Independent Accommodation Service Enlarges, Integrating Every Man Jack and First Permanent Employee
A year has passed since the launch of indie agency Guesthouse. With a simple mission to trim the fat of big-agency bureaucracy and focus on delivering exceptional creative work, this Atlanta-based startup is gaining traction fast.
Founded in 2024 by industry veterans Mitch Bennett and Wes Whitener, who previously held key roles at renowned agencies like Baldwin&, BBDO, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, McKinney, GSD&M, Fitzco, and Stateline Films, Guesthouse has amassed an impressive clientele, including Magic Spoon, Soccer.com, GreyStone Power, Raleigh Denim Workshop, Atlanta Vibe, and most recently, men's grooming brand Every Man Jack.
Never one to shy away from growth, Guesthouse recently welcomed Jeffery Quick, a Fitzco alum and accomplished new business development whiz, to the team as partner, brand growth. This expansion comes at the heels of the agency's new account win with Every Man Jack, the financial terms of which remain undisclosed.
Ellie Off, the vice president of marketing for Every Man Jack, praised the partnership, stating, "Guesthouse has proven to be a truly unique thought partner, acting as a seamless extension of our internal creative team."
From a pitch for Citizens Trust Bank to a fully-fledged business, Bennett and Whitener joined forces after a fruitful collaboration. Whitener's directorial skills and Bennett's understanding of agency operations have shaped Guesthouse's flexible, nimble model.
In the quest for ongoing success, Guesthouse is looking to scale even higher with Quick on board. In his previous role at Fitzco, he helped secure $15 million in new business over five years. His partnership with Bennett and Whitener is a natural evolution of their long-standing professional relationship.
"Jeff was the best account person we’d ever worked with," Bennett asserts. "We knew he'd be the perfect partner to help us build a 'non-agency agency'-one that provides great creative work without the red tape."
Accordding to Quick, "Mitch, Wes, and I have always admired each other's commitment to simplicity and effective, smart work. We aren't here to sell clients unnecessary services-our goal is to help them achieve the best creative possible."
Unshackled Creativity
Guesthouse operates as both a creative and production shop, collaborating with and supporting in-house teams instead of competing against them. The agency's lean core team works in unison with a diverse network of talented freelancers, allowing the team to execute projects swiftly-sometimes in as little as three days.
Whitener leads the in-house production team and directs the agency's projects, building on years of refining his skills at Stateline Films and as a freelancer. The agency's approach resonates with clients, as evident in Ellie Off's glowing remarks about the quality social and digital content created by Guesthouse for Every Man Jack.
The Art of Collaboration
Guesthouse's success comes without significant outside investment. The agency started from a single client and grew organically, proving its ability to adapt and innovate. In Bennett's words, "Year one was about proving we could do this. Year two is about seeing just how far we can go."
In addition to client work, Guesthouse also takes pride in nurturing the next generation of creative talent. With Bennett's background as an adjunct professor at UNC Chapel Hill, and Whitener's tenure as a former instructor at The Creative Circus, the duo mentors promising junior creatives at agencies and brands, guiding them to develop and present their ideas more effectively.
Their work, mostly from their time at prior agencies, has garnered industry recognition, earning them 15 Cannes Lions, including four Gold, as well as One Show Gold and Best in Category honors.
As Guesthouse embarks on its second year, it is poised to surpass its striking first-year revenue growth. The founders maintain their focus on the core principles-doing excellent work, moving swiftly, and fostering lasting relationships with clients.
"Kindness and creativity are always intertwined,” Whitener concludes, “and we're dedicated to truly understanding our clients instead of bombarding them with conventional marketing strategies."
- With the addition of Jeffery Quick, a seasoned new business development expert, Guesthouse is scaling its growth, aiming to surpass its impressive first-year revenue.
- Founded in 2024 by industry veterans Mitch Bennett and Wes Whitener, Guesthouse has achieved growth through exceptionally creative work and a nimble business model that trims big-agency bureaucracy.
- Ellie Off, the vice president of marketing for Every Man Jack, praised Guesthouse for acting as a seamless extension of their internal creative team, delivering outstanding social and digital content.
- Guesthouse operates as both a creative and production shop, collaborating with and supporting in-house teams, allowing for swift project execution like the three-day turnaround for Every Man Jack.
- Guesthouse's success is rooted in unshackled creativity, neutrality, and collaboration, with a diverse network of freelancers and a lean core team focused on providing great creative work without unnecessary red tape.
- Bennett and Whitener, with their industry awards and teaching backgrounds, remain dedicated to fostering the next generation of creative talent, helping juniors hone their ideas and present them more effectively.
