Marketing agency moves on expansion

Marketing agency moves on expansion

Deksia is a marketing agency based in Grand Rapids’ Southside neighborhood. Courtesy Deksia

A growing marketing agency has increased its local footprint by 800 percent after moving down the street from its former office as part of its expansion plan.

Deksia in Grand Rapids has moved into 120 Stevens St. SW. It was previously housed at 100 Stevens St. SW.

Deksia specializes in brand strategy, marketing and advertising.

The agency was founded in 2003 by partners Aaron VanderGalien, Joshua Conran and Josh Ryther.

Deksia has a satellite presence in New York, Seattle and Des Moines, Iowa.

The company serves regional, national and international clients.

New space

Deksia said its new headquarters has been “outfitted explicitly with growth and sustainability in mind.”

The newly renovated office provides the firm with 4,000 square feet of space, a significant increase from its former 500-square-foot office.

It also incorporates flexible spaces that allow for collaboration and fluid teamwork, while smart technologies control nearly every aspect of its inner workings, including the thermostat, lighting, speakers and computer network.

Adding staff

Deksia is growing its staff as well.

The firm added two employees in the last two months and is looking to fill two additional positions, a business development manager and a PHP/Wordpress developer.

In total, the company employs 13 people, plus two contract positions, with nine of those employees working out of the Grand Rapids office.

Southside neighborhood

Deksia is the first tenant to reside in its new building in nearly 80 years.

The building was formerly home to Kreuter-Faasen Co., a paint manufacturer for a company making metal office furniture, which would later be known as Steelcase.

Many of the original elements of the interior and exterior remain, including sliding overhead doors, brick walls and the chimney.

VanderGalien, senior partner at Deksia, said the agency is committed to Grand Rapids’ Southside neighborhood.

“Just like with this structure, we see real opportunity in this neighborhood,” he said.

VanderGailen said the neighborhood provides a great opportunity for “the emerging and growing small businesses re-defining Grand Rapids’ economy.”

He also said the historic South Division neighborhood is a perfect fit for Deksia, because its reflects the agency’s “Midwest work ethic, underdog status and up-and-coming national appeal.”

Deksia’s previous space will not sit empty. Direct Trade Coffee Club, a company shipping sustainable coffee directly to customers, has moved into the space.