Oban International: 2022 Wrapped Up
As we approach the end of our 20th birthday year, we wanted to take a moment to think about some of the highlights of 2022 at Oban International.
We’ve won some fantastic new business this year and welcomed back some lapsed clients. Most pleasingly, every existing client has chosen to extend their contracts with us.
Our team spoke at Brighton SEO and trained other businesses on international digital marketing. We produced the audio version of our book Going Global for new international marketers. Going Global itself was shortlisted for Best Content at the B2B Awards. We produced our annual Global Marketing Calendar, packed with e-commerce and travel opportunities in markets around the world.
Our LIMEs (Local in-Market Experts) made films to share their local customs and entertained us in our weekly huddles. Bela from South Africa explained the difference between ‘now’, ‘nownow’ and ‘just now’ and Nikki from Thailand told us how influencers are making the most of opportunities on Blockdit.
We ran above-the-line campaigns in Ethiopia and Senegal for the first time.
We made the most of our great location by the sea in Brighton with Beach BBQs and our annual Sports Day. The social highlight was our 20th birthday party at Langshott Manor on one of the most glorious sunny days of the year.
For the last few years, we have worked with the YMCA to support young homeless people in Brighton and beyond. This year, we ran the Chilly Challenge which involved a very cold sea dip in March. We also did a long sponsored walk on a hot Saturday in July, and were able to offer some marketing training and support to the YMCA team.
Oban expanded with some fabulous new hires. Ellie, Lizzy and Lulu joined us as Strategists. We ran our Executive programme welcoming Katie, Harry, Berke and, more recently, Robert, to the team.
It’s always rewarding to watch people work hard, hone their skills and reap their reward with a well-deserved promotion. So well done to Jack, Lucy, Murray, Jamie, Avielle, Laura, Gaby and George.
Oban is also expanding at the junior end with three Oban babies in the pipeline due for delivery early next year. Congratulations to Laura, Grecia and Jack!
We’ve been working hard to create a wellbeing culture. Cesar Gamio worked with us to see what we are doing well and where we can improve. Our scores, particularly around diversity, empowerment, teamwork, values and culture, were exceptionally high.
We decided to trial a hybrid working environment and a 4.5 day week early on. We get together face-to-face in the office once a week, but at other times our colleagues work from the location that suits them and the task best. We split our team into two cohorts working on alternate Fridays. This has been an incredibly positive experience for us. Our clients have been supportive, output has remained consistently high, and our team have enjoyed the chance to brush up on their hobbies, complete their life admin, or simply take a stroll to the beach and enjoy the long hot summer days (hard to remember in the current stormy weather).
A couple of weeks ago we had our annual Thanksgiving lunch together. There are many things we’re grateful for but a special one is the opportunity to work with great clients, with a lovely group of talented and hardworking people, in an industry which continues to evolve.
We wish you all a happy and successful 2023!
Oban International is the digital marketing agency specialising in international expansion. Our LIME (Local In-Market Expert) Network provides up to date cultural input and insights from over 80 markets around the world, helping clients realise the best marketing opportunities and avoid the costliest mistakes.