Welcome to the latest issue of Barques Review

Summer has ended (we’re not sure if it ever really began!) and the spectacular London games have been and gone. However, with so much to look forward to for the rest of the year, we’re welcoming the autumn with open arms.

As well as numerous new clients, we are expanding our PR services with the launch of our online promotion package. The service has gone down a storm, illustrated by the successful Johnson Fellows case study.

Read on to find out more.

Calthorpe Estates/TechPro/St. Francis Group/Boultbee/Varol Lubricants/Benniman/Nicolites/Johnson Fellows/Sword Apak /Webb Gray/ MCS Group/Overbury/Rodgers Leask

Calthorpe Estates The brief to design Calthorpe Estates’ review inspired the creation of a high quality, 30-page brochure, documenting the property and investment developer’s past, present and future progression in the Edgbaston area. The resulting work received brilliant feedback from the client.

TechPro The redesign of TechPro’s website elevated the audiovisual hire company’s corporate image into the 21st century. We created a clean, slick and professional content managed website, using close-up, abstract imagery of TechPro’s equipment, to reflect their industry expertise and meticulous attention to detail. TechPro are now proud to point people in the direction of their new website.

www.techproevents.co.uk

Boultbee We were asked to refresh a long standing client’s brand, along with an accompanying set of corporate guidelines. We developed a new logo for the London and Hereford-based property and investment company, which includes a modern take on the original Boultbee lion, and designed new stationery and electronic templates.

BennimanBenniman’s previous website operated in Flash so could not be viewed on mobile devices, such as tablets and mobile phones. So, we rebuilt the Bromsgrove-based construction company’s website - using more mobile-friendly technology - producing a dynamic and original design with animated functionality. We have also integrated social media channels into the website to allow users to share posts or connect to Benniman via their preferred network.

www.benniman.co.uk

Varol Lubricants When working with Varol Lubricants, we synergised the oil supplier’s marketing materials by implementing key colours, wireframe illustrations and abstract photography. The resulting theme was used to redesign the company’s website, label packaging, inserts and exhibition equipment. Our client was thrilled with the outcome and we are now rebranding its oil processing company, Midland Oil.

www.varollubricants.co.uk

St. Francis Group When St. Francis Group received approval to turn the former British Sugar Site in Kidderminster into a stunning hybrid development called Silverwoods, we were appointed to take charge of the marketing campaign. The striking, colourful design on the mobile-friendly website, site boards and advertising reflects the vibrancy of the scheme, while the PR promotes and documents the progress of the development.

www.silverwoodslife.co.uk

Key Projects

Barques BarometerWhat’s hot and what’s not in the creative industry

To Vlog or Not to Vlog?Blogging has become an Internet phenomenon - with many organisations now utilising the online communication tool. Yet, the next big thing to hit the blogosphere is video blogging, known as vlogging, which allows organisations to interact more personally with key audiences.

Fingertipped for SuccessAs touchscreen devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are dominating Internet traffic, website designs are becoming more touchscreen responsive. Graphic design therefore needs to be fresh, minimal and sleek to accommodate fingertip navigation and remain compatible with rapid changes in web and social media pages.

Calm Down Dear, it’s Only a Catchphrase!After years of the British propaganda poster ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ and its numerous parodies appearing on almost everything, it’s about time we waved it a fond farewell.

Playing Dirty Google’s ranking system has undergone a major overhaul. Dirty tricks - such as cloaking, duplicating content and hiding irrelevant keywords - can not only lower a website’s ranking but can cause a website to get banned from Google. Instead, website content should be clear, organised and original to optimise Google searches.

Case Study: NicolitesWith ever-increasing health risks, governmental legislation and continuous price rises, more and more people are trying to quit smoking. Luckily, Nicolites Electronic Cigarettes, based in the Midlands, offers smokers a true alternative that is cleaner, healthier and cheaper.

However, this innovative invention requires an inventive brand identity. Dave Elliott, head of digital at Barques Design, explains his work with Nicolites:

What was the brief?Our original brief was to create a website for Nicolites to target a younger market.

What design services have you provided for Nicolites?As Nicolites developed and expanded into supermarkets, the company required re-branding to signal its new mass-market position, instigating a redesign of the company’s website. Nicolites’ clean and contemporary website now reflects the brand’s innovative and fresh approach.

We have kept Nicolites’ website technically up-to-date by upgrading it to an e-commerce site to offer an online retail experience and virtual store locator.

What feedback have you received from the client?Nicolites was so thrilled with the original website and upgrades that they have become a regular client of Barques Design. In fact, we have also provided repeat design services for Nicolites sister company, Nicocig.

