At the beginning of 2011 we started work with a lovely client called JC Kitchens Ltd - one of the region’s leading kitchen suppliers, specialising in the design and installation of high specification contract furniture to universities, housing associations, local councils and the general social housing network.

We were appointed to write and implement an integrated marketing strategy for the business which would require us to manage a name change and re-brand, support the company’s move into retail sales, as well as help increase regional name awareness and market penetration across a number of market sectors for their contract range of kitchens. Working with a family owned and run business that has never actively engaged in marketing previously, offers its own unique challenges and opportunities. The satisfaction however when everything comes together is incredibly rewarding.

Last month saw the start of the roll out of the marketing plan, with the launch of the new trading style and branding, the opening of Uno Kitchens new management offices and retail showroom in Cheadle Hulme, as well as the first phase of an ongoing DM, PR and advertising campaign to help raise brand awareness within the social housing sector. Work is also about to start on developing separate consumer and B2B websites to replace their existing online presence which will be supported by an online marketing campaign that will include SEO, PPC and social media. As we move through the summer further elements of the marketing plan will be rolled out on a phased basis to include events, sponsorship and email marketing.

Toothache is one thing that we have all suffered with from time to time but here at Savvy we have no fear of visiting the dentist.

As NHS dental lists shrink, more and more people are turning to private practice dentists for treatment and in recent years the private dental market has grown hugely in response to this. Private practice dentists are now engaging in some very clever and innovative marketing and we were recently invited to submit marketing proposals for a number of dental practices including a leading Harley Street Dentist and a large dental group in Northern Ireland. As I write this, I’ve just returned from a trip to London to discuss our proposals further and we’ll keep you posted in the next edition.

Helen

BBC Radio Manchester is one of the best and most listened to of the BBC local radio stations, soon to be relocated to brand new studios in Media City at Salford Quay’s. I was recently invited to take part in the Heather Stott morning show, live from the BBC studios on Oxford Road. An avid radio listener from an early age, I’ve never actually been on the radio and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect or how the dynamics of a live discussion on air amongst 3 complete strangers would work. But work it did – Heather put us all at ease and it was surprising how quickly I forget about the huge mic in front of me and was chatting to Heather, the other guests (and hopefully an audience of spellbound listeners ...) about topical news, work and relationships amongst other things. After my first outing, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I was invited in for a second time a couple of weeks later and I’m hoping there may be more later in the year. In the meantime I’m retuning the radio ......

Helen

As everyone should now be aware, from 1st March this year, all marketing communications on websites are now regulated by the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority). The UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing applies in full to marketing messages online, including the rules relating to misleading advertising, social responsibility and the protection of children.

Marketing messages on your own websites,including social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, are now monitored by the ASA to ensure that all advertising is legal, decent, honest and truthful. These rules apply to all businesses regardless of size, sector or type of organisation.

For help or advice with your own online Marketing Communications, please feel free to contact us. Complete information on the new regulations and on the ASA can be found by clicking here.

David

2011 sees two milestones reached – one rather more welcome than the other.

In January, Savvy marked its 7th year in business and another year keeping true to its original ethos as a business. With Savvy it was never about empire building. Savvy was set up simply as a vehicle to enable me to work with people I liked and get involved in interesting and challenging projects. Manchester is probably the best place in the UK to do this and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of exciting brands and projects - keeping things fresh and incredibly interesting for myself and the team. It’s great that we are now regarded as one of the leading strategic Marcomms agencies in the region.”

The month of May, also saw me turn 50, a fact I’m still coming to terms with, although lots of champagne and chocolate have helped ease the pain of reaching this milestone. I’d like to say a big thank you to all the friends, suppliers and clients who sent gifts and messages of joy and condolence. In particular a big thank you to Paula Gibson at Celebrations & Cakecreations for the fabulous Birthday Cake. A purple one of course.

David

As the sun finally looks like it may be here to stay (for a while I least), the memories of a very long and cold winter are finally being banished. For me however the winter of 2010/2011 is one I will always remember resulting in something so extraordinary, fulfilling and humbling, that the memory will last a lifetime.

One dark night in the middle of December I decided to brave the snow and ice, risking life and limb on a darkened canal tow-path and found myself attending a meeting where the idea of a group of amateurs staging a performance of The V***** Monologues was discussed.

For those of you not familiar with this work, V*****Monologues it’s a powerful and liberating play by American playwright Eve Ensler. It’s been performed all over the world by thousands of professional actresses and yet we, 12 non-acting women, plus a whole host of other non-acting crew, decided that we had the ability to pull this together and in just 8 weeks to perform it live to a paying audience in the Great Hall at Manchester Town Hall.

A tall order? Yes indeed. Each week we braved the continuing snow and ice to attend rehearsals in a community theatre that we were kindly loaned for these sessions and over the 8 weeks a bunch of complete strangers got to know each other and worked together to make this a night to remember. A quiet transformation took place and we went from being a group of nervous amateurs to a very professional cast by the time we took to the stage.

