Northern Artillery

What Northern Artillery does

Northern Artillery is a Leeds-based creative production agency operating as Marketing Ventures Limited, founded in 2021. The firm delivers four interconnected service lines: Shopify Plus e-commerce development and replatforming, Strapi headless CMS implementation, 3D product visualisation and CGI/animation production, and property marketing services. Its client base skews enterprise, with named engagements spanning FTSE 250 real estate (GPE), global brands (Tesla Powerwall, Rieker, The Inkey List, Silver Cross, Moda Living, Zesty Paws), and direct-to-consumer operators (Micro Scooters UK, Heck! Food, JustMyLook, VIVID). Core technology stack centers on Shopify Plus and Strapi headless CMS, augmented by self-hosted generative AI infrastructure (ComfyUI with FLUX, QWEN, WAN open-source models) and commercially licensed motion AI (Higgesfeild.ai providing access to Google VEO3, Kling, ByteDance Seedance, OpenAI SORA2). Bespoke development includes custom Vue.js subscription middleware, JavaScript product personalisation, and third-party integrations spanning Recharge, Klaviyo, Nosto, Klarna, Laybuy, Reviews.io, and MRI Software.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements (typically 10-16 week builds) and ongoing retainers, with enterprise field sales as the primary go-to-market motion. The firm holds official Shopify Premier Partner and Strapi Community Partner status, which drives inbound referrals from brands on these platforms. Pricing is quote-based with no public rates; engagement size scales with project complexity. Geographic reach spans the UK as the primary market with international client work (Germany, USA). The agency operates with approximately 17 named team members across design, development, 3D, motion, and account management disciplines, with no disclosed external funding, acquisitions, or institutional ownership - operating as an independent founder/management-owned private limited company.

Northern Artillery's commercial model monetizes creative and technical production services bundled under a single in-house team structure. Distribution combines direct enterprise outreach, Shopify/Strapi partner ecosystem referrals, and portfolio-driven content marketing via detailed case studies on its website. Recent activity shows steady enterprise client acquisition through 2025-2026 with notable cross-border wins (Rieker, Germany) and vertical expansion into build-to-rent property, subscription commerce, and live sports (ATP official store). Recognition includes a UK eCommerce Awards 2024 Best Use of AI win and a #7 Similarweb #Digital100 ranking for The Inkey List site. The agency's competitive positioning rests on eliminating multi-vendor coordination by offering branding, digital, CGI, and platform engineering under one roof.

Name

Northern Artillery

Legal name

Marketing Ventures Limited

Website

https://northernartillery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Leeds-based creative production agency (Marketing Ventures Limited) delivering Shopify Plus e-commerce development, Strapi headless CMS builds, 3D CGI visualization, and property marketing for enterprise brands including FTSE 250 and global operators across beauty, property, automotive, and retail sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Creative Production Services: Project-based creative production services including brand strategy, digital design, web development, and CGI production for enterprise and mid-market clients. Engagements typically run 10-16 weeks for standard builds, with ongoing retainer relationships for continuous creative production.
2. E-commerce Platform Development: Shopify Plus and Strapi implementation services including platform migration, custom theme development, and integration work. Revenue generated through project fees and ongoing technical support retainers.
3. 3D Visualization and CGI Production: Product visualization, architectural visualization, and animation production services. Can be standalone projects or bundled with digital campaigns. Includes still imagery, motion content, and interactive 3D experiences.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Northern Artillery is an in-house creative production agency offering Shopify Plus e-commerce design and development, Strapi headless CMS implementation, 3D CGI product visualisation and animation, and full-scope property marketing services. Engagements span brand strategy, platform replatforming (from Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Visualsoft), custom theme and middleware development, CGI/3D asset creation, motion content production, and ongoing technical support retainers for enterprise and mid-market brands.