Getting social at homeWould you buy a house that you can literally picture yourself living in? Charli Ball discovers how a well-known Brazilian estate agent has expertly increased sales by taking the social media experience to the next level.

In order to support the proposition that its new apartments were exclusively tailor-made for each individual buyer, Carvalho Hosken has created The Social Home – an apartment fully furnished with the customer’s memories.

Using their Facebook profile information, the agent introduces potential buyers to their new home, which

comes complete with their own pictures on the walls, favourite programmes on the TV and even a personal phone call.

As well as creating a social buzz – with almost half of visitors sharing their unique experience on Facebook – the conversion rates to sales was three times higher than usual.

I wonder, are we likely to see more of this kind of innovative and effective use of social media in the future. Or, is this method of personalising people’s experiences just an invasion of privacy?

by Charli Ball

How do you rank?

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is no longer a fad buzzword in the virtual world but a prime practice that is escalating companies’ online presence and cultivating contemporary business development.

This innovation has been fuelled by recent updates to Google’s ranking system. The search engine reduces rankings for low-quality sites - which are highly saturated with irrelevant keywords and repeated content - and increases rankings for high-quality sites, characterised by relevant, useful and user-friendly information.

Hence, a business’ keywords should be sincerely included within webpage and social media content, realistically reflecting what people would search for to reach its website, to obtain the greatest quality ranking.

While experimenting with SEO can

boost website traffic, it is paramount that pages are regularly updated. Frequent, unique and appropriate content, such as interesting news stories, blog entries and social media, can help to increase the time spent browsing the website and avoid it from becoming static.

Case Study: Johnson FellowsUtilising this recent development, Barques PR has recently introduced a new online promotion package, comprising relevant press releases, regular blog entries and frequent social media updates, to enhance clients’ online presence.

After a three-month period, Johnson Fellows, a Birmingham-based chartered surveyors, saw considerable results.

May 2012 was also the first month the site reached over 2,000 unique visitors. Coincidently this is the month we began the activity.

Number ofunique visitors:

1,048 May 2011

2,028 May 2012

Average time spent on the website per visitor (in minutes)

4.76

April

5.16

May

7.46

June

7.45

July

Number of visits per month

April

2,601*86

May

3,298*106

June

3,223*107

July

3,384*109

*average number of visits per day

Percentage of visitors that spent more than 15 minutes on the website

8% 9% 13.5% 13.3%

April May June July

Dates for your diary

October 19The Harry Moseley Charity BallICC Birminghamwww.harryscharityball.com

December 4The Property for Kids Snowball 2012The Jam Housewww.propertyforkids.com

March 12-15MIPIMPalais des Festivals - Cannes www.mipim.com

March 13The Alternative MIPIMAnderson’s Bar And Grillwww.alternativemipim.co.uk

Meet Lee: Experience:More than 13 years of design agency experience, working with the likes of Coca Cola, Birmingham Conservatoire and Goldman Sachs.

Favourite Project:I thoroughly enjoyed the creative freedom I had while designing the national tour identities and promotional material for well-known comedians’ theatre productions.

Favourite Designs:I’m particularly proud of my work for national retail chain, Two Seasons. It’s a great feeling seeing your work in large retail environments, such as the Bull Ring, Bristol and Liverpool.

On a hot sunny day you’ll find me…...sat outside the clubhouse with a refreshing pint after a round of golf. Yes, I am one of those fair-weather golfers!

On a dark winters night you’ll find me…...hunting out a new band or producer. I’m always on the lookout for the latest new music.

If I was stuck on a desert island I would take…...my camera – it’s with me everywhere I go! You just never know when you might catch a random creative angle or stumble upon that perfect photojournalistic opportunity. Oh, and my iPhone – just can’t be without my music!

Meet Dave: Experience:I’ve just clocked up my first decade in the industry, beginning my career working as a freelancer for Sanctuary Records Label in London. Every role I’ve had has introduced me to new clients and industries from around the world. From blue chip clients to local firms with big aspirations, I’ve always enjoyed the variety afforded to me in this career.

Favourite Project:Ten years on, I’m still proud of my first paid job – VHS and DVD packaging for the first two series of a Channel 5 television programme, The Tribe. It was great to walk into my local HMV and see the shelves full of my packaging and point-of-sale displays.

Favourite Designs:I love the Apple brand. Everything is beautifully designed from packaging to product – it’s that kind of attention to detail that shows how powerful a brand can become.

On a hot sunny day you’ll find me…...Playing tennis if there’s a cool breeze, hiding in the shade if it’s hot and sticky.

On a dark winters night you’ll find me…...Reading, writing or watching a film with the family in front of the fire.

