Marcus Richards
We’re a full service web agency with a focus on delivering the best possible solutions for our clients visitors. We are user/human obsessed and believe in challenging our clients and our teams to always do what is right regardless of whether the project is for a start-up or government institution.
Our work starts with agile sprints to rapidly ideate and test ideas that funnel into fully bespoke web systems that engage users and deliver KPI’s.
Our developers are obsessed with clean code whether it’s a fully bespoke build or an off the shelf CMS with bespoke theme and plug-ins.
Currently our work tends to split 50:50 between Yii framework and WordPress/Shopify builds and as a result we’ve split the company into two divisions with their own teams and directors.
Devstars has focussed on large development projects for the likes of Heathrow, the Ministry of Defence and G4S.
They are currently developing the careers platform https://www.sortyourfuture.com/ and building an opportunities platform for West Coast Influencer Agency Shine (https://shinetalentgroup.com/).
LWDA (London Web Design Agency) caterers for start-ups and SME’s delivering bespoke solutions for WordPress/Woocomerce and Shopify. This side of the business is very much full service with a focus on Agile UX through to technical SEO and CRO (Conversion Rate Optimisation) utilising Google Analytics/Tag Manager and Hotjar.
Tell us about yourself?
I worked in music marketing for years and was at A&M records back in 1995 when the web really started to kick off. I figured it would be a great platform for music and as the industry was lagging behind I moved to where the action was.
Matthew Freud had started a joint venture with Issac Tigret (Hard Rock Cafe/House of Blues) and Abbot Meade Vickers and needed someone to help run the London side of it.
We setup Traffic Interactive one of the first web agencies in London with offices above the 100 Club and worked on projects for Pepsi, the Phoenix Festival and Supergrass.
I eventually managed to get moved over to LA as part of House of Blues New Media division working on interviews with Paul Simonon and creating online promotions for Radioheads OK computer Album before starting my own agency.
In the early days we worked mainly on music based projects doing a MTV EMA sits for 2000 and 2001, early sites for Coldplay, Paul McCartney and the Beta Band.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Delegate more and focus on the overall strategy of the business.
What problem does your business solve?
We fix things by removing friction and distraction.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
We passionate about solving problems and delivering ideas for our clients. I was always a big fan of Ary Rand Fountainhead growing up and whilst I don’t agree entirely with it’s chief protagonist there are some great ideas around creativity in there.
What is your magic sauce?
We’re tight like an old rock band. We retain our team’s, partners and clients and after 20 years (since Devstars was born) we’ve built up a great repertoire.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
LWDA will spin off as it’s own business shortly and my goal is to support both Miles Gripton (Devstars MD) and Greg Macdonald (LWDA MD) as they grow both businesses.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
I think the biggest challenge is knowing when to say no to a project. It’s very easy to accept everything that comes in. We do very little marketing with all our business coming in via organic SEO and word of mouth. Sometimes the opportunities that come knocking aren’t always right for the business and you need to say no.
How do people get involved/buy into your vision?
We’d like people to visit our websites https://www.devstars.com/ and https://www.londonwebdesignagency.com/ and get in touch if they think we could assist them.
