Who needs a design consultant?

2011-01-25T10:47:00.000-08:00

Continuing our work with The Brothers of Charity Services started last year with a dynamic new website, we have now further developed their brand image with a striking contemporary design to enhance their established more formal style and convey the progressive approach the organisation has. With the person at the heart of all they do, the services are extending to other marginalized groups in addition to those with learning disabilities. These include people with Aspergers, people who are homeless, asylum seekers and trafficked women and children. This is all documented in a 32 page Strategy Brochure designed and produced by Primary that is now available from the organisation (contact www.brothersofcharity.org.uk). The imagery created by Primary is now to be adopted worldwide.

Launching in India

2011-01-25T02:25:00.000-08:00

Primary Graphics are proud to have been chosen by Kannis Worldwide to design high quality packaging for a new range of holistic pet foods soon to be launched on the Indian market. Kannis Worldwide, who are based in Britain, plan to introduce the range to the UK market in the near future. Primary were chosen for our in-depth experience of the design and production of petfood branding and packaging. In addition to the packaging itself, a range of marketing literature and other material is also in production, taking advantage of the full service we can offer and our project management skills.

Video makes it Personal

2010-11-08T03:09:00.000-08:00

Primary Graphics can help you create a personal introduction for your website, including writing a script, art directing the shoot and managing the full production process for you. Here is a very simple example which has now been added to our home page. Statistics show that a video can greatly increase enquiries and conversion rates for new business. Don't be shy - if I did it so can you!

Belle and Harris launch new brand image designed by Primary

2010-09-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

An emerging talent in the fashion industry, Belle and Harris, design and manufacture accessories that instantly add style and individuality to the simplest of garments. All the brainchild of designer Jacqui Lythgoe, the brand has become recognized throughout the UK by high quality designer outlets who eagerly await each new range that comes out of their studio.

Primary Graphics have worked with them to create a strong brand image which is also now featured on a shared fragrance 'boyfriend' cooling mist, which is being used by clients as a high value gift for loyal customers, thereby building brand awareness even further.

Definitely a brand to watch!

Glastonbureeeeee!

2010-07-08T10:26:00.000-07:00

'The best place in the world - I can't wait to come back' that's how my son described it to Kiss FM and that's how we all felt. Not only were we blessed with a heatwave instead of the usual rain, there was a great atmosphere with no violence, few signs of any kind of trouble - just lots of joy and love of music and exhuberant, extrovert fun and good will. Once you have overcome the horrors of the portaloos, it is a back-to-nature, 'let it be' kind of experience, helped by the festival cider and spanning all generations, equally worshiping Snoop Dog, Stevie and other icons with one voice. It was brilliant!

Polish up your presentation

2010-04-26T01:11:00.000-07:00

Every now and then a business has the opportunity to present itself to a wider audience with a formal presentation, with projector and screen. Unless you have had a lot of experience and some natural creative flair, this can be daunting! Maybe you have inherited a rather tired Powerpoint presentation, or have put one together yourself? Does it fill you with confidence as the moment approaches?

How much more confident would you feel if you were able to use a slick, polished and entertaining presentation that really got your point across and kept your audience awake, laughing (in the right places), cheering and applauding - and going away with a lasting good impression of you and your business?

Primary Graphics can help you decide on the content, write the script, choose the right imagery, even add a voice-over and specially composed soundtrack. The finished product can be added to your website if appropriate, or emailed to potential customers. It may be part of a pitch for new business or an internal presentation to a sales team.

Whatever the occasion and the audience, make the right impression every time with a professional presentation. Why waste a golden opportunity to showcase your business or motivate your staff? It can be fun too!

2010 digital predictions

2010-03-01T06:21:00.000-08:00

‘The basic rules of brand building are just as important for innovators in the digital space as they are for traditional forms of communication. Using new technology won’t itself bring success; digital communications still need to be creative, engaging, and relevant if they are to cut it during the second decade of this century’
Millward Brown Futures Group

So much new technology at our disposal, so many tricks to get people to ‘visit’ us – but when they do…how do we look?....what are we saying?...are we attracting the right people?

Bad design is the same killer it has always been. The same turn-off, the same 1st impression wasted.

Using a good design consultant is as important as using an architect when deciding to build a house – someone to lead the way, someone to create something unique and keep it all on track until the job’s done.

Brand building is just the same – don’t leave it to the builder, or the plumber or the decorator….call Primary Graphics!

The future for prestige property marketing

2009-11-30T03:13:00.000-08:00

Primary client Miller Metcalfe are leading the way in the prestige property market with a fresh new approach to marketing and customer care.

Property search and selection has changed dramatically in recent years with 85% of all property searches now conducted on the internet. Miller Metcalfe Prestige provide customers with real-time marketing information about their property, marrying technological support with first class customer service and communication through account managers located on the ground throughout the North West.

