IT’S very rare in these days to hear of a brand that has been around for more than a decade, let alone more than a century.

So how fitting that in Exchange and Mart’s 150th year they launch their most iconic, and catchiest, campaign yet with Search Local and Smart with Exchange and Mart.

At the forefront of the campaign is their 30-second radio advert that depicts a historic but familiar experience between car buyer and seller.

The seller, full of swagger and confidence, trying to bag a sale any way they can but he’s no match for the savvy-buyer we see today.

Lynn Clark, brand manager for Exchange and Mart, which is owned by Newsquest Media, the publisher of this newspaper, said: ‘The way we buy cars has changed so much over the years.

"With so many outlets for research, from social media to review sites, the car buyer is becoming the expert and knows exactly what they are looking for.

"In our 150th year, we wanted to acknowledge our history and that of the car industry with a bit of humour and nostalgia but also highlight how far we have come."

So how has the brand managed to stay around in such a competitive industry for so long? By growing and adapting to modern ways, coming away from their much-loved magazine and becoming a fully digital brand in 2009.

‘We want the visitors of Exchange and Mart, a site that isn’t just another online car classified, but somewhere that offers great deals from local dealers, whether they are large names or smaller independents. And of course, private sellers. We want them to choose us because it’s the smart choice for them."

Exchange and Mart pride themselves with working with trusted dealers, to offer not only huge choice but also peace of mind when buying a car.

They also partner with well-known names such as Confused.com to offer car insurance quotes and CreditPlus for finance deals, offering the full car buying package.

The 30-second advert will appear on radio station, Wave 105 for the rest of the month, supported by digital and press adverts throughout the Newsquest network and across social media.