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december 2017 41 Providing trusted financial solutions. westoba.com | 1-877-WESTOBA | Westoba-BusinessSolutions@westoba.com PROBLEM? approach) to the market. That's really what's growing us these days." Another factor in 6P's recent growth was its merger with Edge Marketing Strategies in June 2015. "There were some great synergies between the two firms. We had a strength in online marketing and Edge had a strength in agri- business and the media side of the business. There have been numerous occasions where we've been able to leverage each other's experience and expertise," Provost says, adding all of the Edge employees who came over in the move remain at 6P. "Most mergers like we went through do not work very well. We were very careful about how we did it." Provost points out his company has also taken great care in hiring the right people and nurturing a creative environment that makes them want to stick around. Most of 6P's staff have been with the firm for several years, which has been a key factor in the company's success. "We don't have high turnover, which is abnormal in our industry," Provost says. "I think the main thing is we try to focus on work-life balance. I've been on the other side and I know what it's like. I just try to treat people fairly. It's kind of the golden rule idea." People aren't just a big part of 6P's success — they are also part of the company's name. Provost kept coming back to the four Ps of marketing — product, place, promotion and price — when he was trying to decide what to call the new venture. He soon determined that equation was missing two important pieces — people and passion — and thus the name 6P was born. During the past two years, 6P has enjoyed some major successes. In 2016, revenues grew by 50 per cent over the previous year and it is projecting a bump of about 25 per cent in 2017. Although that's welcome news, Provost says it won't change his steady, deliberate approach to growing the company. "I'd like to say I have my foot on the brake and the gas at the same time," he says, laughing. "I'm leery of growing too fast. I'm not interested in 100 per cent growth if it means that we're going to be shedding clients or disappointing anybody. Our reputation is too important." ■ 6P MARKETING I'm leery of growing too fast. I'm not interested in 100 per cent growth if it means that we're going to be shedding clients or disappointing anybody. Our reputation is too important."

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