Welcome to our place.
We are an independent shopper marketing and brand activation agency . Over the last 25 years, we’ve been using our nut to crack some of the toughest client challenges to deliver truly compelling campaigns that have persuaded people to buy.
Our thinking comes from a central point that has a robust strategy and a compelling proposition to drive unified ideas. We don’t get bogged down by red tape or protocol. We get straight to what matters: the challenge.
Toucan. Home of Imagination.
After 25 years, we are still independent giving us a flexibility and agility that our clients love. We have no constraints from a parent group or other affiliation and the owners of the business all work in the agency.
We believe our creativity and our culture get us noticed and that we are an approachable, friendly family that our clients enjoy being a part of as well.
Every brief is treated with a tailored approach… there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ at our place and we aim for big results no matter what your budget.
Don’t take our word for it, just ask the IPM.
Our ideas support a brand on its journey from creation to consumption.
The Buyer ’ s Desk.
We provide the tools and confidence to sell-in ideas, products and campaigns to commercial buying teams across different channels.
The Shopper ’ s Basket.
We combine robust shopper insights, defined purchase barriers and our deep understanding of shoppers and retailers to drive sales.
The Consumer ’ s Hands.
Our brand activation plans make sure consumers are stimulated to act and so they just keep coming back for more via trial, engagement or loyalty.
Meet the family Say hello to the senior team.
We think it’s important that you like us.
Don’t expect any egos, but do expect confidence in our ability and for us to care passionately.
We’re nice people who love working together. We really think like a tight knit family.
And we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
I’m Gary, Managing Director of Toucan and someone who thrives on helping brands grow. You could say I laid the foundations for the agency over 20 years ago — and I’m as committed to building our clients’ businesses today as I am my own.
Whether being the architect of large strategic blue prints or just rolling up my sleeves and helping to hang the wallpaper, I just love to be involved.
Looking forward to seeing you around our place soon.
Hello. I’m Mike, a founding director of Toucan and someone who gets worryingly obsessed by things… Apple technologies, Crystal Palace FC, playing table tennis, the San Francisco Giants… I can’t really explain why. As a child of the 70s, I blame it on only having three TV channels and an unhealthy fascination with the trade test card.
At work, my obsession is delivering the best damn creative marketing solutions that surpass our clients’ objectives… Simple as that. Crackerjack!
Hi, I’m Kevin and there’s nothing more that makes me leap out of bed in the morning than the smell of fresh coffee and a meaty creative challenge to get stuck into.
For over 25 years I have developed creative strategies that manifest themselves in best sellers; helping brands fly off the shelves into millions of homes all over the world. I’m the one heard saying “why are we doing this?” or “what is the bigger brand opportunity?” before we look at which of our tools will do the job or what creative initiatives will deliver that gem of an idea to our target.
Whether it’s brand strategy, creative development or just spending time with our clients, I love going home knowing I’ve done brilliant work that makes brands sell.
Hello, I’m Nina, Senior Account Director and bit of a gatekeeper in our home. I can often be heard saying “If we refer to the brief…” not simply to annoy the creative team, but to make sure that the ideas we create meet our clients’ stated objectives.
I then work with my colleagues to bring the ideas to market in the best possible ways, whilst keeping a lid on the household budget.
Hi, my name is Sam and I’m Toucan’s Finance Director. I basically make sure the company is functioning efficiently with the correct infrastructure to support the work we do for our clients.
In between juggling many tasks and running a busy household, I like to take time out for a lunchtime run. I like to keep active and enjoy making the most out of life. The older I get, the younger I feel.
Hi, I’m Mary Anne. I’m Toucan’s Client Services Director. For clients old and new I love nothing more than getting to know you, your businesses, brands and trading goals. Call me a nosey neighbour if you like, but the insights I gain give us the understanding and inspiration to address those challenges and come up with simply super solutions.
What’s in our cupboards.
Here’s a quick look at who we work with.
Our Core Skills.
We focus on these six key.
areas of expertise.
Click on each to see.
A new chapter.
by Mike Benns – Board Director.
In case you missed the news last week, Toucan has been acquired by independent integrated agency Once Upon A Time (OUAT). Gary and myself, as the two shareholding Directors, are hugely excited at this progression in the agency’s life and have worked hard with the directors of OUAT over the last 6 months to ensure a smooth transition of Toucan’s business. Nothing changes in the short term as far as we are concerned. same team, same levels of service, same skillset, same name. What will change is the scope of agency services. OUAT is creating a compelling group encompassing knowledge and experience…
Anything but plastic.
by Mary Anne FitzGerald – Client Services Director.
Blue Planet is back on the BBC and a recent episode featured the all too modern day tale of an albatross feeding plastic to its young…
The bears are back.
by Gary Rapps – Managing Director.
What is it with bears? For most of my developing years I seemed to be surrounded by them. Books, films, TV shows. you name it, they…
The GUTS to go further.
by Kevin Frost – Creative Partner.
It’s not every day you get the opportunity to both redefine and redesign a charity but earlier this year that’s exactly what we did…
Toucan joins the Once Upon a Time Group.
by Mike Benns – Board Director.
Once Upon a Time’s CEO and Head of Strategy, Joe Garton and Rob Ward flanked by Toucan Founding Directors Gary Rapps and Mike Benns Integrated…
Latest news.
A new chapter 22.11.17.
Anything but plastic 21.11.17.
The bears are back 21.11.17.
The GUTS to go further 16.11.17.
Toucan joins the Once Upon a Time Group.
Categories.
Our door is always open!
Send an email.
Mary Anne FitzGerald.
Client Services Director.
Post a letter.
25 Northcote Road.
Give us a bell.
+44 (0) 20 7350 5360.
Don’t get lost on the way round. Click below to be clear where we live on Google Maps:
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