Archive for Koogar HQ

And… Action! Enhance on and offline marketing

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Marketing is about keeping ourselves in the customer’s mind’s eye, making sure that they know we are the people to come to when they have a problem that we can potentially fix.

Digital marketing as a whole has helped move the small businesses to the same level as large organisations by allowing us to target more people on a smaller budget. Social media isn’t the key to marketing, it is just one aspect. You need a good mix of different marketing components that will help trigger responses. The result is getting people to take action.

I’d like to give you 4 elements to think about when creating, designing or implementing online and offline marketing. Here is the third element:

#3: Treat them like they are VIPs (Alfie – everyone who gets in his car is treated like royalty)

Visit BizMums to read the rest of this article


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100% Occupancy at North Wales Hospitality & Tourism Event!

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Hosted by Business Point, Coleg Llandrillos’ business training unit in partnership with ‘People 1st Cymru’ sector skills council for hospitality & tourism at Bodnant Welsh FoodOver 80 delegates representing the broad hospitality & tourism sector gather to focus on a common goal  ’to achieve UK top 5 visitor destination status’.  Hosted by Business Point, Coleg Llandrillos’ business training unit in partnership with ‘People 1st Cymru’ sector skills council for hospitality & tourism, the event was held at the brand new £6.5m Bodnant Welsh Food Centre to coincide with Wales Tourism Week 2013 and to celebrate Welsh hospitality on St Davids’ Day.

Industry leaders and experts in their field set out the overriding themes of innovation and collaboration under 3 main topics, for further discussion.  First on the agenda was food & drink and how important components they are as a means of establishing the all-important sense of place alongside the location and all of its cultural and geographical attributes.

As a region, we can boast 20 awards across 23 categories in the 2012 True Taste awards. Food tourism is big business. We need to promote quality, home grown food to create a key reason for visitors to come to North Wales. There is so much to shout about but the voice has been too muted in the past. Quality food is a key topic at this time and now is the time to promote it.Chris Morton – Managing Director, Bodnant Welsh Food

Carole Startin, Marketing & Events Executive for Tourism Partnership North Wales and Amanda Daniels of Koogar Digital Marketing then led an interactive workshop to encourage delegates to consider their online presence.

Information in quick time, on the move, up-to-date and relevant. The modern traveller demands this as a service.  Web based technology enables this as a very cost effective marketing medium. Destination North Wales and Food North Wales can form part of your marketing media- Amanda Daniels – Koogar Digital Marketing

The all-important welcome was next on the agenda. Alan Davies of Tourism Partnership North Wales briefed delegates on The Ambassador programme, an exciting new initiative training hoteliers to advise young people on career opportunities afforded by the hospitality sector. – Phil Raynsford of People 1st Cymru followed, by outlining their work to ensure a skilled workforce for the industry in the future”

We as a hotel have a truly international workforce but I find it extremely encouraging that so much is being done to attract and nurture home grown talent to enter the industry.” – Barbara Byrom – Human Resources Manager, Quay Hotel & Spa, Deganwy.

In summing up, the message was clear. Whether it is a trip for business or pleasure, staying in luxury full board, half board, self-catering, camping or even glamping – accommodated in a new eco pod, tepee or VW camper, North Wales can provide.

Press Enquiries – Andrew Thomas

Business Point – Coleg Llandrillo Cymru

Telephone – 01745 536300 extension 615

Mobile- 07796400610

thomas3a@gllm.ac.uk


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Sales are Up, New Members, New Suppliers – Houlden Members defy the Recession!

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One new aspect which members enjoyed was the Supplier “Stadium” Selling where invited suppliers were given the opportunity to “pitch” their product to members. First up was JSN Jewellery’s exciting launch of Canada Star Diamonds of Excellence, a new diamond brand exclusively for Houlden members.

Canadian diamonds are widely regarded as the best in the world and every Canada Star diamond is certificated to authenticate its Canadian and eco-friendly origin. Other well informed pitches were provided by Fossil portfolio of Fashion Watches, Domino, Bulova and Tivon. Those same suppliers were able to report a very encouraging response from members.

