This week Notch Video launched a new online marketplace that aims to connect brands with video production houses.
The Toronto-based startup is already working with several big name brands including Sport Chek, Canadian Tire and Samsung Canada, which have all used the service to find producers for online videos.
Using Notch, brands can either deliver a fully realized brief or an open ended one that seeks creative input from the production house or videographer.
The site allows marketers to search for video producers by geography or role, such as director, editor, producer or writer, and then key in details of the brief, like concept and budget. They can then send the brief to several production houses or independent contractors at once who will then email them directly to discuss the job.
According to Ian Buck, managing director of Notch, the company is looking to fill a gap it sees in the ad market for brands that need videos their social profiles and owned properties online rather than a traditional brand spot from an ad agency.
Before co-founding Notch, Buck worked as vice president of earned media at Sid Lee and spent more than eight years as vice president of High Road Communications. During his time at High Road, Buck said he saw the growth of branded content as brands looked to do editorial style videos.
The problem, he said, is that the budget allocated for videos in these kind of program is lower than the amount spent on TV ads. By connecting brands directly to video producers at a per-determined cost, he said Notch alleviates that problem.
Most recently Canadian Tire used the company to find producers for its “Tested” video series that ran on YouTube and CanadianTire.ca.
In a release, Duncan Fulton, senior vice president at Canadian Tire Corporation, said, “Notch Video has allowed us to extend our video production capabilities, helping us be nimble, cost-effective and able to capitalize on this ever-growing medium.