If I was stuck on a desert island I would take…...My guitar – ideally I’d take my piano, but I feel it would be hopelessly impractical to get it aboard my raft!

Meet Nick: Experience:With a degree in Computer Science, Nick has worked as an online business consultant and handled a variety of blue chip accounts, including Nationwide and MG Cars.

Favourite Project:Being involved in the co-ordination and delivery of an online marketing plan for a local university. This was a huge project that involved liaising with students, potential students and staff from a variety of different departments. It was a great feeling when everything came together and student numbers continued to grow.

Favourite Designs:The majority of my design work has been digital so I particularly enjoyed the rare opportunity to work on a billboard advert for a British car manufacturer.

On a hot sunny day you’ll find me…...Somewhere in Eastern Europe sipping on an ice cold Kamenitza and watching the world go by.

On a dark winters night you’ll find me…...Sat in front of the TV watching Champions League football or waiting for the latest footie news to break on Twitter.

If I was stuck on a desert island I would take…...A multi-pack of Red Bull to keep my energy levels up and an iPad with SkyGo subscription so I can keep track of the football scores!

Meet Nathan: Experience:Has a degree in Physics and Information Technology and has worked on a number of web-based projects for blue chip clients.

Favourite Project:A university group task to build a room timetabling system – we all worked hard to finish the system before the set deadline.

Favourite Designs:The Android 4.0 UI - it is smart, stylish and futuristic without impairing functionality and usability.

On a hot sunny day you’ll find me…...In a beer garden with a few mates having a catch up.

On a dark winters night you’ll find me…...On the sofa – wrapped up in a dressing gown and watching DVDs.

If I was stuck on a desert island I would take…..An iPod full of my favourite tunes and a solar charger.

Meet CharliHaving recently graduated from The University of Birmingham with a First Class Honours degree in Business Management with Communications, Charli Ball joins Barques as a PR and marketing intern.

She will be writing press releases and blogs for the company; assisting with marketing campaigns; and managing our online presence.

Meet The Team

New Clients

Webb Gray - Barques PR is working with Webb Gray – an architectural practice situated in Birmingham – to raise its profile and promote current projects.

Benniman - Barques Design has redesigned the website of Bromsgrove-based construction company, Benniman, to bring its online presence up-to-date.

Sword Apak - Following a two-way pitch, Barques Design has been challenged by financial systems specialist, Sword Apak, to revitalise its corporate websitefor the UK and the US market.

MCS Group - Barques PR has been appointed by Warwickshire building contractors, MCS Group, to publicise current and upcoming projects and elevate the company’s profile.

Overbury - Working alongside Overbury's national PR agency, Barques PR is helping to promote the fit out and refurbishment specialists' Central office to a regional audience.

Rodgers Leask - Barques PR has been appointed by Rodgers Leask – a civil and structural engineering company – to raise its profile on a national scale.

Jewellery Quarter BID WinThe Jewellery Quarter’s business community has supported proposals for its own Business Improvement District (BID), after 80% of businesses in the Quarter voted in favour of the initiative. The Jewellery Quarter Development Trust - whose board includes our own Jilly Cosgrove - was set up to lead the initiative. Barques has provided the JQDT with PR support and design services for the BID prospectus and campaign materials. www.jqdt.org

The Brendas 2012Guests were left thoroughly entertained as some of Birmingham’s most influential property professionals demonstrated their sporting prowess at this year’s ‘Birmingham Property’s Got Olympic Talent’ themed Brenda Awards. In addition to countless laughs, the event raised more than £20,000 for Property for Kids. View pictures at www.thebrendas.co.uk

Events

It's A Small World...

Jilly first met Webb Gray’s

David Delaney-Hall at a networking

event in the 90’s. The architectural

practice has recently become a

client of Barques PR. Webb Gray worked on Severn

Trent Water’s (STW) Coventry

HQ with developers Stoford,

whom Barques Design has been

working with for many years.

Coodart, a new client for

Barques Design, designed the IT

infrastructure for the STW building.Chase Commercial, one of

Barques PR’s clients, has

redeveloped STW’s old Sheldon

site into a Morrison’s supermarket. Jilly met Ted Pearce, Property

Director at STW, when she was

chairman of Women in Property.

He introduced the first paperless

office for BT at Brindleyplace.

Ludgate Place, 23 Ludgate Hill Birmingham B3 1DX T: 0121 233 2080

Barques Design:jilly@barques.co.uk

Barques PR:paul@barquespr.co.uk

@barques@barquespr

facebook.com/barquesfacebook.com/barquespr www.barques.co.uk