SocialChain refreshes identity to reflect a new era
September 2023 - Social & Influencer • News • Press
Leading social and influencer agency SocialChain has reshaped its business proposition, restructured and redesigned its team, and refreshed its visual identity.
The rebrand marks a new era for SocialChain - the agency turns ten in 2024 - and solves the rapid evolution of social and the marketing innovations that have taken place in the space. It’s a radical shift from agency models of the past, providing an evolved offering with the strongest talent, all built for clients.
The new proposition, “building stronger connections between people and brands by strengthening your SocialChain”, is centred around the agency’s core belief of putting people before platforms.
Unlike other agencies, SocialChain is not content simply chasing algorithms, new platforms and trends and is instead putting the emphasis on the audience. This is coupled with an understanding of how brands can - and should - show up in a way that is meaningful, including a clear strategy and a collaborative approach with creators.
This has cultivated SocialChain’s creator-led model, which focuses on putting talent—both from within and outside the agency—creativity, insight and outcomes at the heart of content output. It is rejecting traditional hierarchies, restructuring teams, and redesigning specialist roles. SocialChain creators won’t be restricted to specific fields and will come together cross-agency to achieve client goals. Due to this, the agency aims to build the multi-skilled agency creators of the future.
The proposition has been road-tested in recent pitches resulting in three high-profile client wins. John Lewis Partnership (including Waitrose & Partners), Holland & Barrett, and the British Army have been added to the portfolio in recent months.
SocialChain’s new brand identity follows its acquisition by new age media marketing and technology company Brave Bison in February. It has been developed by a new senior leadership team which includes a blend of legacy SocialChain creators (Charlotte Bowker, Operations Director; Lauren Howson, People Director; and Mark Farrelly, Finance Director) and new market-leading talent (Tom Bellamy, Executive Creative Director who joins from Ogilvy; Kyle Pyne-James, Growth Director who joins from the GOAT agency; and Ric Hayes, Group Strategy Director who joins from Carat). Pete Metcalfe, CEO, will head the collective.
Pete Metcalfe, CEO at SocialChain, explained: “SocialChain is extremely proud of where we came from and what we have achieved to date. But now we are looking to the future. It's time for the next era of the agency. As such, we have to acknowledge that we are no longer that spirited start-up. We’ve grown up. SocialChain is a multi award-winning agency focused on building stronger connections between people and brands.
“Our new visual identity and proposition reflects this perfectly. What’s more, our revolutionary creator–led model and forward-facing approach delivered by a talented team with exceptional leadership at the helm is exactly what brands need to succeed right now. This is why leading brands, including John Lewis and Waitrose, as well as Holland & Barrett, have chosen to work with us. We have serious momentum behind us right now and an enviable roster of current and new clients. It’s only a matter of time before we welcome others into the fold.”
Sarah Moores, Head of Marketing Communications at Holland & Barrett, added: “As a company committed to delivering personalised wellness journeys through social, it’s vital that our content cuts through the noise, resonates with, and captures the attention of, a switched-on and active wellness community. SocialChain’s new proposition and people first approach made the agency stand out from the crowd - ensuring our SocialChain is built out with bespoke content created for our audience. Added to this was the agency’s passion, creativity, and collaborative approach that fits perfectly with our team. We can’t wait to get started.”
