Splendor lands on 2026 Inc. 5000 list

Red Bank, New Jersey-based Splendor earned a spot on the 2026 Inc. 5000 after 56% three-year revenue growth, a milestone that highlights how the creative agency scaled while the marketing industry shifted around AI, search and B2B buying behavior.

Why it matters: - Splendor’s Inc. 5000 recognition signals that a 27-year-old New Jersey agency has turned deliberate growth into national momentum. - The ranking also reflects how creative firms are adapting to faster-moving client demands, AI-driven workflows and changing digital discovery.

What happened: - Splendor, a Red Bank-based creative and marketing agency, was named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. - The company reported 56% three-year revenue growth. - Splendor said the growth came after the agency made expansion a company-wide priority. - The agency was founded in 1999.

The details: - Splendor said it invested in talent, expanded its strategic and creative capabilities, strengthened its own brand and digital presence, and stepped up business development, marketing and public relations. - The agency described its current approach as “human-led, AI-guided,” blending research, strategy and creative thinking with emerging technologies. - Splendor said the work now centers on the idea: “Own the conversation before the conversion.” - The agency serves clients in professional services, commercial real estate, healthcare, technology, manufacturing, financial services and other B2B sectors. - Its services include brand strategy and positioning, creative, website design and development, search and digital marketing, content, advertising and related work. - Adam Taylor, founder and CEO, said the growth strategy was intentional and depended on investments in people, capabilities and visibility. - Mark Cerame, head of strategy, said buyers now form opinions long before they make contact, and that the agency’s work focuses on that earlier decision window. - Inc. said this year’s honorees grew while facing economic uncertainty, higher costs, shifting global dynamics and broad business change. - Inc. editor-in-chief Mike Hofman said earning a spot this year reflects tenacity and clarity of vision.

Between the lines: - Splendor’s messaging shows how agencies are repositioning themselves as strategic partners, not just creative vendors. - The company’s emphasis on AI-guided work suggests it sees technology as a tool to enhance, not replace, human strategy and creative judgment. - The “conversation before the conversion” framing points to a broader shift toward brand influence earlier in the buying process.

What's next: - Inc. will honor the 2026 recipients at the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala in Dallas on Oct. 14-16. - Splendor is likely to keep leaning on the growth strategy that helped it reach the list, including talent investment and expanded marketing capabilities.

The bottom line: - Splendor used intentional reinvention to turn a local design shop into a nationally recognized growth story.