THE LOFT journey started all the way back in 2012, here’s a quick run down of some of the highlights. As you can see, it’s been eventful…
Our Founder Benedetto always wanted to have a creative company, he just had no idea it would happen so early on in life. An ex-car designer with a love for brands, business and entrepreneurship, he brought all these things together to create THE LOFT Branding Agency.
THE LOFT was set-up with support from The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT.) A charity which supports young entrepreneurs in the early stages of their careers. Benedetto was delighted to subsequently become The Regional Ambassador for The Princes Trust in Glasgow. A role which endured for many years…
As a part of the PSYBT family, Benedetto was incredibly fortunate to be given a last-minute ticket to the Entrepreneurial Exchange Annual Awards in 2012. An event which celebrates the finest entrepreneurs in the country and one that completely changed his life.
The dinner altered Benedetto’s outlook on business and what was really possible with the right mindset. He was incredibly grateful to become one of the youngest members of The Entrepreneurial Exchange just a few months later…
After around a year in business, Benedetto and THE LOFT were delighted to raise £25,000 in scale-up investment from The PSYBT Growth Fund & The West of Scotland Loan Fund. (Just for reference, the money in Benedetto’s hands here is for a separate picture he took for Young Enterprise Scotland’s ‘Tenner Challenge’ later in that year…)
Benedetto was honoured to be given the opportunity to present ‘Branding For The 21st Century’ to ‘The Entrepreneurial Exchange’. The organisation he had joined earlier in the year.
Growth, growth, growth – THE LOFT was now in expansion mode and moving at speed. New studio, first new staff – Ruth & Alejandro – and a whole host of new and exciting clients/projects.
THE LOFT was moving at such pace now that Ruth & Alejandro’s first day began by picking up their Macs at the Apple Store in Buchanan Street, Glasgow.
It was then on to our new Bell Street Studio to assemble our IKEA furniture.
All hands on deck and no time to waste.
Benedetto didn’t even have a chair that first day.
There was no way we were going to play it safe!!
New brand and new websites were produced. But a little symbol of the boldness of our work was demonstrated with our new ’quadruplex, letter-pressed, foil-printed, embossed and blind-pressed business cards.’ Phew!!
They came courtesy of Glasgow Letterpress and really were ridiculously chunky to hold. We modestly claimed them as the best-looking business cards in the world and even made a poster about all of the different ways you could use them.
Propping up wobbly tables ever since.
Whirlwind growth results in being given the opportunity to work with lots and lots of incredible new people – Wood Group, University of The West of Scotland, BenRiach, Network Rail, and so many more. And soooo much incredible new work too…
We were thrilled to see the new brand we worked on with ‘Bridge2Business’ be launched at the Planetarium of The Glasgow Science Centre. A real coming of age project, this was a memorable nod to ‘Nashira,’ the celestial navigation theme of the brand we co-developed with programme manager Geoff Leask. The new brand can be seen on this grainy image with congratulatory bottles of Prosecco in shot too.
We were honoured and privileged to be the first creative company to work with the award-winning Petroleum Experts (PETEX) in 25 years.
A very special collaboration and one that resulted in some incredible work. (A selection of concept sketches for the project shown above.)
MCR Pathways helps young people, disadvantaged through no fault of their own, to realise more of their potential. We began our support of this incredible charity by helping their Founder Iain MacRitchie, with a little creative work and the partnership is still going strong today almost 10 years on…
We start to hone our place in the world as the supporter of brands looking to scale. THE LOFT is now heavily involved in brand partnerships with many great companies – Altia Solutions, Aqualisa, Percepta and so many more… We’re delighted to be winning successive projects in the true spirit of collaboration.
New projects, new clients and lots of new people chipping in…
THE LOFT played an instrumental part in organising the new #GYPSeminarSeries. A collection of professional development events where some of the country’s top professionals share insights into enjoying a more successful career. The first event was with Russell Wardrop of Kissing With Confidence at Glasgow’s famous Clydesdale Bank in St Vincent Street. (The pic above is of Benedetto, a committee member on the GYP Board, introducing the event.)
Our Founder, Benedetto makes it onto the front cover of Business Insider Magazine as one of ‘Scotland’s Top 25 Ones-To-Watch in Scottish Business.’
THE LOFT has a big, new fancy home so its hello South Block. The wonderful new facility comes complete with ping pongs tables, amazing coffee and Andy, our tremendous building host.
THE LOFT is absolutely thrilled to re-double its efforts in supporting MCR Pathways by hosting our first Talent Taster mini work-experience. A number of young people come to the studio and get a brief taste of life as a professional creative. We would since go on to host 12 of these wonderful events…
Back to Entrepreneurial School for Benedetto who is delighted to become a ‘chiclet’ and a part of Entrepreneurial Spark’s Growth Programme in Glasgow. Here he is pitching his business to other entrepreneurs.
THE LOFT continues to knock it out of the park creatively, with the design and branding work for new African, pre-biotic drinks company ‘Drink Baotic’ being a particular highlight. As can be seen, they attracted some very famous fans..
THE LOFT is delighted to build even further on its support of MCR Pathways with team members now giving an hour of their time a week to mentor a young person. (Pic of Benedetto and an MCR Pathways young person above.)
LOFTCAST is born, a new video and audio podcast celebrating the ideas and insights of high-impact people. Our first interviewee is MCR Pathways Founder, Iain MacRitchie. LOFTCAST has since seen a number of exceptional interviews with some of our top business and society leaders.
Then the pandemic happens… Like most companies, THE LOFT does all it can in a moment of national crisis.
A few months later, The ‘Resurgence’ series is launched – a range of video interviews with top-business leaders sharing their ideas, insights and best-practices in how we can turn this crisis into something positive for the future for our organisations and the people we serve.
Benedetto is delighted to turn teacher sharing his experiences and learnings with the great students of Strathclyde University’s International school as well as sitting on the panel of the DMEM Society.
Our Founder Benedetto is honoured and privileged to receive an international ‘Inspiring Designer’ award. As part of the process, he gives a talk to an international audience of creatives about THE LOFT’s unique entrepreneurial approach to design, how this provides more opportunities for young creatives, delivers a better service for clients and can result in some truly outstanding work.
After many years of successfully working with dynamic entrepreneurial clients, THE LOFT decides to formalise its offering with a new sub-brand called ‘THE ENTREPRENEURS LOFT.’ The ultimate service offering for fast-paced scale-up entrepreneurs.
The launch of The Entrepreneurs Loft coincides with the organisation establishing a formal presence in London at co-working space, The Hoxton Mix, Shoreditch. The beginning of something big and beautiful.
THE LOFT is thrilled and delighted to be given the opportunity to work with ADNH Compass (at the time of writing, a part of the prestigious Compass Group,) to launch a completely new brand called ‘HUSK’ in the UAE.
THE LOFT doubles down on its efforts in London becoming very proud members of two exceptional organisations – E2E and The Business Buyers Network UK.
THE LOFT is delighted to the recipient of a CHICAGO GOOD DESIGN AWARD for its outstanding work with international machinery and equipment manufacturer New Holland.
The last 12 years or so have flashed by in the blink of an eye, rest assured we have designs on an even more exciting, memorable and fulfilling future.
Contact us if you’d like to find out more, THE LOFT team.