Seven Small Jewels, 2011: Arryve

It doesn’t take long, perhaps even just one look at the firm’s Web site, to realize Arryve isn’t your typical consulting firm.

| March 25, 2011

Arryve

Chris Smith HQ: Redmond, Wash.
Additional Offices: Los Angeles, Boston
Billable Consultants: 47
2009 Revenue: $4.7M
2010 Revenue: $8.3M
Revenue Growth: 75%
2011 Revenue: $11.6M (projected)
Client Industries: Software Technology, Construction, Bio Technology
Service Line: Strategy

It doesn't take long, perhaps even just one look at the firm's Web site, to realize Arryve isn't your typical consulting firm. With flashy messaging on the site that reads: "Whoever said 'Nobody ever got fired for hiring one of the big firms,' was wrong" and "We believe dairy products and consulting projects should come with expiration dates," it's easy to see what Chris Smith calls "a conscious decision to run Arryve differently than other consulting firms."

And he does. "Disruption is a great thing," says Smith, who started Arryve in July 2007, along with Chris Stephensen. "Clients expect us to come in and shake things up; ask the difficult questions. We're not cookie cutter, and we like push the line a little bit." For example, it's easy to always do what the client wants to do, Smith says, but that's not always the right thing. "Consultants should push back once in awhile."

Smith started his career with a Big 4 firm and says he wanted to take a new approach to consulting, relying on the best of what the big firms used to be known for—methodology, talent, results—and what the newer, more boutique firms do well—personalization, low overhead and flexibility—to create a new hybrid consulting model.

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