One of the UK’s leading suppliers of rugs is thriving thanks to the support of a local marketing agency.
Aycliffe-based Modern Rugs – one of the largest online rug shops in the UK has enlisted the help of Thrive Marketing, which already supports a number of firms on Aycliffe Business Park to develop brands, websites and marketing campaigns.
The Thrive team, headed by directors Johnny Woods and Rachel Townsend Green, has been working closely with award-winning Modern Rugs on graphic designs and email campaigns which have resulted in some great results.
Modern Rugs, which won ‘Best Online Retailer 2015’ from the national Interiors Monthly Magazine, sells more than 25,000 rugs every year.
The company was set up by Ben Dale in 2004 and moved from its original premises in Bishop Auckland to a new 5,000 sq ft site at Maple Way before undergoing a £3.2m management buy-out in December 2014. Finance director Martin Tragen, a former Timpson director, said: “Discovering Thrive was a great find!
“Their team, led by Johnny Woods, has so far designed a new logo and trademarks which have been of great use to us, for various projects.”
Thrive had significant input to Modern Rugs’ sales presence at the upcoming London Olympia Ideal Home Show, as well as working on the design and management of its successful customer update emailing programme.
Martin added: “During our first 18 months on Aycliffe Business Park we have been keen to make use of services located in the area, whether that is IT support, electricals or recruitment agencies. “We are grateful to have Thrive based so close as we look forward to collaborating with Johnny and his team on many more projects in the future.”
Thrive Marketing’s team of eight, has been active on Aycliffe Business Park for two years, having merged two marketing and design companies – Au Fait Marketing and Echo Graphics integrating their services for clients.
Creative director Johnny Woods said: “It’s great to help local businesses on Aycliffe Business Park and we’re always keen to meet companies. “Modern Rugs are a great team and we hope to expand on their current success.
Thrive Marketing has produced a number of successful email campaigns for Modern Rugs, amongst other clients, which leads Johnny to stress the importance of email as a marketing tool.
Johnny added: “Email can be sometimes seen as an interference, but we strongly believe when done correctly, with clean databases and strategic processes in place, it can be one of the most powerful tools for boosting web traffic, sales and repeat visits.”
Thrive Marketing is an inbound marketing agency based at HUB Workspace on Aycliffe Business Park and offers content marketing, graphic design and web development services.  If you would like to speak to Thrive about email marketing or any other services they offer, visit their website www.thriveability.co.uk

Thrive and Modern Rugs 1
Modern Rugs Director Martin Tragen (left) and marketing co-ordinator Anna McMillan with Thrive Marketing creative director Johnny Woods and designer Tom Mather