How to Define Your Target Market (and why it’s important!)
Defining your target market is super important - if you don't know who you're going to be trying to reach then how can you tailor your marketing accordingly? Making sure you know exactly who your ideal customer is can really transform your marketing and branding,...
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Gifts for Entrepreneurs
Do you have a friend or loved one who has their own business? Here's my gift guide for entrepreneurs and business owners: A planner I have a slight (ok, massive) fetish for stationery. Getting a new planner or diary for 2019 is at the top of my list! I love Daily...
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My Year in Review
This year has whizzed by in a flash. I don’t know about you, but I like to look back over the year and assess what’s happened and look at the next year to see how things could improve. I WAS UP FOR AN AWARD I loved being one of the finalists for the Enterprise Vision...
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When Should You Start The Branding Process?
Branding is important; you don’t need me to tell you that. But when should you start the process of branding your business? AT THE BEGINNING Ideally, once you’ve got your business idea set in stone the branding process should begin. In a way, it’s already begun!...
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So What is a Jpeg? A Post on File Types
When I've finished a branding project you'll get a whole host of files for using in print and web applications. It can be a bit daunting being landed with a load of files that you have no idea what to do with; so here's my handy guide! Usually, unless you've asked...
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How To Be Kind in Business
It’s almost ingrained in us to be ballsy in business. I honestly think it’s frowned upon to show compassion if you’re in a corporate environment, but this has to stop. With mental health awareness being much more talked about, it’s imperative to be kind not only in...
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Why Do You Need Brand Guidelines?
"Brand what..? Guidelines..?" Yep, you read that right – the term ‘brand guidelines’ might not be one which you’ve heard of but it’s a real life thing in the design world. Put simply, brand guidelines are a bit like a book all about your brand – they range from a...
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Why Branding is a Bit Like Baking a Cake!
Now, I'm not saying I'm Delia Smith, but I do like to think of my job as a little bit like baking! Hear me out; branding has lots of elements (ingredients) that when chosen, mixed and baked correctly can result in something completely DELICIOUS! So, what are these...
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I’m a Finalist in the Enterprise Vision Awards!
I am so excited to announce that I'm in the finals for the EVAs - Enterprise Vision Awards - which are a North West England based awards celebrating women in business. I'm up for the Creative Industry Award and I'm honoured to be in such esteemed company as fellow...
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Inspire Summer Meeting
I've been a member of Inspire West Cumbria for a few months now and absolutely love it! Everyone is so friendly and it's such a relaxed atmosphere. Each month there's a speaker and we've learned about everything from GDPR to cooking from our summer meeting last week!...
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There But Not There
When St Kentigern's Aspatria asked if I'd help with their commemoration of the end of WW1 I didn't even hesitate. I've sponsored a silhouette of a soldier which will sit in the pews amongst other figures to remember those from the town who died in war. I have family...
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ADS Street Art Project
I was asked to come along and help Young Cumbria at Aspatria Dreamscheme to create some street art. I've never actually done any spray painting before so was a little nervous but it was so much fun! We started by generating some ideas for the murals - elements such as...
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Keeping Your Brand Consistent on Social Media
There's many reasons why being consistent with your branding on social media is important. It looks more professional, it builds trust, you become more recognisable and it actually saves you time! Once you have some templates in place you can easily add new quotes,...
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Grants for Cumbrian Businesses
Do you need a website but feel put off by the cost? Are you a Cumbria based company? Then Cumbria Growth Hub has the solution for you. By funding 40% of up to £2000 of the cost of your website, the Cumbria Growth Hub will be a welcome boost to your business; perhaps...
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Why Hiring Small Can be a Good Thing
I recently hired an accountant to help with my book-keeping. Angela Black from AB Accountancy popped round and we discussed what I needed and chatted about how nice it is to work with someone likeminded and having a similar approach to business. It got me thinking...
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What you can learn from gingerbread – a lesson in branding
I recently did a Facebook Live on this subject which you can watch here. Basically, I recently had a positive interaction with Sarah Nelson's Grasmere Gingerbread Company and felt the need to say why I think a lot of businesses could learn about this. I noticed Greg...
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Omg There’s an Alphabet of Rock!
OMG There's an Alphabet of Rock! Can you imagine my absolute delight when coming across this bit of awesome typography? An Alphabet of Rock combines two of my very favourite things in life... From AC/DC to ZZ Top, the gang's all here! Available to buy from ace design...
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10 Tips for More Motivation – Guest Blog
We all know how hard it can be to get the jobs done that we really need to do but have zero motivation for! Here, in a guest blog, Mary Richards from Motivated Women gives us 10 tips for motivation whether in business or in life. 1. Define your purpose. Find your...
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Telling your story in business…
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin… It was 1940 when the two brothers went into business together. They started with a small premises in California. They didn’t have anything other than the aim of providing high quality food with top notch service to match....
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Design Trends 2018
DESIGN TRENDS 2018 Yeah, yeah, I know I am probably a little late on the trends for 2018 but we’re only (checks calendar) 22 days in! Plus, how can these trend setters possibly know what’s going to happen in the next 12 months? Anyway, I digress. Trends… love them or...
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Self Care Tips
This is a bit of a recycle of a post on my personal blog, but it still resonates with people who perhaps have their own business. Self care is important; you can't pour from an empty cup, as they say. Now I’m as rubbish as anyone for making time to look after myself....
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Why I Became A Designer
Why I Became A Graphic Designer It's a question I get asked from time to time... why did I become a designer? Well, as a child I can't really say I was particularly arty although I was always very interested in advertising. I always used to remember jingles and was...
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Sleep – are you getting any?
There's always a balancing act happening in life and business... and one of those balances is how much sleep we're getting. We all know the benefits of getting enough shut eye; it improves focus and our mood - not enough sleep can impact our lives in so many ways. As...
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My Year in Review
My year in review 2017 has been a lovely year! I can’t quite believe it’s over to be honest. I’ve had the privilege of working with so many brilliant businesses and charities in the past 12 months. At the start of the year I was asked to create a new logo for a...
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Networking Hints and Tips
Tips for networking Now, I’m by no means an expert at networking but I have picked up a few tips over the years. It can be daunting to start networking for the first time; I know some seasoned professionals who still feel a flutter of nerves before walking into a...
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Networking in Cumbria
Networking in Cumbria As 2018 fast approaches you may be turning your attention to plans for the New Year; I thought it would be helpful to list a few business networking groups which are especially useful for making contacts in Cumbria. Carlisle Ambassadors - this...
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Your Brand – the early years
Your brand - the early years I hate to be the one to tell you this but you aren’t Coca Cola. You aren’t Mercedes or Microsoft either. You never will be. And that’s ok. You’ll always be you - that’s just what we’re after. Even when you float your business on the stock...
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Sarah Taylor Art for C-Art
Sarah Taylor Art Exhibition This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Sarah Taylor's open exhibition in St Bees. I've known Sarah for many years as we worked together at The Cumberland Pencil Company and I am an avid fan of her work. We own the piece called...
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Marketing 101: Branding
MARKETING 101: Branding You’ve heard about marketing, most people have. It’s pretty important in business. It’s that voodoo that companies use to get people’s hands in their pockets and spending mindlessly like some sort of zombie consumer. Kind of. But it isn’t...
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Featured Business: Two White Hats
Every so often I will be featuring one of the businesses I work with. Today we have Two White Hats which is a company that blends seasoning mixes for your home cooking. Debra Knight, the brain behind the brand, approached me to develop the branding, packaging and...
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