Quenzel & Associates, Inc.

Quenzel & Associates provides its about 20 clients with branding, advertising, web design and Internet marketing. In addition to its focus on data and measurement, the advertising agency finds clients a good media mix, which is the right integration of promotions among TV, print, online, etc. And they said the agency will never take on competing clients. "We feel like if you're a competitor to our client, you're the enemy," Earl said. "And we don't want any doubt as to where our loyalties lie. They lie with our clients." In fact, Colleen and Earl understand that their business grows when their clients' businesses grow. So, to help these clients during the recession, they reduced their rate by 33 percent. "We know that as we build our clients' customers, customer base and sales, that we are going to be building our own customers and sales," Colleen said. "It's very important for the success of our business that our clients' businesses grow and as their business grows our business grows." This helped the agency retain current customers while attracting new customers. And with the lower rates, which gradually increased as the economy improved, Quenzel & Associates expanded outside of Southwest Florida. The agency began helping national accounts with some of their smaller projects. All of this contributed to the company's success. In 2012, its agency billings were about $5 million compared to the about $4.4 million collected for 2011, which is a growth of 13 percent year-over-year. Earl said agency billings are a common way for advertising agencies to track their size, and it is similar to gross revenues. Donny Andrews, co-owner of Denmark Interiors based in Fort Myers, said Quenzel & Associates provides his company's advertising, maintains its website and meets with them monthly to review metrics. Andrews particularly likes the company's analytical approach. He said the Quenzels are always trying to improve based on these results. "Hopefully it helps by helping us get more bang for the buck out of advertising," he said. As for Colleen, she enjoys watching research turn into an idea that turns into a successful product for her clients. "When I see that they're winning, I feel like we're winning," she said. Earl enjoys these things too but said he also likes working with his wife. "I've got a great boss," he said.