Who we are
LGBT2030: 'LGBT Diversity: Show Me The Business Case' free report available for download now at the world's first .LGBT domain: www.OutNow.LGBT
We are a team of specialised marketers with high levels of expertise in understanding gay and lesbian customers.
Established as Significant Others in Australia in 1992, we help companies achieve better results in the gay and lesbian market. In 2001 the firm opened its first European office - Out Now Consulting - in Amsterdam servicing clients in Britain and Europe.
Out Now has consultants in all key markets globally, providing local expert knowledge hand-in-hand with global gay marketing solutions. Clients large and small appreciate knowing that their lesbian and gay marketing needs are being met by the leading global gay marketers - Out Now.
Our work in this highly specialised area over almost two decades means that we are now the world's most experienced specialists in marketing to lesbian and gay customers.
We believe that there is no such thing as a "typical" gay or lesbian person. Diversity is the key to understanding this market. 'Homosexual' does not equate with 'homogenous'.
We maintain at all times the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and respect in all our operations and dealings with global LGBT communities.
Our founder
Ian
Johnson, Principal Consultant of Out Now and Significant
Others Consulting, has almost a quarter century of experience
in creating leading-edge market leadership in LGBT insights and
global business strategies.
After graduating from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia in 1988 with degrees in Law (LLB) and Commerce (BCom (marketing)) Ian Johnson worked with Citibank and two leading law firms in Australia.
Following the delivery of successful outcomes for project-based
marketing clients, Ian established Significant Others in
Sydney in 1992.
Ian Johnson has established an unrivalled level of experience in
developing effective gay and lesbian marketing approaches that
work. He set up what is now the world's longest established gay
marketing program.
Ian's experience sees him in high demand for client consultation and speaking engagements.
Leading-edge work includes ground-breaking tourism campaigns, research studies and communications initiatives aimed at LGBT people for leading organisations such as visitBerlin, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclaycard, German National Tourist Office, VisitMexico and VisitBritain.
Mike Wilke - Senior Consultant North
America
Michael Wilke is Global Advertising Specialist at
Out Now. Based in New York City, he began charting the emergence of
gay marketing and advertising as a journalist in 1992. Wilke
founded Commercial Closet Association in 2001 to promote
advertising that respects diversity, gender identity/expression,
and sexual orientation. In 2012, Commercial Closet became
AdRespect.
Wilke has guided dozens of Fortune 500 companies and advertising
agencies. His work is cited by college textbooks, news agencies,
and he is credited with coining the popular term "gay vague." Wilke
has written for The New York Times, Advertising Age, and Adweek, He
has worked for NBC, CBS, and appeared on CNN and BBC.
Susann Jerry - Cross-Platform Communications
Specialist
Susann works in partnership with businesses,
organisations and entrepreneurs to deliver high impact strategic
communications campaigns. Her work is creative, smart, agenda
setting and designed to deliver a clear return on investment.
Susann has worked in the area of human rights, equality and
diversity for the past 10 years, developing content led campaigns
to deliver transformational change. Her specialisms encompass
technology, media, advertising and marketing, retail, professional
services, research, training and education, entertainment, music,
leisure, travel and tourism, non government organisations and start
ups. She is a Director of the London Coaching Foundation, a
grassroots sports charity working on behalf of young people
regardless of their background or ability.
Andres Reyes - Latin America Strategic
Consultant
Milko Rivera Hope - Latin America Strategic
Consultant
Hanna Muoniovaara - Nordic Strategic
Consultant
Sven Palys - Japan Strategic Consultant
Markus Winter - Japan Strategic
Consultant
David Heathcote - Business Development
Manager
David focuses on
high level business development for Out Now and our clients. He is
a skilful networker and enjoys the strategic challenge of opening
doors for our clients to access high quality opportunities.
As Development Director for an independent school, David
transformed stakeholder engagement whilst heading an enterprising
campaign to realise the construction of a £750k facility in his
three year assignment. David's portfolio includes companies in
manufacturing, technology, professional associations and the arts,
and has experience engaging the public sector and politicians on
behalf of his clients.
Dean Clayton - Business Development Manager
Dean specialises in delivering sales growth and
consultancy on a variety of projects, ranging from manufacturing to
technology and marketing.
He has a strong track record with prestigious brands including BMW
and Mercedes-Benz, as well as niche products such as Smart, with
which Dean enjoyed particular success achieving a position as one
of the top 10 executives nationally.
Success in previous roles has provided Dean the opportunity to
travel across Europe and gain experience working with colleagues in
Germany, France Spain and Switzerland.