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Freestyle Impact Study

 

Monday, 24 June 2013

Hats Off To Our Heroes




Nottingham will proudly host the UK's fifth Armed Forces Day National Event this summer. The event which will take place on Saturday, 29th June at the Victoria Embankment, will celebrate the work and outstanding contribution made by the men and the women of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, plus reservists from all three services.


The event, which is part of a week-long programme of celebrations across the country, will feature a great line-up of activities and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.

Freestyle is proud to have played a key role towards this historic event. Working on behalf of the Nottingham City Council, our creative team developed the creative concept behind the campaign, and devised the now familiar “Hats Off To Our Heroes” theme. The theme, and graphic featuring a trio of military service dress hats, have been adopted across the city and can be seen on banners, posters and tram wraps. Together, they form a powerful symbol highlighting the importance of the men and women who serve the nation. 

Alan Boyden, Freestyle’s Managing Director said, “Once in while you get the opportunity to work on a project that not only satisfies your professional appetite for creativity, but also feeds your emotional needs. Promotion of the national Armed Forces Day in partnership with Nottingham City Council was one such project. Here at Freestyle, we are delighted to be associated with an event of such national military importance and are proud to take our hats off to these heroes.”

Here’s a line-up of the day’s events

City Centre:

  • City Centre parade
  • Drumhead service

Victoria Embankment (10am – 6pm)

  • Flypasts
  • Past and present military vehicles
  • Exciting live and static displays
  • Live entertainment
  • Armed Forces through the ages
  • Veterans marquee

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Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Off the Eaten Path

New Freestyle recruit, Shirlene Campbell Ritchie shares her thoughts on what she misses most about sunny Singapore!  


Wanting to make the best of the sunshine last week, we had some friends round for tea in the garden. Like me, Su Lin is a Singaporean married to an Englishman. And, as Singaporeans do, we started talking about the things we miss most – at the top of the list was food! My husband says that when Brits gather, they seem to talk about nothing but the weather, but when Singaporeans are together, they can’t stop talking about food – and Singapore has the most amazing variety of food so we have lots to talk about! 

Culinary adventurers will be aware that Singapore just hosted the World Street Food Congress. This is a little ironic since Singapore doesn't have street food - the Republic took street food off its streets some 20 years ago due health and safety concerns! The traders (hawkers in Singapore parlance) were moved to purpose-built, hygienic markets (hawker centres) – and wherever you are, there will be a hawker centre within a few minutes’ walk. They open for long hours - frequently from dawn to midnight - since Singaporeans are fond of eating any and all meals out.

Singapore’s hawker centres have truly evolved into a national institution. The rest of the
Hearty Prawn Noodles
world has taken note: The Telegraph has a rundown of Singapore’s Best Hawker Centres, while writers in the The New York Times frequently cite them as the best place to savour
Singapore's three great cuisines - Chinese, Malay and Indian.

No one in Singapore takes a sandwich to work. Lunch is a vital part of the working day, and at any food court, you’ll see bosses, factory workers and OAPs all queuing together for deliciously buttery chicken rice, spicy fish-head curry or and meltingly good lamb briyani, next to schoolchildren and taxi drivers. As KF Seetoh, a former photojournalist who now publishes the exhaustive Makansutra guides to street foods in Southeast Asia, says, “Food is the greatest democratic institution in Singapore. There is truly no bland food and no bad restaurants.” Singapore’s street food is all about quality, affordability and choice - it's not just for the cool kids or in crowd. No Delhi-Belly either!

I’ve often wondered if we can make Singapore’s model work here. Could we make our lunch breaks more exciting? Could we go beyond sandwiches and burgers to enjoying the delights of steaming bowls of chicken curry or moist and delicious Wonton noodles at reasonable prices?

It’s always fun to go to Old Market Square when there is a fair on and enjoy some genuine street food – whether it’s the German stall selling bratwurst at Christmas, or beef satay on one of the world food days. We do it as a treat. Do you know of any street food gems here in Nottingham that you’d like to tell us about?

Now that sounds like some food for thought. 

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Wednesday, 12 June 2013

History of Marketing Infographic

HubSpot have put together this fantastic infographic charting the development of Marketing since 1450. The 'digital age' has totally transformed how brands communicate and build relationships with customers.

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Tuesday, 1 January 2013

Why creativity should be a walk in the park

Alan Boyden gives his advice on how to spark your creativity!


Where do you get your inspiration from? Is it sitting at your desk staring at your computer screen? Surely not the best place to foster creativity and innovative thinking is it? Think about it, how many hours a day do you spend doing just that? I like to think that real creativity is born out of a more flexible approach, not sat at a desk all day.

Have you noticed how much more productive you are after taking short breaks, or having a chat with somebody over lunch about matters unrelated to your work? How often do you work straight through the day and miss this opportunity?

My best ideas come to me when I’m not at my desk, when I’m out and about, driving or in the pub chatting, in the agency kitchen or even ‘shooting the breeze’ at the water cooler with colleagues. My very best ideas however are when I've not got a pen or phone to hand, usually when I’m in the shower or walking the dog!

