Pyxl's Success Featured in Article

Pyxl was recently featured in an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel. The full article is below, or you can read it by clicking here.

Marketing Firm Pyxl Sees Success

By Carly Harringon - January 30, 2011

Earlier this month, the entire 12-member team at digital marketing firm Pyxl hopped on a plane and headed for Las Vegas. Their destination: the largest consumer technology trade show in the world.

The trip to the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show was a way to celebrate the culmination of work Pyxl had done for its client, including the show's redesigned website and a separate supporting social media Web application called Social Circle.

In the same convention center where Pyxl staffers watched Polaroid creative director Lady Gaga unveil new products, they saw signage promoting the social media site as "powered by Pyxl."

"It's been a very fun client and a good way to take the team out there," Pyxl President Josh Phillips said.

The Consumer Electronics Association, which produces the show every year, came to Pyxl as a referral from another Washington, D.C., client. Pyxl was initially hired for a smaller Web project, but over time, it had the opportunity to do larger and larger projects.

"They liked the work and they liked us," Phillips said.

It's an example of how the firm has been able to successfully win over such local clients as Half Off Depot and Gray Stone Advisors. Pyxl was also selected to design and develop a new Pilot Flying J website, which launched this month.

The key, Phillips said, is not just the ability to produce quality work but also the passion they share for the industry and their clients' success.

"We put everything we can into every project we do," he said.

Phillips, a 29-year-old Michigan native who attended Maryville College, describes the firm as a personable group of talented young professionals across a variety of specializations. Staffers are on average in their mid-20s.

"We're a young group, but I think people like that sometimes. We're very familiar in this digital space," he said.

The company was rebranded less than two years ago from Image Communications to Pyxl after sales and marketing executive Brian Winter purchased it. Pyxl has since evolved from a traditional advertising agency into a full-service digital marking firm.

Despite the slow economy, Pyxl has recently more than doubled its staff and expanded its office space, taking up nearly 4,500 square feet on the top floor of Northshore Town Centre with room to grow up to 30 employees.

"We had ambitious growth plans but thought it would be several years before we ran out of space," Phillips said. "We've been able to ramp up and add people and do it while preserving the profit margin."

From 2009 to 2010, the company saw its revenue increase approximately 46 percent year over year, with fourth quarter 2010 the company's best quarter ever.

The firm continues to have aggressive growth plans in 2011 with hopes of becoming a recognizable brand.

"The goal is to grow the company to a size we are able to handle a large volume of work and go after projects where we are able to compete against other agencies in metropolitan areas," he said.

Business writer and Social Media columnist Carly Harrington may be reached at 865-342-6317 or harrington@knoxvillebiz.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/knoxgirl75.

About Pyxl, Inc.
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Pyxl delivers high quality digital marketing services in the areas of strategy, branding, campaign management, public relations, social media, graphic design and web development for established brands and venture-backed startups. Owned and advised by experienced sales and marketing executive, Brian Winter, Pyxl combines business expertise with award-winning creative genius to deliver marketing solutions that produce results. Visit www.thinkpyxl.com for more information.