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Interview: 'The business of setting up a marketing agency' with Louisa "Wizzi" Magnussen and guest Kiana Douglin, Director, Plenty of Stuff Studio

Starting a business is never a walk in the park (unless that park is full of unexpected obstacles, detours, and the occasional angry goose). Launching a marketing agency from scratch? Even trickier.

Our co-founder, Kiana Douglin, recently joined Connections Radio with Louisa "Wizzi" Magnussen, from Wizmedia to talk about the journey of building Plenty of Stuff Studio, the lessons learned along the way, and the realities of running a marketing agency—beyond just the social media posts and fancy graphics.

How Plenty of Stuff Studio began

Plenty of Stuff Studio was born out of a simple but powerful idea: help small and medium-sized businesses grow with marketing that actually works.

The agency was initially launched by co-director Tim alongside another individual. A few months later, Kiana came on board to help spearhead growth, refine the agency’s strategic direction, and expand its services. With a shared vision of doing things differently, the team focused on real, results-driven marketing, not just fluff and vanity metrics.

Lessons from building a marketing agency

As Kiana shared in the interview, setting up and growing a marketing agency is no small task. There is a lot to figure out, and most of it does not come with an instruction manual. Some of the biggest lessons learned along the way include:

• Relationships are everything. Clients are not just transactions; they are partners. Building trust and being transparent sets the foundation for long-term success.
• Standing out in a crowded market takes more than just offering services. It is about solving real problems for businesses and making marketing feel like less of a headache.
• Mindset is key. You have got to be adaptable, persistent, and ready for the unexpected (because, trust us, the unexpected will happen).

For anyone thinking of setting up their own marketing agency, Kiana also covered some practical steps, like defining your niche, proving your expertise, and making sure clients actually see measurable results from their marketing efforts (because "trust me, mate" is not a strategy).

What makes this work so exciting?

One of the best parts of running a marketing agency? You never quite know what each day will bring.

As Kiana put it, the most exciting part is that initial introductory meeting, when you sit down with a new business, dive into their world, and start uncovering what makes them tick, where they struggle, and how marketing can help them grow. It is always a mix of creativity, problem-solving, and the thrill of not knowing exactly where the conversation might lead.

One day, you are helping a butcher improve their local SEO, and the next, you are strategising for a tech start-up looking to disrupt an industry. Every business is different, and that is what makes it so rewarding.

Of course, nothing beats the feeling of seeing a business grow because of the strategies we implement, whether that is a new website that brings in leads, an ad campaign that drives sales, or a brand refresh that finally helps them stand out.

Advice for aspiring agency owners

For anyone dreaming of starting their own marketing agency, here are a few final words of wisdom from Kiana:

• Start before you feel ready. There will never be a "perfect" time.
• Be adaptable. Marketing trends change, client needs evolve, and you need to keep up.
• Solve real problems. The best agencies do not just sell services, they help businesses overcome real challenges.

If you missed the interview, you can catch the full episode on Connections Radio or watch the raw, unedited (and slightly funny) version on YouTube.

And if you are looking for a marketing partner who actually gets what your business needs (without the fluff), Plenty of Stuff Studio is here to help.

Get in touch today!

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Written by Kiana Douglin

Written on Thursday, 13 March 2025

Kiana Douglin

Author/ Director, Plenty of Stuff Studio

Kiana draws on years of marketing experience, playing a key role in helping businesses grow and launching startups with effective marketing strategies and operations. Her background combines marketing expertise with skills in sales and events. Outside of work, she finds inspiration in nature-hiking in the mountains, chasing waterfalls, and traveling the world-while her love for poetry and music fuels her creative spirit.

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