Star7 buys Apple’s veteran web content partner, LocalEyes
Apple’s long-term content marketing partner, Ireland’s LocalEyes, has been acquired by Italy’s Star7.
When LocalEyes are smiling
I’ve no doubt whatsoever that very few Apple watchers have ever heard of LocalEyes, but those who have will know what they do: They commission, tweak and improve much of the written content that appears on the Apple website (and elsewhere), enhancing the inherent message and crafting the consistent voice that is the hallmark of Apple’s brand.
They also do this in multiple languages. It’s really important work.
LocalEyes was founded specifically as a content localization company to support Apple in 1997. “They set us a challenging mission: to provide top-quality content services wherever in the world they went. This required vision, attention to detail, efficiency, and simplicity.”
Like Apple, which has extensive offices in the city, LocalEyes is based in Cork, Ireland. Today it employs 150 people across 12 European offices and one office in San Francisco. The company customer base has expanded to also include Amazon, IBM, Samsung, Siemens, Phillips and Renault.
Who are Star7?
Star7 is an Italian content service that’s listed on the local stock exchange. That company says the acquisition will build its presence in Europe and the U.S.
“We now lead the strategic technology sector for global content services, and we have gained a customer of the calibre of Apple,” said Lorenzo Mondo, chair and CEO of Star7, in a press release.
LocalEyes CEO, Linda Spahija, said: “We chose Star7 because of the close match between the history and the vision of our two businesses.”
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She continued, “We both have content localisation in our DNA, have seen extraordinary growth and view a tailor-made approach to business for premium customers as our mission.”
While this business-related story may not mean a great deal to most Apple users, you might want to give it some thought next time you read a story on a corporate website that seems to share a similarly focused tone of voice. It may well have been written by the same person.
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