Creative industries website The Loop gets new look ahead of 2013 UK launch via Carter Digital

Creative industries networking website The Loop, has today announced it will be expanding operations into the UK in early 2013 and has appointed agency Carter Digital to lead a brand refresh and website redesign program, to prepare the platform for launch. The company says the plans will also create new enterprise opportunities in Europe, for Australians working in the creative sector.

The Loop is the market leading community for creative professionals connecting people working in the creative industries with each other and commercial opportunities.

The company has experienced +300% year on year revenue growth since launching in 2009. The site currently receives over 135,000 absolute unique visitors each month, from Australians working across the spectrum of creative industries including advertising, design, digital, marketing, production, interior design, film and television.

Click here to visit The Loop.

Last year The Loop raised $2 million in seed funding and that investment will allow the company to seize what they believe is a unique opportunity, with exceptional growth potential, in the UK.

Says Pip Jamieson (pictured), co-founder: “We’ve chosen the UK as our first international launch as there are currently no local competitors to The Loop and the cultural barriers to entering the market are low.

“The UK creative sector employs 2.2 million, which is 7.8% of the UK workforce. This compares to 487,000 people employed in the creative sector in Australia, representing only 5.3% of workforce. Over the last decade the UK creative sector has grown twice as fast as the rest of the economy and has been identified as a key sector in driving economic recovery in the region.”

Jamieson believes the expansion plans into the UK, with a launch slated for April next year, will also open up global commercial, client and job opportunities for creative industry practitioners and businesses based in Australia.

Says Jamieson: “Establishing The Loop in the UK will improve cross pollination of talent, skills and ideas between Australia and the UK, by providing a vital linkage for Australian creative professionals with the established creative communities in Europe.”

Jamieson says a refresh of the brand and a complete overhaul of The Loop’s online platform, including both usability and functionality, will be key to the success of the venture in the UK.

Continues Jamieson: “If we want to compete on a world stage, and our vision is to become the leading platform for creative professionals globally, we need to have a world class look and feel.

“We’ve appointed Carter Digital as our agency on this project, not only because of their reputation for technical excellence, but because of their creative strengths as well. The goal of the brand refresh is to create a look and feel that is beautiful and is a joy to use. Brand and usability are equally important and I’m confident Carter has the skills to seamlessly integrate both.”

James Noble (pictured), principal at Melbourne based Carter Digital, says the appointment is an exciting opportunity for the agency.

Says Noble: “Our HQ are based in Australia, though we are always working on international projects and collaborating with others around the world. In my view, work reflecting a global perspective will always be the strongest, as it needs to stand up against the best there is. Working with The Loop to help them establish a successful operation in the UK is a wonderful opportunity to put this ethos into practice.”

The Loop is moving into an office in London’s Shoreditch and while the company’s HQ will remain in Sydney, a satellite sales and marketing team will be set up in the UK. The company also recently won a the UK Trade & Investment ‘Go UK Competition’ award, which recognised The Loop as an innovative start-up with significant potential in the region, and will provide the company with a business support package to help accelerate the launch.

The Loop has already started marketing in the region, encouraging UK sign-ups to the Australian site.

The brand refresh and redesigned website will first launch on the Australian site, in March 2013.

Click here to visit Carter Digital’s website.