Growing from niche events-based software into a market-leading digital signage platform, supporting thousands of permanent digital signage fixtures across the world, recurring subscription sales have increased by £300,000 this financial year, with five new jobs created.
NowSignage launched in 2013 as a ‘Twitter Wall’ product, which allowed clients like Netflix, Santander and Manchester United to moderate and broadcast social media content on to screens at events.
Two years later it launched a new paid subscription service, publishing not only social media content, but also images, videos, live IPTV and other applications to permanent fixture screens located in the retail, corporate and education sector.
NowSignage co-founder and director Nick Johnson recognised that, with the right support, there was a lot of potential for NowSignage to reach a wider market and grow rapidly, so he approached GC Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company.
He was referred to the Hub’s fully-funded Greater Connected programme, which is tailored to help ambitious digital, creative and tech companies in Greater Manchester to achieve their growth ambitions.
This support included a series of training days with industry experts, as well as focused training sessions for Nick with specialist digital, creative and tech business advisor Neil McCluskey.
Through these sessions, Nick realised that the best route to growth lay with the subscription side of the business rather than their traditional event focused project-based model.
With Neil’s support, Nick identified several new markets to focus on for the NowSignage product, managing the multi-screen management of permanent TV screens in retail, office and campus environments.
As a result of focusing on this new area of growth, the company has gained hundreds of clients resulting in £300,000 of new recurring subscription sales this year and five new jobs created, establishing itself as the leading digital signage provider on the market.
Nick said: “The Hub’s support has been invaluable in growing NowSignage from a niche product to a fully-fledged stand-alone business. Neil’s expertise and guidance helped us to take the next step by giving us the right questions to ask when identifying potential new markets.
“Rather than being a prescriptive course, Greater Connected and the advice we’ve received shaped our ability to market ourselves effectively to new audiences and gave us the confidence to put the focus into our new business.”
Neil McCluskey, business advisor at the Hub, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, said: “NowSignage’s potential was clear from the outset. Nick and the team had already guided the business into a really healthy position but should be praised for seeking support to accelerate their growth journey.
“We are delighted that Greater Connected gave Nick the time and space to establish the best growth avenue for NowSignage, and we’re incredibly proud to see such an innovative business leading the digital signage market today.”
More than 200 businesses have so far received support from the Hub’s digital, creative and tech service and nearly 100 new jobs have been created. To find out more, go to www.businessgrowthhub.com/DCT.
Businesses outside the digital, creative and tech sectors that are looking to access specialist support can visit www.businessgrowthhub.com for more information about an extensive range of services. These are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), as part of the GC Business Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SMEs achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester. The Hub is also supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester local authorities.
