Vision Magazine - Autumn 2021 by dsgroupmag

AUTUMN 2021

CONTRACT PUBLISHING

BOOSTING YOUR BUSINESS WITH DOOR DROPS PAGES 12-13

CREATING TRUSTED PARTNERSHIPS

CUSTOMER PRINT GUIDE

CREATIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS

OUR MISSION To work in close partnership with our clients to create robust marketing strategies based on customer needs and business goals

• Create partnerships • Assist your needs • Achieve your business goals

TO FIND OUT MORE Existing Customers

Contact your Account Manager 01255 221322

New Customers

Contact our Sales Team 01255 442799

hello@thedsgroup.co.uk thedsgroup.co.uk

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE WELCOME TO VISION MAGAZINE

WELCOME TO THE

autumn

ISSUE OF VISION A

s Autumn fast approaches a huge welcome to our second issue of ‘Vision’

I was very pleased to have so much positive feedback from our first issue, the desire to inform sounds like it hit the spot!! In this next issue we continue to give advice and guidance on not only our services, but also ideas and hints which I hope help you, our clients.

Other news is our investment in a perfect binding machine and we also continue to look at ways of reducing our impact on the environment - with that in mind, I’m so pleased to announce that we are now the publishers of the official ‘Colchester Zoo’ magazine. I’m keen to hear any feedback from our clients. This not only enables us to address any issues that may arise but, more importantly, helps us to improve our product and services. I hope you enjoy this issue - happy reading!

I’m so proud of the team at The DS Group, they helped raise over £5,000 for Mind & MS-UK as part of our 20th Anniversary, you can read more on page 14.

Allistair Hunter Managing Director

We are The DS Group, a fullservice print, marketing, direct mail and media company based in Essex.

All enquiries to: The DS Group 7 Faraday Close Oakwood Industrial Estate Clacton-on-Sea Essex CO15 4TR T: 01255 221322 E: hello@thedsgroup.co.uk

For 20 years, we have helped companies, large and small, reach their customers and prospects. We deliver an in-house, integrated approach to get your sales, marketing and branding messages directly to your audience. From initial concept and design to print and the delivery straight into your customers’ hands. We offer a professional, friendly and go-getting service that provides you with the best value possible. And ensures you get the results your business truly deserves.

VISION magazine is our in-house magazine for our team and customers. All editorial, design, production, print and fulfilment has been carried out by our in-house team as a showcase of our services.

Discover us and join the conversation FOLLOW US FOR SEASONAL DISCOUNTS & PROMOTIONS

VISION is the magazine of The DS Group and is published four times a year: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

We really hope you enjoy receiving your copy of VISION magazine. If, however, you would prefer not to hear from us in this way, please contact us on 01255 221322 or by email at hello@thedsgroup.co.uk and we would be delighted to help you manage how we communicate with you.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CONTENTS

6-8

10 - 11

16 - 17

24 - 25

SHARING OUR VISION

BOOSTING YOUR BUSINESS WITH DOOR DROPS

PERFECTLY BOUND

EVERY ISSUE COUNTS

AUTUMN OFFERS

TOP TIPS FOR DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS

C O N T E N

12 - 13

Focus On Pages Pages Pages Pages

Top tips for direct mail campaigns Every issue counts Perfectly Bound Multiple Gains

6-8 16 & 17 24 & 25 34 & 35

Insight

Bid, win, fundraise, repeat Autumn Offers Data that makes a difference Helping you activate your inner print expert Do you need a promotional boost?

Page 14 Pages 10 - 11 Pages 18 - 19 Pages 44 - 45 Page 51

30 - 31

28 - 29

DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT

AIN’T NO PARTY LIKE A DS PARTY!

WE OWN IT!

ASPIRE TO INSPIRE

MAKING OUR HQ LOOK AWESOME!