All the advantages of internet marketing but with personal care and attention as well - that's their promise, guaranteed.

If you have a prestige property to sell (£400k +) you may not be aware that there is also a high demand just now for properties to rent in this price bracket and much higher. This could be a more viable solution in the current financial climate.

Please contact Primary as we can help you or your contacts to sell or rent out their property with M.M.P.

Be My Baby this Christmas

2009-11-04T08:16:00.000-08:00

Primary have been helping the charity Baby Lifeline to set up an online auction which will save the lives of babies across the country.

Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ben Kingsley, Sir Michael Parkinson, Jimmi Harkishin and Trevor Eve are just a handful of big names in film and television who are supporting the Be My Baby Auction by offering stunning ‘money can’t buy’ prizes.

It is a great opportunity to source some very different Christmas presents or client gifts and you will be helping a fantastic charity.

The auction will run at www.ebay.co.uk/charity from 5 November to 15 November.

We like a challenge....

2009-10-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

Recently Primary have undertaken some interesting projects requiring some quick thinking to resolve a clients requirements within short time limits.

Innovative but practical point of sale items were required to present Christian Audigier Wines and Champagnes.

British Cycling required a presentation to show the concept of a 'cycling hub' destined to be a feature in towns up and down the country.

Strictly Primary Graphics

2009-10-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

Primary Graphics belong to the Olympus Chapter of BNI referral networking organisation who meet every Tuesday at Shaw Hill Golf Club, Chorley - and have been for almost 6 years since its very beginning. Olympus has gone from strength to strength this year with rapid growth and a huge increase in business passed every week. This week a challenge was thrown out to members, to make the 60 second presentations a bit more creative - we were told to make a 60 second radio commercial for 'BNI Radio'. Primary rose to the challenge and were delighted to win the 'oscar' for the best presentation. Produced in our offices on Monday night...this was our contribution to a bit of fun, but, hopefully memorable!......see www.bnipreston.co.uk to listen in.

How do you present yourself?

2009-03-31T07:29:00.000-07:00

What should you pay?

2009-03-19T03:56:00.000-07:00

Help us to help you find out what you should expect for your money when you commission design. We are collecting information and feedback on the whole experience.

Without naming names, please tell us .....was it tortuous or enjoyable? Was a deadline set and was it met? Has the resulting brand image / marketing campaign / website produced results and were you generally happy with the service you received?

Maybe you are in the dark anyway about whether you paid over the odds - we can assess that for you. How long is a piece of string - we have quite a good idea! Where did you look for design services - the internet, Yellow Pages, the local printers, a signwriter, a large city agency, a freelance designer? Was it through a recommendation or referral?

Would you use them again and recommend them? (No names please we are just looking at how much you spent and what you got for your money!!). Fire away - it's all helpful!

Business websites

2008-12-02T01:50:00.000-08:00

What better new year's resolution could any business make than to attend to their website? Amazingly, some businesses in the UK still don't have one! Unbelievable? I agree but it is a fact. (www.statistics.gov.uk - '70% of businesses have a website'- 2007 ecommerce survey I admit so it must have increased by now). Surely these businesses will be presenting themselves to the world soon in the best shop window there is?
Many will have taken the plunge a few years ago and have something that they can't update (and never have time to anyway) and that maybe does their image more harm than good. Good news for these people - things have moved on now! You can now have access to a content management system that allows you to change text, and even images, on a day to day basis if you want to. It will become a hobby! How much more dynamic to have new stuff to talk to your target market about whenever they log on to your site. What a great way to introduce yourself to new contacts! There is little doubt if anyone is half interested in you, they will check out your website before getting back in touch - to see how professional you really are.
A good website will be working away for you - even while you are in bed!
If you own a small to medium sized business think about this over the Christmas break - and contact a design consultancy (like Primary Graphics) to help you get your ideas together.

marketing in the 'credit crunch'?

2008-11-25T01:41:00.000-08:00

As we approach December businesses will be winding down towards Christmas and maybe assessing the year gone by and thinking about making fresh marketing resolutions for the New Year. All this with depressing forebodings about how the credit crunch is likely to affect us all - tightening belts, cutting back on all spending. Traditionally marketing has been the first target for cut backs - even though most people know it's a 'chicken and egg' situation - to keep going, new business development cannot be allowed to stagnate.
There is much a business can do for themselves simply by having a marketing plan and working through it in a structured way at a pace that they can manage and maintain.
A design and marketing consultancy like Primary can help put such a plan together and provide the tools to implement it.
My first piece of advice is this - whatever is done should somehow be geared to collecting email addresses from all clients, potenital clients and targets so that a comprehensive database can be achieved. A small promotion may need to be put togther to achieve just that if email details have not already been sourced. Every promotional item used should be examined to see if maximum benefit is being gained from it in terms of data-gathering - whether that is confirmed contact details or simply feedback from clients on standards of products or services and user experiences.
Once the database is in place we can then work on segmenting the market and designing emailshots to each potential client that highlights u.s.p.'s and answers their needs. Emailshot campaigns can be closely monitored and results assessed. Regular contact with existing clients can be maintained with well-designed and informative e-newsletters.
As with all marketing, presentation is key. Brand image should be strong and consistent and concepts should be original, thought-provoking and clearly promote the u.s.p.'s of the business.
Where can you find all this expertise? Take a look at www.primarygraphics.co.uk - and start the new year with great design that works hard and gets results!

