Why Jabberwocky?

Jabberwocky is my favourite poem by Lewis Carroll and features in the book Alice Through the Looking Glass. It’s reproduced below. It was my nickname back when I was in my twenties and it’s kind of stuck with me ever since.

This is what you’re getting

My career in sales and marketing has been long and varied.

Here are the headlines. I have:

  • Won 2 Aerial awards for radio creativity
  • Been a finalist in the London International Advertising Awards
  • Featured on the Radio Authority’s Greatest Radio Commercial of all Time CD
  • Created weekend furniture sales events turning over £600,000 for one store
  • Raised £45,000 for charity in one year.
  • Set up and ran GWR Fm’s charity, Bristol Kidz
  • Led GWR FM to Investors in People status in just 6 months
  • Spoken on Radio Creativity at an International conference
  • Ran performance coaching workshops for a group of over 60 radio stations
  • Set up the first DIY superstore in Poland
  • Exported goods to Antarctica
  • Sold building materials in Saudi Arabia

And in my spare time I ride a large motorcycle, write songs, play guitar and sing in rock band.

I am not content with the conventional. Too many people sit back and do things the way they’ve always been done.  I like to look at things from another perspective, do things differently, do them better.

This is what I do

Advertising

As a Creative Consultant for Global Radio I created countless advertising campaigns for national, regional and local brands. This led to me winning two prestigious Aerial awards, being a finalist in the London International Advertising Awards and featuring on the Radio Authority’s Greatest Radio Commercials of all Time CD. 

Marketing

The eight years spent as the marketing manager of a major independent furniture store, during the worst depression in living memory, taught me a lot about targeting audiences with highly focussed messages to ensure continued market share. This was done by creating detailed marketing plans and utilising traditional media channels (TV, Press, Radio etc.) and digital media (websites, email and social media).

Communications

Where marketing starts with a customer and uses the information to refine a business to meet a customer’s needs; communications starts with the boardroom and creates on-brand messages for all it’s stakeholders (staff, shareholders, suppliers, customers etc.). My time at Metrobus, a controversial public transport system, taught me how important well planned consistent messaging can be. Through newsletters, emails, public relations and strong media releases, a well planned communications campaign strengthens the brand and can help overcome any adverse publicity.

Presenting

As well as being experienced in presenting to a wide range of audiences, I’ve recently received the Award in Education and Training that enables me to teach adults in a formal capacity.

Product launches

Extensive experience of selling building materials led to a partner and I setting up the first DIY superstore in Poland in 1993. My role meant I had to research the market, put together a portfolio of products, own brand them, translate instructions, export them to Warsaw, import them and arrange the point of sale. For eighteen months I worked on the Metrobus project in Bristol, getting the branding ready for launch. Currently I’m working with a company in Edinburgh preparing to launch a new product throughout the UK

This is what I’ve done

Currently

Working with a number of start up companies to improve their web presence and voicing educational videos for Bristol City Council’s Community Learning Team.

West of England Combined Authority
April to October 2018

Creating websites and marketing campaigns for: Growth Hub (Helping business to start-up, grow and enter export markets), Future Bright (Helping people on in-work benefits to up-skill and reach their full potential), Enterprise Advisers (Raising the aspirations of young people in schools).

Metrobus
August 2016 to March 2018

Liaising with local authorities/contractors/designers/project managers/manufacturers/media/public. Including: risk assessments, press releases, public relations, media management, public consultations, public presentations, councillor briefings, design/development (vehicle/information point), brand development (logo, advertising), social media, website development, campaign planning

Park Furnishers
April 2008 to August 2016

Traditional media – planning, buying & creative. Digital media – website development and content. Social media – content and paid for campaigns. Point of sale. Press releases. Event planning. Charity fund-raising. Brand ambassador. Corporate strategic planning. Leadership of senior management team. Budgeting.

Global Radio
October 1995 to April 2008

Writing & producing radio commercials. Managing 13 advertising creatives at 9 radio stations. Brief taking. Budget setting. Training. Coaching. Seminars. Presentations. Led GWR Bristol to ‘Investors in People’ status, Set-up and ran GWR FM Bristol’s charity, ‘Bristol Kidz’

UBM Overseas
October 1986 to October 1994

Market strategies; business plans; sales budgets; customer relations; credit control; sales presentations; negotiating prices, rebates, discounts, market exclusivity & payment terms; own brand packaging; Polish translations; logistics; computerised product coding; cataloguing; sourcing, quotations; buying; computerising procedures; shipping; importing and exporting.

Jabberwocky

BY LEWIS CARROLL

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

     Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

     And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

     The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

     The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;

     Long time the manxome foe he sought—

So rested he by the Tumtum tree

     And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

     The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

     And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

     The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

     He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?

     Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

     He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

     Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

     And the mome raths outgrabe.