TK MEDIA DIRECT

North Hollywood

BUSINESS: Direct-response marketing

FOUNDED: 2005

TWO-YEAR REVENUE GROWTH: 757 percent

2013 REVENUE: $12.8 million

Responses from President Ted Kriesel:

What did you do to achieve the company’s growth?

Our success has been built around our work ethic. Our staff is constantly learning about new opportunities and vehicles that we can implement in client packages. This inquisitive nature allows us to present ideas to our customers that are innovative, fresh and exciting and that will generate audience engagement while serving their needs and providing the best results.

How did you manage the growing workload? For example, did you have to add space or move into new facilities?

As new clients and greater demands were placed on our company, we gradually grew our staff. As we hired new professionals, we found we needed additional work space and moved to a location with an open floor plan, which has served us by providing easy access to collaborative communication. We also developed in-house processes for efficient management of information, which shaved time and kept work flow organized. We also created work performance rewards that celebrated hard work and efforts crucial to our company’s success.

What was the biggest challenge for your staff?

As our client list grew, our staff found maintaining clear and defined lines of communication for each client’s needs and goals became rather challenging to maintain. This resulted in the implementation of work-flow processes that helped maintain each individual project’s specific needs every step of the way. It is a challenge to stay one step ahead of an ever-evolving marketplace. However, we always keep our finger on the pulse of new innovations, new methods of audience outreach and new technologies that can aid in selling and promoting our client’s messages.

Do you plan on continuing a fast-growth path or has the time come to slow down a bit?

The growth of the market fuels the growth of our company, so slowing down isn’t a concept we recognize! We’ll continue to add personnel as demand expands.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned over the last three years?

To stay calm during market shifts. Panic and jumping to solutions does not equate to a creative, effective marketing solution. We endorse risks and outside-of-the-box thinking, but never indulge in solutions that are bred on desperation.

– Compiled by Cassie Paton