Craig Barker, Managing Director of Balls2 Marketing and Koobr, shares his reflections ten months on from the merger and what it really means to become a full-service agency.
After two decades growing Koobr from a design studio into a full-service creative and digital agency, I’ve learned that the best work comes from strong partnerships – where strategy, creativity and delivery align. So, when the opportunity arose to merge with the team at Balls2 Marketing, it felt less like a business deal and more like the natural next chapter for us.
It’s been ten months since Balls2 Marketing and Koobr officially joined forces and what a journey it’s been. From our earliest collaborations, it was clear our two agencies shared something important: a commitment to doing things properly. Not just turning around quick creatives or launching the odd campaign, but building brands and campaigns that make a genuine, meaningful difference.
So, what happens when two Midlands-based agencies with a combined 30+ years of experience, complementary skills and a shared client-first mindset join forces? You get one hell of a team.
A full-service agency built for meaningful marketing
Balls2 Marketing, part of the Koobr group, isn’t just bigger, it’s stronger, more agile, and better equipped to deliver integrated marketing that works for today’s glazing businesses.
We create branding that cuts through a crowded market and build web and digital experiences designed to convert, not just impress. Our SEO, PPC and content strategies are focused on bringing in qualified leads, while our PR and trade communications make sure the right people are paying attention. And crucially, we connect it all with campaign strategy and consultancy that ensures everything pulls in the same direction.
But more than that, we’re delivering joined-up thinking. One team, one strategy, no silos, and none of the handholding you get with fragmented suppliers who only understand half the picture.
A deep understanding of the glazing sector
We’ve always had deep roots in the glazing and construction space. Balls2 Marketing, in particular, earned its reputation as the go-to agency in this industry by understanding not just how to communicate with homeowners, but how the sector operates behind the scenes. That insight, combined with big-brand marketing experience, gives our clients a real advantage.
Right now, the glazing industry is entering the next phase of digital transformation. AI-powered quoting tools, cloud-based CRMs, automated order tracking – the tech is evolving fast. But there’s a missing link. Too often, the digital infrastructure is there, but the marketing strategy is not.
We see it all the time – businesses investing thousands in systems while their website is out of date, slow to load and fails to convert. Or paid search campaigns draining budget with poor keyword targeting, weak landing pages and no tracking. Too often, agencies offer digital services without a deep understanding of how the glazing industry works. That disconnect is exactly what we’re built to solve – with a team that knows this industry inside out.
Our leadership team brings heavyweight PR, marketing and digital credentials to the table. Co-Director Katie Bregazzi is a Chartered PR Practitioner with national brand experience across Worcester Bosch, Karndean Design Flooring, Bristan Group, Motorola Home and Mitchells & Butlers. Account Director Sarah Dufton, former Editor of HELLO! and OK! in the Middle East, brings strategic clarity and media know-how, while Lyn Hughes, Senior Account Manager, adds over 18 years of hands-on experience in the fenestration industry, combining technical understanding with sharp commercial thinking.
Between us, we’ve spent decades working with glazing businesses, from large manufacturers to specialist installers, helping them build better brands and communicate more clearly. That’s not something you can parachute in. It comes from lived experience, sector understanding, and getting your boots muddy from time to time.
Moving beyond the patchwork approach
Ten months on, one of the biggest shifts we’ve seen with businesses is what they expect from their marketing partners. The days of patching together a freelancer here, a web agency there, and a one-off social media expert somewhere in the mix are fading. It’s expensive, fragmented, and too often fails to deliver. Working with a full-service agency means you stop re-explaining your goals every month to a different supplier. Instead, you get one team that knows your business inside out and is invested in delivering meaningful marketing. That’s what we’re bringing to the table. We help glazing businesses build brands that people trust, journeys that convert, and marketing strategies that deliver real results.
Looking ahead
The merger is complete, the teams are integrated, and we’ve hit the ground running with more firepower, more expertise and more ways to help clients grow than ever before. Andy and Sarah Ball, who spent over a decade building Balls2 Marketing into one of the industry’s most trusted agencies, have stepped back from day-to-day operations, but remain part of the journey.
Co-Director Katie Bregazzi continues to play a key role in shaping the future of the agency, working closely with me on strategic direction and operational delivery across the group.
We’re here to do the work, solve the challenges and drive proper results for our clients. Whether that’s helping a fabricator refine their brand and stand out in a crowded market or supporting a supplier with a fully integrated campaign that spans web, PR, social and PPC – our role is to make sure it all connects.
We’ve made huge strides in the first ten months, but really, we’re just getting started. If you’re a glazing business that’s ready to take your marketing seriously and get meaningful results, maybe it’s time we had a chat.
