What Stevens Advertising does

Stevens Advertising Inc. is a full-service advertising and marketing agency headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan (560 5th St. NW, Suite 201). Founded circa 1920, the firm has operated continuously for over a century and describes its core philosophy as "integrity, commitment, and creative thinking." The agency's product offering is organized around eight service lines: Digital Content Development, Advertising Campaigns, Brand Development, Collateral + Publication, Direct Marketing, Packaging, Media Buying + Planning, and Website Design + Development. These services are delivered as professional services engagements, billed on project-based or retainer terms, rather than as packaged software or productized offerings.

The firm serves a horizontal mix of mid-market and enterprise clients across diverse industries, including nonprofit (YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Children's Museum), hospitality/resort (Crystal Mountain, Pere Marquette River Lodge), manufacturing (Virginia Tile, Hoekstra, Dri-Design, Scientific Anglers), defense (Heckler & Koch), healthcare (Pine Rest), professional services (Beene Garter), financial services (Fifth Third River Bank Run, GRAR), and government/tourism (South Haven CVB). Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales — direct client engagement led by account executives and senior leadership, supplemented by case-study-driven content marketing on its website and blog, plus an email newsletter.

Stevens' business model relies on long-tenured client relationships (notably Crystal Mountain at 30+ years and Ferris Coffee & Nut since 1924) and on documented, measurable client outcomes (e.g., 25:1 ROI for South Haven CVB, 77% growth in new web users for Beene Garter, second-best membership year for YMCA). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The firm operates without venture capital or private equity backing, has no subsidiaries, and shows no M&A activity in the available data. It has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities and operates as a traditional creative services agency rather than a technology platform.

Name

Stevens Advertising

Legal name

Stevens Advertising Inc.

Website

https://stevensinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stevens Advertising Inc. is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based full-service advertising agency founded circa 1920, offering brand development, advertising campaigns, digital content, media buying, packaging, and website design to mid-market and enterprise clients across the Midwest and select national accounts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Advertising Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (54181), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Sales Promotion Campaign Design & Management (BPAFAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Retail Media, Shopper Marketing & In-Store Activation Services (CRAOAOAD)

Keywords

• Advertising services
• Brand development
• Media buying planning
• Website design development
• Digital content creation

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

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 and Advertising Services: Revenue generated through professional service fees for advertising campaigns, brand development, digital content creation, website design and development, media buying and planning, direct marketing, and collateral development. Services are billed as project-based work and/or ongoing retainers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Stevens Advertising is a full-service advertising and marketing agency that develops brand strategy, designs and executes advertising campaigns across traditional and digital channels, builds websites, produces digital and print content, plans and buys media, and creates packaging and direct marketing materials. Services are sold as integrated engagements to business clients across the Midwest and select national markets, billed as project work and/or ongoing retainers. The agency's deliverable mix centers on creative output, strategic planning, and measurable campaign results rather than proprietary technology products.

Product overview

Stevens Advertising is a full-service advertising agency offering a unified suite of creative and strategic services. The portfolio centers on eight core service offerings: Digital Content Development, Advertising Campaigns, Brand Development, Collateral + Publication, Direct Marketing, Packaging, Media Buying + Planning, and Website Design + Development. These services work together as an integrated agency model, where brand development and strategy inform campaigns, digital content, and website projects. Stevens serves diverse clients including nonprofits, sporting goods retailers, hospitality businesses, healthcare organizations, and B2B manufacturers across the Grand Rapids area and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brand Development Comprehensive brand strategy services including brand audits, positioning, identity refresh, logo design, and brand architecture development, sold to mid-market and enterprise clients seeking to establish or refine their brand across touchpoints.
• Advertising Campaigns Full-service advertising campaign development and execution across multiple channels including TV, billboards, online, collateral, and direct mail, delivered to enterprise and mid-market clients.
• Digital Content Development Digital content creation services for online platforms including websites, social media, and digital advertising materials, delivered to business clients across industries.
• Website Design + Development Custom website design and development services including responsive design, content management systems, user experience optimization, and e-commerce functionality, sold to B2B clients across industries such as retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and nonprofit.
• Media Buying + Planning Strategic media planning and purchasing services across traditional and digital channels to reach target audiences effectively on behalf of client brands.
• Direct Marketing Targeted direct marketing campaigns including email marketing, direct mail, and multi-channel outreach strategies designed to drive measurable response for client audiences.
• Collateral + Publication Design and production of printed marketing materials including brochures, case studies, annual reports, and direct mail pieces for client brands and nonprofit fundraising initiatives.
• Packaging Product packaging design services that help client brands stand out on shelf and reflect product quality and brand identity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25:1 ROI for South Haven CVB campaign, generating $10.6 million in visitor spending
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Core Creative: Milwaukee, WI-based branding and advertising agency focused on mid-market clients. Similar size and geographic positioning in the Midwest integrated-agency market.
• Hanon McKendry: Akron/Cleveland, OH-based integrated marketing agency providing brand, advertising, digital, and media services. Comparable Midwest regional full-service agency competing for similar mid-market accounts.
• Deksia: Grand Rapids, MI-based creative agency offering web, brand, digital, and creative strategy. Direct geographic competitor to Stevens in the West Michigan mid-market with the same full-service, small-team profile.
• Simantel Group: Peoria, IL-based creative agency offering brand, advertising, digital, and media planning services to regional and national B2B and B2C clients. Similar mid-sized Midwest integrated agency.
• Hanson Dodge: Milwaukee-based integrated marketing agency offering brand strategy, advertising, digital, and content services. Similar Midwest-anchored, mid-sized full-service model serving a comparable client mix.
• Mower (Arc): Buffalo/Syracuse-based independent, full-service advertising, PR, and digital agency serving regional mid-market and enterprise clients. Closely comparable in integrated mid-market agency model.

Broad incumbents

• Cramer-Krasselt (CK): Chicago-based, much larger full-service advertising agency with deep Midwest roots and broad portfolio. Operates in the same integrated regional agency category but at substantially greater scale and client breadth.
• Doner Partners: Southfield, MI-based full-service creative agency with national reach and large clients. Larger incumbent competitor within the same Michigan-anchored integrated agency market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stevens-advertising
• Xx.com/stevenssays

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Stevens Advertising