apt blog

We’re so pleased to be a Circle2Success Member!

Here at apt marketing and pr, we have been a proud member of Circle2Success from the beginning and 2018 is no exception!

The team at Circle2Success are good friends of ours and they do some fantastic work for the local business community...and we’re not just talking about the Cheese and Wine events either! Founded back in 2013, the local business membership organisation helps to forge relevant relationships, create business opportunities, share ideas and champion excellence.

We think that it’s really valuable for our business being a member of C2S and we love attending the frequent Business Breakfast.  We find the development sessions are brilliant as we always leave feeling we have had time to work on our business as opposed to working in it and we either learn new or get reminded of things we have forgotten and then come back and apply.  This in itself is invaluable for the business and of course it’s really great to catch up with other members to see how their business is performing.

We were also really pleased this month to receive our Circle2Success founder member badges to pop on our website and in our e-mail footer so look out for it we use it with pride.

My week at APT

My week at APT

I just finished my weeks work experience at APT Marketing & PR as I am interested in design. My mum said Apt would be a great place to go for work experience as its good for creative minds, working a week there I agrees! Working here has really opened up my mind to different career ideas that surround design, PR and marketing. The team has been amazing, helping me in any way they could and really getting me involved. I thought I would be making teas. Instead I was editing web pages for real clients. It really got put into perspective when I Googled the web page that I had been working on and my work is on there. It’s a great feeling. Every day came with its challenges and I was more than happy to give them ago.

 My fear at the start of the week was that I might get bored but that didn’t happen at all, even with an 8 and a half hour working day. There was always something new and exciting to do. I think the fact that I was actually doing real work made my overall experience more enjoyable.  Working on banners, editing websites, scheduling social media, writing blogs and designing news letters are just some of the tasks I was given to complete.

My overall experience at APT Marketing & PR has been a lot better than I expected and would pick it over school any day.

New Sunbites advert brightens up our day

We absolutely love the new Sunbites advert, it’s just so appealing to watch! The new campaign from Walkers follows the summer vibe which most of the Sunbites adverts follow. This particular advert has a gorgeous twist of animation which provides such an enjoyable feel good vibe.

Sunbites are eager to spread the word that their tasty snacks are healthy and good for you and this advert certainly tries to reinforce this. The advert feels very innocent and as if everything is perfect once you open a pack.

With the Football World Cup in full swing when this advert was released you can recognise a reference to it throughout. The message is how football makes people active and brings them together. This positive message may be why the advert is enjoyable to watch. This is a good marketing technique as it is subtle but can impact people watching.

Have you seen the advert yet? You can watch it here...

Lloyds Bank “Get the inside out” Campaign

Do you ever have those moments in the day where you find yourself feeling stressed, anxious and rundown? Just sat there gazing at the clock watching every second tick by? And no matter what you do the repetitive tick is constantly ringing in your ear and you’re just waiting for the moment to be over. Ever feel scared to show signs of weakness so you force that smile on your face from the second you wake up? I think majority of us can vouch that we’ve all been there. That is why it is so important to look out for each other and contribute to those little acts of kindness we all know will brighten someone’s day. You never fully know what someone’s personal circumstance may be and one in four people are affected by a mental illness each year due to multiple reasons. Whilst these can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, they are also treatable like any physical condition. Amongst individuals 75% of those with mental health start developing early signs before the age of 18, making this generation more vulnerable.

Lloyds Bank want to encourage more open conversation about mental health in their campaign that won Channel 4’s Diversity in Advertising Award. The advertisement by Adam and Eve/DDB feature celebrities including Professor Green and Jeremy Paxman as well as members of the general public and bank employees playing the role of “Who am I?”. Some may be aware of this game, the guessing game where players use yes or no questions based on the traits and characteristics of a person to guess their identity. Lloyds bank have played on this game to create their own that explores the misconceptions about living with mental health conditions. Channel 4 awarded £1m in free airtime to the brand for coming up with a creative idea focused on non-visible disability. February 12, 2018 will be the official launch of the Inside-out campaign, whereby individuals will be encouraged to wear their shirt or an item of clothing inside out to promote acceptance of everybody, irrespective of race, colour, religion, gender, size and sexuality. Step out that comfort zone, speak up and get involved, you’re not alone. Post an image of yourself with your item of clothing to Instagram using the hashtag #MyInsideOut to be featured on the account.

THE INSIDE-OUT CAMPAIGN IS A CALL TO DISCOURAGE BULLYING AND PROMOTE TOLERANCE FOR ALL. WEAR YOUR CLOTHES INSIDE-OUT TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

#MyInsideOut

Outstanding PR from our team

We recently worked with a freelance journalist for The People's Friend Magazine on a arranging an expert panel interview for our client BABTAC. The journalist required an expert piece on a tight deadline and our Account Director Victoria liaised with the journalist and the client to ensure that all of the work was delivered on time.