T S

LET’S GO WILD FOR WILDLIFE

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CONTENTS

40 - 41

20 - 21

32 - 33

Company Culture We are all in this together In the hot seat with Allistair Hunter Sharing our vision The sky’s the limit We own it! NOVO Awards Making our HQ look awesome! Aspire to Inspire Ain’t no party like a DS party! One Team – One Heartbeat

Page 9 Page 15 Page 22 Page 23 Page 26 Page 27 Pages 28 - 29 Pages 30 - 31 Pages 40 - 41 Pages 48 - 50

Case Studies Drop it like it’s hot Let’s go wild for wildlife Rethinking Packaging Sign of success

Pages 20 - 21 Pages 32 - 33 Pages 38 - 39 Pages 46 - 47

Marketing Advice Boosting your business with door drops It’s not magic, it’s all about good data! Attract a crowd!

Pages 12 - 13 Pages 36 - 37 Pages 42 - 43

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / DIRECT MAIL

TOP TIPS FOR DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGNS TRACY NORTON-MEAD Operations Director

In this issue, I wanted to share some useful advice for Direct Mail Campaigns. Having these facts at your fingertips can be really beneficial when planning your next campaign… Direct Marketing dates back to 1,000 B.C when an Egyptian landowner wrote an advertisement on a piece of papyrus offering gold for the return of a runaway slave. One form of Direct Marketing is Direct Mail (DM) which has proven its worth and Royal Mail is the third largest media channel by spend behind Google and ITV. On average people are exposed to 5,000 brand messages everyday but often recall fewer than 12 of them. DM with its high recall rate remains a relevant and powerful channel which cuts through ad noise and is deliverable to every household in the UK.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / DIRECT MAIL

TRACY’S TOP TIPS FOR GETTING STARTED WITH DIRECT MAIL Planning

1 3 5

Target Audience

2 4 6

The key to any successful DM campaign is to plan. Start by outlining your objectives, spend and target audience. Make sure you have clear and concise objectives and an overall preferred outcome for example the introduction of a new product or service or the increase of sales.

It is vitally important to know your target audience, get this wrong and the whole campaign will fail. Ascertain and glean an understanding of who your ideal prospects and customers are.

Choose the right message

Integration with other marketing channels

A good message should be engaging, memorable, to the point and ultimately lead to a purchase decision. Personalised mail is 35% more likely to drive an actual purchase than unaddressed mail.

Data

Data is a one of the most effective marketing tools a company possesses. Cleansed and reliable data supports effective decisions that help drive sales. Possessing accurate and up to date data ultimately saves money by preventing companies wasting money on sending mailers to non-existent addresses or clients who have moved.

Consider if you would like your mailing piece to integrate with other forms of marketing for example a QR code to a website or social media page.

Get Creative

Mail lends itself to really smart ideas – not all of which are expensive. Try and think outside of the box to get your message across in an innovative way but always remember in the design process to grab your customers attention, keep them interested and more importantly include a call to action.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / DIRECT MAIL

Format and Printing

Mail is a very flexible product and once your design is in place it can be printed in a range of sizes and can include personalisation, scented inks and even voice and sound.

Mailing

Measurement Lastly it is important to evaluate the success of your campaign as this will assist your future planning and improve on the results you achieve next time. This can be as simple as adding a code to a flyer and asking customers to quote this when ordering.

40 million

million letters are sent weekly. Approximately 9 per household.

8 9

One of the most important steps during any DM campaign is to work with a mailing house. Here at the DS Group we can help and guide you through each and every step at a budget to suit you. We can offer value for money print and also discounted postage rates enabling you to increase your volumes and in return increase you return on investment.

of mail is engaged with.

When I was twenty-five I took a correspondence course in direct-mail. I bought it out of my own pocket. Direct response is my first love, and later it became my secret weapon. When I started Ogilvy and Mather in New York, nobody had heard of this. But we were airborne within 6 months and grew at record speed. - David Ogilvy - Marketing pioneer and creative genius, founder of Ogilvy and Mather

I will be covering each of these elements in more detail in future issues of Vision Magazine but for any further information please get in touch by phoning 01255 221322 or e-mailing tracy@thedsgroup.co.uk 8

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / DS TEAM

WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER We are proud to have the most passionate and ambitious people working at the DS Group. They know our services inside and out, and are important to us. Here, we speak to a few of our lovely team members and put them in the spotlight with some fun questions….