The night itself was a huge success, raising money for a great cause and a night that I will always remember. The Great Hall was packed, the atmosphere electric and at the end of night as cast and crew got a standing ovation, we all wished we could do it all over again!

On a personal note, taking part in V***** Monologues was not just about raising money for a deserving Manchester based charity www.birdhousefund.org but also a huge personal journey at a difficult time, about feeling the fear and just doing it anyway. In the 8 weeks leading up to the performance I questioned my sanity on an almost daily basis about just why I had volunteered to take part in this. I made David faithfully promise that if I ever agreed to perform on a stage again that he would he take me outside and shoot me. I’m happy to report that I’ve now stopped asking David to do this, rather insisting that he shoot me only if I don’t agree to take part in something like this .......

What I was reminded of in taking part, is that in life sometimes it really is worth doing the things that scare us most, as they really can deliver more excitement and fulfilment than you could ever have possibly imagined.

Helen

I put it down to turning 50, but I’ve recently joined the ‘Camping and Caravanning Club’ having bought a tent earlier in the year after getting the taste for sleeping under the stars again following a couple of exploratory camping trips with friends. Having spent many a freezing wet night in a bivvy bag as a soldier, I must admit the thought of sleeping outdoors again was not on my list priorities. How wrong could I have been!

The emergence of small ‘Hideaway’ campsites which provide an idyllic setting in which to pitch your high-spec tent, the availability of electric hook ups and the close vicinity of glorious out of the way village pubs, makes camping (in my eyes anyway) the perfect antidote to a busy week in the office and the daily Southport to Manchester commute that comes with it. Camping has once again reminded me that some of the best things in life are free – like beautiful countryside, birdsong at 7am, meeting new people and the instant hit of calm and wellbeing which kicks-in the second you arrive!

For anyone who might be interested, the last place we stayed was the Greengill Campsite in the beautiful village of Moreland located in the Eden Valley half-way between Penrith and Shap.

David

Having been involved as an active audience member in the Manchester International Festival in Summer 2009 and with memories still burning bright of seeing the Halle/Elbow collaboration, the dazzling Carlos Acosta performing ‘Apollo’ and Rufus Wainwright’s Opera “It Felt Like A Kiss”, I’ve decided that this time around I’m going to be involved on a different level. Earlier this year I signed up as a Volunteer for the festival which takes place 30 June -17 July 2011. Billed as ‘Eighteen extraordinary days’, I feel quite certain that it will be utterly extraordinary.

Last week I attended the volunteers launch event at the Whitworth Art Gallery and there was a real buzz and excitement in the air from over 400 volunteers who have signed up (or Volun-stars as we’ve been nicknamed) and it was fascinating to hear from other Volunteers talking about what they’re most looking forward to and about just why they decided to get involved. I’ve got my Volunteer training next week and I’ll find out then more about what I’m working on and just who I’m working with ........ more on this next time!

If you’re new to the Manchester International Festival then don’t be shy – there is something for everyone at MIF but to find out more information on the all the events taking place at this year’s festival just visit www.mif.co.uk

Helen

Successful companies don’t abandon their marketing strategies when the economic climate is difficult - they adapt them. When you think about it, it makes complete sense; this is not the time to cut advertising. It is well documented that brands that increase advertising during a recession, when competitors are cutting back, can improve market share and return on investment at lower cost than during good economic times. Keeping your nerve whilst others are losing theirs and you stand to gain market share.

(Source: Prof John A Quelch, Harvard Business School)

Although trading conditions are obviously still very difficult for businesses in the region, the reality is that they all still have products and services to sell and this is being reflected in the number of enquiries we are receiving from organisations looking to outsource their marketing after cutting or downsizing their own internal resources over the last 12 months.

We don’t sell trumpets, but as marketers we have lots of cost-effective ways to make sure that existing and potential customers keep hearing you loud and clear.

David

PushON is an award-winning online marketing agency based in Manchester, with clients throughout the UK. Set up in 2006 by Simon Wharton and Roy Wilding, they have successfully grown the business and now employ over 20 staff. In the 5 years since inception, PushOn has risen to prominence as one of the North West’s premier online marketing agencies.

An Award Winning agency, PushON have been recognised for their use of search, most notably winning ‘Best Use of Search’ 2 years in a row (2009 & 2010) at The Big Chip Awards, the most prestigious digital awards outside of London. They’ve also won a number of awards in collaboration with other partners including ‘Best On-Line Brand Development’ (Creative Tourist), ‘Best Use of Animation’ (AHD-MI) and ‘Best Digital Marketing Campaign’ with K3SCS. They most recently picked up a bronze award at the Fresh Awards for their collaboration with Brazen PR on the ‘Mechanical Music’ social media project for Hyundai.

PushON work with clients across a range of sectors ranging from PR and marketing through to manufacturing and digital, successfully providing digital marketing support from everything from museums to wallpaper.

For more information visit www.PushON.co.uk

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