Jive Communications: The 2010 Commerce Centre Helps Local Company Reach the World
Publish Date: January 2010
A local company is breathing new life into the old cliché that good things come in small packages by showing that being small doesn't limit a company's reach. Jive Communications is a Vancouver-based corporate and lifestyle communications firm that drives media coverage across print, digital, and broadcast platforms.
With an impressive roster of clients and PR projects ranging from The Twilight movies to campaigns for Virgin Radio and Global National, it may be surprising to learn that Jive's two founders are its only full time employees. And these founders are making large strides at breakneck speed, considering that they only launched their company in January 2009. Setting its sights on the horizon, Jive Communications is now exploring international growth opportunities.
Jive's success in making its first international connections is partly due to the help of the 2010 Commerce Centre. It was through recent networking seminars of the 2010 Dutch Trade Commission – hosted at the Commerce Centre – that Jive Communications co-founder and partner Lindsay Nahmiache was able to establish contact with the CEO of Calamares TV – a digital video distributer based in the Netherlands.
This led Jive to secure a contract creating marketing materials and corporate branding for the Dutch technology provider's upcoming North American launch. In fact, their success with that project has resulted in current talks with two other Dutch organizations about possible collaborations in the future.
The Jive team certainly recognizes the value of the information and contacts that business owners can find at the 2010 Commerce Centre. They began participating in the local business community by attending a Business Opportunities Workshop, where they were introduced to the wealth of potential contracting opportunities generated by the upcoming 2010 Winter Games. They also pursued their goals of branching out internationally by participating in an Australian Trade Event at the Commerce Centre, led by Chief Economist Tim Harcourt of the Australian Trade Commission.
Jive's enthusiasm for networking is based upon a simple yet effective philosophy of forming connections. And they are encouraging other small companies to pursue seemingly overwhelming partnership opportunities.
"In many cases I think it's less about a company's size or experience and more about getting out there," says Nahmiache. "Join the 2010 Business Network and then try attending these networking events—and shaking hands with new people. Of course it helps to have clear business objectives and be able to clearly communicate how your company can bring value to an international client, but in the end it usually comes down to the human connection."
Given this sensitivity for the human aspect of business, it's not surprising that Jive prioritizes social corporate responsibility.
"Sustainability is definitely an important focus for Jive,' says Nahmiache. The company co-founded and developed the PR campaign for the Projecting Change Film Festival. Now in its second year, the festival continues to promote environmentally sustainable living through the use of entertaining and educational film. (And it's aptly powered by Bullfrog Power – Canada's leading 100% green electricity provider.)
Jive's participation in such environmentally conscious initiatives is also showing long-term business benefits. "Our attention to clients' morale as well as business objectives has allowed us to develop in-depth and trusted relationships that extend beyond the tangible contract," Nahmiache says.
Never ones to pass up a networking opportunity, Jive intends to use the upcoming 2010 Winter Games to develop strong strategic relationships and secure long-term contracts with international clients. And Nahmiache says that that means looking at future Olympic Games as well.
"We are using the Games as a platform for our planned involvement with the 2012 Olympics in London."
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