Fox Survival No.4 – Can you PIVOT?

Can you PIVOT? and/or use other SKILLS

Fox Survival for 2020! No.4

Fox Survival No.4 – Can you PIVOT your business and use other SKILLS which you or your business may have that will drive your forward and add extra income streams and products/services to the business to fit into these different times.

Some businesses have adapted quickly and fairly easily to putting their offering online, or changing the products that they make, there are some great examples.

Years ago, I used to train the long term unemployed how to get back into work, to re-skill, I would brainstorm on a flip chart all the skills needed to run a home and family, then change the heading to MD of a company, and check down the list of skills that were mirrored to do the same.

Do you have any specific skills from a former career that you can tap and the same with your staff? it maybe that you need to do a bit of updating or retraining….now is a good time.

Fox tips – “treat people as you would like to be treated”

How to Pivot or use existing skills

Tip : Sit down with a blank piece of paper and scribble down what skills you have or your business has, ask people to chip in who know you or work for you.

Look at different sectors, additional services – identify new opportunities. Keep a totally open mind and keep calm, you may have a light bulb moment….I love those :)

I hope these posts are helping, now, you can revisit them

Small sound bites each day to keep you moving forward.

Many thanks and Good Luck!

kate@foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk

mobile: 07927 131600

Kate Fox

“Design adds value & we’re here to help businesses improve & strengthen their market communication & message.”

Established in 2008, FGDM work with a diverse range of businesses to help them improve their market image involving branding, digital, animation/video, websites, direct marketing, exhibitions, marketing material designed to build and bolster brands.

20th April 202020th April 2020

What sort of marketing do you do? someone asked recently….

I am a designer with a business background and have developed different ways of marketing. I look at the whole company and it’s strategy and bring in specific experts depending on the companies requirements.

I do some soft social media for a few clients but for a stronger campaign outsource to specialist providers especially if hard core lead generation is needed.

I enjoy marketing and project managing with several clients on a retainer basis where I become part of their company, team and successful development. This has enabled me to get involved with video, animation and unusual direct marketing and 3D printing.

“Effective & professional ways of communicating to your targeted market across media including sales literature, print, digital and web.

Planning your strategy and finding exciting ways to engage with your audience, being different and keeping up with digital marketing on social media, incorporating animation and video also.

Creative concepts and communication – let us take the weight off you and fully project manage your design and marketing activity across many platforms.”

Happy to have a chat to see if we can help. For example we recently quoted for a Marine company in the UK to do all their exhibition stands globally, marketing material and email/social media/website nearer the time.

The beauty of what we offer is that we are not tied into any other company so our clients come first and experience the ‘why not effect’ and we go that extra mile….hope that helps….

One question for you… What are you looking for? what help would you like? and what are you trying to achieve?

20th April 202020th April 2020

Networking Event 27th Feb 2020

Fox Networking – Thursday 27th February

We started with snow, then everyone arrived and I, Kate finally did the 10 minute presentation with a display of all 4 animations, first time shown all together. I received a round of applause and then talked about connecting H2H and Know, Like and Trust, following on about things you did not know about me, things you should and the qualities of my clients, how we match up and fit together.

This is a fairly relaxed group where we are able to talk around the room about our businesses and something unusual for the month.

We had a varied selection of people and businesses including a marketing company, Business directory, business support/Zero, financial advisor, Video company and Video Director, Audi cars, websites company, design, branding and stress/loss specialist who can help men and women cope and understand Menopause – Health and Wellbeing in the workplace.

Next month Will Kintish is treating us to a talk about ‘The Power of the Question”- March 18th @10.30am.

Fox Networking started in May 2019. The main reasoning behind it was that we had a super new studio with lots of creative space, I was not able to network with more than a handful of people due to migraines and noise level, many people in the building did not really know what each other did, and it was a good way to meet our neighbours. I found the original message below!

Now we talk about Columbian Coffee and Cream Cakes, comments like…. relaxed, no pressure, structured yet informal, warm welcome and well looked after are a few of the comments received.

