St. Petersburg digital marketing firm acquires rival agency

ST. PETERSBURG — Digital marketing firm Big Sea, headquartered in St. Petersburg, has acquired Sparxoo, whose clients include Tech Data, Cigar City Brewing, Florida Atlantic University, Amalie Oil and the City of Clearwater, among others.

Sparxoo, based in Tampa, was founded in 2010 by David Capece, who, according to a news release, will leave the agency after a transition period. He plans to focus on growing CROOW, his software company.

Big Sea CEO and Managing Partner Andi Graham will retain her role at the new, combined company, the release states, as will Big Sea COO and fellow Managing Partner Dzuy Nguyen. Sparxoo President Rob Kane will retain his title after transitioning to Big Sea. 

Other terms of the deal, including acquisition cost, were not disclosed in the release.

“Our clients are asking for deeper strategy and more thorough research, and we’re excited to grow our capabilities and consultative services to do just that,” Graham states in the release. “Knowing we have the team to execute across the vast digital landscape, we can develop even more innovative and effective campaign strategies.”  

Big Sea, founded in 2005 and whose clients include Mote Marine, Stetson University College of Law and the University of Tampa, will now have 42 employees and more than $6 million in annual revenue.

“Big Sea and Sparxoo have the same vision and focus on our clients' digital marketing, with like-minded cultures of passion and growth," Capece states in the release. "The news has been well received within both companies and by our client brands, who see the opportunity to continue to build on their digital initiatives."

(This story has been updated to correctly reflect the Sparxoo name and where it is based.)