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Studio A – Elevating Talent and Brand Partnerships in a Crowded Creative Market
How Studio A tripled its revenue, specialised its client experience, and unlocked the founder’s true potential
About the business
Studio A, founded by Alice Macmillan, is a boutique Melbourne-based agency specialising in innovative talent management and creative brand partnerships. Studio A bridges the gap between brands and leading content creators, executing stand-out campaigns, immersive events, and bespoke brand experiences across the fashion, lifestyle, and interiors sectors. Before working with Candour Strategy, Studio A had a strong creative identity but needed better sales systems, sharper financial control, and the structure to unlock scale and confidence.
Challenges
- Reliance on founder Alice for all sales and key client performance, with limited confidence in pricing, pitching, and negotiation
- Lack of streamlined financial systems made cashflow unpredictable and admin stressful
- Struggled to differentiate Studio A’s client journey from other talent agencies
- Growth was constrained by workload and the absence of a clear path to build out the team without dropping service quality
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The Solution
Candour Strategy worked closely with Alice to:
- Map and implement a bespoke sales strategy, including tailored sales training and ongoing ‘win the client’ coaching—directly building Alice’s confidence and capability
- Implement disciplined cashflow management, invoice checkpoints, and automated admin (including recruiting a specialist VA)
- Redesign the Studio A client experience, sharpening touchpoints and value adds to stand out from mainstream agencies
- Drive the hiring and onboarding of a new internal team member, freeing Alice to play to her strengths and spend more time on high-value work
3x
Revenue tripled in six months, with a sharp increase in high-value client wins
Studio A attracted and signed elite new talent, unlocking bigger campaign and partnership opportunities
90%
Invoicing lag dropped by 90% and average payment times improved, making cashflow smooth and predictable
75%
Alice reduced her time spent on low-value admin tasks by 75%—freeing her to deliver better creative and strategic value for clients
What this means for you
In creative, competitive industries, it takes more than talent and hard work to break through—structure, sales confidence, and financial discipline change everything. With the right support, agency owners can build their reputation and their business—without the burnout or the guesswork.