This event has now taken on a life of its own, we are not in competition with other events, as it is by invitation only, hence we don’t use Eventbrite, we now have a good mix from all different sectors and not always the usual ones found at events. We select by people and this gives a different feel. The first 6 months were free, but now we are charging a small cost to cover some of our costs, these do not even cover my time.

So why do I do it, well, many reasons, but it does give me total flexibility and am able to select different venues with other like-minded people, I just want to be a little bonkers and I do have 13 years of International Food & Beverage, senior management experience in 4/5* hotels, soooo it must be the veins….and we like decent coffee…it just smells so welcoming.

Advertising, Cheshire, Fox Graphics, Local Business, Macclesfield, marketing, Networking Event

Kate Fox

“Design adds value & we’re here to help businesses improve & strengthen their market communication & message.”

4th March 202020th April 2020

Adopt new Charity – Speed of Sight

Adopts a New Charity – Speed of Sight

‘I am visual and a bit of a speed nut! The thought of losing my sight is my biggest fear, but to see the sheer pleasure and exhilaration the drivers have, makes me realise you can do anything.

The guys and what they are achieving humbles me and that we are likeminded.

I have been looking for a charity that would benefit from my design and marketing support and that has the same ethos and values as me – well this charity does all that and more. Thank you.’ Kate Fox

We have been working and advising John Galloway from the charity since about November 2019. We met many years ago, but actually properly met through Simon Edmondson’s and ‘The Business Network – South Manchester’. Where we are both members.

We had a 1:2:1 and John gave me a load of material to look over and just see what I thought.

Well, eventually I got back as Christmas seemed to get in the way, and they were very good at taking my direct, no frills feedback.

Since then, I think I have become a bit of a sounding board and John has attending the Brand Strategy Workshop, the feedback from him was mind blowing as the timing was just right for him to stand outside the business and look in.

It has sparked great initiatives and we have also assisted with the new corporate brand for the ‘Inspire 25 Club’. The more I find out about this charity the more I want to help and adopt it as my company’s charity.

Many of my colleagues are assisting too, helping with their time and skills and those that can’t become members of the new Club!

speedofsight.org

“We at Fox Graphics proudly support Speed Of Sight, a charity that gives blind and disabled people the gift to drive. Visit our fundraising page at https://www.speedofsight.org/fox-graphics/ to show your support.”

Kate Fox

“Design adds value & we’re here to help businesses improve & strengthen their market communication & message.”

28th February 20209th March 2020

Fox Networking Event

Fox Networking Event

The main reasoning behind it was that we had a super new studio with lots of creative space, I was not able to network with more than a handful of people due to migraines and noise level, many people in the building did not really know what each other did, and it was a good way to meet our neighbours.

Guest Speaker – John Place

Now we talk about Columbian Coffee and Cream Cakes, comments like…. relaxed, no pressure, structured yet informal, warm welcome and well looked after are a few of the comments received.

Fab host once again
Tony Hine

We select by people and this gives a different feel. The first 6 months were free, but now we are charging a small cost to cover some of our costs, these do not even cover my time.

Loved your warm and friendly intimate gathering
Will Kintish

Guest speaker – Tim Lane – Park Lane Recruitment

It was a fabulous gathering, my first time at this one. Great to meet old friends and make new ones too!
Andrew Thorp

When I have had enough, I can stop, sometimes it’s a worry, what if no one turns up, well…I just have more cakes to give away!…..BUT, that has never happened, If you are like minded the same us, get in touch!

Also, I have it on good authority that people have been making good introductions and good business through eating cake with us!

I have so many lovely pictures and videos, and comments, I only started doing it because I was unable to go out networking myself, and I have this lovely relaxed space here in Macclesfield.

Love these events, friendly, relaxed and great people
Michael Beardsell

Guest Speaker – Maggie Ford – Spring Rites

I just looked at the posts on Maggie Ford and the event, over 1500 people actually viewed these 2 video’s and one post of the event with Maggie one got 3,500 views, all the speakers get super exposure and help getting their message out there. if you missed it, please have a listen, she is one of my super stars and very close friend….and Breathe!

Part of what we do at Fox Graphics Design & Marketing, is helping clients up their game and get noticed, these are not our clients, they are colleagues, friends and like-minded people.