Inspirational speakers set the tone for the Meeting – Amanda Daniels from Koogar used Fat Boy Slim’s “Right Here Right Now” to open her social networking presentation. If the consumer market is changing in respect of technology, fashion, lifestyle, so the industry has to adapt to seize those business opportunities and be in the right place at the right time.

Read the full article on www.houlden.biz


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Upbeat reports at Houlden Group summer Event

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The Houlden Group MagazineThe Houlden Group celebrated growing membership and positive business results at its information-packed Summer Annual Management & Buying Event, held last week.

At the Houlden Group meeting, which ran from June 18 to 21 in Horsted in East Sussex, chief executive, Stuart Laing, opened the event saying: “Despite the recession and economic downturn the Houlden Group has increased its sales by over £1 million in the last three months; membership continues to grow, we have a wider range of new suppliers and membership enquiries are at an all-time high.

He added: “The industry is moving at a faster pace reflecting the continuing demand for fashion jewellery and watch brands and Houlden has placed itself in a strong position to offer its members more choice and flexibility.

Read the full article on the www.retail-jeweller.com


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Coleg Llandrillo Cymru column, Educate Matters with Joyce Sneddon – Business and Social Media

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MANY people think of social media (such as Facebook and Twitter) as a way to keep up with friends and family, or the latest celebrity gossip – people use social media, but businesses don’t.

A study by MarketTools (2011) showed that 94% of businesses actually do not use social media even for the most obvious task it’s good for – getting feedback.

That’s akin to not using cars, phones or electricity in the first half of the 20th century. Local business people can learn more about using social media to engage directly with their customers by attending a breakfast meeting on May 11 at the Deganwy Quay Hotel.

Read the full article on the Daily Post


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Food Conference for producers in North East Wales

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WELSH food hero Conrad Davies will give local producers a taste of what it takes to succeed in the marketplace at a food conference this month.

He will serve up his own recipe for success to food producers from across north east Wales at Northop Hall Hotel on Tuesday, January 31, starting 5.30pm.

And the current True Taste Champion, who runs stores in Dolgellau, Pwllheli and Blaenau Ffestiniog, will also be on the hunt for interesting food producers.

He said: “We are always looking for new suppliers. But it is a tough marketplace: they have to be different, they have to be quality and they have to be competitive on price. Producers need to get out there, they need to come into places like our stores and build relationships.

Read the full article on the Daily Post


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Coleg Llandrillo Cymru’s Business Point hosting Tourism and Hospitality Event

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BUSINESS Point, the business training unit of Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, will be hosting an event specifically for the tourism and hospitality sector at Portmeirion later this month.

Amanda Daniels, Creative Director at Koogar Digital Marketing will delivering an upbeat, informative, and relevant-to-industry viewpoint on how best promote business via the various social media platforms.

Read the full article on the Daily Post


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Marketing Booster Excels Business Prospects!

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Excel Ace Ltd - Social Media Screen ShotAfter months of ad hoc marketing and several networking events a week Traci Williams, Managing Director of Excel Ace, decided to trial the Pride Marketing Booster, Social Media Marketing and Training from Koogar.

The result? Well it has definitely made its mark on Excel Ace.

This case study was done in July 2011, which was the 3rd month in which the Marketing Plan had been executed.

It’s given me the consistency and focus that I was desperately lacking.

Traci Williams, a self-confessed geek looking to make spreadsheets fun, is Managing Director of Excel Ace, specialists in spreadsheet development; tailoring them to meet your business’ needs.

Whilst marketing Excel Ace herself Traci understood that it was about more than just the hard sell, but admitted that any marketing she tried was “inconsistent and based on guesswork.

However, the Pride Marketing Booster from Koogar, which looked at Traci’s target market, financial goals and also set up a 12 month marketing calendar, has really helped to focus Traci’s marketing strategy.

I think it actually takes me more time now…but this time is focussed and purpose driven, as opposed to just chancing it like I did in the past!

