Roadshow Marketing Reflects Upward Trend

There is some good news for marketers as they move into the closing quarter of 2011. The latest IPA/BDO Bellwether report - a vital barometer of the industry - shows that marketing budgets are at last being revised upwards by businesses, bucking a three-quarter trend.

In addition, the ‘all other’ category of the report - which includes PR - recorded growth for the first time in four years, taking it to +1.5%.

This welcome boost follows a Bellwether prediction earlier this year that there would be a return to confidence in 2011, as companies spend more on marketing to increase sales and deliver growth.

It’s a trend that is reflected in the continuing success of Event Marketing Solutions (EMS) even in the downturn, as more and more clients invest in its roadshow trailers and event marketing expertise to get one to one with existing and new clients.

EMS Managing Director Keith Austin said: “Clients are becoming more focused and tactical in their marketing activity and we are working with them to make every penny count!

“Employee engagement is particularly important to keep morale high and people motivated. More and more EMS clients - like Sky, Barclays and Astra Zeneca - have used our event marketing roadshows to reach their staff in imaginative and energising ways, delivering fantastic results.

“Our ability to put clients products and services directly into the hands of their target customers where ever they are in the world is what makes our roadshow marketing offer unique.”

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Strikes may leave Employers short staffed

Following the nationwide strike by civil servants, teachers and leturers earlier this year, discussions are underway with Unions about another series of strikes later in the year.

The Unions have recently been threatening further strike action later on in the year over the changes to public sector pensions, but nothing has been confirmed.

What is your position as an employer should a staff member be unable to source alternative childcare during a strike?

Employment Law specialists Citation Plc advise employers to encourage employees to think ahead and to be proactive about looking at alternative childcare arrangements including asking relatives, friends or nurseries to care for children if schools close.

You could also consider allowing employees to take their holiday entitlement, look at the possibility of the employee working from home or agreeing time off that can be worked back at a later date.

Ultimately, if none of the above applies, then employees have a legal right to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off to cope with an emergency involving a dependant.

EMS takes record-beating Healthy Heart roadshow to Merseyside

The British Heart Foundation’s (BHF’s) award-winning Heart Health roadshow marketing campaign is enjoying its most successful tour ever, just a month into a 26-stop campaign in Merseyside.

The three-month tour, on board a BHF-branded mobile medical trailer, kicked off on August 23 and is beating all previous records for visitor engagement as it visits supermarkets and city centre locations, including this year’s Labour Party conference.

Roadshow promotions specialist Event Marketing Solutions (EMS) has managed the tour since 2009, supporting BHF in a hard-hitting national drive to tackle areas most at risk of heart disease throughout the UK. The charity targets and engages with members of the public who might not normally visit their GP.

The Merseyside tour has already engaged directly with 4692 people and delivered 1974 one-to-one heart health lifestyle checks, beating BHF’s target by 32.7%.

At-risk people on Merseyside are being offered lifestyle checks and expert advice from a specialist nurse and dietician on maintaining a healthy heart.

Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the BHF, said “The roadshows have really hit the spot with the people of Merseyside who are taking full advantage of this opportunity to come along and get some free advice on lowering their heart disease risk in a friendly, informal setting.”

“Fewer people are now dying from heart disease, but more people are living with it. Small lifestyle changes really can make a huge difference and we have been offering lots of free support and guidance.”

EMS Client Services Director Justin Isles said:
“We could not be more delighted with the success of the first month of the tour, and are looking forward to helping BHF to spread the healthy hearts message to even more people across Merseyside in the coming months. We know that a mobile screening campaign of this nature delivers a return on investment in terms of measurable effect on peoples’ lives and how they view their heart health.”

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