Green Designers, 06.10
At KM Design we try to be as green as possible and do our bit for the environment. We are currently taking part in a pilot scheme with other local businesses whereby Dacorum Council, in conjunction with Resource Efficiency and EEDA run monthly sessions on a wide range of topics to help us achieve a lower carbon footprint, reduce our energy consumption and save money.
We already implement quite a few of the ideas proposed but have purchased a remote control standbye gadget to switch off those pesky plug sockets that are buried beneath tables and hidden behind cupboards. We are even making a saving during our coffee breaks as we've just acquired a new kettle that uses 35% less electricity. Small steps but every little helps!
Colour psychology, 05.10
This past year has been extremely busy what with new projects, regular projects and I, Kate, have been training as a colourist using the Colour Affects System (colour psychology and colour harmony) developed by Angela Wright.
Once I have completed my training the Colour Affects System will be incorporated into our service offerings and more detail will be put on the website as to how it can help increase your business sales, improve staff morale, make your home feel more like your home and boost your confidence.
Design projects over the last year have included children's beach and dressing up clothing catalogues; identities for an accountant, quantity surveying firm and an LED downlight company; websites for an enterprise agency in Aylesbury and a catering company in Watford amongst others.
Facebook or face-to-face, 05.09
Over the last year we have witnessed an increasing number of marketing and business development consultants advocating the use of online networking platforms as ‘must have’ tools for the growing business arsenal. One even went as far as to suggest that, "if you're not LinkedIn, you're not doing business". Alarmingly in a majority of instances, what was not made clear is that these new routes to market (if indeed they are that), will not be applicable to everyone, nor should they necessarily be used as replacements to tried and tested business development activities.
Recently we carried out some additional work for long standing client Seyexclusive (a travel agent specialising in holidays in the Seychelles), which highlighted the short and long term value of face to face contact. With a website in place and supporting advertising driving traffic to the site, it would have been all to easy to initially consider ‘plugging in’ other online tools to help further develop customer relationships. Instead a decision was made to physically place the service offering of Seyexclusive right in front of one of its target groups, honeymooners attending The Designer Wedding Show, London.
"You are on my very long list of people to contact today!! We had a fantastic time and the stand was better than I could have imagined it to be!! We had endless comments on how fantastic the stand was and we definitely had the best stand out of the whole exhibit!"
Podium finish, 04.09
This March saw me (Ben) standing atop a winners podium. To be fair I was sharing first place with a good friend Richard Abbot. So what had we won?
Well the simple truth is probably a little respect, recognition and a major insight into what can be done with limited marketing resources. Lets go back to the start.
In April 2008 a small group of riders got together with the simple aim of re-opening a mountain bike area based in the Chilterns. The venue, once recognised as the South East's premier downhill and cross country facility had suffered from miss-management and lack of maintenance ever since the founder was lured off to pastures new in 2007.
After some initial consultation with the land owners (The Forestry Commission), we set about establishing the "new" Aston Hill. Through a combination of word of mouth, a lot of viral marketing, a well publicised re-brand and a timely link up with a National Bike Demo Day event Aston Hill was re-launched, albeit early days and under a blanket of snow!!
Over the following 12 months, sustained communication with our target audience via printed and online media, forums and the website ensured riders were always up to date with everything Aston Hill related. The increasing rider numbers and subsequent gate revenue allowed us to invest directly back into the facility. Riders could see where their pay-to-ride fee was being spent. We also made a point of telling those who had yet to come along and sample the goods.
Back to our roots, 11.08
It seems these days that having moved from Watford to Tring we now spend more time commuting back to the town of KM Design's origin to meet with the ever expanding client base in that region. Over the last few weeks we have been appointed by 3 new organisations all located within Watford including a catering firm, a highly innovative software/hardware developer and owners of the tallest structure in the town (at present), the YMCA.
A recent highly targeted direct mail campaign has generated positive responses for one of our clients within a couple of days of distribution, highlighting the fact that creative input matched with a strategic approach can reap great rewards... as long as you have defined your targets. It also provided us with a way of getting rid of 200 pots of Basil that were intended for a previous project with said client!! Who says we are not resourceful.
I don't want to dwell too much on the economic climate, needless to say we have seen it's impact where a third party (banking) client has cut back on what was an established annual project. Having spoken with other smaller business owners this seems to be a current trend, it's the big guys that are taking the hits and cutting back, whereas start-ups and SME's in general, are ramping up marketing activity to take advantage of new opportunities. This is all good news for us as we are positioned to provide a huge level of marketing and creative support to organisations of this nature, with past results to prove so.
Award winning collaboration, 09.08
For the last 18 months KM Design has worked closely with the Watford based enterprise agency Wenta. Our close collaboration with their marketing department resulted in a successful rebranding project followed by the creation of new business literature - including stationery, service guides and annual reports. Printed collateral has also been complemented by a comprehensive website, site signage, display material and press releases - all supplied by KM Design. Over the last few months we have worked on invitations, brochures and display stands for Wenta's forthcoming 25th anniversary celebrations.
And here is the good news....Wenta's Marketing Manager Abi Hall has recently been presented with the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies award for Marketing. Here is snippet from the awards press release.
"The close-run category, The National Enterprise Award for Marketing, demonstrated how agencies are developing a greater understanding of how marketing and communications need to be embedded within the organisation. Watford based Wenta was presented with the award for its 2007 – 08 rebrand which was strategically driven, with a professional approach and a demonstrable effect on the agency’s business".