SMITH (formerly Ascentium)

SMITH, formerly known as Ascentium, operates as a performance commerce agency, focusing on transforming complex B2B challenges into successful outcomes. The company was established in Seattle by Jim Beebe, Steven Salta, and Curt Doolittle. A significant early move was the acquisition of Kindred Communications in June 2001. A key milestone in the company's trajectory was the acquisition of Cactus Commerce Inc., a Canadian internet commerce technical company, in September 2011, which significantly bolstered its e-commerce capabilities. In 2012, the firm underwent a major rebranding to SMITH and relocated its headquarters to Seattle to better align with its creative and technological culture.

The firm offers an integrated suite of services that includes Strategy & Consulting, Experience Design, Technology Enablement, and Digital Marketing. This business model is designed to impact every stage of the buyer journey across multiple channels. SMITH serves a clientele of large, global brands, helping them navigate and succeed in a digital-first marketplace. The company's revenue is generated by providing these specialized services, powering over 500,000 transactions daily and supporting what it reports as $38 billion in annual revenue for its clients. By blending strategic, creative, and technical expertise, SMITH develops and manages digital commerce platforms that drive customer engagement and sales. The company's clients have included prominent names such as Microsoft, Cisco, Motorola, Nestle, Sam's Club, Xerox, and MasterCard.

The company's strategic evolution includes a period of focused investment in its digital agency business, highlighted by the divestiture of a customer relationship management division to Accenture in 2010. This move underscored a commitment to deepening its expertise in the digital commerce space. With a presence in both North and South America, SMITH is positioned to manage complex, large-scale commerce solutions for its international client base. In 2012, the company reported revenues of approximately $40 million and employed over 300 people across its offices in Seattle, Portland, Spokane, Atlanta, Ottawa-Gatineau, and Toronto.

Keywords: performance commerce, B2B e-commerce, digital marketing agency, experience design, technology enablement, commerce strategy, multichannel commerce, digital transformation, B2B digital agency, customer journey optimization, e-commerce solutions, digital consulting, brand engagement, Cactus Commerce, Ascentium, Jim Beebe, Steven Salta, Curt Doolittle, Seattle, e-commerce platform development