We were absolutely delighted when we received such lovely feedback from the journalist. Read the comments below:

"Victoria has been helping me arrange an interview with a member of your expert panel. I wanted to let you know that she has done an outstanding job, organising a prompt and informative interview with an excellent spokesperson. This is for the People’s Friend magazine and you could expect it to reach some 400,000 loyal readers. It was all done to a very tight deadline and I’m grateful!"

We love what we do here at apt, but receiving such lovely feedback always makes it more worthwhile! 

Launch of Marketing Cheltenham

We were delighted to be a part of the official launch of the new destination marketing initiative Marketing Cheltenham! The launch which took place at Cheltenham Racecourse saw businesses across Cheltenham come together to find out more about our plans for putting Cheltenham back on the map. There was a really great turnout and lots of exciting enthusiasm about the new initiative.

Established by Cheltenham Borough Council, in partnership with Cheltenham BID and Cheltenham Tourism Partnership, Marketing Cheltenham will be working to help encourage more visitors to the town, and supporting the local tourism, hospitality and leisure economy and we are really excited to be on board with providing effective marketing support.

We are really looking forward to working with local businesses and people to promote Cheltenham in 2018!

Golden opportunity for businesses to enjoy the Tour of Britain in Style - Matt Gotrel and Mel Nicholls Confirmed!

It really is exciting times in Cheltenham! Following the announcement of the Tour of Britain heading to the town, businesses are also being given a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the event in style, with an exclusive venue right in the heart of all the action. Combined with a delicious meal from a Michelin-Guide recommended chef, as well as two Olympian guest speakers, the event, which will run all day and culminate in a race-side, finish-line view, will see businesses come together for an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As part of the hospitality offering in Imperial Gardens, attendees will be treated to a lively discussion between Gold-Medal Olympian and local lad Matt Gotrel OBE, and Paralympian Hand Cyclist Mel Nicholls. Chaired by Steve Knibbs of the BBC, guests will hear the two speak about their sporting experiences, before being given the chance to meet them over lunch. The three-course menu is being prepared by Michelin-Guide recommended chef Bob Parkinson of Made by Bob, after which guests will be transferred to an exclusive VIP viewing zone, right next to the finish line.

 

Tickets for the Corporate Hospitality in a 42ft yurt in Imperial Gardens are available at £350 +VAT, or tables of ten at £3,250 +VAT. Anyone interested in Corporate Hospitality should speak to our managing director Angie Petkovic on 01242 250 692 or by emailing [email protected]. Attendees will join town leaders and local businesses including Bloor Homes and Hunter Page Planning.

Membership Body Lobbying

We have been working with a number of membership organisations for many years now.  As one of the ways to cement our commitment to membership marketing we became a Memberwise Recognised Supplier a few years ago, alongside regularly attending the annual conferences.

We recently gave a Membership Body Lobbying Masterclass at the MEMX Conference in April, alongside our client BABTAC (British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology).  We lobbied on behalf of BABTAC as part of the Cosmetic Interventions review carried out by the Department for Health following the PPI scandal, which began back in 2012 although the final report was only released late in 2016.

We thought it would be a useful to tool to share our thoughts on things to consider before you start the lobbying process and the key challenges you may face...

Before you start, there are three questions that you need to ask yourself, your group or your wider membership. These are:

1. Does it directly impact your industry? If the answer is yes, then lobbying can or should be a part of your toolkit to combat any adverse effects. If it doesn’t then you need to assess how it might affect your industry or whether there is another organisation you can join forces with.
2. Is it in the best interest of your members? This is a key question to ask yourself - Will it benefit your members if you do lobby, or hurt them if you don’t?
3. Is it or should it be a priority? Some issues don’t seem to be a big deal, so once the situation has been assessed, you then need to identify and understand the potential short-term and long-term impact.

Once you have made the decision that you want to lobby, then there are an endless amount of tools at your disposal such as petitions & surveys, government consultations, self-regulation, PR & Media and even digital! The list really does go on...

There are however, many challenges organisations face when lobbying and although there are too many to list here in this blog there are three core issues which crop up time and time again:

• OPPOSITION: If the issue is weighty enough and affects industries and organisations other than your own, then you will most certainly come up against opposition and you will likely contradict what they are saying. The key tactics here are to be sure of your argument and to understand your opposition’s point of view.
• BUDGET: It is difficult to define a fixed budget for lobbying, there are too many factors involved! The best approach is to set out an end-goal, alongside smaller milestones which you can target as a business. This means you can focus on the initial milestone, attributing budget to achieving the first aspect.
• SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE: To you, your argument may seem the only one that is relevant, but in many cases you will be the only organisation to hold that view. Many membership organisations shy away from swimming against the tide of opinion, but you shouldn’t be afraid to do so.

There are many external factors which can impact your business and sometimes you do have to sit back and watch them happen. So if you have the chance to change what’s happening and the outcome to benefit your industry, why not get in touch with us about lobbying?

