Members News

KGK Genix shortlisted in Creative Retail Awards

Nominated in ‘Seasonal or Temporary Display’

KGK Genix have been shortlisted in the Creative Retail Awards 2021. The Creative Retail Awards recognise and reward excellence in retail, spanning a number of disciplines, including store design, Visual Merchandising, inspired technology, Omni-channel innovations, bar and restaurant design, shopfitting and much more and are judged by a panel of industry leaders and experts.

KGK Genix have been nominated in the ’Seasonal or Temporary Display’ category for the flagship Holiday campaign for GAP. “We’re really excited to be shortlisted in the Creative Retail Awards! After a challenging year for retail and the industry overall, this is a great boost for the KGK team and we can’t wait until the celebration in October.” says Graham Pitts, Operations Director at KGK Genix. The Creative Retail Award winners will be announced on 14th October 2021 at a prestigious awards celebration held in London.

More about the GAP project:

https://kgkgenix.com/work/gap About KGK Genix: KGK Genix is a multidisciplinary agency providing creative, print, project management and installation solutions for some of the world’s biggest brands and retailers. KGK Genix group is the result of a merger between two well-established companies within our sector: KGK and Genix. The group employs over 90 people, based at four sites in Central London, Hertfordshire, and Essex.

Leading Herts digital agency nominated for six industry awards

A Hertfordshire-based PR and digital marketing company has been shortlisted for six industry awards.

Strand PR is a finalist in six categories of The Drum Recommends Awards for Digital 2021 and will be up against agencies from across the country in the prestigious competition.

The categories which Strand PR is nominated in include ‘client service’, ‘digital content strategy and creation’, ‘creativity and innovation’, ‘service delivery’, ‘social’ and ‘strategic thinking’. This year, the awards will be hosted virtually on Friday, October 15 2021, from 4pm, with the winners being determined through ratings provided by customers of each shortlisted agency. The Drum Recommends Awards for Digital, judged by senior bodies from brands such as HP, Walt Disney, Pinterest and Gymshark, celebrate teams that specialise in digital services and campaigns across the marketing and communications industry. Managing Director of Strand PR Laura Pearce said: “We go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service for our clients, and while we do this to deliver results, rather than for recognition, we’re delighted to be nominated in not just one, but six categories. “We’re a dynamic and flexible team and when we start working with new clients, we completely immerse ourselves in their business, understand how they work and what they want to achieve. I think this thorough approach together with our strong work ethic, our creative talents and the successes we have achieved for clients is why we have been nominated.” Established in 2012 by Laura Pearce and based just outside Royston, Strand PR is a flexible and dynamic PR, communications and digital marketing agency that invests its time helping businesses communicate key messages to their target audience in the right way in order to deliver better results. Laura has single-handedly grown the business from scratch, now working with the likes of national challenger banks and international prototyping firms. One client said: “Laura is a superb professional, full of great ideas for developing our strategic planning with regard to raising our profile and making us much more widely known and highly regarded within our industry.”

A revolutionary approach to web

development launched in Hertfordshire

Hertford-based Cariad Marketing has launched a new, affordable website services aimed at start-ups, micro businesses and sole traders.

Cariad Web Design combines quick and easy template designs with the expertise and TLC that goes into bespoke websites using the WordPress platform, providing businesses across Hertfordshire with professionally built, fast websites from an award-winning digital marketing company. The websites have a choice of pricing options, but could be as little as £50 a month. With the added bonus that they could be up and running in as little as ten days. The new websites will make any business look great on the outside, but they also have a lot going on behind the scenes to make the brand more visible to search engine bots, which will in turn make it more visible to potential customers. There are also a range of add-on services available that will ensure the websites work even harder. These add-ons can be included in the initial order, or they can be added when funds allow once the website is up and running and bringing in new business. Cariad Web Design is the brainchild of Hertford-based Cariad Marketing. Cariad’s Head of Creative, James Koussertari, explains the rationale behind Cariad Web Design: “Having a professionally built, fully responsive and fast website enables even the smallest brands to rise above the competition online and get noticed by the Google search bots. Getting higher up the organic search results will lead to more visitors to your website, with a consequent increase in business. But if you’re a start-up, small business or sole trader, tight budgets usually mean there’s a need to increase profits long before you can raise the budget for a professional bespoke website. But without a great website, it’s harder to attract new business and increase profits, putting you in a catch-22 situation. We believe we’ve hit upon the perfect

