When two become one – Koobr and Balls2 Marketing join forces

At Koobr, collaboration, creativity and innovation have always been at the heart of what we do. These principles have guided us over the last 21 years, from our beginnings as a start-up graphic design agency to our current position as a creative marketing agency with an international reach. 

After months of planning behind the scenes, we are happy to share this landmark moment in our agency journey – the merger of Koobr with Balls2 Marketing. This strategic union marks the beginning of a new era for both agencies, propelling us towards even greater achievements on a national and global scale.  

Over the years, both agencies have simultaneously carved significant reputations in the marketing industry. At Koobr, we’ve earned our repute through our innovative approach to brand development, graphic design and digital marketing. We’re trusted as an extension of our client’s teams, understanding their needs and crafting captivating visual and digital narratives that not only look great but also deliver real, measurable results.  

Balls2 Marketing has built its stellar reputation for being a go-to expert for strategic PR and communications, especially in the glazing, home improvement and construction industries. They have a proven track record of helping businesses not just stand out, but truly connect with their audiences in ways that matter. Their deep industry knowledge and results-driven approach have made them a trusted partner that businesses turn to when they want to make a serious impact. 

The merger is the perfect marriage of our talents. As our Director, Craig Barker, explains,

“By joining forces, we’re creating an agency that’s going to bring even more value to our clients, and unlock many more doors for us.”

The leadership team couldn’t agree more—we all see this union as a huge win, not just for our agencies, but for our clients, our teams, and the wider business community. 

When growing a service-based business organically and keeping up with a competitive market, standing still is not an option. Recognising this, we have always taken a proactive approach to growth, which led to a previous successful acquisition of another agency in XXXX. This experience not only expanded our capabilities at the time but also reinforced the value of strategic partnerships in driving business growth. Buoyed by the success of that acquisition, we became keen to explore further opportunities to join forces with other agencies and we set our sights on our next chapter of growth.  

Merging with Balls2 Marketing was a natural progression of this strategy. We’ve seen first-hand the magic that happens when we combine our expertise on collaborative projects, and it became clear that a formal merger was the obvious next move for us. By joining together under the Koobr Group umbrella, we are now better positioned to meet the ever-evolving needs of our clients, driving innovation in our industry, and improving our reach well beyond the East Midlands, both nationally and internationally.  

This partnership allows us to offer an even broader, enhanced range of services. With Koobr and Balls2 Marketing joining forces, we are now equipped as a powerhouse full-service marketing agency, providing a full suite of marketing solutions, all tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. 

Full-service marketing? What do you mean?  

In a nutshell, full-service marketing is all about having every marketing tool, strategy and expertise you require, under one roof. It’s like a one-stop shop for all your marketing needs. Whether you need a killer brand strategy, an extraordinary website, a targeted PR campaign, or a high-impact digital marketing initiative, we’ve got the expertise, experience, and resources to make it happen—and make it count. 

Here’s a glimpse at what our expanded service portfolio includes: 

By bringing all these services together, we’re not just enhancing the value we provide to our existing clients; we’re also positioning ourselves to attract new clients from a wider range of industries and markets. In short, whatever your marketing needs, we’ve got you covered—all under one roof. 

Now, that might be a little bit extreme, but there is some truth to it. 

While both Koobr and Balls2 Marketing have strong roots in the East Midlands, our ambitions extend beyond local boundaries. This merger is a key part of our strategy to take our success story across the UK and internationally.  

The East Midlands is a fantastic home base for both agencies, giving us access to a diverse and dynamic business community. We’ve built strong relationships with local businesses and established ourselves within the local marketing industry. However, we recognise that to continue growing and evolving, we need to extend our reach to new markets.  

We are now better equipped than ever to enhance our geographical reach by serving clients across the UK and beyond. Our combined resources, talent and expertise enable us to compete on a global stage and we look forward to working more closely with our international clientele.

At the core of this merger is our commitment to our clients and the values that guide us. We firmly believe that trust is the base of any successful business relationship. It’s not just a buzzword for us; it’s the foundation on which we have built our partnerships, and it’s what allows us to become an extension of your team, understanding your brand, your goals and the finer details.  

By merging with Balls2 Marketing, the same level of service and trusted expertise that our clients rely on will continue, now amplified by a bigger, more diverse team with even more creative firepower and strategic insight.  

A key part of the merger is the chance it gives us to invest even more in our people. We know that our success has always been driven by the talent, creativity, and dedication of our teams. By bringing together the best and brightest from both Koobr and Balls2 Marketing, we’re creating a diverse, dynamic team that’s ready to take on new challenges and drive our agency forward.  

The integration of our teams at our Jubilee Parkway office in Derby is going to be a real game-changer. This space will be the hub of our operations, providing a truly positive, collaborative environment where creativity and innovation can thrive.  

But it’s not just about the here and now. We’re also committed to creating new job opportunities within each specialism. We look forward to nurturing the next generation of marketers and providing our employees with the training, development, and career progressions they need to succeed.  

As part of our ongoing growth strategy, we’ll be investing in our workforce, attracting top talent from across the industry and building a team that is not only capable but also inspired to push the boundaries of what’s possible in marketing.  

As Craig Barker says, “Our immediate focus is on ensuring a smooth transition and setting the stage for future growth. But we’re not stopping there—we’re excited to expand what we offer and explore new markets.” Growth and development are at the heart of our vision for the future, and we know our people will be the driving force in helping us achieve our ambitious goals.  

While this merger marks the beginning of a new chapter, we are also deeply committed to honouring the legacy of Balls2 Marketing. Founders, Andy and Sarah Ball have built an incredible business, and their influence will continue to shape the new agency. Although they are stepping back from daily operations, they will remain actively involved in strategy and support, ensuring that the values and principles they have championed will continue to shine through. 

In the short term, our focus is on ensuring everything runs smoothly during the transition. We know that change, even when it’s positive, needs careful handling, and we’re fully committed to making this as seamless as possible for our clients and team.  

But we’re also already looking ahead and planning for the future. As we move into our next chapter as the Koobr Group, our vision is crystal clear. We aim to establish ourselves as a leading marketing agency in the East Midlands, whilst continuing to grow our reach across the world. With our new combined strengths, we’re excited about the opportunity to explore new markets, set new standards in the industry, and offer full-service marketing strategies that drive growth and help businesses thrive.