Marketing & Me
I confess, I love marketing. I enjoy it too, it is consistently challenging. I have spent all of my career in marketing and well, I am pretty good at it.
And the reason I love marketing is because at heart I am a super-competitive person. I like to win, and in business this means out-thinking and out-smarting your competitors, being better than them, attracting more customers and keeping them too, generating more sales and profit.
Business growth is our objective and I only ever start every project with this in mind. I mean, who doesn’t want to grow their business? Who doesn’t want to be better than the competition? Who doesn’t want to win?
My knowledge of marketing is better than that of most people (and most marketers too). It’s academically sound and applied through the experience of over 25 years of marketing roles on brands big and small in the real world, both off-line and in digital.
I am super-knowledgeable in food and drink, and in retail, leisure and hospitality. But the fundamentals of marketing are applicable to other sectors too, B2B and B2C, and I am working with clients in financial services, e-commerce, property and engineering. So, you can rest assured you are in safe, qualified marketing hands.
In fact, you will have guessed my purpose by now; to support your business growth by improving your marketing.
As for the values I work to, you will be happy to hear I only ever bring my ‘A Game’ to what I do for you. If I say I will do something, I do it. I am curious and think to ask the right questions of you and your business, and not questions for the sake of questions. Plus, my work must add value in growing your business, or we should halt the conversation.
And finally, our work might be serious and tough at times (rightly so or you wouldn’t be speaking with me), so we will try to enjoy it a little whilst we’re doing it.
So, I love marketing, am good at it and have lots of experience to offer. I am a good choice for your marketing needs. Businesses seeking excellence in marketing, please get in touch.
My Story
I have always enjoyed working in marketing. It is what I do and am really good at.
At my core, I have always been curious as to why a customer should choose one product over another. Finding out what drives that decision? The thought-process? The insights?
And then out-smarting competitors through clever marketing ideas and plans, so that more customers buy my product and not from a competitor.
So, I started in brand management, worked hard and learned a lot, about marketing and leadership, from more senior and well qualified marketers. I studied and passed marketing exams, I read the marketing press and took an interest in marketing in a variety of sectors. I worked on brands big and small owned now by Heineken and Unilever, by Weetabix and Britvic, and by Carlsberg and Whitbread. I climbed up the marketing career ladder, and enjoyed the journey, well most of it anyway!
I decided in 2018 to go freelance, and to use my expertise to work across a variety of sectors and businesses needing capable and clever marketing to grow their brands, products and services. My work tends to be for established small to medium-sized businesses (less than £25m turnover) and I also support micro and start up businesses too.
Working Together
No matter how big or small the business or the budget, every client gets my full attention and my commitment to delivering your objectives.
And if we get to work together, please never call me a ‘consultant!’ I work with you, alongside you and for you in improving your marketing. I roll up my sleeves and get stuck in. I promise never borrow your watch to tell you the time!
I work hard to find time for pro bono clients, and enjoy helping businesses and charities which need support and advice and are (hopefully) inspired by my passion for my profession.
I am a Board member at the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the Midlands, and as Vice-Chair run their events programme across our region engaging a membership of over 3,000 marketers.
My story is simple. I know a lot about marketing and doing it properly unlocks business growth. Contact me and I will happily discuss how it will help improve what you do, by phone, an on-line call, or even better a coffee and a conversation.
Don't just take my word for it...
“Chris has been an amazing influence on the Midlands Board, providing a wealth of experience and energy, whilst also being a voice of reason and creating a reputation for ‘getting things done’. His vision and ideas have led to the Midland’s two Webinar Express seminars, both of which receive…
Rachael Mabe
“Chris has been an amazing influence on the Midlands Board, providing a wealth of experience and energy, whilst also being a voice of reason and creating a reputation for ‘getting things done’. His vision and ideas have led to the Midland’s two Webinar Express seminars, both of which received amazing feedback and helped to contribute to the two themes in the Midlands. In his new role as Vice Chair – Events, Chris is working away behind-the-scenes so that the Midlands can develop and grow. I fully appreciate Chris’s efforts and he is undoubtedly a driving force now on the Midlands Board, and did I mention for all his inputs and expertise he is also the CIM Midlands ‘Volunteer of the Year’.”
