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SPOTLIGHT ON A CAP BUSINESS CLUB MEMBER
Featuring Sarah Orchard from Orchard Marketing
I hope that you enjoy reading and pick up some useful ideas and tips
******************************************** SPOTLIGHT ON A CAP BUSINESS CLUB MEMBER. YOUR NAME? - SARAH ORCHARD NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS? - ORCHARD MAREKTING ASSOCIATES WEBSITE ADDRESS? – www.orchardmarketingassociates.co.uk WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE YOUR CURRENT BUSINESS? – 16 years in marketing within the travel industry with big names like Kuoni, Hogg Robinson business travel, and Avis car rental. I managed the Avis brand in the head office across Europe, Africa and the Middle East and launched a pan-European advertising campaign with a budget of €6.3million! My job now is very different but I love it. WHAT MADE YOU START YOUR CURRENT BUSINESS? - I started my business in 2007 just as the big recession hit and at times it might have seemed like a foolish decision to walk away from my lucrative Corporate job but my motivations weren’t money-driven. I had become disillusioned with the politics, back-stabbing and how slow and hard work the progress always felt. Pushing treacle uphill with a teaspoon was how I often described it! I took voluntary redundancy in June 2006, it was time to make a difference and do something that had more immediate impact and was more rewarding. I set up my marketing consultancy in January 2007 with no clients and no contacts in the small business world. WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? – I own a horse called Bebo and I do a few riding club competitions with him – eventing - which involves doing dressage, show jumping and a cross country round in one day. I enjoy doing Zumba and pilates each week and spending time walking black lab, Tarn. I’m also a bit of a closet jewellery designer – when I get some spare time! J WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE? – Having a good giggle with Bridget Jones Diary – or Pretty Woman (I am an old fashioned romantic) - hard to choose and (yes I am that old!) WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEAL? - Thai WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE UK HOLIDAY DESTINATION? - The Wye Valley of course – that’s why we moved here! J WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION ABROAD? – we spent 3 months backpacking in New Zealand and it was amazing. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TV PROGRAMME? – George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces YOUR FAVOURITE SONG? – I really can’t choose I love so many different tracks and bands! WHAT DO YOU MOST ENJOY ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? – Being my own boss! And helping other people be more successful at what they love doing. This the most rewarding thing I have done in my career. IF YOU HAD A MAGIC WAND WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? Nothing at the moment and I am working on my magic wand to make some exciting changes – more on that soon! Mum’s the word! WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS TIME? Still doing this – I love what I do. So I will be working with even more small business owners and spreading my love of marketing and what it can do for your business. We also hope to set up a holiday business – so watch this space. DO YOU HAVE ANY USEFUL TIPS OR IDEAS THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH THE OTHER CAP MEMBERS? – see my blog post on 10 things I’ve learned in 10 years in business – all my business ‘pearls’ of wisdom are in there J HOW HAS CAP BUSINESS CLUBS HELPED YOU IN YOUR BUSINESS? – I find CAP a really supportive and friendly networking group. It a refreshing change from some of the larger national groups where it can all be a bit shallow and I have found that CAP has provided me with much more immediate benefit and I really enjoy hearing what other members are doing and helping spread the word about their businesses. --------------------------------------------------------- Thank you Sarah for spending some time answering these questions - it's greatly appreciated. |
Testimonials
Sarah's been absolutely spot on with her marketing advice - within a fortnight of making small but significant tweaks to my website that I would never have dreamed of, I saw my ideal clients knocking on the door wanting no-one else but me. She speaks sense and sparks fear - in a good way! - Frances Carlisle
The Marketing Review I had with Sarah gave me a clear and realistic marketing 'to-do' list that is starting to have an impact on growing my business. And I really enjoy blogging and promoting my business now that I know what I am doing!!! I am thrilled with the outcome of the website and have received some really positive comments. I can't recommend Sarah highly enough for any small business owner who needs to clarify what marketing they SHOULD be doing or a start-up business needing to hit the ground running. - Martin Bell “Sarah is a kick up the jacksee!” - Sarah Lewis Creative “The marketing review I had with Sarah really helped me to get a clear view on what I should be doing. Her recommendations are already having fantastic results on my website and blog, traffic to my site has more than doubled in only a month! I am totally impressed with Sarah's professionalism, knowledge and expertise. Also her patience and good humour with my stumbling attempts on the computer. Thank you so much Sarah.” - Eireann Littlefield “Sarah is best described as ….Professionalism, enthusiasm and deep marketing knowledge on another level.” -Tania - Doris Designs “Sarah acts as our external marketing department and worked with us two years ago to set up our marketing approach. We are in the process of rebranding and revising our marketing strategy and Sarah is providing the expertise we've come to reply on in that process. I have no hesitation in recommending Sarah for your business marketing needs.” - Heather Anne Hubbell Prior to hiring Sarah, we fumbled around with a number of half-baked marketing ideas but no real strategy or coherent approach to marketing our services. Sarah listened very carefully to what we do, where we want to go and what we want our marketing to achieve and helped us to develop an excellent marketing strategy that is perfectly in tune with our business values. I only wish we had found Sarah sooner. - Rob Toal
Before working with Sarah, my website was not very productive at generating leads for my business. She helped me work out what marketing I should be doing and then makes sure it happens each and every month. Keeps me on track! I'm so busy now its unbelievable and I'm even having to turn customers away as the appointment book is so full. She delivers great results for small business owners like me. Sarah is so patient, she goes that extra step to help and strives to achieve maximum results. Thank you, Anne 4 Paws - Anne Morrison “Sarah is a results orientated, highly dedicated, marketing professional. She is full of great ideas, professional and thought provoking. Working with her has been a real pleasure and has produced excellent results for my business.” - Mary Langan “What I like most about Sarah is her complete understanding of all forms of on and offline marketing. In my experience it is rare that a marketing consultant can have such expertise in so many fields, but Sarah pulls it off, making her a great asset to any business.” - Dean Corney “Working with Sarah is always a pleasure. She is a knowledgeable, creative and professional marketer. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious and I would recommend her without hesitation.”- Sarah Dorey "Sarah takes a project from start to finish, with great attention to detail and uses her skills and those of her contacts to deliver consistently excellent results on time and to spec. Using Sarah has been one of my best decisions to date!”- Steve Oldroyd |
