Q&A: Pandemic helped to strengthen city firm's links with clients
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Working from home is fine but Abbie McCahill, managing director of Adder Business, prefers workplace culture and loves the city centre.
Q How would you describe your business to a stranger?
A Adder Business, based in Moray House in Bank Street, is a full-service marketing agency providing all the different forms of marketing communications for small to medium-sized businesses in the Highlands and Islands. We are an independent local company where firms of any shape or size can come for friendly, trustworthy advice on promoting their business.
We provide branding, print, design, web development, social media and PR services to clients. We can also help with leaflet distribution, mail, and text campaigns and even telesales – basically anything a business needs to get its message out to current and potential customers.
Every business is different, so our team works to create a unique plan that fits individual needs at sensible prices. We work hard to learn about our clients’ businesses to make sure that our recommendations are always the right fit. This ensures the services we provide are always driven by what our customers have a need for.
Q What inspired you to start the business?
A I worked as a marketing manager for many years and understood just how important effective marketing is to the success and sustainability of any business. But I also saw how difficult and costly it was for small to medium firms in the Highlands to invest in their own marketing departments.
I felt there was a gap in the market for an outsourced marketing service – available whenever small businesses needed it but without the headaches and overheads. So, in 2015 Adder Business was born.
I started off mainly offering social media services to other small businesses and everything grew from there. I think small businesses like dealing with our locally based, approachable, knowledgeable team.
Q How has your business developed?
A I started off thinking I would work from home and enjoy the flexibility of setting my own hours. I quickly realised that I’d gone from having only one boss to having multiple bosses!
I realised I needed the support of a colleague and wanted to foster the camaraderie of workplace culture, so I also needed an office. We quickly grew from there really.
Q How are you moving forward post the Covid-19 pandemic?
A We were really fortunate as almost all our customers stuck with us and we were on hand to help our hospitality businesses to pivot when they needed us.
For that reason, I feel that the pandemic strengthened some of our relationships with clients.
We overcame all the working from home challenges quite quickly and now we enjoy the knowledge that we could go back to home-working at the drop of the hat – but we all just love being in the office together!
Q What lessons have you learnt from your time in business?
A To get things done when they need to be done – not to procrastinate and put things off. But it took a long time!
Q What’s your vision for Inverness city centre?
A I love Inverness city centre. We moved to a new office in Bank Street in September last year so we’ve yet to enjoy the benefits of working here in the summer months.
Inverness has so much going for it already but some of the plans to develop the city centre look really exciting.
We’re fortunate to provide services to Inverness BID and the Victorian Market so we get to enjoy seeing the current improvements as they take shape.
If folk haven’t enjoyed the cosmopolitan and multicultural food offerings in the Victorian Market yet, then they really must!
Q Can you tell us something interesting about yourself?
A In 2021, I cycled from John O’ Groats to Land’s End by myself on my gravel bike and raised around £10,000 for Mikeysline.
It was a big challenge and I’m so glad I did it.
Adder Business Ltd, Suite 4 Moray House, Bank Street, Inverness IV1 1QY
T: 01463 263603
For more information about Inverness BID:
T: 01463 714550
E: info@inverness.uk.com