SEAN KILLEN

Print Finisher

TELL US ONE THING THAT PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU? I once worked for a summer on a kibbutz in Israel in 1994, it was in the middle of the desert and 45 degrees most days.

JONNY GEES

Warehouse Assistant

IF YOU WON £2 MILLION ON THE LOTTERY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT? I’d split at least £200,000 between family to assure their welfare, £30,000 to the South Essex Wildlife Hospital to help with injured wildlife, consider paying most of my mortgage off, putting what I can into an account that would make good interest leaving £10,000 aside for a lovely holiday.

DONNA FENNELL

Operations & Data Assistant

WHAT THINGS DO YOU ENJOY OUT OF WORK? Most of my spare time is spent standing on football fields. I help coach my daughters football team on a Saturday and then she has a match on a Sunday which takes up a lot of weekend time. I also enjoy going fresh water fishing which we always make into a little family competition.

DOMINIC LITTLER

Creative Marketing Manager

IF YOU COULD KNOW THE ABSOLUTE AND TOTAL TRUTH TO ONE QUESTION, WHAT QUESTION WOULD YOU ASK? How was the universe created? – I think this would change the whole world’s outlook on life, from religion to the meaning of life. Bit deep, sorry haha.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / SPECIAL OFFERS

EXCLUSIVE AUTUMN OFFERS Banish away those Summer blues with our fantastic Autumn print offers. With great deals on our print services, we can help make sure you’re not leaf-ed behind by the competition this Autumn!

THROUGHOUT OCTOBER & NOVEMBER

PRINT SERVICES

Looking to update your print material for the colder nights ahead? Maybe you own a restaurant and you’re looking to update your menus for Autumn? Or have a special offer coming up and need some posters designed? If so, then save 20% on all print costs throughout October and November.

QUOTE NOVEMBERSAVINGS WHEN ENQUIRING. OFFER VALID: 1 OCTOBER – 30 NOVEMBER 2021

OCTOBER

Are you a retailer or business selling spooky specials in conjunction with Halloween and need to get the message out there? Be sure to let your valued customers know by sending out a one-piece mailer with fang-tastic offers included. Save 20% on the design, print and distribution of one-piece mailers.

QUOTE SPOOKYSPECIAL WHEN ENQUIRING. OFFER VALID: 1 OCTOBER – 30 OCTOBER 2021

ONE PIECE MAILERS

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / SPECIAL OFFERS

NOVEMBER

DESKTOP CALENDARS

Have you considered creating a customized calendar and sending it out to your loyal customers for the new year? Calendars can help keep your business at the top of your clients minds as it remains in their office throughout the year. Save 20% on the design and print of desktop calendars throughout the whole of November.

QUOTE CALENDAR20 WHEN ENQUIRING. OFFER VALID: 1 NOVEMBER – 31 NOVEMBER 2021 All offers are subject to our T&Cs

LET’S GET CREATIVE CONTACT OUR TEAM TODAY! 01255 221322

hello@thedsgroup.co.uk

thedsgroup.co.uk 11

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE MARKETING ADVICE / DOOR DROPS

BOOSTING YOUR BUSINESS WITH DOOR DROPS W

hether you are a local authority, charitable organisation or consumerfocused business, a door drop can be an extremely effective and impactful method of reaching and communicating with your target audience. Door drops such as leaflets, flyers or brochures are a cost-effective way to get your marketing message into customers’ hands. They give you one-to-one moments with hundreds, thousands or even millions of potential customers without using personal data. In a world that’s becoming increasingly more digital, find out how a physical channel like door drops can be a highly effective addition to your marketing mix.

Contact us today for a free, no obligation quote. We will ask you about the kinds of people you want to reach and use a few pieces of information to calculate your quote. Contact Oliver to discuss your next door to door leaflet marketing campaign.

