What Shop Around does

Shop Around is a privately held creative production agency founded in 2009 and based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The firm operates as a curated creative production platform that connects corporate clients, advertising agencies, PR bureaus, and cultural institutions with a roster of specialized artists providing illustration, animation, motion graphics, graphic design, visual identity, and production services. Its service portfolio spans editorial illustration, music videos, commercials, explainer animations, album artwork, packaging, annual reports, and public-sector campaign materials. The agency manages end-to-end creative delivery from concept development and art direction through production and post-production, with in-house animation capability provided through its Studio Shop sub-brand.

The business model is professional services revenue generated through project-based, quote-based engagements rather than recurring contracts or subscriptions. Distribution occurs through direct client engagement and agency intermediation, with marketing primarily conducted via the company's online portfolio website supplemented by WhatsApp Business contact and a newsletter subscription channel. The agency's client roster demonstrates diversification across financial services (ING Global, Rabobank, Interpolis), retail and consumer brands (Jumbo, Gazelle, Dura Vermeer), publishing and media (NRC, Apotheken Umschau), music and culture (Metropole Orkest, Gruppo Sportivo), and government and public sector (Ministerie van VWS, City of Amsterdam).

The company's core asset is its curated artist network — six named creative contributors (Flapje, Darrin Umboh, Richard Simonse, Veronika Kieneke, Mr. Feaver, Tink) — each with distinct stylistic specializations, supplemented by project-specific collaborators (e.g., Typex, Kirsten Ulve). Operating geographies span the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, indicating a Benelux-plus-DACH service footprint. No proprietary technology platform, AI capabilities, or recurring productized revenue streams are disclosed; the firm operates as a traditional boutique creative services studio at a team size of 1-10 employees.

Name

Shop Around

Legal name

Shop Around

Website

https://shop-around.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shop Around is an Amsterdam-based creative production agency founded in 2009 that provides illustration, animation, motion graphics, and design services to corporate clients, advertising agencies, and cultural institutions across the Benelux and DACH regions, operating with a curated roster of specialized artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Creative Project Services: Project-based creative services including illustration, animation, and design work commissioned by corporate clients, agencies, and cultural institutions. Revenue is generated through individual project engagements rather than recurring contracts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Shop Around is a creative production agency that delivers illustration, animation, and graphic design services through project-based commissions. The studio manages a network of affiliated artists and an in-house animation division (Studio Shop) to produce visual content such as music videos, commercials, editorial illustrations, album artwork, explainer animations, packaging, murals, and corporate communications materials for brands, agencies, publishers, and government bodies.

Product overview

Shop Around is a Dutch creative studio operating as a platform that connects clients with a network of specialized artists. The core offering consists of illustration, animation, and design services delivered through collaborative projects. The studio functions as a production company, managing the full creative process from concept through delivery, working with artists such as Flapje (animation), Veronika Kieneke (illustration), Darrin Umboh (graphic design/illustration), Richard Simonse (illustration), Mr Feaver (animation), and Tink (design). Projects span editorial illustration, music videos, commercial animation, album artwork, packaging, murals, and corporate communications materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shop Around Studio: Animation studio division mentioned in project credits (e.g., 'Animation Shop Around Studio', 'Studio Shop')

Products and services

• Illustration Services Illustration services covering editorial illustration, character design, vector illustration, cover illustration, and mural artwork, delivered by a roster of affiliated artists such as Veronika Kieneke, Darrin Umboh, Richard Simonse, Tink, and Typex for clients in publishing, advertising, music, and corporate sectors.
• Animation Services Animation services producing music videos, commercials, explainer videos, social media content, banners, and TV spots, delivered via the in-house Studio Shop animation division and affiliated animation artists such as Flapje and Mr. Feaver for brands, government, and entertainment clients.
• Design Services Design services covering visual identity, album artwork, packaging design, poster design, and annual report design delivered by affiliated designers and illustrators for music labels, corporate clients, and publishing customers.
• End-to-End Production Services End-to-end production management services including concept development, art direction, copywriting, photography treatment, and post-production, enabling clients to commission illustration, animation, and design work as integrated projects managed under a single production umbrella.

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Studio ShopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal animation and production studio that works alongside the illustration services. Studio Shop handles animation components of projects commissioned through Shop Around, providing integrated production capabilities.
• FlapjecoreTechnology or IntegrationAnimation artist specializing in character animation and visual effects. Contributed to projects including Thunderdome, ING credit card animations, and virus animation for Grip Op Cyber campaign.
• Darrin UmbohcoreTechnology or IntegrationGraphic designer and illustrator specializing in wall design, logo work, and character illustration. Head designer for ING Global illustration style and extensive retail/branding work.
• Richard SimonsecoreTechnology or IntegrationIllustrator with expertise in cartoon-style artwork, annual report illustrations, and character design. Contributed to projects for Dura Vermeer, Gazelle, and BRUUT! album artwork.
• Veronika KienekecoreTechnology or IntegrationIllustration artist with editorial focus. Contributed to Apotheken Umschau magazine illustrations and commercial work for NRC, Allianz, Rabobank, and Greenpeace.
• Mr. FeavercoreTechnology or IntegrationAnimation artist who has worked on Record Store Day campaigns, A. Vogel commercials, Feyenoord shirt introduction animation, and various commercial projects.
• TinkcoreTechnology or IntegrationIllustrator with multiple projects including Golden Earrings poster work, Flowerdales, Cos retail campaigns, and De Hartslag.nl visual identity projects.
• FitzroyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative agency that commissioned Shop Around for A. Vogel commercial animation and illustration work.
• GraficellyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAgency partner for the Normaaloverdrugs.nl project that involved illustrations by Darrin Umboh.
• The FamilyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative agency that commissioned the government anti-vaping campaign video from Shop Around.
• Dentsu CreativeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdvertising agency that commissioned the Interpolis Grip Op Cyber campaign, with Shop Around handling production.

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lava: Amsterdam-based creative agency delivering visual identity, motion, and design across consumer brands. Closely comparable in geography, scale, and project-based creative production model.
• Studio Dumbar: Rotterdam-based design agency specializing in identity, illustration, and visual systems for major Dutch and European clients. Comparable as a Dutch boutique studio producing illustration-led branding work for enterprises like ING and government bodies.
• Buck: Design and animation studio producing motion graphics, brand films, and illustration-driven content for major brands. Comparable as a boutique studio offering illustration-to-animation creative production.
• Koto: London/Los Angeles-based branding and creative studio with a comparable boutique structure and focus on visual identity, motion, and illustration work for global brands.

Broad incumbents

• MediaMonks: Netherlands-founded global digital production company delivering creative, content, and media at scale. Comparable motion and creative production capabilities but operates at significantly larger scale and scope.
• Dept: Amsterdam-rooted global digital creative agency offering end-to-end creative, technology, and marketing services. Overlaps with Shop Around's illustration/animation offerings as part of a much broader portfolio.
• Anomaly: Global creative agency with strong illustration, motion, and brand storytelling practices. Comparable end-to-end creative production model but operating across a wider portfolio of services and geographies.
• Total Design: Amsterdam-based design agency with a long history in identity, editorial, and illustration work for Dutch and European clients. Comparable creative focus at greater scale and broader service breadth.
• Wieden+Kennedy: Independent global creative agency network known for integrated campaigns blending illustration, animation, and film. Comparable creative output across motion and illustration for major global brands.

Emerging players

• Resn: New Zealand-based boutique creative tech studio producing interactive, motion, and illustration-led digital experiences. Comparable as a small, artist-driven boutique with similar project-based production model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Shop Around