We are delighted to feature in the Derbyshire Times for our design work on the Tourist Information Centre in Chesterfield. Seriously dodgy photo, so no laughing!

“Chesterfield Borough Council has given approval for a revamp of its award-winning Tourist Information Centre (TIC).  The refurbishment which will be carried out in February is one of a number of projects by Destination Chesterfield to update key gateways into the town.  The revamp will give the Centre a more vibrant, modern and customer-friendly location that showcases Chesterfield at its very best.

Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said “The impression we give visitors when they arrive in Chesterfield is vital. The objective of our Warm Welcome Campaign is to improve the arrival at key gateways into the town.”

Local agency and Chesterfield Champion, Crush Design, were appointed to manage the project and have created a striking new look for the Centre that embraces the new visual identity for Chesterfield.

Natalie Brammer at Crush Design said: “It’s been a really interesting project to work on as there are so many different aspects to the TIC.  Making the design and functionality work together has been a challenge but we’re delighted with the final look.”

The revamp will also introduce a new feature to the exterior of the building which will tell a short story about four famous people associated with Chesterfield and will include George Stephenson, Gordon Banks, Lady Baden-Powell and Bess of Hardwick.”

www.chesterfield.co.uk

Driving through the Hunter Valley, I couldn’t resist taking a quick snap across the vineyards, on our way to see our lovely clients Partridge Wines.

I was lucky enough to spend Christmas in Australia (very lucky!). Everywhere we went there were named bottles of Coke – such a nice campaign, if of course your name was included!

My lads named was on the list and here is a quick snap of his treasured pop bottle.

And breathe… Christmas and New Year are well behind us now (or well in front, depending on how much you ate!).

Time to change the website colours once again!

In celebration of how January gives us a clean sheet to start the new year, we are showing a little Peace, Love and Understanding.

Never have I read the business section of a broadsheet in such regularity as I have done throughout 2011. And it has not been happy reading.

In contrast to the financial gloom and doom, our business Crush Design and Marketing Chesterfield, has done great.
But how do you plan the year ahead in such tumultuous conditions? Well, for what it is worth here is my approach;

Generally

• Recession is not as evil as the press makes out. The Bank of England says the economy will only grow by 1%. That means things will pretty much remain the same – which is not Armageddon, it is.
• That said, it will not be easy. There is no easy money sloshing around and buyers will continue to remain very discerning.
• A good idea is a good idea regardless of the market conditions so pursue it
• Europe will continue to dog the news but will splutter on. I am not one of the doom and gloom brigade, and have just a fraction more optimism (all be it a small fraction).
• Work hard, but remember to have fun. No-one likes a business bore.

Design and marketing trends

• The transition to digital media is complete. It is the first and last thing marketers think of.
• Social media is gradually taking hold, even in business to business, but it remain search engine centric.
• Search marketing takes centre stage.
• Speed is back – quick websites are better than heavily designed slow ones even on broadband.
• E-commerce continues to grow
• Joint ventures and partnerships that promote entrepreneurialism will add the icing on balance sheets

In summary, good luck and we wish you well in 2012 from Crush Design and Marketing, Chesterfield.

What a fantastic year, hurrah! And now is the time to celebrate.

So eat merry and be drunk.

I know I will

Crush Design is being asked to do more and more SEO work for our clients. We have been very successful so far but it is time consuming work and we are having to hand over some projects (and the budget) to a third party.

However, if there is someone out there who would be interested in working with us then we would love to hear from you.

We have an open mind as to how such a relationship would work, but given the current economic outlook we are reluctant to take someone on full time (unless they can bring their own SEO customers).

We would prefer a contract agreement to start with.

The perfect person would be locally based, so could come into our office in Chesterfield and be one of two things;
1. Experience SEO person who could bring clients with them
2. A relatively inexperienced person (but good!) who would be willing to work for a lowish cost in order to gain experience
3. A local self employed consultant who is interested in a partnership

If you are interested please send an email outlining who you are and an idea of how you would like to work to seo@crush-design.co.uk.

Christmas is definitely here now, there is no denying it. I’ve already been to two school Christmas plays and Crush has long since designed Christmas campaigns for Destination Chesterfield and Green & Benz.

December is always a bit queer in business terms. Commercial activity slows down as people try to finish projects off before the new year, and then take time to review and pass sage judgements on 2011.

The good stuff

• Crush has grown again in 2011, this time by about 20%
• We have a great new site with a fantastic portfolio of work
• We celebrated our 10th anniversary in business, all be it quietly
• Chesterfield is going great guns in terms of inwards investment and optimism
• Our clients all seem to be weathering the economic conditions

The bad stuff

• The Eurozone is in big trouble with no quick fix
• That has hit retailers particularly badly
• Brampton Manor refused to pay a bill, despite sending us an email thanking us for our work
• We are all going to have to keeping working hard to help the economy grow again.

Merry Christmas!

Let’s face it, I am going to be fatter when 2012 starts. That’s because I love eating all things Christmas, but that makes my wife sad. But all is not lost because I can vibrate and oscillate my way to being an Adonis again.

A quick trip to a new website we’ve built at www.ifitglobal.co.uk and all my wobbles are gone.

These vibration plates are really taking the world by storm and from what we have read the iFit machines are pretty darn good.

Most machines just vibrate but the iFit machine vibrate and oscillate, which is twice as effective and that means better buns quicker.

Halloween and bonfire night are behind us – we are now on the run up to Christmas! But before then, America celebrates Thanksgiving Day and what a lovely set of colours we have in honour.