Merge

📣 Big news! As the landscape of M&A for agencies continues to evolve, we’re committed to driving industry change. ✨ That's why we're thrilled to announce our new look and focus as Merge. 🥳 Why the rebrand? 🙋♀️ This is about better showcasing our work and what we stand for. We're making sure our brand reflects the innovation and excellence we bring to each partnership. 🦄 But what does this mean for you? 💪 Unwavering commitment: Our values and dedication to revolutionizing M&A remain rock–solid. 🌟 Enhanced service delivery: Expect the same dedication and expertise, with a fresh look that matches the groundbreaking work we do. 🤝 Continued partnership: Your goals are our goals. Let's achieve them together. This isn't just a new coat of paint. 🎨 It's a step forward in our shared mission to innovate and lead in the M&A space. We're here to make sure that every partnership and transaction shines brighter than ever before. After all, we’re here to shape the market, not just be part of it. 🌍 Stay tuned for more updates and sneak peeks of our new look! Your trust and collaboration mean the world to us. Here's to breaking new ground, together. 🌟 👉 Want to learn more? Reach out to us, or stay connected here for the latest updates. Thank you for being a crucial part of our story. ❤️ #merge #innovation #evolution

Imagine you're in your 20s and have already built and sold your first business. You've got the whole world figured out, right? 🌍   Wrong. Because what most people don't see is the sleepless nights, the endless pitches, the moments of self-doubt you experience when you realize there's no one to guide you through this. 😕 It's in those darkest moments that you realize it isn't the success that shapes you. It's the grit and resilience built through every challenge and setback. 🔥💼 To me, it boils down to there being two kinds of people in the world: those who wait for things to happen, and those who make them happen. I learned as a girl growing up in South Carolina that if I wanted a place in the world, I’d have to carve it out for myself. Nobody would do it for me. I didn’t come from money and couldn’t bank on someone else’s reputation. I only had mine. And honestly, that’s how I was able to bootstrap multiple businesses from the ground up and thrive throughout the late nights and early mornings of startup life: by never letting a setback stop me. Because if there’s a definition of “founder’s mindset”, it’s seeing setbacks as the beginning of growth  🔄🌱 If I had to do it all again, I'd give myself this advice:

💁♀️ Let go of things that are holding you back: Toxic relationships, unnecessary burdens, unrealistic expectations. It will be hard, but liberating. It will allow you to focus on what truly matters. ✨ 😄 Embrace your enthusiasm. In a world that only cares about success, showing effort can be seen as a weakness. But hard work is a badge of honor. 🏅 Those who drive change care deeply and work tirelessly. Wearing my passion proudly inspired those around me. ❤️💪 🚀 Evolve endlessly. Every venture you launch will have unique challenges and rewards that reinforce your growth. Keep experimenting, keep trying, and keep growing. You can't predict where the journey will take you. But you can make adaptability a superpower. 🦸♀️ 👂 Expect unsolicited advice. The younger you start, the more of this you'll get. Some of it is valuable, and some you can ignore. 🎓 Your mistakes are your greatest teachers. They show you that failure is part of the human experience. True strength lies in dusting yourself off and moving forward. 🧗♀️ 🚧 Rejection teaches you resilience and innovation. Real growth comes from pushing through setbacks, not seeking approval. Perfectionism is a heavy burden. The hard truth is that you'll make mistakes. Those mistakes are stepping stones to growth. 📈 Never forget: you're the architect of your destiny. Humans are guided by instincts, desires, fears, scars, and dreams. Entrepreneurs are people. We stumble. Hard things happen. But we recover, learn, and grow more resilient. Believe in the work. Do that and you'll never stop moving forward. 🌬️🌄 #founders #agency #WomenInBusiness #entrepreneur #manda #grit

What happens when you mix unyielding dedication with genuine warmth? You get Ashley Kaika 😊 Ashley has taken on many roles at Merge—and excelled in every single one. Now, as our Director of Partnerships, she's smashing all kinds of records. But numbers only tell part of the story. 😉 What makes Ashley truly exceptional is her dedication to building relationships that last. 💪 She's the kind of person who’s there for founders from the get-go—sometimes years before they’re even thinking about an exit. This long-term vision and commitment sets her apart. When I first met Ashley, her warmth and positivity were such a breath of fresh air! She has this magical ability to make everyone feel genuinely seen and valued. It’s no surprise that founders trust her so deeply. Ashley’s impact goes beyond closing deals. It’s the connections she makes, the trust she builds, and the genuine care she shows. Her approach is personal, heartfelt, and incredibly effective. 🫶 Ashley, you’re one reason Merge feels like family! Grateful for every day we get to work together  and excited for where we’re headed, with your leadership. 💫 #PeopleFirst #ClientSuccess #relationships #TeamMerge

