Smart Outdoor moves to Sunderland ahead of expansion

Smart Outdoor, which provides dynamic, digital advertising screens that reach millions of people every week, has made a move into Sunderland’s Evolve Business Centre, as it looks to expand with three new appointments.

The team will soon be seven-strong, and is set to embark on a period of growth with more advertising sites set to be added to its portfolio.

The company, headed up by Mark Catterall, has a number of display screens, including one on the A19 as well as Whitemare Pool and the heart of Newcastle, but is in the process of agreeing deals that will see new sites appear across the North East and in other ‘underserved’ areas across the UK.

As a result, Smart Outdoor will be adding more resource to its team including a digital marketing executive and account managers to deliver the best possible customer service.

Mark, who has worked in the outdoor media industry for 15 years, said he is forecasting significant growth, adding to the business’ offer with social media support, which will complement the firm’s ambient media platforms.

He said: “Smart Outdoor is still in its infancy, but already the business is going from strength to strength and with some exciting developments in the pipeline, I am certain we’ll see further significant growth in the coming months.

“Taking an office space in Evolve, which is right at the heart of the North East, positions us really well to serve the whole region, and the excellent road, rail and air connections nearby mean we can easily get to where we need to, with ease of access to London and Amsterdam, places that are of particular strategic importance to us.”

With a portfolio of 20 existing sites, Smart Outdoor is already able to offer its clients a number of prominent advertising opportunities across the North East.

However, with further investment in new sites currently in advanced planning stages, Mr Catterall believes the business could be a major disruptor in the outdoor advertising market.

“We are very well positioned to fill a void that I believe the existing players in the market have left. And as we add to the team, we’ll be bringing in complementary skills that will enhance the service we already provide to clients. It’s a really exciting time.”

The company has been supported by Sunderland City Council’s business investment team, which assisted Mark with the move to Evolve and will be offering ongoing help as the business grows.

Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said: “Smart Outdoor is a really impressive business that we are delighted has chosen Sunderland as its base.

“We look forward to supporting Mark and his team as the company develops and grows with some exciting conversations underway that will hopefully see it grow its footprint in the city, providing more opportunities for advertisers to get their brand in front of people who live, work and play in the city.”