Rachael Mabe
“We were introduced to Chris through the ‘Be The Business’ Mentoring Scheme. He was identified as a perfect fit for us and so he has proved. It’s not easy working with a SME, particularly when it’s a family business run by two headstrong sisters! But right from the start Chris …
Becky Valentine & Victoria Green
“We were introduced to Chris through the ‘Be The Business’ Mentoring Scheme. He was identified as a perfect fit for us and so he has proved. It’s not easy working with a SME, particularly when it’s a family business run by two headstrong sisters! But right from the start Chris enabled clarity of thought, focus and direction, having worked hard to understand both our business and our office sector. Through his affable approach and great sense of humour, Chris’ strategic advice and wealth of marketing expertise has proved invaluable as we have sought to redefine our future post-pandemic. Six months in and we are already reaping significant benefits from his business leadership. We can’t recommend him highly enough!”
Becky Valentine & Victoria Green
“Chris was able to look at our business from the outside in, with a clearer and fresher perspective. In a short space of time he got a very good handle on our business and range of customers and really made us think about how we were approaching our marketing. It’s great to have someone with his lev…
Laura Turner
“Chris was able to look at our business from the outside in, with a clearer and fresher perspective. In a short space of time he got a very good handle on our business and range of customers and really made us think about how we were approaching our marketing. It’s great to have someone with his level of expertise to help us with a coherent marketing strategy and keeping us on track too with our priorities. Chris says it as it is, is easy to get on with and I’d recommend his services to any business.”
Laura Turner
“As an e-commerce business, we have enjoyed phenomenal growth over the past few years, and wanted to ensure we continued this trajectory. Chris is first class in his digital expertise, working on our longer-term digital strategy alongside making excellent recommendations in what we do on Amazon, in p…
Mary-Anne Beattie
“As an e-commerce business, we have enjoyed phenomenal growth over the past few years, and wanted to ensure we continued this trajectory. Chris is first class in his digital expertise, working on our longer-term digital strategy alongside making excellent recommendations in what we do on Amazon, in paid search, SEO, website development and more. Chris has a fantastic instinct for and knowledge of digital, and his advice and support is invaluable in taking our business to the next level. I would also add he always responds with enthusiasm, is keen to crack on with everything we throw at him, and we also value the fact he is straight talking and if he disagrees with something, he says so. And finally, Chris is great at ensuring we get an element of ongoing support, which ensures our business is continually responsive to our ever-changing marketplace.”
Mary-Anne Beattie
“Chris is a brilliant all-round commercial person to have on the Good Guys team. With a Marketing and Sales background, Chris has been hands-on managing customers, visiting trade shows and driving new listings, alongside supporting business growth conversations around marketing, innovation, strategy a…
Steve Monk
“Chris is a brilliant all-round commercial person to have on the Good Guys team. With a Marketing and Sales background, Chris has been hands-on managing customers, visiting trade shows and driving new listings, alongside supporting business growth conversations around marketing, innovation, strategy and brand direction. I worked with Chris many years ago (in the corporate world) and knew that I had to get him on board for my new business. It is a pleasure once again working with him.”
Steve Monk
“Chris reviewed our business with a fresh lens, interrogating our strategy and marketing footprint.
We are truly impressed by his technical knowledge and insights and also by the quality of the recommendations we received.
We continue to work with Chris, post strategy, in our marketing delivery.
Very …
Scott Mclaren
“Chris reviewed our business with a fresh lens, interrogating our strategy and marketing footprint.
We are truly impressed by his technical knowledge and insights and also by the quality of the recommendations we received.
We continue to work with Chris, post strategy, in our marketing delivery.
Very happy and able to fully recommend Chris.”
Scott Mclaren
“Chris was an excellent sounding board to discuss our strategic options on how to approach and build a meaningful conversation and ultimately a proposal with a key prospect customer. Chris’s insight, experience and knowledge of the drinks and retail industry were invaluable and he consistently chall…
James McFarlane
“Chris was an excellent sounding board to discuss our strategic options on how to approach and build a meaningful conversation and ultimately a proposal with a key prospect customer. Chris’s insight, experience and knowledge of the drinks and retail industry were invaluable and he consistently challenged and pushed our thinking in a constructive manner and helped us get the core of the issues and opportunities.”
James McFarlane
“Chris ran a 2-day workshop on “Thinking Like a Client” for the Astus Client Services Team earlier this year. During the course he passed on the invaluable insight he has acquired over his years in the Marketing Industry. The Astus team members that attended all found the sessions useful, inform…
Matt Russell
“Chris ran a 2-day workshop on “Thinking Like a Client” for the Astus Client Services Team earlier this year. During the course he passed on the invaluable insight he has acquired over his years in the Marketing Industry. The Astus team members that attended all found the sessions useful, informative and fun – particularly enjoying Chris’ interactive approach to training. I would very happily endorse Chris to anyone looking to broaden their own, or their team’s skills.”