Blog

After my usual trip to the supermarket at the weekend I looked at the pile on my kitchen table and thought, “How boring am I?” Kellogg’s, Twinnings, Fairy, Sunday Times: all the same brands that had been in my cupboards for years. Why didn’t I buy something else? Is it the fear of change? Will it not be up to scratch? Am I a snob that won’t try a cheaper unknown brand over a tried and tested one?

There are many reasons why we buy some things over others but for most consumers on day-to-day items it is down to time. People switch into what is called unconscious behaviour and is the greatest challenge to anyone launching a new brand in a supermarket today. The minute you are through the doors you go into automatic pilot and throw the brands you are familiar with in the trolley. If you don’t spend time thinking about what you are buying you can get through a shopping experience twice as fast. It needs to be a big yellow special offer sign to wake you up and even make you consider varying from the norm.

www.haydock-park.co.uk

Haydock Park is one of the UK’s premier horse racing venues located between Manchester and Liverpool in the North West of England. Steeped in history and prestige it attracts large crowds all year round. Much more than just a horse racing venue it plays host to a wealth of conferences, events & music concerts.

Having worked with Haydock Park delivering its offline marketing materials for a number of years, Access was selected to develop its new website. A website that would reflect its position as one of the regions premier venues, increase visitor participation and repeat visits, and ultimately increase conversion and drive ticket sales.

Is A for…Alphabet? Or Access? Or Accomplished? Or even Adorable?

A is in fact just one of the giant orange letters that we have scattered around our office.

The GARGANTUAN letters became surplus to requirements after we had successfully completed a shoot for one of our clients.  The photo shoot was to promote a new scheme funded by the Welsh Assembly Government for their “Enhanced Leadership and Management Skills Programme” which helps improve the skills of managers and their workforce in businesses throughout Wales.

The shoot featured 3 workers intertwined in the GIANT letters which spelled out the words “Enhance” and “Gwella” (for all you non welsh speakers Gwella is welsh for Enhance).

After the shoot was over, we were left with 13 lovingly crafted GIGANTIC letters that needed a home.

So, what were we supposed to do with them?

Use them as part of the office decor of course!!

Simon poses with the letter E, Little Mark isn't so little anymore and Helen perches on the letter H!

I recently returned home from a fantastic holiday in Turkey, where the weather was perfect, the people were very interesting and the Hotel was amazing.

If ever you get a chance to visit the Hillside Su Hotel  in Antalya do!

But being the consumate marketeer (yeah right!), I did happen to notice the way in which the Hotel branded itself – and executed it to perfection – across it’s entire product portfolio. And i couldn’t help but think how much fun the management, the marketing team and their creative agency had developing and executing the Hillside Su brand.