HALAL and Sizzer Both Expand to Germany
Today Sizzer and HALAL reveal their respective German expansions, with the announcement of a shared Berlin office. Music consultancy Sizzer and production company & photography agency HALAL have a long history of joint collaborations. Most recently with the Berlin pop-up office and concept ‘Wir Sind die Holländer’ – giving the city a taste of the Amsterdam zeitgeist. Fostering new associations, the initiative resulted in an escalation of requests and opportunities for both companies in the market. Consequently, the announcement of a shared office is a logical expansion based on a longstanding friendship.
The two companies remain independent and will continue to offer their respective services separately. They are united by a mutual interest in the market, a shared global mind-set and an attraction to the same type of clients. Offering different services, such a marriage has proven successful in the past and lays a strong foundation for a continued positive alliance. Both companies are similarly in a period of calculated growth, with an increase of its international client roster with a particular intensification in the German market.
Sizzer will use its Berlin office to expand connections in the local creative industry, both on the client and the talent side. Nikolai van der Burg (Managing Director) will be responsible for the Berlin office. HALAL, consisting of a photography, fiction, documentary and commercial department, will continue to offer a diverse set of services, with former Head of Photography at ACNE Berlin, Gonca Odabas, heading up HALAL berlin’s photography department, and Executive Producer Sara Nix overseeing all commercial productions in the market.
Marcel Alexander Wiebenga, Strategy Director, Sizzer Amsterdam comments: “The large amount of work we were able to do in Germany has been hugely influential on Sizzer’s development over the years. Finally being able to open an office in Berlin feels both humbling and like coming home. We always loved coming to the city and with Nikolai permanently based there we can really play our part in its incredible creative environment. It might be a small step for mankind, but it’s a huge one for Sizzer. And for the city of Berlin obviously. Die Holländer sind da!”
Gijs Determeijer, Partner & Head of New Business, HALAL, adds: “To officially open in Berlin is a dream come true. To have someone like Gonca Odabas and Sara Nix at the helm makes it all the more dreamy. Since our pop-up with Sizzer last year, we’ve had tremendous momentum and done productions in the market for the likes of Deutschland Card, mytheresa.com and Onitsuka Tiger with agency The Adventures Of. Clients like these are big reasons why we’re drawn to Berlin and its creative scene. Not to mention, the talent this city fosters is very much in line with our values and DNA. Just look at the likes of photographer Vitali Gelwich, whom we started representing last year; and we’re expanding our roster with local talent in the next couple of months. We’re excited to keep bringing our Amsterdam spirit to the market, and mature with the unique energy Berlin has to offer.”
The office is located in the heart of Mitte, and will similarly to the pop-up office continue to be a hub for events, exhibitions and other cultural, industry initiatives.