compromise with Cariad Web Design’s ‘bespoke templates’.” James and his team have created a range of templates (and will continue to add new designs) that offer low-cost websites that are fast, functional and flexible. These will give small brands all the advantages of a large bespoke website that is fast, safe and optimised to attract new prospects quickly and efficiently, but at a price they can comfortably afford. Cariad’s MD Justine Perry added that Cariad Web Design model is an accumulation of web development expertise building bespoke WordPress websites: “Cariad Web Design is an exceptional value for money website package, into which we have poured over 12 years’ experience building and managing websites for small businesses in Hertfordshire. These are exciting times ahead for the Cariad brand and I’m extremely proud of the team.”

A professional website up and running within a fortnight

The additional advantage of Cariad Web Design’s new template system is the speed at which it’s possible for a business to launch its new website - in as little as 10 days! This means small business owners can start getting their new website working for them more quickly, significantly improving their online presence at the same time as increasing brand recognition and giving a great return on investment.

We are pleased to offer a 10% discount on Cariad Web Design packages for all HCC members: For monthly packages: CWDMONTHLY10 For annual packages: CWDANNUAL10

Dawn Sanders WinWell Ltd

Having worked in elite sport for the last twenty years I have historically felt that talking openly about mental health and wellbeing was seen as a weakness. This Games has been different where strong, courageous athletes like Simone Biles have openly said they need to prioritise their mental health for their own safety and the needs of the team.

I have learnt the impact that change, uncertainty, purpose, and identity can have on wellbeing. If you solely base your identity on what you do for a living what happens when it’s not there anymore? Understanding change, exploring values

What might we learn from elite athlete wellbeing?

As the dust settles on the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games it provides an opportunity to reflect on what we might learn from athlete wellbeing.

and strengths and having an individualised self-care plan can often get athletes through those moments of transition to embrace the next chapter in their life. Athletes have taught me that wellbeing isn’t just about sleep, eating the right things, gym membership and social events. Athletes have often mastered these elements of life and still have wellbeing needs. What they want is the opportunity to speak and be heard; to a wellbeing coach, to a line manager, to someone who can show they care. To feel safe in environments where people can openly share about their whole life, not just them as a performer and to have some intentional, individualised wellbeing conversations.

This is now something I have learnt applies to the needs and wants of us all in work, in businesses and organisations. To create sustainable wellbeing staff want leaders and managers to show they care for them as people, to listen and to understand about their wellbeing needs to enable them to thrive in work and life.

To find out more go to www.winwell.org.uk or dawn@winwell.org.uk

Seven days to double your donation for free to help young people in need this Christmas!

With youth homelessness sadly increasing, our services are needed now more than ever.

The winter months are some of the most difficult for young homeless people and those facing homelessness. Being homeless is awful for anyone, but for a young person it can be a tragedy that sets a pattern for the rest of their lives, which is why it is our mission to prevent homelessness.

The Big Give Christmas Challenge gives people the opportunity to double their donation for free. For one week only, from Tuesday 30th November to midday on 7th December, all donations made through The Big Give website will be doubled. This means a £10 donation to hyh will be doubled by The Big Give to £20 at no cost to the donator. One donation, twice the impact. We have set ourselves an ambitious target of £20,000 and we need your support to reach it. And if we manage to exceed our target we will also qualify for The Christmas Challenge Awards which means we could be in with a chance of winning a monetary prize, and an amazing opportunity to support more young vulnerable people.

We can prevent homelessness in Hertfordshire together!