Fabulous event Kate & Duncan
Kathryn Spencer

If you’re interested in attending one of our events

Kate Fox

“Design adds value & we’re here to help businesses improve & strengthen their market communication & message.”

6th September 201817th April 2019

Business Innovation Award

I hope you had a relaxing, recharging summer and productive time. I just thought that I would say hello. And thank everyone for all your kind and supportive words, these have touched me and were totally unexpected.

This award has been fun, totally unexpected and no dinner ceremony which would have cost thousands, but as it is Cheshire, I asked my friend and colleague to do this image of me at the top of a hill with the fantastic area of Cheshire behind me, before the green grass turned brown. What a great place to live and work! Thank you to all my clients, associates and friends.

Based in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Fox Graphics Design & Marketing supports a range of clients, helping them to grow and become more visual in their professional arena. We spoke to Creative Director Kate Fox to learn more about the firm’s work and her pride in the success it has achieved.

Since its inception in 2008 Fox Graphics Design has worked hard to achieve success, working closely with its clients so that they can focus on their business and clients, safe in the knowledge that their branding, marketing and design needs are all met. It is Kate’s vast experience in the industry and commitment to excellence for her valued clients, that ensures that they keep coming back for more, as we found out.

“Through my work at Fox Graphic Design, I help ambitious business owners grow their business, and make sure their customers see them in their best light. To achieve this, I draw on my years of knowledge and experience to create branding and visuals that convey the right messages to the right people, help you plan and execute your marketing campaigns, all while letting our clients do what they do best; run their company. We can take care of everything from branding a clients’ company, to creating a stand out exhibition display, to even managing their marketing from beginning to end.

“Whatever project they ask us to undertake, when working with our clients we listen continually so that we can understand the client’s needs. By taking the time to gain an insight and develop strategic design solutions we are able to help their business grow and thrive. We can help companies enhance and expand their image/message and take them into new markets while consolidating their position on all media platforms alongside traditional methods.”

With regards to the future, it is Kate’s belief that her firm will continue to expand and enhance its offering over the coming years, using its current achievements as a springboard from which to launch itself into the global market, as she proudly concludes.

“As we look ahead, our plans are to develop Fox Graphics Design by adding adventurous decision makers that are driven to success in their fields to our already exceptional team. The next decade will also see us expand internationally, growing our global reach to ensure that we continue to provide our award-winning services for many more years.”

Company: Fox Graphics Design & Marketing

Address: Studio 42, Beechfield House, Winterton Way, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0LP, UK

Phone: 01625 468038

24th July 201817th April 2019

Some pointers on thinking and planning exhibition stands and marketing events.

Make Sure You Go to the Right Exhibit

Exhibiting can be an expensive and demanding process in terms of time, money and people you want to stack the odds in your favour early on.

Going to the right exhibition is a good start.

The first step is to do some homework:

Visit the exhibitions you are thinking of attending,

Talk to people that have exhibited there before (you can usually find a list of exhibitors in old tradeshow handbooks or online).

Ask the exhibition organizers what sort of marketing activities they have done in order to promote the event.

Find out about:

The amount of people that visit the show

The sorts of exhibits and displays at the show and the ones that are drawing the biggest crowds.

And ask yourself are the people attending the show your target market

Have a clear set of goals and set explicit realistic objectives

Is the aim of attending an exhibit:

To increase brand awareness?

Increase your client list by 5%?

Launch a new product or service?

Reposition the business or a product?

Generate leads?

Do you have a clear picture of your target audience?

If you cannot answer the question: “Why am I here?” – you are probably in the wrong place.

A clear statement of your goals and measures of success will help you:

Choose the exhibition you want to participate in

The sort of display you want

The people you need to bring

The gifts, publications, information and merchandise you might need

Even the competitions or lead generating activities you want to use

In addition measurable goals will help you evaluate your exhibition experience.

You Have 3 Seconds

Typically as an exhibitor you can expect no more than three seconds of a passerby’s attention.

In those three seconds your typical target audience visitor need to understand:

Who you are

What you do

Make Sure You Have the Right People on the Stand

The people on your stand are your brand and business ambassadors.