OLIVER SHORTLEY oliver@thedsgroup.co.uk 01255 442799

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE MARKETING ADVICE / DOOR DROPS

STAYS

IN THE HOME.

Door drops have real staying power, they remain in the home for an average of 5 days.

Door drops are revisited up to 3 times on average, keeping your brand front of mind.

of people say they remember reading or looking at local business door drops in the last 12 months.

Mail (including door drops) is the media to remember. It has a more powerful effect on long term memory encoding, 49% stronger than email.

Door drops boost your audience. 92% of people read door drops that are delivered to their home.

They really drive response. 67% were prompted to buy after receiving a door drop.

KEPT

IN THE MIND.

DELIVERS RESULTS.

WHAT WE DO, FOR YOU.

TARGET CUSTOMERS

PRINT YOUR LEAFLETS

DELIVER YOUR CAMPAIGN

We’ll help you target the right customers. Whether that’s by postcode, demographic or how close they are to your business.

We provide an end-to-end leaflet delivery service from design to planning, to print and campaign dispatch with GPS tracking on all of our vans.

We send your marketing materials out as part of our trusted postal service. So they’re welcomed into the home.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / CHARITY FUNDRAISING

BID, WIN, FUNDRAISE, REPEAT H

ere at The DS Group we celebrated our 20 years in business with an auction to raise valuable funds for local charities! The DS Group is extremely proud to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the business, and this occasion seemed the ideal time to take part in MS-UK’s 925 Challenge and run a charity auction to raise awareness and funding at the same time. The auction was held on social media platform, Facebook where The DS Group auctioned off prizes from local businesses including restaurant vouchers, hampers, spa days and many more!

Tracy Mead, Operations Director for The DS Group said “Our online auction proved to be a huge success, and we are honoured by the support we’ve had from the local businesses who donated the prizes, right through to the winners who bid on the items! Mind and MS-UK are charities very close to our hearts; to raise such a huge amount of money is a great achievement and I’m proud to donate these funds on behalf of The DS Group” The funds raised were presented via cheques to Mind (Mid and North East Essex) and MS-UK via small presentations held at The DS Group premises.

The auction raised a whopping £5,611.32 which was split equally between charities Mind and MS-UK. Julie Arthur, Corporate Fundraising Manager for Mid and North East Essex Mind said “We are always delighted when local companies choose to support us with their fundraising and are very grateful to The DS Group from raising such a fantastic amount for us. Our services are needed more than ever before and it means a great deal to us to be able to work with corporates and communities in order to continue to deliver mental health services across Mid and North East Essex.” www.ms-uk.org www.mnessexmind.org

Jill Purcell, Fundraising Manager for MS-UK said “The amazing efforts at The DS Group will help us to make sure anyone affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) has the information and support they need to live a healthier and happier lives. Every penny raised will really make a difference to our work. It’s great to have such support from a local business”

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / INTERVIEW

IN THE HOTSEAT WITH...

ALLISTAIR HUNTER Managing Director

FOR THIS ISSUE, WE PUT OUR MD, ALLISTAIR HUNTER UNDER PRESSURE IN THE ‘DS HOTSEAT’ TO ANSWER SOME TRICKY QUESTIONS!

If you could change one moment in your life, what would it be and why?

Defend an unpopular opinion of yours.

Not getting run over – it hurt!!

I don’t have unpopular opinions, life is about compromise.

Why are manhole covers round?

Do you think you’re lucky?

It would make it harder to fit with a cover. You’d have to rotate the cover exactly the right way. Therefore, many manhole covers are round so they don’t need to be rotated. ... Also, a round manhole cover won’t fall into a hole because it was rotated the wrong way, so it’s safer.

You make your own luck with hard work and valuing others.

How do you deal with conflict?

Not taking opportunities when they arise - take risks and have no regrets.

What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career? What did you learn?

Honesty and the ability to listen.

What are you currently reading?

What is a false assumption I may have about you?

I’m a news addict.

