Murray Now

Telling a story is an art form. In the hands of an artist with integrity and extensive experience it becomes more than a job. And that is what OGA Creative accomplishes every day.

Ben Simpson was originally part of a beef export operation based in Holbrook. Many of his clients in this business approached Ben, asking him to assist them in their own promotion and marketing. His marketing and design work were astounding and business began to increase, enabling him to develop a full time creative agency.

But it was Ben’s photographic skills which then turned the business into more of a diverse operation which incorporated a suite of marketing and promotion including advertising, photography, graphic design, printing and web design. The beginning of OGA Creative.

With over 300 clients throughout Australia, OGA Creative is proud to have seven full time staff members, all employed from either Holbrook or Albury. Ben has a huge affinity with the Murray Region. “This region is fantastic in so many aspects, it is one of the most buoyant regions, both economically and culturally” Ben stated. But he was conscious in the beginning, as primarily his clients were agriculturally based businesses, and with the growth of his business he was branching out into non agricultural based businesses. This growth forced the move to Albury in order to give OGA Creative clients a better service. Today Ben is happy to report OGA Creative has grown 30% pa since it started which is a massive personal achievement for Ben and his team.

To increase the awareness of what OGA Creative achieve in business, and within the community, it was suggested to enter the Albury Wodonga Chamber Business Awards. In their first year (2010) OGA Creative won the category Excellence in Environment and Sustainability and was a finalist in Excellence in Marketing.

Now in 2011, OGA Creative is a finalist for Excellence in Environment and Sustainability and Contribution to the Community. These awards are an important way to engage with business and be recognised amongst your peers in addition to staying true to the philosophy of “building the business community of Albury first, and profits second.”

OGA Creative assists a number of charities and community driven projects including Foundation 59 and Rainbow Club Australia. While on a local note, OGA Creative works closely with Mullengandra Public School teaching Photoshop skills to the children and showing them how waste can be transformed into useable products. This is displayed through the recycling of paper into compost, which feeds the vegetables produced for the staff at OGA Creative.

OGA Creative keeps as many of their suppliers local as possible, “There is so much talent locally and we often don’t utilise what’s in our own backyard,” Ben states. With businesses including Thompsons Graphipress, Quantum Printers, Planscan and Foto Supplies, Ben is proud to be contributing to the local economy. “We could have quite easily outsourced our business to Melbourne, Sydney or even China, but we choose to do it locally.”

“We believe in applying our marketing theory to everything we do as an entire suite of services. Our branding, images, brochures and website are a complete package for each client. Our staff are specialists in their respective fields and projects are not completed by one single person, but professionals in their field,” Ben said. This success is testament that OGA Creative could not do such a professional job without the right staff in the organisation.

And the future? Well Ben sees himself as a professional water skier one day or in failing that, just out on the water in his boat would suffice!

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