Nelson's brand and web company Hothouse Communications Ltd and their clients have a brilliant future after being purchased by the existing management team of Allan Innes-Walker, Marie Waterhouse and Jane Cunliffe, in partnership with local businessman Mike Curry of 623.

Nikki Hawes and John Bullock set up HotHouse ten years ago after identifying a gap in the market for strategic branding and design services. Under their leadership the company has become one of the main 'go to' agencies in Nelson for clients and campaigns such as Treaty of Waitangi online, Taylors We Love Shoes, Nelson City Council, Live Nelson publication, New Zealand Master Builders, Nelson Olives, NMIT, PSA, Aviation NZ, GET2HERE and Hands Up Campaigns.

Hawes and Bullock moved to Doha, Qatar last year to set up a public radio station for the Qatar Foundation's Centre of Media Excellence, and after recently confirming their continued commitment to this project they have sold the company to three of HotHouse's senior staff.

Allan Innes-Walker says it is clichd to say they loved the company so much they bought it, but it is an accurate sentiment.

"Marie, Jane and I have worked at HotHouse for many years, and are rapt we have had the opportunity to buy the company," says Innes-Walker. "The addition of Mike Curry as a director is a coup, given his passion and business aptitude. As a team we are committed to HotHouse, our clients and Nelson as a community. It is going to be an exciting renaissance for the company.

"The Nelson businesses we work with are very bullish," he adds. "As strategic partners, our focus will be to make their businesses as great as they can be, and to have a stimulating and fun time doing it."

Nikki Hawes and John Bullock say the creation of HotHouse in 2000, (formerly WebCo), was a watershed for Nelson's business community.

"When we set up the company there were no other full service communications consultancies in Nelson," Hawes says. "Local businesses had to go out of town for help, or they struggled along on their own.

"The last decade has been an incredible journey as we worked through the challenges of emerging technologies and the opportunities resulting from a very dynamic local and international market place," she says. "We are very proud of what the HotHouse team has achieved for our fantastic clients, and we are equally proud of the investment made back into the community through sponsorships such as with the JazzFest and Nelson Ark and student mentoring.

"The sale of Hothouse sees the company continuing its legacy of local ownership, and John and I envisage the company and clients will benefit from fresh investment and the opportunities that arise from new management," she says. "We wish the team the very best and look forward to seeing their new and exciting work in the future."

HotHouse Communications Ltd has 10 fulltime staff and a team of specialist contractors servicing more than 200 clients.