I’m grumpy – no just concentrating on other things.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE FOCUS ON / MEDIA

EVERY ISSUE COUNTS S

tarting out as a direct mail specialist 20 years ago, we have now developed into a print and digital publishing company offering the right expertise to publish and distribute our clients magazines.

We provide a complete end to end service for magazine publishing. Our clients can pick and choose what services they would like us to fulfil. Some utilise our expertise in every area and want the complete service including editorial services, some just want advertising services, whilst others want to work with us for fulfilment and postage savings. We can be involved as much or as little as you want.

OUR FULL PUBLISHING SERVICE INCLUDES: CONTENT STRATEGY It takes a lot of skill and experience to create the right content and structure of a magazine that will engage your readers and /or keep your members happy. DS Media work with you to build the right sections and define a clear strategy for getting the best out of your communication to your readers.

MAGAZINE DESIGNS AND RE-DESIGNS Our designers are specialists in magazine design and have created thousands of magazine layouts from scratch. We have also led many re-designs of existing publications to help readers re: engage with your content.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE FOCUS ON / MEDIA

EDITORS & JOURNALISTS SERVICES Many of our clients (especially membership organisations) do not have an in-house editor or editorial team. Our dedicated and knowledgeable team of writers produce consumer and business magazines, and digital news platforms for a range of clients. Having great content is key to your business’s success.

PRINT, PAPER, POST PROCUREMENT We print and distribute millions of magazines and supplements a year. Our clients benefit from these economies of scale and also enjoy having one supplier relationship as we manage all aspects including paper, print, fulfilment and postage within the supply chain.

ADVERTISING SERVICES Help fund your magazine by using our inhouse sales team who specialise in selling magazine advertising across print and digital media. We know that your good name to your customers and/or members is of the utmost importance. We act as an extension of your own team. We live your ethos and represent your values as we know most of the advertisers are probably your members too.

FULL SERVICE PUBLISHING BRAN ADVERTISING SERVICES

MEMBE

MEMBER MAGAZINES ADVE

FULL SERVICE PUBLISHING MEMB

ADVERTISING SERVICES FULL SE

MEMBER MAGAZINES EXHIBIT

BRAND MAGAZINES ADVERT

EDITORIAL SERVICES MAGAZI

If you are thinking of printing a magazine or outsourcing your current publication then we are just a call away. Our Publishing Director, Clara would love to chat about any aspects of magazine publishing!

CLARA DEEKS Publishing Director

01255 221322 clara@thedsgroup.co.uk

EXHIBITION GUIDES

BRAND MAG

MAGAZINE DESIGN

EDITORIAL S

EDITORIAL SERVICES MEM

EXHIBITION GUIDES MAGA MAGAZINE DESIGN

ADVERTISIN

ADVERTISING SERVICES FUL 17

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / JIC MAIL

DATA THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE he DS Group are proud to receive JICMAIL accreditation! This provides you, our customers, an important signal that the DS Group now has access to JICMAIL data and in addition, has a degree of proficiency in deploying that data in pitching, planning or measuring the effectiveness of mail.

JICMAIL works with a rotating panel of over 1000 households a month who complete a diary-based app in which they capture an image of every mail item they receive in a week. They record what type of mail it is and who sent it, and then record exactly what they did with the item both immediately and over a 28 day period.

What is JICMAIL?

The list of physical interactions that can be recorded for mail items includes opening, reading, filing away and throwing away amongst many others. This rich picture of how mail is interacted with contributes to a calculation of frequency of exposure – a figure which, along with reach, can be analysed for multiple mail types and audiences.

To put it simply, JICMAIL is audience research data for mail. As we all know, mail is a directly addressable medium. Unlike TV or print, there is no other reason to interact with mail other than to interact with mail. Simply asking people how often they are exposed to mail fails to capture the full picture. So that’s where JICMAIL comes in to play!

