise creates a powerful proposition for both businesses’ clients.”

Steve Shaw, managing director of Purple, said: “As an ambitious Hampshire-based business, we’re delighted to welcome the team from Navigate on board. This acquisition is a perfect strategic fit for us, keeping our service offering aligned to the needs of our customers and broadening the offering to Navigate’s clients.”

As well as winning “Best in Marketing Effectiveness” at the 2013 RAR Awards, Purple also recently won the award for “Innovation in email marketing - B2C” for its work with Flight Centre UK.