Staff need to be:

Knowledgeable about the product or service as well as the business

Appropriately dressed

Be aware of and follow exhibition etiquette (no gum, no personal calls, be attentive)

Remember: A good sales person may not be as good at the exhibition as the rolls of engagement are different.

Pre-show training is a must.

Have A Decision Maker Available

Have a decision maker available. Trade show and exhibitions are places where decisions are made and deals are arranged.

Make sure you have a decision maker at the stand or ready access to one.

Find a Balance

It may be tempting, especially at your first trade show to go all out and aim to make a big impression.

As a first time exhibitor it is important to find a balance between making an impact and staying in budget.

(Credit to Gill Keinan)

We try to think and prepare for every eventuality so that there are no surprises and our clients are confident and happy with their exhibit – Happy to listen and help!

Shout out your product/service or concept. Keep it simple, effective and wave your flag!

We like to be in on the discussions early in the company’s planning to market themselves in the world arena or locally, so that we can get under the skin of what the message is and try to ensure the final design, impact and message has the effect required and ROI.

Those companies that have not exhibited at large fairs and abroad will benefit from having the whole message looked at and planned, ensuring that when clients are standing at their exhibit selling and promoting their company, they have all the tools, sales material and visual message to help them do their jobs effectively and professionally.

Hope this is helpful, contact Kate at Fox Graphics Design & Marketing for a chat to see if we can help. Free consultation – www.foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk m: 07927 131600

More examples and information about exhibitions – https://foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk/what-we-do/exhibition-stand/

26th March 201817th April 2019

Remember to ask for Recommendations on LinkedIn and give them too

21st March 201817th April 2019

Follow the Fox!

Follow the Fox….using animation, typography, branding, colour and creativity + upbeat music, we have created and executed this fantastic fresh, classy, contemporary and cutting edge visual communication!

View animation here please!

We have launched our new animation branding, to demonstrate that within 45 seconds businesses can communicate and engage globally. The visual imagery and core messages, including what people say about the company are communicated in a easy to digest visual method whilst reinforcing the brand with contact details for the website and social media icons.

Whilst relaxing drinking a coffee or on the move in the increasingly busy technological noise in business, we hope that this puts a spring in your step and a smile in a busy working day!

Guillaume Apollinaire (French: [ɡijom apɔlinɛʁ]; 26 August 1880 – 9 November 1918) was a French poet, playwright, short story writer, novelist, and art critic of Polish descent.

Apollinaire is considered one of the foremost poets of the early 20th century, as well as one of the most impassioned defenders of Cubism and a forefather of Surrealism. He is credited with coining the term “cubism” in 1911 to describe the emerging art movement and the term “surrealism” in 1917 to describe the works of Erik Satie. The term Orphism (1912) is also his. Apollinaire wrote one of the earliest Surrealist literary works, the play The Breasts of Tiresias (1917), which became the basis for the 1947 opera Les mamelles de Tirésias.

Two years after being wounded in World War I, Apollinaire died in the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918; he was 38.

Calligrammes:Poems of Peace and War 1913-1916, is a collection of poems by Guillaume Apollinaire which was first published in 1918 (see 1918 in poetry). Calligrammes is noted for how the typeface and spatial arrangement of the words on a page plays just as much of a role in the meaning of each poem as the words themselves – a form called a calligram. In this sense, the collection can be seen as either concrete poetry or visual poetry. Apollinaire described his work as follows:

The Calligrammes are an idealisation of free verse poetry and typographical precision in an era when typography is reaching a brilliant end to its career, at the dawn of the new means of reproduction that are the cinema and the phonograph. (Guillaume Apollinaire, in a letter to André Billy)^[2]

Follow the Fox…….

Call Kate on 01625 468038 Cheshire

02037 802160 London

(001) 833 253 5676 USA

www.foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk

I would also like to thanks Gary Carse and his team (Sian & Ash) for their support and patience with this commission and highly recommend them, they took my vision and between us, turned my animation into reality. Thank You!

Follow the Fox…….

Whilst relaxing drinking a coffee or on the move in the increasingly busy technological noise in business, we hope that this puts a spring in your step and a smile in a busy working day!

