Clark Is Celebrating
Over 20 Years of Good Times
Take a Trip Down Memory Lane With Us
Seriously?! Has it been 20 Years?
We’ve been here a while, but today Clark looks a little different than when we first arrived on the scene in 2004.
Although many of our staff are now working remotely, we still enjoy getting the team together whenever we can at BBQs, Friday socials, events, and the occasional round of golf.
Over the years, our business has grown from 7 employees to 17, and we’re excited to see what the next 20 years will bring!
Over the Years
Open for Business
Clark Marketing Communications first started as a full service marketing agency – including everything from brand design to event planning and radio ads to web & new media.
First Client Website
Back in 2004, all you needed was a bit of HTML and some low resolution images, and you were online!
But we didn't stop there. We were quick to adopt Flash to create vibrant, animated websites, giving our clients all the bells and whistles the early internet could offer.
Moved from Quark to InDesign
Around 2005, along with many agencies around the world, we dropped Quark as our design tool of choice, moving to the industry standard Adobe Creative Suite.
Success Story of the Year
Celebrating the Chamber Success Story Award, Partner Scott Clark and his team, a true Northern agency, state that “long-term partnerships with their clients is their solid foundation in our community.”
Clark Gets a New Look
With the launch of a flashy new website, Clark was making it's mark as a go-to place for marketing services in North Bay and the surrounding area.
First WordPress Website
WordPress was certainly earning its place on the internet, and we wanted in on the action.
Before the WordPress CMS, there were other ways to easily manage content, but the power of WordPress's customizable themes, plugins and responsive designs ultimately won us over.
First Foursquare Check In
Did you ever check in at Clark on Foursquare?
The last known Mayor of Clark was Zack Lewis (feel free to challenge him on that, Debbie).
Joined Facebook
In 2010, Facebook had over 500 million users, and we started helping businesses see the potential of reaching this massive audience where they are.
With the launch of "Pages" for business, it started becoming easier to help clients get set up, separating work and personal profiles.
We Put Clark on the Map
Scott wasn't going to leave it up to SEO alone to get noticed on Google.
He decided to take it into his own hands, and put this 6ft Google Map marker onto the roof.
Flash Website Retired for Clark
With the rise of mobile-responsive websites, and Flash not being supported on iPhone, we retired our "flashy" site for something more user friendly.
Built on WordPress, our new website was mobile-friendly, easier to update and, most importantly, accessible for our clients on the go.
Fixed the Internet
The first time Twitter broke their website feeds was back in 2013 (long before it became X).
This was a major fail whale, and the internet flocked to google, finding our blog post, which helped to fix Twitter feeds on thousands of websites.
Gold - Summit Creative Award
2013 Summit International Awards
Small Business of The Year
Clark is awarded Small Business of the Year 2014 at the North Bay Chamber Evening of Excellence Awards.
First Drone Flight
The first drone shoot was set to happen, not in Ontario, not in Canada, but in the remote mountains of Hidalgo, Mexico.
Our team started training in the winter, and within 1 month we were on route to Mexico.
Since then Clark has covered over 30,000m during 100+ flights, and has taken our video production quality to new heights.
First App Launched
Using our extensive knowledge of Google Maps, KML files, and collaborating with community experts, we launched an app for tracking routes (similar to Map My Run) and providing insights about local trail systems in North Bay.
Documentary Selected for 2 Regional Film Festivals
We March to Remember, a documentary directed by our very own Kevin Hoffman, was selected for the 2015 Bay Steet Film Festival and the 2016 North Bay Film Festival (NBFF).
Rebrand #2
While our website and brand update in 2013 came with a minor tweak to our logo's tagline – this rebrand was bound to turn some heads. 👀
Moving into the digital age of full colour logos, and a bold online presence, this vibrant new logo better suited our brand – and Scott's – personality.
Community Geofilter Approved
Although anyone could pay for a geofilter on Snapchat for a few hours, the Community Geofilters are the only ones that would be permanent after being accepted.
We designed the first custom geofilter for visitors of North Bay, Ontario.
First Augmented Reality App
Provided with a 3D model, an immersive product rendering was displayed on the phone to give an interactive experience during a tradeshow event.
360° Video Experiences
In 2018, we experimented with 360° video tours and even used it for a 360 Christmas message.
We also created indoor tours for local businesses in North Bay and published them on Google Street View.
Clark AMS
Launched the newest iteration of our case management system with on-demand reports, in-app assessments, and an integrated job & training system.
Mothership Upgrade
Our building renovation gave our office a much-needed facelift, just in time for a flood of foot traffic in 2020 😅
Clark Scheduler
Launched an integrated scheduling tool for various departments within social services to book and manage client appointments, across multiple offices.
On-boarded multiple social service administration boards across Ontario to our asset-based case management system, as well as 8 First Nation communities.
Clark Benefits
Launched a public-facing, discretionary benefits portal to allow municipalities to determine client eligibility, manage applications, and track financial spending.
First Instagram Stickers
Giphy's integration with Instagram allows anyone to create custom stickers to add to their stories!
Clark used custom stickers for better social engagement, and to allow anyone to interact with our brand – reaching 200,000+ views in the first week.
Launch of the Echo Network
The Echo Community Podcast Network launched in September 2023, beginning with the unveiling of its premiere show, To North Bay With Love, and digital newsletter.
Small Business of the Year Nominee
Clark was honoured to be nominated for Small Business of the Year (6-15 employees) at the NBDCC Evening of Excellence Awards.
Celebrating 20 Years
So what's next? We've got big plans for our design studio, podcasting studio, and suite of prodcuts.
Join us on our jouney, and let's work together to make eincredible expriences for your audience.
Share your story With Us
We Love Hearing from You!
Let’s build authentic relationships together in our community and beyond. Share what you’re working on, an idea you have, or even just a fun story about your experience with Clark. We can’t wait to hear what you have to say.