A NEW Ipswich media company today told how it is beating the credit crunch and expanding its business in the face of the harsh economic climate.

Lizzie Parry

A NEW Ipswich media company today told how it is beating the credit crunch and expanding its business in the face of the harsh economic climate.

Crafted Media Ltd is a design, development and marketing company set up by three friends about six years ago.

Specialising in web design, search engine marketing and internet pay per click campaigns, the business is growing - despite the tough financial conditions currently gripping the country.

Brad Warwick, business development director, said things are going so well that they have already recruited two people since the start of the year - and the plan is to keep on going.

“When we started up we worked as a collective of three freelancers,” he said. “At the beginning of last year there were five of us working and over the course of last year we recruited six more people, four since August.

“We are still so busy with more work coming in we will be recruiting throughout this year.

“Obviously we are nervous, we keep expecting something to hit us, but so far it hasn't. We are very mindful of what is going on but the plan is to keep building.

“We are trying to grow the company organically, steadily without taking to many risks.

“Suffolk provides a rich pool of resource and our clients like the fact we don't charge usual London agency rates that they may get for a similar service.”

Martin Brown and Rob Doole, both former Copleston High School students, formed the company with Mr Warwick, a former Stowmarket High School pupil, originally working from their bedrooms before moving to premises in Copdock three years ago.

The trio are now celebrating their expansion by moving into bigger offices on Foundation Street in Ipswich.

Mr Warwick said: “Now is the time to grow, rental prices are falling, we are paying less for a much bigger space in town.”

The company is also opening a new office in Islington in March and Mr Warwick believes the key to their success is down to the internet.

“It is possible to see what works and what doesn't in a very controlled way,” he said. “People are moving away from the high street and online continues to grow.”

Tell us how you are beating the economic downturn. Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.