Why am I at Uclan?

2008-11-18T04:46:00.000-08:00

Why, after so many years in marketing communications do I find myself back in the classroom? I sometimes wonder when I am sitting in the rush hour traffic into Preston and grappling with the unfamiliar PC I have to work on - among other far more pc literate students. However the reason is this - to get a broader view of web development other than from inside a design studio, be able to talk teccie to my clients with greater authority and less reliance on picking other people's brains (That's the theory anyway).

We have for many years created successful and good looking websites for our clients - and are continuing to do so. We have never been guity of indulging ourselves in the design and look of a site at the expense of good search engine optimisation and accessibility. In fact we may have gone too far the other way and limited our designs too much to accommodate our web developers' wishes. Who knows? - hopefully I will soon! Now I am catching up on the history and how things have developed over the last 10 years to get us to where we are now - and this includes getting to grips with the whole html / css bit. I'm pleased to find things have simplified a lot and a lot of the frustrations have been eliminated.

What Makes a Good Web Designer?

2008-11-11T02:39:00.000-08:00

The very word 'designer' is sometimes used very loosely when applied to websites. Designing a web site must surely require some creative skills and assembling the content, probably the hardest, most time consuming part, requires indepth understanding of the person or business that the website is about.
It helps if the subject of the new website already has a strong corporate identity or brand image as this will provide the starting point for the visual style of the site. The website must relate to other marketing communications being used by the business.
Many web developers deliberately avoid any sign of consideration of typography and choice of images, feeling that this is not what the internet is about and it is all rather superfluous. However, as in every media, badly presented information has no credibility. A web page that is crammed with text in unattractive fonts and garish colours just shouts 'unprofessional' and the relevance of what is being said diminishes. In the early days some over enthusiastic designers indulged themselves with impractical designs that were contrary to guidelines and not search engine friendly.
Further down the line the gap between designer and web developer has closed. Users have expectations of what a website should look like and these have been lifted by strong, well designed, creative layouts that comply with web standards, consider quick, efficient navigation. many are still irritated by too many 'whistles and bells' that waste their valuable time, but good design, as always, wins through.

How to Choose a Design Consultancy….

2008-11-02T09:54:00.001-08:00

Why a design consultancy?

A design project requires a lot more than a graphic designer.

Your job needs a team working on it. This team will include a project manager, with experience, to establish a clear brief and follow the job through to completion for you.

To do this they will first spend time with you understanding:

a) the culture of your business

b) your taste and preferred styles

c) where the service/product needs to be positioned in the marketplace (ie. is it budget or premium?)

d) who your competitors are and what they are up to

e) your unique selling points

f) your budget

Who needs a design consultant?

2008-10-21T02:18:00.000-07:00

Good design is available to everybody. However, it's not always clear where to look for help. A printer or a signwriter is not the place to start if you need help deciding how to present your business to your ideal target market. (Have you even identified your ideal target market?)

Maybe you have heard about a good freelance graphic designer - is this the person to help you? Probably not. What you really need is a team of creatives to work together on your account, to plan a cost effective campaign, within your budget, and co-ordinate all your marketing activities.

If you have a new product or service you will want a strong brand image to set it apart from the competition and to demonstrate a high standard of presentation from the very start. This will make the work of brand building much easier and more effective. Signwriters can be briefed by the consultancy and supplied with approved artwork for signs and vehicles and the printing can be commisioned in the same way. Once your brand image is established marketing concepts that convey unique selling points can be developed and these will form the basis of literature, advertising, a website and all future e-marketing.

The place to find such a team of creatives is a design consultancy who will project manage the entire campaign and always to be there to advise and help you through the 'minefield' of commissioning design and print. Primary Graphics Ltd have over 20 years experience to offer in addition to top quality, cutting edge design. Original and relevant copywriting is also key to the success of a campaign. Primary can provide an integrated marketing and PR campaign that gives maximum exposure to all creative work produced for you, thus maximising brand awareness in the most cost effective way.

You will be sure of personal attention from myself, Jackie Williams, from the start and throughout the work we do for you. We outsource to our trade suppliers and 'shop around' for the best rates for you, so you are ensured of the most competitive prices for any work done.This is also the best way to avoid costly mistakes, born out of lack of experience in this field. We respond and keep promises and usually exceed expectations. Allow us to create something unique for your business.