We have one dilemma… to enter the usual 5k race or up the ante and double it to 10k. Neither of us don’t run at all, so the 10K race would be a great achievement (we’ll probably need a few short walk breaks along the way!). Training’s due to start in the next couple of month’s so we’ll keep you posted on progress.

Rach and Jo.

ps. We’ll be creating our online fundraising page shortly, watch this space!

We wish everyone a very Happy New Year and send special thanks to all of our clients, associates, and suppliers who have made us who we are today.

We wish all our customers a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Not only will you receive some stunning photos, you’ll also receive a lovely desktop framed print. Offers available for shoots in January and February 2012.

For more info, call Becki or Caroline on 01335 360103 or email info@redsquaregallery.co.uk

During November each year, ‘Movember’ is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.

Tom has joined the many Mo’bros across the UK who are half way through their quest to grow the ultimate facial fuzz.

Please visit Tom’s Mo’bro page at http://mobro.co/tomhiggins and donate online to help him raise funds for this worthwhile cause. Any donation, however small, will be very much appreciated.

We provide a range of IT Services and Computer Support in the West Midlands and East Midlands areas including (but not limited to) Birmingham, Lichfield, Cannock, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby, Ashbourne, Matlock, Buxton and Uttoxeter.

“Since 1995,  Clarke Computer Systems have been providing businesses of all sizes, with a complete solution to their computing needs. From the initial consultancy / system design through to implementation and  training. All with complete user support which continues  throughout the years to come. We take the headache out of managing your computer system, allowing  you to get on with running your business!”

Services include:

• IT Support
• Accounting Systems
• Networking
• Hardware Sales

Talk to us today on 01335 216104 or 01335 350756 about our combined website and IT Support packages!

Click here to visit the Clarke Computers website

The ego team wish Sir Richard and Lady Fiona much happiness for the future.

We view this as a sensible approach for both parties, as it allows both companies to budget accurately for the upcoming year, or however long the contract is set for and our customer is secure in knowing the costs will not increase for the contracted period.

If you’d like to find out more about our retainer contracts call one of the team on 01335 216104

You’ll know how important it is to keep in touch with your customers. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to do just that so how would you like to send a professional, branded seasonal greeting direct to up to 500 clients’ inboxes for just £150.00? For an extra £25.00 you can even add some festive music!

It’s cheaper and easier than sending out Christmas cards AND it’s better for the environment! Make your customers feel valued this Christmas and share some seasonal cheer. Give Clare a call at the office on 01335 216104 to find out more.

It’s certainly true that both businesses and individuals consume in a very different way these days. Things move faster and demand more flexibility and digital marketing does lend itself well to these demands but we personally feel strongly that there is still a place for creative design for print and here are our reasons why:

1. A piece of printed marketing collateral is wonderfully tactile. Nothing conveys the quality of your brand quite like a fantastic stock: you can adjust the weight, the texture and the feel of the paper. You can embellish your message with print finishes such as folds, embossing, die cuts, spot UV varnish and even additional materials. Quality, attention to detail, colour and brand can be communicated via print in a way that can’t be emulated on a computer screen.

2. You need print for those times when you meet with real life people! I know we all have immeasurably more ‘friends’ on Facebook and Twitter than we do in reality and many will tell you that it’s much more efficient to network virtually but people still want to work with people and real business relationships are built through personal contact. This may be in the form of networking or business events or just meeting a new client face to face but just in case your good looks, charm, wit and charisma aren’t quite enough you need something to leave with them that tells them who you are and what you can do for them. It could be a simple business card (see our previous blog for tons of ideas on how to get the most from them) or some kind of leaflet, brochure or flyer – something physical that acts as a reminder and reinforces what you have told them. You can hardly ask them to memorise a web link can you?!

3. There is still a place for offline marketing activity. There we said it and we don’t apologise for it either! Successful marketing is integrated marketing and yes, you can do some amazing things for your business online but for most businesses it should be complimented with offline activity. Use your brochures, flyers, mail shots, adverts and newsletters to direct traffic to your site and likewise service enquiries with tangible materials you can take or send to them. Every audience is different and for some online is not the be all and end all. You need to approach your target market in a way that is appropriate to them and a collaboration of both on and offline is often the most successful course of action.

4. But what about the environmental angle? Surely print is bad for the planet? Of course this has to be a consideration but reducing your carbon footprint does not necessarily equate to abandoning all forms of print. You need to act responsibly but you can do this by minimising waste: don’t print 1000s more than you need (digital printing is great for this and is now very high quality), keep your marketing targeted so that there is less waste via the recipient and encourage people to dispose of paper responsibly etc. There are also a growing number of printers who are taking measures to ensure their processes are kinder to the environment through more organic based inks, the use of recycled stocks and taking steps to minimise the waste that they create through the print process.

Times are definitely changing and you have to move with them but let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water – just because the new is fantastic does not mean the traditional is dead!

Whether you are looking for the latest digital solutions or fabulously tactile printed materials come and talk to us!