By: Gerome Alvarez

When most people think about advertising agencies, they think of glossy boardrooms, high
retainers, complex reports, and layers of people touching a campaign before it ever reaches
the public. But for small and medium-sized business owners, the backbone of Australia
and New Zealand’s economy, accessing effective, multi-channel marketing often feels out of reach.

For Preeti Kennedy, Founder and CEO of Shopa Marketing, that gap wasn’t just obvious — it was personal.

Preeti began her career in advertising at the age of 17. While many of her peers were still
deciding what careers to pursue, she was already meeting business owners, listening to
their stories, observing how they made decisions, and seeing firsthand how deeply they
cared about the communities they served.

“Small businesses are emotional,” she reflects. “They’re built from sacrifice, from family
support, from dreams. Every marketing dollar matters to them. Every customer matters. I
grew up in this industry, and I saw how often they were overlooked or priced out of proper
marketing support.”

The core issue, she realized, wasn’t just affordability — it was access, attention, and care.
Large agencies were structured to serve large brands — with big budgets, long contracts,
and national strategies. Small and medium-sized businesses didn’t just struggle to afford
those services — they were never designed for them.

So for years, SMEs were left to patch together their marketing through multiple providers:
one agency for social media, another for Google, someone local for signage, a freelancer for
design, and maybe — if budget allowed — a network for digital screens.

The result? Fragmented messaging, inconsistent results, and constant stress.

“SMEs were always forced to work harder just to be seen,” Preeti says. “They deserved
better.”

The Birth of Shopa Marketing

When Preeti launched Shopa Marketing in August 2023, the mission was clear: Make
premium, multi-platform advertising accessible, seamless, and genuinely supportive for
small and medium-sized businesses.

Instead of requiring businesses to manage separate campaigns across digital and physical
channels, Shopa Marketing built an integrated model that includes digital screens in shopping centres, screens in grocery stores and medical centres, digital billboards, Meta and Google advertising, creative, strategy, and reporting — all under one roof.

This wasn’t just about convenience — it changed the power dynamic.

Suddenly, local businesses could appear alongside national brands in their own suburbs, in real-time, confidently, and affordably.

And because Shopa Marketing packages include everything from creative design to
campaign management, business owners don’t waste time explaining their business to
multiple suppliers. They work with a dedicated account manager throughout the entire process.
No handovers. No re-explaining. No drop in service.

“Consistency is everything,” Preeti says. “Our clients don’t just get a campaign — they get a
Partner.”

A Company Built Like a Family — Serving Businesses That Are Too

One of the most unique aspects of Shopa Marketing is its team. More than 80% of
the sales team has worked together for over 15 years. That type of loyalty is rare. And
Intentional.

“Our clients are often family-run businesses. We understand them because we’re built in
the same way — on trust, shared history, and genuine care.”

This culture flows through everything — communication, accountability, response times,
and the emotional commitment to client outcomes.

When a business owner calls, they speak to someone who knows their story — not an
An automated help desk or a new staff member every month.

The Bigger Vision

Today, Shopa Marketing works with thousands of SMEs across Australia and New Zealand.
However, the mission extends far beyond its current footprint.

In 2026, the company is preparing to expand into the United Kingdom and the United States, bringing the same accessible, multi-platform approach to new markets where SMEs
face the same challenges.

“We are redefining what it means to be a marketing partner,” Preeti says. “Not just data and deliverables — but dignity, respect, and human understanding.”

A Final Thought

Small and medium-sized businesses are not small in spirit. They are driven by heart, sacrifice, resilience, and belief.

Shopa Marketing exists to honour that — by helping them be seen, heard, and valued at the
level they deserve.