Maya Mistry
6 months ago
Written in 2025
Cast your mind back to 12th May 2005. Do you remember what you were up to that day?
Well, I can tell you what Steve and I were doing – we were looking at each other, probably slightly panicked, wondering what on earth we’d just done. After many, many, years working in senior marketing roles for some of the ‘big boys’, we’d finally taken the plunge. We’d set up our own agency: Start 2 Finish Marketing.
Our first office was my garage. No studio. No meeting rooms. No coffee machine. Just two blokes, a stack of second-hand furniture, a handful of outdated software packages, and a whole lot of ambition.
After running both UK and international marketing departments, we knew the headache involved in managing a number of agencies for web, PR, design, etc., so we decided to create the ‘Virtual Marketing Department.’ This was where SMEs could access marketers such as us, with no long-term contract, to look after, manage, and direct their marketing. As our name suggested, we looked after all their marketing from start to finish. This, however, wasn’t an easy sell as it seemed a little too good to be true to most businesses we met. But we were advised by a fellow marketing agency to follow the simple ethos of ‘Look after the customer and success will look after itself’, and that’s what we did.
We started small. A logo here, a website there. It wasn’t easy. But then we met Khawar Hussain – who truly understood what we were about. At the time, he worked at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and introduced us to several like-minded businesses. Through that connection, we secured our first full Virtual Marketing contract. That was the moment things began to shift.
Our reputation grew, fast. In 2006, ‘Business Link’ invited us to deliver free marketing seminars to help British businesses compete on local and global stages. We’d regularly host events with 60 to 100 attendees. Many took away practical advice and applied it in-house, but around 3–5% reached out for further support. That was enough to keep us moving forward.
customer retention
experienced in-house marketers
established
This is where we stand out from the crowd. In our first few years of trading, we were given the following advice: “Look after your customers and success will look after itself.” We have continued to run our business with this thought foremost in our minds.
Through this ethos, we always use the phrase “Give 2 Gain”. We offer you all the benefit of our years of national and international experience and are always on the lookout to see how our clients can help each other.
We offer a complete service from start to finish, removing the hassle and providing you with a user-friendly marketing solution.
See how our branding has changed
See how our team has grown over the years
We literally deal with all your marketing from start to finish. From strategy to design, online tactics to implementation.
We know in today’s busy business world, finding time to focus on marketing is tough, so simply outsource it to us. We give you a dedicated account manager, who uses our internal team of skilled marketers to give you a full service, and provide peace of mind that you are in safe hands.
One-off project or long-term retainers: no problem. We are here simply to help you, the client.
The success led us to, in 2007, moving into our first proper office at The Bond in Digbeth. It was full of character: bare brick walls, sliding barn doors, and a definite agency vibe. Working there was absolutely fantastic, and we loved every minute of it. We were starting to grow up as a business and so, with the demand for our services growing, we took on our first employee.
Following that growth, we had even more good news. Not long after, we got a call from the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. They asked us to look after all their marketing. It was a proud moment. We relocated again – this time to Harborne Road in Edgbaston. The space had its quirks, and by quirks, I mean it screamed 1960s council department, but the location was excellent, with on-site parking and a strong presence in the heart of the city’s business community. This became our new home.
In 2009, we hired Shawn, who’s still with us today, gathering dust. He has been with us through thick and thin, and he is the backbone of the business. That loyalty and longevity sums up S2F: we grow together.
Anyway, I digress. By 2010, we’d doubled in size. With more clients and more designers, we rebranded the business with a sharper, more modern identity. The growth didn’t stop there. 2011 saw us enter the international stage, working with clients across Europe, the Middle East, North America and the Far East. Our manufacturing expertise, honed over the years, really started to shine and impress many clients. So much so that we launched a new website and brand called, very creatively, Marketing for Manufacturing.
As we expanded again, we launched The Manufacturing Hub, which connected clients with specialists in recruitment, lean manufacturing, and strategic marketing – all under one roof.
