A pleasant collaboration.

As of 2023, we have enjoyed working with Sterk Merkregisseurs in Eindhoven for at least a decade. Together with owner Patrick van der Sommen, we discussed the history of Sterk Merkregisseurs and our great years of collaboration.

Data-driven marketing.

Sterk Merkregisseurs is an agency for strategic branding and data-driven marketing. The agency offers clients greater control over (marketing) efforts and processes in order to work together for predictable brand growth. This gives customers more control over their own brand. By combining strategy, creation and online expertise, they achieve the best results.

After working for someone for 10 years, Patrick decided to go into business for himself in 2006. Sterk Reclame was born. Patrick was working alone in his attic room at the time, but he always had the intention of starting an advertising agency. “Gewoon goed geregeld” (simply well organised) was the motto and that has always remained within the company's mission.

Growth.

Sterk Reclame grew into a team of four on an industrial estate in Lieshout. Strategies were devised until the wee hours of the morning. The core business was and still is corporate communications. All expressions were carried out from surveying to delivery. From Lieshout, Sterk Reclame moved into listed premises, growing the team to seven employees.

In 2018, Sterk Reclame moved again, this time to its current office in Eindhoven, and in 2022 the agency merged with Waalwijk-based Mark@ing. Under a new name, Sterk Merkregisseurs, the team grew to 21 employees. “Everything we do has to make sense. A good campaign is often expensive, but it certainly delivers, and that is what matters. We focus on quality and personalised services.”

Save on costs.

Apple devices have always been used at Sterk Merkregisseurs. The first Mac was a coloured iMac. “There will be no other brand here. I think it is important for everyone to have a decent workplace. For us, a good 'digital' workplace is essential, which is why we have never skimped when it comes to purchasing equipment. As a result, we have always been able to work quickly and efficiently, without any problems.”

Mac purchase costs may seem higher at first, but if you list all the usage costs, you'll see that using Mac can actually save you money. This is partly due to free software and better user security. Apple devices also have a high residual value after three years. You can put this to good use when buying new computers. Of course, the trade-in value gets lower and lower as the years go by. So don't wait too long to trade them in.

Liked.

Employees of Pro Warehouse enjoy visiting Sterk Merkregisseurs and being seen too. “There is no fuss. If there is ever anything up, they sort it out and think along with you. It is a successfully collaboration, where we support each other. Pro Warehouse can move quickly. They are great people to deal with and are also knowledgeable. They listen well to the customer and we have good consultations together. Being involved in IT is fun and this is something I find important.”

Thanks to this long-term collaboration and innovative outlook, Sterk Merkregisseurs had very few problems when Covid-19 broke out. Indeed, they were already prepared for working from home – a VPN connection to the server had already been established and everything had already been converted to Microsoft 365. "They said I was crazy at the time, but when Covid broke out, they changed their mind. We were able to continue working without any hassle.”

Future.

In the coming period, Pro Warehouse will work with Sterk Merkregisseurs to replace all iMac devices with a MacBook with a good display. “This is because we think it is important that employees, in addition to being able to work well, also enjoy working. Furthermore, security is also a key point.” To ensure this, we will sit down together more often to share and anticipate all the new developments in Apple, Adobe, Microsoft, networking and IT. On to the next 10 years!