by If you’ve ever had a marketing consultation or a coffee with me, you might have heard my favourite (true) story. And that story is about me still working with my first ever marketing consulting client.
Here’s the story…
When I started my marketing consulting business in 2006, I did a free marketing plan for my beauty therapist, Ruby Francis at Rubywaxx. At the time she had one team member – and I needed some marketing plan writing practice. (I’d written many of them before, but not for a few years.)
Fast forward 6 years…
Rubywaxx now has 3 beauty salons – with a 4th opening next week – and a team of 10+ beauty therapists.
Best of all, I’m still working with Rubywaxx on their marketing each month. And that’s how I get my kicks – seeing a great business such as this grow and thrive.
What kind of marketing work do I do for Rubywaxx?
I work on a regular monthly marketing retainer for Rubywaxx, and the work is varied. To date this has included:
- Marketing planning: We started with a comprehensive strategic marketing plan, but now we work from a simpler one-page marketing plan.
- Idea generation: part of the marketing planning process involves generating ideas. In the past this has included initiatives such as a loyalty scheme, and lots lots more besides.
- Marketing project management: Making sure that everything that needs to happens, happens – and on time.
- Email newsletter: The production schedule I’ve written ensures this runs like clockwork. I write and research the articles each month, and source suitable photographs. I then liaise with the supplier who sets up and sends the email newsletters. (This is an icky, time-consuming job, so I outsource this work to someone who’s more skilled at this.)
- Website: I made the original Rubywaxx website and wrote all the content for it. The SEO website copywriting work I did means that the site receives a huge number of visitors – and the customer-focused copy converts these visitors into actual paying customers.
- Social media: Most of Rubywaxx’s Facebook Page updates are done in-house, but I add to this as needed to ensure that there are regular posts and updates.
- Marketing collateral: I’ve helped with (a) figuring out what marketing collateral is needed; (b) writing the content for that collateral; (c) sourcing photographs for the collateral; and (d) generating design ideas for the graphic designer to finesse.
Working with a vibrant, growing business such as Rubywaxx is both fun and rewarding.
Even more exciting, Rubywaxx has received recognition of its hard work
Last night Rubywaxx was announced as being a Finalist in the prestigious Westpac Auckland Central Business Awards 2012, in the Excellence in Retail category.
I’m thrilled and relieved at this: it was my idea they enter, and I wrote the entry submission.
Neck on the chopping block, much?!
Yes – but I know a good business when I see one. And it’s awesome to see Rubywaxx’s hard work rewarded in this way.
(In case you’re wondering, there were 111 entrants in the Awards, and only 4 are a Finalist in this category. So it’s an awesome achievement for sure.)
The winner will be announced early November, but in my view, Rubywaxx is already a winner.
Congratulations, Rubywaxx – you deserve this!
PS. Are you an Auckland small business owner in need of some marketing magic?
I currently have some openings available for new clients (but hurry, I take on client on a first-come, first-served basis, as that’s the fairest way to do these things.
If that sounds interesting, the first step would be to have an initial consultation.
Go on, your company could become an Award-worthy business too!