We have experience in successfully contributing to public policy and public consultations and if the future of your business or your members’ businesses are being challenged we’d love to support you.  If you’d like to chat to find out more, give us a call on 01242 250642.  We’d be only too happy to discuss.

www.membershipmarketinghelp.co.uk

Finalists announced for Britain's leading Beauty Awards 2017

Forty years of promoting, supporting and celebrating the beauty industry are being celebrated at this year’s sector-leading national beauty awards. Each year, the BABTAC (British Association of Beauty Therapists and Cosmetology) & CIBTAC (Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology) Awards recognise and reward outstanding contributions to the sector: the talented and the trail-blazers, from exceptional students to established business owners, from extraordinary therapists to the inspiring centres that train them. An impressive list of 61 finalists, each hoping to win one of the 40^th anniversary Awards, have just been announced in the run-up to the glittering award ceremony on 18^th June.

This year, to mark BABTAC’s special anniversary, the new award for ‘Lifetime Achievement/Contribution to the Industry’ throws the spotlight onto those people whose efforts, passion and commitment over the years have advanced the professionalism and status of the sector to the level it now enjoys. As a marker of how much support and commitment the beauty industry and BABTAC attract, there are seven finalists (normally categories have 2-4 finalists): Diana Jenner, Sally Durant, Suzanne Henson, Kim Ford, Julia Leone, Jenna Bailey and Carolyne Cross.

A number of other new categories have been introduced this year:

Business Management Award – in today’s digital world, what it takes to run a business changes rapidly, from how to keep accounts to how to advertise to potential clients. This award recognises how beauticians these days have to be masters of many skills, not just the beauty ones they trained in. However, for small salons and sole traders in particular, keeping up-to-date and learning new techniques and tools can be extremely hard. This award will not only recognise achievement but also provide role models and help to shine a path that other beauticians can follow. Finalists: Beauty at the Bay, HKBHA Academy, and The Foot Health Clinic.

Advanced Aesthetician – these therapists are non-medical skin care specialists who advise clients on the most suitable skin care regimes and products for their skin types, including skin problems such as acne or eczema. They assist with rejuvenating the skin, performing treatments such as skin peels, laser & light therapy, skin needling techniques (incl. Mesotherapy), advanced electrolysis, micropigmentation and microblading. Finalists: Jody Taylor, Martine Jarman, and Suman Jalaf.

Innovator Award – new ways to boost customers’ confidence and satisfaction with how they present themselves to the world are developing at a rapid rate. The finalists in this award are pushing back the boundaries of new techniques for rejuvenating ourselves, helping the sector keep fresh, meet customers’ needs, and ride the storm of the recession. Finalists: Katherine Tonkinson, Diana Jenner, and Martine Jarman.

Brow Specialist – customers’ fascination with the artistry of the eyebrow has rocketed so much in the past couple of years that BABTAC felt this category was needed to represent this new, burgeoning aspect of beauty therapy.  Finalists: Brittany Beck, Misty Crew, Suman Jalaf, and Sita Gill.

These new categories show how much the sector is flourishing and constantly responding to customers’ needs and new opportunities. BABTAC represents professional side of the industry and the practitioners that make it such a success. 

CIBTAC is BABTAC’s sister organisation, working with Governmental departments and professional organisations to develop qualifications that meet required standards, and provide the highest quality training at centres around the world for all aspiring therapists and those wishing to keep up to date with the latest techniques. CIBTAC offers a wide portfolio of courses including beauty therapy, spa, well-being, diet and nutrition, sports therapy, and a number of complimentary and holistic qualifications.

The CIBTAC award categories reward the best training centre, the most outstanding student, and the best inspirational tutor.

The winners will be announced at the beauty industry event of the year, with gala dinner and ceremony at Banking Hall in London at 7pm on Sunday 18^th June. The host for the evening will be Gill Morris, a well respected industry professional, responsible for introducing many new treatments to the UK including Blend electrolysis and gel nails.  Gill is currently the Director of Commercial Development for Sterex and has been a lifelong supporter of BABTAC.

SOHO Coffee Co. celebrates Bank Holiday with new store opening

SOHO Coffee Co. has this weekend opened its fourth store in London, at the O2 Centre on Finchley Road. The store, which follows just three weeks after the outlet on Baker Street, is the second opening in London this year, and the fourth store in the Capital. It is also the first London store to carry the SOHO Kids Range, with perfectly-sized sandwiches, fruit & veggie pots and the famous SOHO gingerbread figures. 

Penny Manuel, Managing Director, SOHO Coffee Co. comments “Openings in London are a recent undertaking for the brand, but ones which are outperforming expectations and targets. We’re delighted with the positive responses from our customers to the design of the stores, our signature food-led coffee offering, and our in-store teams who are working hard to create the right atmosphere.” 

The artisan coffee brand continues to eye expansion across London in 2017, with fitting already underway in yet-to-be-revealed new locations for the owner-managed chain. SOHO has eleven outlets opening this year, of which O2 Centre is the fourth.