Kudzu Brands, a full-service branding agency founded in 2011 by Kenny and Murphy
Capps, is purchasing The Brite Agency, a full-service Asheville advertising agency, founded
in 2001 by Stephanie Smith, to create one company with locations in both Black Mountain
and Asheville. The acquisition will be completed by December 31, 2017. Together, the
group, which will be called Kudzu Brands, will employ 14 local designers, web developers
and brand strategists.
“Our goal is to provide the most client-focused brand development, management, marketing
and creative services in Western North Carolina. We are both locally grown firms with a
focus on the highest caliber of service and results. We are a perfect match culturally and in
our vision to serve and support the growth of local businesses,” says Murphy Funkhouser
Capps, CEO of Kudzu Brands.
The Brite Agency has faced a challenging year, one of sadness and loss. Founder Stephanie Smith passed away after a brief but difficult battle with pancreatic cancer in the summer of 2017. Stephanie was very passionate about serving the businesses and the community of Western North Carolina. “Our desire is to carry on the legacy of her work,” says Kudzu Brands co-owner and COO Heather Johnson. “We are honored and committed to carrying her torch forward.”
The combination of these two agencies will create one of the larger, more comprehensive
brand development and management firms in Western North Carolina. Collectively, The Brite Agency and Kudzu Brands have supported the growth of hundreds of businesses and
organizations across multiple industries in the region.
Kudzu Brands is a 100% female-owned business and has been identified as a high potential
business in Western North Carolina through the Advantage West ScaleUp WNC program. In
2017, Kudzu Brands was selected for and participated in the prestigious Goldman Sachs
10,000 Small Businesses program out of Babson College in Boston and, like The Brite Agency, has received the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Sky High Growth Award.
“The Brite Team is excited to join with the Kudzu team to continue providing excellent
marketing services in Western North Carolina,” said Brian Yates, Operations Manager of The Brite Agency. “Our goal to continue Stephanie’s vision, as a team, is made possible through this partnership.”
For more information about this merger, contact murphy@kudzubrands.com