Product overview

Northern Artillery is a Leeds-based in-house creative production agency offering four interconnected service lines: Shopify Plus Agency Services (e-commerce design, development, and replatforming), Strapi Agency Services (headless CMS and digital experience development), 3D Product Visualisation & Animation (CGI, product renders, motion content), and Property Marketing Services (branding, digital, and CGI for property developers). These services are delivered by award-winning in-house specialists across design, development, 3D, and film disciplines, working together to deliver complete digital experiences for ambitious brands across retail, property, and lifestyle sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shopify Plus Agency Services End-to-end Shopify Plus design, development, and replatforming services for enterprise and mid-market brands — including platform migration from Magento, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Visualsoft, custom theme development, bespoke functionality, performance optimisation, and integration with third-party systems.
• Strapi Agency Services Headless CMS design and development using Strapi for content-driven digital experiences — covering scoping, content architecture, API and data structure planning, complex integrations, UX/UI design for headless builds, component-based design systems, and Nuxt/Next.js front-end integration with performance and security optimisation.
• 3D Product Visualisation & Animation CGI and 3D visualisation services for brands requiring product renders, packshots, material and finish exploration, cutaway visuals, product animations, exploded views, launch films, motion content, e-commerce assets, marketplace visuals, and architectural visualisation.
• Property Marketing Services Comprehensive property marketing services for residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments — including brand strategy, naming, visual identity, marketing collateral, CGI visualisation, animated films, property websites, microsites, interactive site plans, lead capture, analytics, and community storytelling.

Quantifiable outcome

• 210% increase in conversions, 270% increase in total sales, 220% increase in orders
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Shopify Premier Partner agency with certified expertise in designing, developing and launching high-performing Shopify Plus stores. The partnership provides access to Shopify's platform specialists, technical resources, and referral pipeline for enterprise clients seeking platform implementation.
• StrapicoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Strapi Community Partner agency specializing in headless CMS design and development. Partnership enables delivery of flexible, content-driven digital experiences on Strapi's open-source platform.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Studio Output: Independent UK creative agency producing brand, digital and motion work for ambitious consumer-facing brands. Comparable on in-house creative talent, motion/3D capability and enterprise client roster with focus on design-led outcomes.
• BlueSwitch: Shopify Plus agency with a strong enterprise and DTC brand focus, offering design, development and post-launch growth services. Comparable in service mix (Shopify Plus build, custom development, retainer work) and mid-to-enterprise client base.
• WeMakeWebsites: London-based Shopify Premier Partner agency offering end-to-end Shopify Plus design, development and replatforming for enterprise brands. Most directly comparable UK peer given shared Shopify Premier Partner status, enterprise target clients (e.g., FTSE-level retailers), and project-based revenue model.
• Sumo Digital: Sheffield-based digital agency specializing in Shopify and Shopify Plus builds for ambitious retail and lifestyle brands. Comparable as a UK-based Shopify Plus partner with similar mid-to-enterprise client focus and outcome-led project delivery model.
• Make Honey: UK creative commerce agency focused on Shopify Plus builds, brand and 3D content for DTC and enterprise brands. Comparable on the combination of Shopify Plus delivery, CGI/3D capability and design-led approach serving consumer-facing enterprise clients.
• The Stable: Commerce-focused agency with deep Shopify Plus expertise, serving enterprise consumer brands across replatforming, design and ongoing optimization. Comparable on e-commerce platform specialization, enterprise client tier and combined design/development delivery model.
• OuterBox: US-based Shopify Plus agency specializing in enterprise replatforms, custom theme development and conversion-focused design for high-volume retailers. Comparable on Shopify Plus certification, enterprise client focus and outcome-driven case-study marketing similar to Northern Artillery's documented lifts.
• Department Studio: London-based creative and digital agency working with global brands on brand, digital product and content experiences. Comparable on in-house creative production model, enterprise brand clients and horizontal segmentation across brand, web and content.

Broad incumbents

• AnalogFolk: Independent global creative agency with London HQ delivering brand, digital and content for major enterprise clients. Comparable on full-service creative production and enterprise brand roster, though typically operating at larger scale and with broader international footprint.
• Ustwo: Global digital product and experience studio with studios in London and beyond, working across web, product and content for enterprise brands. Comparable on digital experience design, motion and multi-disciplinary in-house teams, but with broader geographic reach and product/innovation practice beyond pure agency services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/northern-artillery
• Instagraminstagram.com/northern_artillery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northern Artillery