Background
Marathon Mortgage is a Canadian mortgage lending company serving both borrowers and mortgage brokers. They needed more than a website refresh — they needed a completely new brand and digital presence that could compete with fintech lenders while maintaining the trust and personal service that their broker network relied on. The existing site was outdated, had no interactive tools for borrowers, and offered no self-service path toward a mortgage application. Marathon engaged Agency In A Box to build the brand from scratch and deliver a modern, content-rich website with the interactive tools borrowers and brokers expect.
The Challenge
- Marathon had no established brand identity — visual language, typography, and messaging all needed to be created from the ground up
- Borrowers had no way to explore mortgage options or run calculations online, forcing them to call or visit in person for basic information
- The site needed to serve two distinct audiences — individual borrowers and mortgage brokers — with different needs and conversion paths
- All mortgage application data required secure handling with encryption and compliance with Canadian financial services requirements
- Content needed to be easily updated by Marathon's marketing team without developer involvement
Our Approach
- Developed a complete brand identity for Marathon Mortgage including logo, color system, typography, and visual language that balances credibility with approachability
- Built the site on Gatsby with Strapi as a headless CMS, giving Marathon's team full control over page content, team bios, rate tables, career listings, and blog posts
- Designed and developed custom interactive mortgage calculators — payment, affordability, and amortization — that let borrowers explore scenarios in real time
- Created distinct user journeys for borrowers and brokers, with tailored content, CTAs, and conversion paths for each audience
- Implemented a secure mortgage application flow with form validation, encrypted data handling, and integration with Marathon's internal processing systems
The Impact
Marathon Mortgage launched with a brand and digital presence that positioned them as a credible, modern lender from day one. The custom calculators became the most-visited pages on the site, giving borrowers a reason to engage before ever speaking to a broker. The Strapi CMS allowed Marathon's team to update rates, team members, and page content independently. The dual-audience structure — borrowers and brokers — gave each group a clear path through the site with relevant information and conversion points.
Technology Stack
What They Said
“We came to Agency In A Box without a brand, without a site, and without a clear digital strategy. They built all three. The calculators alone have changed how borrowers find us — people come in already knowing what they can afford, which makes the whole process faster for everyone.