Business Profile
At the corner of Edith Avenue and Main Street in Los Altos, TDA Group is a full-service marketing communication agency that specializes in high-tech clients around the world. Founded in 1987, the company produces marketing materials, brochures, Web sites, direct mail, newsletters and magazines for their clients.
“Most of our clients are fast growing high-tech companies that can’t find enough good marketing people,” said Debbie Dawson, partner and owner with her husband Robert Tabke. “Professional people are hard to come by, so we become part of their company and perform the functions marketing departments are responsible for in corporations.”
TDA Group’s clients include companies of all sizes – from eCommerce software companies like Calico to global giants such as IBM, their largest client. They share the same need for quality, distinctive work and meeting deadlines.
“The Internet enables us to work with clients worldwide,” said Tabke. “We use e-mail, fax and telephone, and we visit the client every couple of months.”
Some of Debbie’s accounts are Veritas in Mountain View, Commerce One and Digital Island, a Web company in San Francisco.
Most new accounts come by word of mouth. Last year, The TDA Group acquired five new clients. When managers move from one company to another, they often contact TDA to manage their marketing functions.
According to Tabke, most start-ups know their business, but need professional help in graphics. A good graphic presentation can help a start-up get customers and financing much quicker.
“In a start-up, we create the entire graphic appearance from business cards to the Web site,” Tabke said. “Start-ups want to look bigger than they really are so we can help them to achieve that.”
TDA Group’s business started 15 years ago in the kitchen of Dawson and Tabke’s home in Palo Alto. Nine years ago they moved to Los Altos and started hiring employees. The company now has 20 employees and occupies well-appointed quarters on Main Street.
“We live several blocks from here and can walk to work.” said Tabke. “Isn’t that the way to commute?”
Both owners had a background in marketing before they joined in marriage and as co-owners of the TDA Group. Dawson started in the information industry that has now become the Internet. Tabke was a marketing executive in Silicon Valley.
“We have now been working together for 15 years, 24 hours a day, and as owners and partners we get along famously.” said Tabke.
For more information about The TDA Group, contact the Web site at www.tdagroup.com or phone 948-3140.