2017 we moved for the last time – or so we thought. The 3rd floor of the Chamber of Commerce offered beautiful panoramic views of Birmingham and a space that felt like us. We rebranded again, this time becoming S2F Marketing, a name that reflects the maturity of the business we’d built.
Then came 2020. Like everyone else, we were hit by the challenges of COVID-19. The world paused, our 15-year celebration was shelved, and our homes became offices. But the team stepped up. They kept the energy high and the quality even higher. They worked from kitchen tables, sofas and spare rooms to support clients through unprecedented times. That period tested us all. But it proved something important: our values weren’t just words. We really do look after our clients, no matter what.
And now, here we are. 20 years in. We have recently moved to our brand-new home on the 4th floor of JQ Modern – a vibrant, creative hub in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter. It’s the perfect space: bright, open, professional. Surrounded by independent shops, cafés and a real community buzz, we feel inspired whenever we walk through the door.
We’re now a team of 14, managing more than 50 accounts across 24 countries. From international strategy to local startups, we’re proud to do things differently. Proud to still be independent. Proud to still be growing.
And most of all, proud to still believe in what we set out to do back in 2005: help our clients succeed – from start to finish.
Here’s to the next 20!
With 720% increase in online lead generation, S2F have contributed massively to our fantastic growth over the last 10 years.
Matthew Rose Sales Director, MWA Technology
I’ve been working with S2F for the past 4 years and found each team member to be professional, friendly, supportive, and people I would genuinely class as work friends. With support from Warren and Steve from the very top, to the daily support by Richard Hill, Luke and Sam, our account is always in safe hands.
Nikki Crook Marketing Manager, Photofab
S2F are innovative and proactive marketeers who take the time to really understand what our customer wants.
Chris Wood Managing Director, DWV
We have found S2F to be a refreshing change from more traditional marketing companies, who understand design, but do not appreciate the overall strategy of marketing, and indeed selling. Eye catching design is not enough for OEMs such as ourselves; we need a return on our investment and we need to see how the marketing services provided are very much in line and reinforce the sales, marketing goals and deliverables.
Tony Hague Managing Director, PP C&A
I’ve worked with S2F for 8 years, their service has always been ‘spot on’.
Richard Wileman Managing Director, Wileman Fleet
S2F Marketing have been instrumental in the success of Freddie’s Wish. Creative, supportive, and always a pleasure to deal with. S2F really understand the charity sector.”
Charlotte Founder, Freddie’s Wish
Working closely with S2F has resulted in a 195% increase in sales leads.
Claire Irving New Business Sales Manager, Total Enterprise Solutions
Our new website is winning us new stainless steel stamping business. A visual show and tell! I can highly recommend the services of Start 2 Finish Marketing. Great to deal with and always deliver!
Rowan Crozier Managing Director, Brandauer
We’re very impressed with all of the content from S2F.
John Sayers General Manager Commercial – Lister Tube
S2F are by far the best marketing agency I’ve ever worked with.
Paul Faulkner CEO, Total Enterprise Solutions
S2F have been instrumental in our brand. They understand our business, work closely with us and offer a fantastic creative marketing service. I would happily recommend S2F.
James Lomas Sales Director, Arrow Solutions
In S2F we have finally found a marketing company that has genuinely strived to understand our growth opportunities, and their experience has both strengthened our strategy, and focused our customer offering
Richard Barton Group CEO, Strip Tinning
Since 2005, we have scoured the West Midlands and surrounding areas for people who understand and live by our ethos ‘look after the customer and success will look after itself’. We are all experienced, creative, and conscientious marketers with focused areas of expertise. Combined we are a force to be reckoned with; an ideal marketing team for any business looking to stand out from the crowd.
Managing Director
Operations Director
Creative Director
Technical Director
Account Manager
Design Team Leader
Graphic Designer
Graphic Designer
Copywriter/PR Team Leader
Content Creator
Videographer & Photographer
If you’re looking to speak casually to an expert about a possible retainer or a specific marketing project, just fill in the form and we’ll come back to you that same working day.
