It can be important to make a good impression. A memorable one. Think slobbish Y-fronts wearing…read moreSpike in the film Notting Hill. Think again. Martin Hopkins Partnership could have rebranded Spike, and they can help you create the right impression too. In business since 1985, this design company concentrates on providing 'quality, creativity, reliablity, combined with a sound marketing approach.' Services they offer include corporate identity, website design, annual reports, promotional and marketing literature, exhibition and packaging, brochures, catalogues, magazines and advertising. They also provide a service for any creative problem from direct marketing, packaging, exhibitions and a little bit of everything in between. Their design is photo-led and they also offer photo shoots and packages to clients. They deal with a wide variety of clients in the industrial, commercial, public and leisure sectors.

From the owner: Brand, design and digital agency, Cardiff. We're a design studio formed of passionate creative…read morethinkers. We build brands that make your business grow. We're an independent creative agency with more than 32 years' experience creating communication for clients of all shapes and sizes, across many different sectors. We work with our clients to understand their ambitions and work tirelessly towards their end goals - creating communication that achieves fantastic results.

As soon as you arrive at the website of this public relations company you know they're aiming to be…read morea bit more fun and funky than some of their more traditional peers. Love or hate the in-your-face website design, it's nonetheless eye-catching and far removed from the corporate look and feel of most Cardiff-based PR agencies. However, just like their rivals they work with clients who want to enter new markets, raise funds, launch new products, or simply raise their profile, offering PR consultancy and media relations campaigns, business communications, consumer communications, marketing, design, and new media services such as blogs, podcasts, webcasts and viral marketing. I found it hard to discover what experience they have, though - or which clients they have worked with, and the results they have achieved for them. There's lots of talk about what they can do for clients, but when I've chosen PR agencies to work with in the past it's been their portfolio and results that have persuaded me to work with them - rather than persuasive website copy.

I like sequence. They do things a bit differently. Their team photos are really quite funny too,…read morethey look like people I want to work with on campaigns. They say things like 'We're an ideas driven digital agency. We help brands be more effective online by creating beautiful, useful and clever things.' I like beautiful, useful, clever things. I like ideas too. Sequence have been delivering digital since 1995, 'when Lycos and GeoCities were hot, new brands.' This is Wales' largest interactive agency and their services include; websites, intranets, extranets, e-business solutions, strategic consultancy, design, branding and e-marketing, database integration, streaming media, DVD and CD-Rom. Check out their client list: BBC, NTL, Volkswagen, Storm Models, Panasonic, Cardiff University, NTL, RNIB, Morgan Cole, S4C, CreditSafe, Welsh Assembly Government, PHS, Welsh Development Agency and the NHS.

Blanket Communications has gone for a kind of retro look and feel with its brand, and describes…read moreitself as a 'boutique' communications company - yet still provides the full range of services from PR to print, advertising to design, and copywriting to online provision. Their team is made up of PR people, editors, marketing specialists, designers, web experts and print experts. They have quite a few smaller clients, including several independent Cardiff restaurants, featured in their portfolio, including the very well respected Mint and Mustard (see separate review of that!), its sister Indian eatery Chai Street, plus Lebanese and Moroccan restaurant Mezza Luna. They were also chosen to launch the Cardiff branch of the Yo! Sushi chain. Outside of the food industry, they have worked with South Wales Police to create an anti-burglary campaign, and created an award-winning waste awareness campaign for Cardiff schools called The Really Rubbish Campaign. Although this company doesn't have as broad a range of clients covered in its online portfolio as some of its local competitors, I like their clean, waffle-free website copy which comes across as very honest, and their funky design comes across as forward-thinking.

I've worked with Jon as Intranet Future a number of times. His customer service is excellent, he's…read morevery knowledgable on Social Media and always has useful suggestions. I was so impressed with Jon's service I now use him exclusively for my Social Media business needs and refer him on to friends and clients whenever I can. R

From the owner: We help businesses use social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest to…read moreincrease sales and improve customer services. We provide workshops, one to one training and social media strategies as well as helping businesses set up their accounts and profiles.

I responded to an advert I saw on a social media site offering 500 business cards for just £30. I…read morethought that was an amazing offer and the company offered a speedy turn around so I ordered 500 of one design and 500 of another design. They asked for payment up front which I made the very same day. I was kept waiting two whole weeks for delivery, I would have been happy to pick up from the advertised business address but for some reason this was not a possibility so we arranged to meet in the city centre. I was surprised to find that only the first batch of 500 card were ready. I was really happy with the cards though and was promised the second batch would be ready soon. Since then I have heard nothing despite messages sent to chase this up. I eventually tired of waiting and decided to go elsewhere. Whilst the price was good, I simply could not wait any longer and requested a refund of the additional £30 for the second batch of cards and was informed that this would be issued to my account asap. I still haven't had the refund and never had any reply to any messages since. So I paid £60 for 500 business cards which took 2 weeks to be processed and delivered. Well, as much as I like the cards, I could have got these cards within 24 hours for the same money from another business in the city centre. This may just be an isolated incident, but it has left a lasting impression on me now. Whatever you do, don't pay up front!

From the owner: Advertising, Graphic design, media production, Marketingread more