Phire Branding catches fire, hopes to hire more

For Jim Hume, the question isn’t why does he run his business in Ann Arbor? For the principal of Phire Branding Company it’s more like why wouldn’t he?”Ann Arbor is obviously the center of growth in Michigan,” Hume says. “There is a lot going on here.”Which helps to explain why Phire Branding is doing so well. Hume started the firm that, wait for it, specializes in branding in 2004 with one other person. Today it employs 10 people and the occasional intern or independent contractor. Of those, four were added in the last two years.They have been able to do that thanks to 20 percent growth in its revenue. Its client list demonstrates diversity (Masco, Kraft and the University of Michigan), always a good sign in rough economic times. Phire Branding has landed these firms by staying flexible and constantly diversifying their client base. The firm hopes to focus on website creation and digital marketing in the future as it aims to keep its growth at the current pace.Source: Jim Hume, principal of Phire Branding CompanyWriter: Jon Zemke