Bentonville agency Acorn plans to develop U.S. footprint in 2018

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) 971 views 

Digital marketing agency Acorn: The Influence Co. is eyeing growth in 2018.

Company president Myra Dallas says the Bentonville agency will be adding staff in multiple cities this year, beginning with an office in Minneapolis by this summer. She said other cities that could follow are Chicago and Cincinnati, places where the agency already works with clients and areas she described as “shopper marketing hubs.”

“Acorn has experienced remarkable growth each of the past three years and we already see that momentum continuing in 2018,” Dallas said. “We are expanding our capabilities and staff to support the new opportunities as our existing clients grow and new clients continue to join our roster.”

Acorn was founded in 2014 and is a portfolio company of New Road Capital Partners of Rogers, one of the largest private equity firms in Arkansas.

“Acorn has experienced remarkable growth each of the past three years, and we already see that momentum building in 2018,” said New Road managing partner Jeremy Wilson. “We are expanding our capabilities and staff to support the new opportunities as our existing clients grow and new clients continue to join our roster.”

Dallas was promoted from chief operations officer to president last year. She declined to give specific revenue figures for the business, but said the agency’s revenue and profitability increased by double digits in 2017.

Dallas echoed Wilson’s comments about the agency’s potential growth in 2018. Acorn has 17 employees, up from 10 one year ago, and Dallas said the company should have at least 30 employees at year’s end.

One recent hire is Scott Caldwell as vice president of sales. Caldwell has worked previously for Catapult Marketing and CJRW.

Dallas also said John Miller, hired in October 2016, has been promoted to chief financial officer. Other key personnel moves, Dallas said, are the promotions of Shannon Gott to senior director of sales and Katie Duke to vice president of client services.