Follow the Fox, for advice on getting customers to take note of your brand, how to develop your brands image and becoming memorable!

Call Kate on 01625 468038 Cheshire

02037 802160 London

(001) 833 253 5676 USA

www.foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk

14th March 201817th April 2019

Supporting ‘Prevent Breast Cancer’ charity

Prevent Breast Cancer, our purpose is in our name.

Our little pebble in the pond!

Fox Graphics Design & Marketing has for many years promoted charities through business, instead of giving our time for free or money, we have felt that supporting and helping to raise awareness within the business community of chosen charities is more effective and has been proven so, with our first charity many years ago – KidsCan, see the story here! and how the ripples on the pond kept going.

The reason we have chosen this charity to go on Kate’s cards is that she lost a friend 18 months ago to Breast Cancer and it was awful because although detected early she unfortunately had the one type that was not curable. She also has many happy friends that have been lucky enough to survive this, by early diagnosis.

If you would also like to do this, please get in touch as Kate will prepare the artwork free of charge.

Predict. Prevent. Protect. You could call it our mantra.

As the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer, we’re committed to freeing the world from the disease altogether. Unlike many cancer charities, we’re focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, we believe we can stop the problem before it starts. And being situated at the only breast cancer prevention centre in the UK, we’re right at the front-line in the fight against the disease.

Our Purpose

Our purpose is simple: to create a future free from breast cancer, where there is no before or after diagnosis. And thanks to better predictive tools and early intervention, we truly believe that for future generations, breast cancer will be a thing of the past. This means acting now, to help more people live a life that’s free from the disease. It means funding research aimed solely at preventing breast cancer. And it means creating a world where thousands of people are spared from ever experiencing the pain and suffering it causes. Put simply, our purpose is in our name.

We Predict – by identifying who is at risk of breast cancer.
We Prevent – by offering preventative interventions, to stop breast cancer before it starts.
We Protect – by shielding future generations from breast cancer.

Registered Charity Number 1109839, Prevent Breast Cancer, Registered in England No: 4831397

Exerts from previous blog about how this works well with charities –

‘It’s not an advert – it’s a dedicated space,’ Kate explains. ‘We wanted it to have the right message, which isn’t about us being great, it’s about raising the profile of this charity.’

The actions of Fox Graphics demonstrate the way in which any business can help a charity, regardless of money, if they choose to think in a very open-minded way.
The exposure that Fox Graphics generated for KidsCan enabled people to see not only the good that KidsCan was doing, but also the good that Fox Graphics was doing.

‘It was a pebble in the pond and the ripples were unbelievable,’ Kate explains. ‘I did it to help them, not thinking it would help me!’

At networking events it became the perfect icebreaker, stimulating conversation as people wanted to find out more about the charity and the reasoning behind Kate’s decision to help them. Kate believes that her business was highly regarded for the values it showed through its connection with a charity. Fox Graphics was shown to be run by decent people, people that others wanted to do business with.

www.foxgraphicsdesign.co.uk

Continue reading “Supporting ‘Prevent Breast Cancer’ charity”

Author: admin

Fox Survival No.4 – Can you PIVOT?

Can you PIVOT? and/or use other SKILLS

Fox Survival for 2020! No.4

How to Pivot or use existing skills

Kate Fox

What sort of marketing do you do? someone asked recently….

Networking Event 27th Feb 2020

Fox Networking – Thursday 27th February

Kate Fox

Adopt new Charity – Speed of Sight

Adopts a New Charity – Speed of Sight

Kate Fox

Fox Networking Event

Fox Networking Event

Kate Fox

Business Innovation Award

Some pointers on thinking and planning exhibition stands and marketing events.

First time exhibiting! Here are some tips!

Remember to ask for Recommendations on LinkedIn and give them too

Follow the Fox!

Cutting edge visual communication! Follow the Fox…..

Inspiration

Inspiration from Calligrammes whilst studying at University

Contact

Supporting ‘Prevent Breast Cancer’ charity

Prevent Breast Cancer, our purpose is in our name.

Prevent Breast Cancer, our purpose is in our name.

email

phone

Contact