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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Business in Vancouver December 30, 2008-January 5, 2009; issue 1001 John Blown Managing director, 6S Marketing Inc. , Age: 33 Chris Breikss President, 6S Marketing Inc. , Age: 31 From humble beginnings in a 140-square-foot apartment solarium, John Blown and Chris Breikss have grown 6S Marketing Inc. into a profitable venture with doubling year-over-year sales. Blown and Breikss founded 6S in 2000 after completing business degrees. It was one of a number of ventures the natural-born entrepreneurs and longtime friends started during that time. In 2005 and 2006, Blown and Breikss saw that 6S was ideally positioned to lead the Internet marketing boom. They sold their other ventures, a software company called OnRes Systems Inc. and the local tourism portal DiscoverVancouver.com, to focus solely on 6S. Preferring to learn as leaders, neither Blown nor Breikss have spent much time cultivating their skills by working for others. “We started 6S very quickly out of university, so a lot of the time we felt like we were flying by the seat of our pants,” said Blown. With roughly $3.5 million in revenue in 2008, 6S has grown its staff in step with sales growth, doubling its headcount in 2008 to 27 employees. In 2005, 6S it had only eight. It was that year that 6S found its footing, as Internet marketing gained acceptance as a mainstream marketing tactic. “We feel like we’re on the hockey stick of the growth curve now,” said Blown. Of the two founders, Blown brings a more traditional marketing expertise to 6S. Breikss began fiddling with the Internet as soon as it was possible to launch a website and is the more tech savvy of the two founders. Opus Hotels, Earls Restaurants and Intrawest ULC are among the clients for whom 6S has designed web-based marketing campaigns, optimized Google search or managed pay-per-click ad campaigns. The company has also forged strong relationships with Google and Yahoo. It became the second Canadian company to be named as a Google Analytics Authorized Consultant (GAAC). With that designation, 6S is part of a global network of web-marketing companies with recognized expertise in installing, configuring and scripting Google software. Today, while Blown and Breikss are still involved in the floor-level, day-to-day operations at 6S, their roles have evolved. Blown leads the human resources and finance teams. Breikks is more the public face of 6S, the company evangelist. He attends roughly half a dozen networking and speaking events each week, and maintains the 6S blog. “I’ve always been a shameless self-promoter,” said Breikss. Breikks is on the board of the Yaletown Business Improvement Association (YBIA). With the YBIA, he co-managed A Taste of Yaletown in 2008. It was the most successful year to date for the annual dining event. He also created the Business Objects employee incentive program, which provides discounts to shops and restaurants in Yaletown for the more than 1,000 Business Objects employees who work in the area. An avid hiker and climber, Blown has volunteered for the North Shore Rescue Team for six years and has been a director of the team for four years. He volunteers roughly 500 hours each year in the form of rescues, training and events. • Birthplace: North Vancouver Where do you live now: Vancouver Highest level of education: B.Comm from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business Car or chosen mode of transport: Lincoln Mark, but I mostly walk everywhere as I live downtown Currently reading: The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama Last CD bought or music downloaded: DJ Deadmau5 Favourite movie: The Man from Snowy River Favourite local restaurant: Browns Socialhouse, North Vancouver Profession you would most like to try: Rapattack Fire Crew Mentor: Richard Branson, but really my peer group – a great group of young entrepreneurs Toughest business or professional decision: Leaving the comfort of a regular paycheck What’s left to do: A lot. Secure 6S Marketing’s place as the unrivalled top Canadian search marketing company, as well as expand into the U.S. and internationally Birthplace: North Vancouver Where do you live now: Vancouver Highest level of education: Some college Car or chosen mode of transport: BMW M Coupe (on the weekends). I have a six-minute walking commute to work Currently reading: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter Last CD bought or music downloaded: Legend by Bob Marley and the Wailers Favourite movie: Field of Dreams Favourite local restaurant: Goldfish Pacific Kitchen Profession you would most like to try: Acting Mentor: Stephen Darling Toughest business or professional decision: Quitting a solid career to create a startup What’s left to do: Other than growing 6S, I would like to invest in my friends’ great ideas |
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