Pictured above: UK Trade & Investment international trade adviser Steve Cunnane is pictured left with Chris Thompson, founder and director of business development at Digital Animal

A Birmingham multimedia firm has signed a deal worth £250,000 with a leading European music and entertainment services provider, with help from UK Trade & Investment.

Digital Animal, of Alcester Road, Moseley, provides more than 200 record companies, independent labels and artists with managed marketing services and their own-branded music retail websites.

These integrated digital and e-commerce services enable Digital Animal's clients to communicate with their buyers direct and keep control of their marketing. 

The company has formed a new partnership with Belgium-based [PIAS] Entertainment Group after taking part in international music and media event MIDEM in France last month (January) thanks to financial support from UK Trade & Investment, which delivers the international element of the Advantage West Midlands-funded Business and Professional Services Cluster. 

Digital Animal will provide online marketing and e-commerce services for [PIAS]'s labels and artists to sell audio products, merchandise and tickets. The online stores will include multi-territory billing, pre-orders, SMS payments and a full content management system enabling the complete control of pricing and product offerings.

Founder and business development director Chris Thompson said: "We are thrilled to be able to offer e-commerce solutions to Europe's most important independent artists and labels through [PIAS].

"The overall benefit to [PIAS] is that it will own the relationship with the fan and be able to predict the average revenue per fan per year as a result.

"This will be a vital tool to help [PIAS] to work out accurate business projections for the future.

"The partnership is worth at least £250,000 to Digital Animal per year - possibly much more, depending on how the artists' fan base increases over time.

"We are delighted with the support we have received from UK Trade & Investment. We have worked with our international trade adviser, Steve Cunnane, since the company was established in 2004, firstly through the Passport to Export scheme for new exporters and more recently through the Business and Professional Services Cluster and Gateway to Global Growth.

"There is a worldwide market for our services and UK Trade & Investment is helping us to reach this."

Digital Animal has seven employees and uses a pool of freelancers as required. Approximately 40 per cent of its annual turnover is export business.

In December 2009, the company joined UK Trade & Investment's Gateway to Global Growth programme, which offers a tailored, needs-based service with training and ongoing support for exporters with two to ten years' experience.

This includes an in-depth export review, assistance in formulating an international trade strategy, networking opportunities to share best practice and signposting to funding streams such as financial support for market visits.

International trade adviser Steve Cunnane, based at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who is UK Trade & Investment's West Midlands lead for the Business and Professional Services Cluster, said: "I have worked with Digital Animal from the early days of the business.  

"Although the principal credit for success in international markets clearly belongs with the company, I feel that the Birmingham international trade team has helped to provide focused support in their key priority export markets.  

"I am continuing to work with Chris Thompson to target other opportunities in major emerging markets. These activities will include a trade mission to Russia in May for business, professional and media companies."

For more information about how UK Trade & Investment can help your business expand into new markets abroad, contact the international trade team at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tel: 0121 450 4205.