1. Calm Asylum is a creative agency with a digital backbone. Calm offers digital innovation, customer experience, design, marketing, strategy and customer insight.

2. Originally formed in December 1999 by Simon Brown, MD, the company rebranded to Calm Asylum in December 2003.

3. Calm Asylum is an adaptable company which should stand them in good stead in the current climate. Simon has recently made several changes to roles and work practices within the company to make it more effective and has developed online digital tools to help set it apart from competitors.

4. Calm has 11 employees and has recently welcomed Bianca Robinson, Creative Manager; Andrew McCarron, Digital Project Manager and Steph Every, Reception and Admin to strengthen the team.

5. Calm believes that Service Network is a great way to get closer to companies that have previously been competitors and explore working collaboratively for mutual business benefits. This is crucial if businesses like ours are to stand a chance in the global economy.

6. Calm knows the importance of relationship working closer clients and has a fantastic client list including Northgate Plc, Darlington College, Middlesbrough College, Business and Enterprise North East (Business Link), Newcastle University and Wolf Systems.

7. Calm Asylum was runner up in the NE Business Awards, Business and the Community category. This recognised its offer to charities that need effective brands and communications without an unrealistic investment.

8. MD, Simon Brown is on the board for charity The Main Project which supports families of and children with Autism. The company also works with Teesside Hospice.

9. To beat the housing slump, Simon and his wife Vicki are raffling their 6 bedroom, £650,000 home in Ingleby Barwick – tickets are £25 each see www.winfellowshall.com

10.  The name Calm Asylum is sometimes mistakenly called an oxymoron. In reality it refers to a safe haven and a space to think differently.

Well, it is our firm belief that companies need to be real and touchable. They need to converse with their potential customers, otherwise those customers will just go ahead and initiate conversations without them! (Think Dell Hell). So that’s what the team here at Calm have set out to do.

We talk about what we know -  we have some fascinating people in here who can talk passionately about every aspect of marketing – starting from brand and filtering through to the kaleidoscope of ways in which brands realise themselves – design, media, message, digital, social etc. We also post things on our blog that we think represent the way we think and show you videos, pictures and link to other blogs that say it better.

Also, we want to be found! We want more business than we can [currently] handle. And the Calm Asylum will grow to fit! A blog that talks about the things we do best has got to be one of the best ways we can think of to get into Google’s top ranks without even trying! See David Meerman Scott’s blog for more on this.

We really want you to see a bit of our personality in this blog. So you’ll also find stuff about things that tickle us pink from time to time. We also want you to participate, comment and get in touch. Think of our blog as a little peek into the minds of the inmates at the Calm Asylum – welcome to our space (and grab a free poster while you’re there)!