Alternatives 12 years in Business – A thank-you to our community

14th February 2012

Alternatives are 12 years in business today, the 14th February 2012. We’d like to thank all of the many marketers who have worked with us since 2000 and those who continue to support us today. Our business has been through an interesting journey-some of it fun, some of it difficult, all of it interesting! Aldagh and I started out with a vision for an alternative way for clients to access great marketers and an alternative way for marketers to work. We developed the concept of an expert, flexible Panel that clients could access as and when needed to address their marketing issues. Over the years we steadily grew our Panel and provided marketers on an interim and consulting basis to clients across all sectors.

As the years progressed we responded to market needs and developed a permanent marketing recruitment offering.  We became and remain No1 in interim marketing and in permanent recruitment in Ireland. We also partnered with the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK to introduce a marketing training offering-again in response to client needs-where they wanted us not just to consult, but also to upskill their teams.

In 2006-a real highlight year when I look back-we were nominated finalists in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards- and travelled with the finalists to Shanghai. It was a really proud time for us and for our team and really edged us all on. Our 2010 CSR Award for our Marketing for Change, marketing volunteer programme, was also a highlight.

In 2008 we felt the impact of the economic crisis, as everyone around us did, but we weathered our way through it.  Now it’s about looking forward- and things do seem to be picking up a little. Last year we launched Alternatives Digital- a joint venture with Digital Times and we also launched a new division-an Outsource Marketing division- where clients outsource a standalone marketing area or issue for us to manage on their behalf. We recruit and manage the exact, expert resources required to deliver it effectively.

Throughout all of this we have had the support of the community of marketers –some of whom we have worked with for 12 years. We have placed over 1,600 marketers throughout this time- and they have worked hard, producing results for clients and in essence being the Alternatives brand in the marketplace. Many of them have also become clients. So a big, big thank-you to them- to you. It’s been really great to develop such good relationships over the 12 years. 

And finally we have had the support of our team. This is a people business and we have been lucky to have some of the most passionate and skilled marketers work for us over the last 12 years. Thanks to each of them.

Today, here in Alternatives, we all look forward to the years ahead and to working hard to help marketers develop their careers and their businesses.

Sandra Lawler
Managing Director