Crowd funding & digital marketing company The Creative Collective is expanding its footprint in Newcastle with a move into larger offices in Hanbury Street, Mayfield this month.

Founded in 2007 on the Sunshine Coast by high profile, multi-award winning businesswoman Yvette Adams, the Newcastle operation has been run by Katrina Lees since 2008.

Originally working from home and then as a franchisee of the creative agency, Lees has been involved with the business since it’s inception – first as an intern, then as a contractor, later a franchisee and since early 2014 as a business partner in the company.

Lees has been instrumental in building the agency locally and has managed to grow a significant client base, even around the birth of her first child, Austin in 2013.

In 2014, the growing Newcastle team moved into offices in New Lambton, and with the company recording 20 per cent turnover growth, and a further 34 per cent growth in 2015, Lees said with the move to Mayfield this month the company plans to hire more staff within Newcastle, working with a growing portfolio of clients, whilst still continuing to service clients heralding from all industries across Australia.

Lees also said the company are ready to build their profile in the local area as they have been ‘flying under the radar’ for the past seven years despite picking up finalist and winning positions in numerous inter-state and national business awards programs during this time.

Most recently the company were named as a finalist in the Small Business Champions which will be announced in Sydney on 23 April 2016.

“We’re really well known in Queensland, and we regularly have clients in the likes of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane etc who know our brand, yet we’re not so well known locally which is just crazy seeing as we’re on the ground here and ready to service local clients,” said Lees.

Eager to keep the office in the suburbs for ease of parking for clients, Lees said Mayfield presented a central location, with strong street exposure and generous space to support future growth. After an office refurb, Lees has transformed the tired Hanbury Street shop-front into a vibrant space, perfect for a creative agency to operate out of.

The Hanbury Street precinct from 2 – 16 is also attracting other new businesses, including Cafe Portfilter, just doors away, which Lees said was a big plus as having a caffeine fix close-by was essential in her line of work.

“We’re looking forward to embedding ourselves more into the Newcastle business community and hoping many Newcastle business owners will come celebrate the opening of our new office on March 16th and meet our local team and our founder who will be visiting from Queensland.”