Although the client analysis, which looks at the demographics of your target audience, showed Traci was targeting the right market for her product it highlighted that she was not making the most out of her existing clients. The new focus Koogar has provided has seen Traci reduce the time she spends networking, concentrating instead on raising her business profile through social media; another aspect of the business that was inconsistent.

I used to use social media constantly, but then got so busy that I’d stop to concentrate on getting the work done. Then of course, it would get quiet again and the whole cycle would start over.

Through Koogar’s Marketing Booster Traci has now automated and interlinked her Social Media campaigns including E-Mail Marketing. Updating people with latest products, workshops and free Excel tips, Traci’s Social Media campaigns are generating a hugely positive response. A move that has not gone unnoticed by her followers and clients.

Koogar’s Marketing Plan has completely changed my business. The consistency of Social Media and E-mail Marketing has raised the awareness of Excel Ace and I have even been in contact with a company in California, who have agreed to refer work to me if and when the opportunity arises!

With her marketing plan carefully mapped out for the next 12 months Traci knows exactly what she should be doing, when to do it and most importantly, how.

It has taken time to build momentum, Traci is now in her third month of her new marketing plan, but the results have definitely been worth it in terms of boosting business and helping Traci to develop her focus and consistency when marketing Excel Ace.

It’s still early days for me using Koogar’s Pride Marketing Booster, but it’s brilliant and I wouldn’t want to not use it!

Additional Quotes

The continuous review of the strategy, where we tweak the plan if something doesn’t appear to be working as it should, is brilliant.

When I first discussed marketing with Amanda I was hoping to outsource this element of my business, as I didn’t consider this to be one of my strengths, but Amanda has taught me how and what to do…and it’s working!


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BLUE are proud to have been Koogar’d…

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BLUE Whole Blueberries (aka BLUE Sauces): We are a small fruit farm on the Welsh Shropshire border that produce Blueberry sauces, syrups, salad dressings and drink mixers.

We are a new, small, family run business starting out in a tough economic environment. Progress, costs, getting out there, costs, being visible, costs, design work, costs. Advice is readily available from a variety of sources, both government and private, but few have come close to the quality of advice we have received from Koogar.

@BLUESAUCES Tweet on Friday 12th August: Thought you might be interested. Since your course, www.BLUESauces.com are 7th on google list below BBC… Page 14 before…Many thanks :)

Implementing Koogar’s suggestions have boosted our online presence from near obscurity to the front page of search engines. Sounds great but there is a lot of time involved in getting there when you do not have an unlimited budget to bump up the ranks, but all you need is time.

The old adage of “you get out what you put in” has never rung more true than in this case. The key as I see it is persistence, keep at it, keep visible, keep people interested. Social media and websites are a fabulous business tool, a way to educate and connect with the customer.

BLUE are proud to have been Koogar’d…

Guy came up with the new idea for the Koogar’d T-Shirts. Thanks Guy! And we’re really pleased you have got so much from our Social Media Workshop too. Well done!

You could win your very own “Koogar’d T-shirt” by attending one of our courses. Find out more on www.koogartraining.co.uk


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Koogar flys to Jersey

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Outside my hotel room in JerseyKoogar recently flew over to Jersey to train our new clients.

Over the last three months the Koogar Team have evolved a brand, created a more user friendly website and have now trained the staff within the company on how to use their new website and update it.

 

Katie Faulker; Director of Excel Recruitment said “The website looks great and its a lot easier to use for the Excel Staff as well as our clients and candidates.

Amendments and updates were made on the fly while in Excel’s offices in St Helier; as the clients asked for them. The truth of a websites functionality is always known when using it for real. Training took place 5 days before GO LIVE, making sure the site was running as it should for the users and the staff members for Monday 20th June.

Here is a photograph from my hotel room.

The pool and weather were being admired from Room 42 while I was tweaking and updating of the website for the next mornings meeting at 9am. Only a few hours before I flew back to the UK. Koogar are International!

We had a catch up meeting to talk about the tweaks and show them to the client making sure she was happy with everything.

I hope to return to Jersey to do more business and to maybe even have a holiday.

Have you been?


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