I've never had a great work/life balance, but I’m pleased to say that I've finally seen the light and I’m working hard at getting it right here at Freestyle. A late convert, but its paying dividends already. Don’t put it off any longer, try that early morning swim, a walk with the dog or perhaps a quick jog in the woods? You’ll soon see why creativity and business really can be a walk in the park.

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Monday, 17 December 2012

Warmest Wishes...


Here at Freestyle we have a commitment to the environment by reducing waste and saving energy. We also have a commitment to those less fortunate than ourselves, so this year we are donating the savings, made by not printing and posting traditional cards, to a local charity here in Nottingham.

You can find out more about the charity by visiting www.emmanuelhouse.org.uk


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Friday, 14 December 2012

Do you really want to work part-time?


Alan Boyden offers his perspective on the world of entrepreneurship


Whenever I’m approached for advice by budding entrepreneurs, they often ask me what prompted me to set up in business? My answer is always the same – I wanted to work part-time (and now I do… any twelve hours of the day I choose here at Freestyle). In all seriousness, running your own business is never the easy option, especially during those tough early days when cash is not flowing as regularly as it was when you were employed. Even once you've got over the so called “five year trading hurdle” it is not always plain sailing. The challenges don’t go away; they just change as your business develops.  Perhaps by this point you've hired or fired a number of staff? You've won (and lost) a few contracts and you’re starting to wonder if it is all worth the extra effort? It always is.

I've met very few entrepreneurs who having once tasted self employment, would not go back to being employed again. Many of course are forced back to employment for a period of time for financial survival, but often find themselves frustrated by the restrictions of corporate life. They long for the precarious (yet perhaps more fulfilling and exciting) world of entrepreneurship. So from my observations it seems that once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur.

So, are entrepreneurs born or made? I still find it odd how universities can offer degrees in entrepreneurship, if the lecturers were so good why aren't they all multimillionaires? Maybe some of them are and just prefer academic life to sailing around the world on large yachts? Or are the very best entrepreneurs those who have graduated from the University of Life with a First in Business Common Sense? 

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Monday, 8 October 2012

Nottingham Entrepreneur Alan Boyden Joins Freestyle



The Freestyle team has welcomed Nottingham entrepreneur and founder of bcsAgency, Alan Boyden to its board of directors. 


Alan will take the helm as Managing Director, assuming the responsibilities of Freestyle’s previous Managing Director Ed Watson who now moves up to be Chairman of the Company. 
 Freestyle Directors Board (L-R) Tim Phillips, Des Buchanan and Alan Boyden

Creative Director, Tim Phillips and Des Buchanan, Commercial Director founded Freestyle Marketing Communications Limited along with Ed Watson back in 1991. 

“Having clocked up over 21 years at the helm, Ed deserves a break from the front line, but will remain actively involved with the agency’s clients at a more strategic level,” Des explains.

Alan will bring his extensive management experience and impressive contact network to Freestyle, to help us with our next stage of growth. 

“The time was right for me to move on from my former agency, having come of age 18 years on from its formation as an MBO from Grey Midlands. I am looking forward to getting back to my roots in advertising, whilst helping Freestyle develop its Public Relations, Social Media and Digital Marketing skills,” Alan comments.

The team look forward to working closely with Alan and developing the business further. 

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Thursday, 27 September 2012

These boots are made for walking!

Freestyle Marketing Account Manager Susannah Saywood will be taking part in a sponsored night-walking marathon in London on Saturday 29th September. 



Susannah will swap her dancing shoes for bright pink trainers this Saturday night!


Raising money for Cancer Research UK, the 26.2 mile Shine walking marathon takes place in London and Manchester every year. Susannah has been training hard in and around Nottingham since she signed up for the event with friends back in May.

“Cancer Research UK is looking at ways to prevent, diagnose and treat leukaemia and other blood-related diseases and I’m really proud to be supporting such a meaningful cause - it makes all the training worthwhile!” Susannah comments.

Susannah has raised a fantastic £436.10 so far. If you would like to sponsor Susannah, please visit her Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/zannagoeswalking

Good luck Susannah!

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Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Just like a fine wine, we are definitely getting better with age

Freestyle Marketing is 21 years young this year.  To many this will be an admirable achievement, especially in today’s economic climate.  However, others may be suspicious that this longevity is a sign of stagnation and something to be wary of.


We (obviously!) disagree and believe age, wisdom and advancement go together very nicely thank you.

Freestyle is a combination of people, all of different generations and each with their own skill, from those who remember life before Photoshop, to young up and coming pr people with a passion for all things social and online.  This combination gives us a unique outlook with the ability to look at projects from all angles.  Our experience means we know what works and what doesn’t, and because we are constantly evolving we are also well versed in the dark arts of social media and online pr.

So we believe 21 years is definitely something to celebrate – and will be doing just that for the rest of the year!



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