28 November 2008
	PROFILES THE HARDY BOYS

Type of agency - Branding & design Ownership - 100% local Key person - Dale Tomlinson Gross billings - R345m Accounts gained - 6 Accounts lost - 1 Total clients - 38 Number of staff - 80 Equity - 0% Biggest client - Unilever For a Durban-based agency (no disrespect to the city intended), a 50%-plus increase in gross billings to R345m is no mean feat. That translates into net revenue of R67m. New accounts - including Tongaat Hulett Sugar, Amalgamated Appliances and Vaseline petroleum jelly - brought in billings of R83m on their own. The agency's five main clients are Unilever, SA Home Loans, Amalgamated Appliances, Milady's Durban and Rainbow Farms. Maybe it's the Indian Ocean air but The Hardy Boys seems to have a healthy dose of rebelliousness in its work. One thing to look out for, though. As we noted last year, the agency remains stubbornly black economic empowerment-free. How long before that affects growth?