Butterfly 3ffect, a social-first creative agency, founded by Gymshark’s ex head of social and a founder of Social Chain, is celebrating a £2m debut year which featured campaigns for brands such as Netflix, McDonalds and Bumble.
Elfried Samba (CEO) and Michael Heaven (MD), both Manchester-based, recognised a critical gap in the industry – the lack of relatable role models and accessible entry points for diverse creatives, coupled with the lack of agencies creating a modern-day agency-to-client experience.
Driven by a shared passion for creating positive change, the duo took matters into their own hands in 2023 and launched Butterfly 3ffect, which offers services such as building engaged communities, social-first content creation and production, social commerce, influencer marketing and paid media.
The agency is now celebrating one year in business and hitting the impressive milestone of reaching £2 million in turnover.
CEO Samba said: “When we were discussing the very beginning of Butterfly 3ffect we knew we had two core aims.
“The first being to unite diverse creatives globally, and the second to deliver best-in-class service and expertise across the digital-first landscape, essentially creating an agency we wished existed.
“We had to really sit down and think how this could be achieved. The way people work has changed and that needs to be recognised. It’s essential companies nail a post-covid working style and really look into what people now want from a job or a company they work with.
“That’s why we favour a remote working model, meaning talent won’t encounter borders. Afterall, how diverse can you really be if you only have an office in one location?”
“We now have a team based across the globe in locations such as New York, Atlanta, London, Manchester and Dubai, meaning we’re instantly connected to multiple cultures, people and importantly; minds.”
After a year in business, Butterfly 3ffect now boasts a team of 12 industry professionals, while first year highlights have included its impactful My Love is Black Love’ campaign for the dating app, Bumble. Born from the insight that more than half (53%) of Black people and 67% of Black women in the UK don’t see themselves represented in images of love in mainstream online spaces, Butterfly 3ffect developed a hard-hitting campaign that used real women and their stories to spotlight and call out the preconceptions faced whilst online dating. The campaign reached over 7m accounts, achieved over 5m views and secured 36 pieces of coverage.
Connor Jones, VP of marketing at the agency said: “We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in such a short timeframe.
“Our success is a testament to the dedication of our team and the vital role Butterfly 3ffect plays in empowering creatives by offering a more accessible and inclusive pathway for those in the industry, as well as the desire to make impactful campaigns with like-minded clients.”
As Butterfly 3ffect enters its second year, the agency has expansion plans on the agenda with focus on Latin America as well as the Middle East and North Africa. The team also remains dedicated to its mission of empowering the next generation of creative talent with imminent plans to launch the Cocoon Programme, a gateway for the next generation of creatives to enter the industry.