The Merge #3 is live! 🚀 This month, we explore the current agency M&A landscape and why now is a fantastic time for strategic deals. 🤓 🔹 Discover why now is a great time for M&A, with a 15% rise in deals. 🔹 Learn how detailed planning and due diligence can ensure smooth transactions. 🔹 Find out how to balance innovation with ethics as AI transforms the marketing industry. 🔹 Get tips on avoiding pitfalls and keeping your team happy during mergers. Check out the full newsletter! 👇 #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessGrowth #AI #RiskManagement #AgencyLife

Numbers are important, but what truly drives value is the mission behind them. ✨ At Merge, we believe M&A deals aligned with a higher cause can create a meaningful legacy. They build brand loyalty and unite employees around a common goal. ERM’s acquisition of Shelton Group showed us this firsthand. 🌿 Why was this deal so special? Shelton Group, an ERM Group company, founded by the incredible Suzanne Shelton in 1991, blazed trails in ESG and sustainability communications. They’re revered for their Pulse® Insights Work, which has become an invaluable resource in the sustainability industry. Suzanne’s mission has always been clear: to guide brands towards more impactful and responsible business practices. 🌱💡 When Suzanne decided to look for an acquisition partner, she knew what she wanted: a partner who shared her passion for sustainability and could amplify the strategic impact of Shelton Group’s work. She wanted to focus on her passion for public speaking and spreading the ESG mission, leveraging her 30+ years of expertise. 🎤✨ And this is where mission-driven M&A makes all the difference. We knew we had to find a buyer whose vision and values aligned perfectly with Shelton Group’s. Enter ERM, a global leader in sustainability with a mission to enhance their expertise in this crucial area. From the get-go, it was clear that ERM and Shelton Group were a perfect match. 🤝🌏 The result? An acquisition that took Shelton Group’s capabilities to new heights and extended their global reach. ERM’s resources and worldwide recognition, combined with Shelton’s deep expertise in sustainability communications, have created an unstoppable force in the industry. ✅ Business growth? Check. ✅ Driving a shared vision forward? Check.  ✅ Making a real difference? Bingo. 💯🌍✨ If you’re an agency founder considering an acquisition, know this: mission-driven M&A can transform your legacy. When your mission aligns with your partner’s, the synergy created is nothing short of magical. 🪄💪 So, let’s think beyond the balance sheet. Let’s focus on finding partners who share our values and vision. Because when we do, we don’t just grow our businesses and our reputation – we change the world for the better. 🌟🌐 Here’s to building meaningful legacies and making every deal count. 🎉 Want to dive into the full story of Shelton Group’s acquisition? Click the link in the comments to read the case study 👇 #Amanda #Sustainability #ESG #BusinessGrowth #Empowerment #WomenInBusiness #Merge

To my sweet daughter Kennedy, As you read this, you're stepping into your own as a young woman. It’s a big, challenging world out there. I've been through it, balancing being a mom and building a career. It wasn't easy, and I learned a lot along the way. 🌈 Don’t aim for perfect. Aim to keep moving. Your kindness, intelligence, and strength are your superpowers—never downplay them to fit in. True strength comes from being true to yourself, in all parts of your life. 💪 Be brave. Take risks. Sometimes you'll fail, and that's okay. What matters is that you learn and keep pushing forward. There is clarity in action. ⏩ My deepest hope was always to show you and Lillia what's possible when passion meets perseverance. Those late nights, fine-tuning pitches while you slept in the next room, taught me that hard work is a privilege. Tough as it is, it carves the path to the future we dream of. 🔥 Resilience? That’s the backbone of every entrepreneur. I've seen ventures fail and dreams hit brick walls, but what matters is that you push ahead. Don’t bounce back. Bounce forward. Give back. Success is richer when you use it to lift others up. Advocate for those who need a voice, and strive to make a difference. 🦁 And in all this, don’t forget to enjoy life. Love deeply, laugh often. Make room for joy, peace, and adventure. Oh, and let’s bust this myth right here: you don’t need to have it all figured out, all at once. The truth is, crafting a life and career you love is about making choices that align with your values, at your own pace. No one's journey is the same. 🛤️ I am so proud of the woman you are becoming. Know that my lessons and my love are with you always. 💖 #WomenInBusiness #entrepreneurship #WorkingMom #motherhood

