EVER since brothers David and Clive Holbrook, founders of Hallmark IFA, relocated their independent financial advisers' practice from Clifton Moor to illustrious premises in the heart of York in December 2001, public awareness and appreciation of their organisation has been on the up.

Never more so than in the last year, following the brothers' strategic marketing campaign to support growth plans and reinforce the company's status as specialists in providing independent savings and pensions advice to corporate and private clients as well as advising on investment portfolios.

Giving the venture even more impetus is its successful fully interactive website, www.hallmark-ifa.com, through which customers can arrange policies online, buy and sell shares at discounted rates, track portfolio performance, and follow world stock market movements and trade investments 24 hours a day.

That is why they are entering both the Small Business of the Year and Best Use of New Technology categories in the 2004 Evening Press Business of the Year

Early feedback of their marketing push suggests that Hallmark - Ifa's reputation is growing throughout its core client base of high net worth investors, individual and corporate clients - and its new prime location at the Ouse-side Club Chambers - definitely helped, with increased customer inquiries and "passing traffic".

The brothers, who combined Clive's 25 years' experience in the financial services market with David's pensions specialism, recently launched Taking Care of Business.

This is an unusual financial services package which shifts the focus from any perception of "selling" with a commission bias, to providing an independent fee-paying service for corporate customers on product sales, including risk, security, wealth and capital management.

The brothers now employ five people at Club Chambers, and are backed by seven associate advisers at a new branch office in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

Updated: 12:41 Wednesday, July 07, 2004