United States-based Getty Images hopes to consolidate its foothold in Asia by providing localised content through its own distribution network, says chief executive Jonathan Klein.
The Nasdaq-listed company specialises in supplying image-related products to the advertising and publishing industries.
'Our strategy has always been that if you really want to penetrate a market, you have to do it yourself instead of relying on agents,' Mr Klein said.
'It's way more expensive for us to have eight offices in Asia than just agents. But the revenues are much greater.'
North America and Europe are the key markets for its products, accounting for 60 per cent and 35 per cent of sales, respectively. The remaining 5 per cent comes from Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
As part of plans to enhance its presence outside the two leading markets, the company has set up offices in eight countries across Asia-Pacific in the past few years.
Mr Klein believes tight control over the distribution of products has set the company on the right track.