When you're running a business, you learn one lesson fast: the right person in the right role is magic. 🪄 There's just one hitch: these miracle workers don't grow on trees. That's why Merge is so lucky to have the one and only Hannah Sibel on the team! 🥳 If you've ever doubted the value of transferable skills, consider: Hannah started her career managing talent in late-night TV. 📺 A different world than agency M&A? For sure. But it makes sense when you see how deftly she navigates the complexities of different personalities and client service. You realize how she honed her craft. ☝️ Clients at Merge praise her no-nonsense attitude, matchmaking talent, and eye for detail. 👁️ Above all, they value the results she gets. 📈 She has a gift for pairing buyers and sellers who are sure to succeed post-transaction — because they actually like each other! 🙂 A traditional investment bank might pass on her; she doesn't have a cookie-cutter background in finance. Their loss, because Hannah is one in a million. 💎She has mastered the technical nuances of M&A while always focusing on the most important part: the people. 😊🏆 Now, with $20 million in listings under contract, she's guiding small agency founders toward life-changing exits and opportunities. 📖✨ When she's not closing deals, she's entertaining the office with her subtle humor, keeping those of us with less exciting social lives up to date on Manhattan's latest restaurants and hot spots. 🌃👩🏽🍳 Her mix of confidence, creativity, and compassion have made her a cultural icon in the office. 🔥 Congrats on your promotion to Acquisition Manager, Hannah! 🎉 You're living proof that people skills can make magic happen. 🎩✨ #PeopleFirst #ClientSuccess #AgencyLife #HumanCapital #GoBlue

🚀 Is now the right time to sell your agency? Our team at Merge has been keeping a close eye on the market. Here’s what we’re seeing: 💡 Buyer confidence is surging. Transaction volume has risen 15% in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023. With market stability on the rise, both buyers and sellers are finding plenty of reasons to celebrate. 📈 Brands are investing again. As confidence returns, so does spending. Agencies are experiencing steady or even increased revenues, creating a prime environment for sellers. 🏆 Sellers hold the advantage. With more buyers than sellers, well-run, niche agencies are in high demand. While multiples are stable, the increase in buyer interest is leading to better deal terms. 🌟 What this means for you: At Merge, we’re not just about closing deals. We’re about changing lives through strategic opportunities. Whether you're looking to start your next venture or secure your legacy, now is a perfect time. 🔍 Ready to make your move or curious about the market? Contact us to discuss how we can help maximize your opportunity. Your next big step could be just a conversation away. #DigitalAgencies #MandA #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy

There's a secret weapon in agency life: loyalty. Why should you care? Because loyalty transcends transactions, outlasts trends, and sparks uncommon triumphs. 🤝 Imagine a team so aligned with your vision that they push boundaries and pioneer solutions, turning everyday challenges into standout successes. 🌠 That's the power of loyalty. 💡 It fosters a culture where taking creative risks is embedded in your team's DNA—where every project has the potential to propel you to new heights. Loyalty isn’t just a buzzword at Merge—it’s the lifeblood of every decision, every strategy, and every relationship. It’s the silent promise we keep, whether we're cheering for a team win or standing together during the tough times. 💪 You see, in a world that often prioritizes the "next big thing" over the "current steady presence," we choose differently. We invest deeply in the people who stick with us. Why? Because trust built through thick and thin is irreplaceable. At our core, we know that loyalty means showing up, not just when there’s a gain to be had, but because it’s the right thing to do. It's about caring for the person next to you, understanding their dreams as deeply as your own, and working tirelessly to turn those dreams into reality, together. 🤲 Loyalty can turn customers into lifelong advocates and colleagues into true collaborators. Teams that are loyal thrive—by forming an ecosystem where every individual feels valued and essential to the collective success. 😊 Here’s a little-known impact loyalty has that no one talks about: it translates to innovation in your projects. Secure, valued individuals drive breakthroughs, not just for the sake of innovation but for the growth and sustainability of the business. If you're building and scaling an agency, remember: your team's commitment shapes not just your current business, but also the growth you have yet to achieve. Let loyalty be the beacon guiding you from your founding to a successful acquisition. Don't just grow your business; grow together, staying loyal to your mission, values, and each other. 🫶
 Because I promise: loyalty will never let you down. ✨ #culture #CompanyCulture #manda Cally Carbone Molly McCartan Mathew Cybul

Beyond excited to share that Barney is now Merge!! 🤩🥳