We’ve been having a catch up with Cabana, a digital marketing agency who’ve been with us at our Pollard Yard site for the last 18 months.

Hey guys! Nice to chat with you today about Cabana. Can you tell us a bit about what you do?

We help businesses grow online by increasing their website traffic and helping convert more of that traffic into sales and enquiries. We specialise in Search Engine Optimisation, PPC, Web Development and Content Marketing.

And who’s in the team?

The founding team includes Jakub, Sam and Ricardo. We have since partnered with Francisco and Carolina (based in sunny Lisbon), and a few friends which compliment our team across a wider range of services.

How did the business start and how did you end up at Pollard Yard?

The original team were friends before we became business partners. With years of experience in the industry, we decided it was time to start our own venture. Our business journey began as a side project, developing a new communication software and calendar management tool. We loved working together and pivoted from a product to a service business offering what we do best – digital marketing. And so, in January 2020 Cabana was born.

We have started out of coffee shops, then coworking spaces such as WeWork and finally found our home at the Yard. With the rich Industrial past and cool buildings, close proximity to the city centre and the hustle and bustle of Ancoats and the Northern Quarter, it was a no-brainer. We like the creative array of businesses around us and enjoy the atmosphere – it brings out the best in us.

We have outgrown our small container and recently moved into a bigger one where our team has the space it needs to produce great work. Despite the pandemic, it’s been great to see the Yard grow over the last 18 months and the vibrant community around us. We’re proud to be a part of this!

Can you tell us one interesting fact about your business?

We grow strawberries! We have a second container at the Yard, it’s home to Fresh Ancoats Foods (FAF) where we experiment with modern agritech and ways to grow fresh produce locally and sustainably. We have also pledged to become a green agency and to donate a percentage of our profits to environmental conservation projects.

Any big clients or projects that you can tell us about?

We’ve recently partnered with a firm of leading intellectual property solicitors based in London. We’re extremely excited to start 2021 as their digital marketing partner.

We’re also working on opening a second office, this time in a slightly warmer climate…can you guess where?

If it’s a warm climate then probably not Manchester! Tell us, what’s the best part of your job?

Working with friends, doing what we love and are obsessed about, and having a positive impact on the planet in the process!

And the toughest?

Given the nature of our job (digital) and modern life (also very much digital), switching off from work can be very challenging. We do our best to maintain a healthy work-life balance however the lines between the two can be very blurred.

Looking back at your journey, is there any advice you would have given yourself at the beginning?

There are no shortcuts or ‘magic formulas’. To be successful and find happiness in your career, work hard and continue to learn; strive to be a master of your craft. Ignore the noise and focus on becoming better today than you were the day before.

More on Cabana
For more from Cabana check out their website here.

Meanwhile Creative
At Meanwhile Creative we take a creative approach to ‘meanwhile’ space. We can find flexible, affordable and practical workspace for your project; whether this be office space, studio space or desk space. We have something for everyone.