CASE STUDIES

• Wild Card PR
• Clarity
• Add Juice
• AG Design
• Altcom Ltd
• Atlantic FM
• Business Cornwall
• Channel Computing
• Design for Sport
• German IT Development
• Go24
• InfoTeam
• IntoArt Solutions LLP
• Leap Media
• Luminate Marketing
• Niddocks
• Richard Quick Design
• Seed Brand Communications
• Unique Media
• Webfooted Designs

REPORTS

ICT and Media

Providing SMEs and new businesses with a new way to develop and implement their marketing strategies, Luminate Marketing has found a real gap in the market by becoming a much sought after outsourced service. Within the first three months of trading the business already has an expanding client list and director, Louise was over-whelmed to receive the honor of winning The Cornwall Hub 'Entrepreneur Of The Year' award at the annual award ceremony held at the end of June.

Louise Routledge comes from a background of sales, marketing and product development including 3 years experience in a creative management role for a major cosmetics manufacturer Swallowfield Plc. However, increasingly Louise found herself travelling back and forth from Somerset to London and grew frustrated with the endless commuting, so decided to take time out and go travelling around the world.

Upon her return she was determined to use her extensive experience to start her own company in a place that she loved. When asked about Cornwall, Louise said; "Having grown up in Cornwall, I always wanted to return and get back to a better quality of life but was unsure how, now with such a thriving business community and lots of support for small businesses it seemed the best place to be."

The idea for Luminate Marketing came to Louise a short while after returning to Cornwall where she quickly discovered the county's thriving entrepreneurial spirit and the number of exciting new businesses and SMEs. What struck her most was how the owners of these businesses needed to become instant experts in all fields of business from finance, through to sales and marketing, in addition to the knowledge they already had on their own product or industry area.

Whilst many new and small businesses outsource their financial needs to an accountant, seeking to keep costs down other business areas remain neglected, especially marketing and communications, leading to businesses juggling the management of these roles in-house. However, Louise felt she had spotted a real opportunity to provide businesses with a similar cost effective method of outsourcing for marketing expertise. So Luminate Marketing was born in March 2007.

Typically Louise will go into a business for an agreed number of days or hours a month either on a retainer or ad hoc project basis and will immerse herself in the company, learning about the products or services being offered. A robust marketing strategy is then drafted identifying ways to optimise the business product or service. Luminate Marketing's services can also be retained on a similar basis to ensure that the strategy becomes a reality.

Talking about the need for Luminate Marketing's expertise Louise says, "Many SMEs don't have the resources to fund a full time marketing post but recognise the need for marketing in the increasingly competitive market. By retaining the services of Luminate Marketing, businesses have access to a qualified marketing expert on a time frame and cost that's appropriate for the business." Certainly this view is shared by those clients she has already attracted. "As a business, it is essential to our  growth that we choose the right people to partner with. Louise at Luminate Marketing has gone beyond her remit to excel at her role in developing our marketing activities and bring us in more business. A breath of fresh air in today's business environment." Jon Stephens, Dynamics Signs and Displays.

Support
Louise has been impressed by the number of networking opportunities in Cornwall, "In my business it's all about establishing relationships and getting your name known, so introductions at the many networking events have been invaluable." Louise is also working with actnow to get her broadband rebate and access to the business broadband advice and support.

Clients
Since the business started, Louise has already established a portfolio of Cornish clients which she intends to build up to grow the business. Current and past clients include: Stranger Magazine, Step This Way (women's networking group), Richard Austin sculptor); and Dynamics Signs and Displays.