IRONCLAD expands into Europe with Strategic Alliance
IRONCLAD Marketing, a global full-service business-to-business marketing agency specializing in industrial manufacturing clients, announces the launch of IRONCLAD Europe by FESTGE.
Formed as a strategic alliance with Reinhold Festge GmbH & Co. KG in Oelde, Germany, IRONCLAD Europe offers a full-service marketing team in Germany, partnering with clients in equipment and industrial manufacturing. With the new alliance, IRONCLAD will serve local industry-leading equipment manufacturers, and act as boots on the ground for American manufacturers wishing to grow their business in Europe.
The European location offers the targeted and unique marketing services IRONCLAD Marketing is known for, including content development, media relations, video production, graphic design, digital marketing and market research all grounded in strategic marketing plan development. This approach, combined with in-country expertise and market understanding, enhances the promotion of manufacturing clients across the globe.
“IRONCLAD Marketing operates as an extension of our clients’ marketing team. Although we’ve served a global client base for quite some time, having a team based in Germany with a keen understanding of market dynamics offers both domestic and international clients an elevated level of service, support and consistency in both strategy and marketing messaging worldwide,” said Denise Stoppleworth, president of IRONCLAD Marketing.
The alliance entered between IRONCLAD Marketing owner Denise Stoppleworth and co-owning brothers, Dr. Fabian Festge and Florian Festge, will effectively aid in Festge’s transformation from a traditional print and promotional fulfilment company to a full-service strategic marketing firm.
With a combined industrial and equipment-related experience of more than 100 years, the Stoppleworth and the Festge families have been working together for more than a decade.
“It’s an ideal fit. We share a common vision for marketing and a joint passion for the equipment and industrial manufacturing industry,” said Florian Festge. “In politically challenging times in which North America and Europe should work closer together, our strategic alliance builds a bridge for equipment manufacturers interested in business growth on both continents. Together we will combine German ingenuity and technical expertise with American creativity and marketing ideas.”
Stoppleworth started IRONCLAD Marketing in September 2009. From the start, the Fargo, North Dakota-based agency has focused on equipment and industrial manufacturing clients in industries ranging from agriculture to mining, construction, aggregates, landscape and more.
“The IRONCLAD Marketing approach is to truly invest in getting to know the client, understanding their business and goals and then using that knowledge to build a comprehensive strategic marketing plan based on those goals,” Stoppleworth said. “That’s what clients on every continent can expect when working with either team.”
The passion for the equipment industry and a strategic marketing approach are just some of the many things that the Festges and Stoppleworth have in common. The companies are also both in rural, agricultural areas with small-town values, a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to family, community and service to the client.
“I grew up on a farm in a small town in North Dakota settled by German immigrants. I ran nearly every kind of farm equipment,” Stoppleworth continued. “That’s where my love for the equipment industry began. And when I travel the countryside near Oelde, Germany, I honestly feel like I could be driving back to my hometown. Family is a core value for the Festge brothers and me. Now we’re expanding the IRONCLAD Marketing family. I am excited to see how this new alliance enhances service to our current and future clients.”