MAIL ACTIONS CAPTURED BY JICMAIL: The following physical mail action contribute to the JICMAIL measure of frequency of exposure: • • • • • •

Opened it Threw it away/recycled Read/looked/glanced at it Took it out of the house (e.g.to work) Put it on display (e.g. on a fridge, noticeboard) Used/did something with the information

• Filed it for reference or records • Passed it on/left out for the person it’s for • Put it in the usual place • Put it aside to look at later

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / JIC MAIL

How can JIC Mail help you?

165

156

145

Ultimately it can assist companies in their marketing strategies enabling them to plan more efficiently and inform better decisions and improve the customer experience.

124

JICMAIL enables companies to gain an understanding of what happens to mail in the homes of their customers and prospects, benchmark campaign performance against competitors and see how mail is now driving commercial impact such as online visits or brand discussions with even greater efficiency.

JICMAIL can also measure a range of commercial actions which are available across multiple categories and mail types:

• Bought something/made a payment or donation • Used a voucher/discount code • Planned a large purchase • Discussed with someone • Ordered a catalogue • Visited sender’s shop/office

At the DS Group, we are committed to offering our customers the highest level of marketing advice and are experts in our field. As accredited partners of JICMAIL, we can now offer strategic advice across audience research and data.

• • • • • •

Visited sender’s website Went online for more information Looked up my account details Used a tablet or smartphone Called the sender Posted a reply to the sender

To find out more about JICMAIL and how it can help you, please contact Tracy Mead.

TRACY NORTON-MEAD Operations Director

01255 221322 tracy@thedsgroup.co.uk

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CASE STUDY / CB HEATING

DROP IT LIKE IT’S HOT W

hen local company, CB Heating contacted us recently about their new training academy launch, we knew we could help. CB Heating is based in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. Clayton Browne established the company in 1999 and has been installing air source heat pumps (ASHPs) since the year 2000. The company now employs 52 people, with ASHPs very much at the forefront of its success. CB discussed their training facility with us, which was planned for a May 2021 launch. The new facility was for the intention of upskilling tradespeople on how to install and maintain ASHPs. CB Heating already hosts one of Daikin’s Sustainable Home Centres, meaning the company is well positioned to train up the next generation of ASHP installers using Daikin technology.

Naturally, at the DS Group we wanted to get involved and help support their plans to support installers. The aim was to provide the engineers with branded items when they sign up and attend one of CB Heating’s training courses. We therefore provided bespoke items such as branded bags and travel mugs as well as branded USB’s for general office use.

www.cbheatpumps.co.uk

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CASE STUDY / CB HEATING

“It’s always good to work with a local company, and the added incentive to support skilled workers is something we were very keen to support. We provided personalised promotional items which were useful and practical, as well as providing CB Heating with the level of branding they required” Russell Mead, Customer Care Advisor To find out more about our promotional products, or how we can support your new launch please contact us to discuss how we can help you!

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / NETWORKING

SHARING OUR VISION

ur customer relationships have always been important to us. We are lucky to have loyal customers who have worked with us for many years, however we don’t underestimate the importance of building new relationships. As the DS Group has evolved, our services have expanded and it’s vital that we continue to share our messages with likeminded local businesses.

We are proud members of Essex Chambers of Commerce and Networking Essex. Both groups give us access to meet other leading businesses and business owners in Essex. Earlier this year, we exhibited at two local business networking exhibitions; Spring into Business Expo in Colchester July 2021, and at Chelmsford City Racecourse in September 2021.

MEET OUR COMMERCIAL TEAM:

We plan to exhibit and visit many more local networking events over the next few months, so please looks out for us and say hello!

CLARA DEEKS

OLIVER SHORTLEY

Commercial Director

Sales Executive

DEBBIE TAYLOR

CHANTELL KESTON

Regional Sales Executive

Media Sales Executive

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / DIGITAL ACCOUNTING

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT CHRIS CORKE Financial Director

hris gives his thoughts on digital accounting, and how using a cloud based software solution can allow you to spend less time in spreadsheets and more time on your business… Digital accounting allows us to automate processes which means we can spend more time looking at the performance of the business and less time on data entry. This ensures we are able to make the right decisions based on timely, accurate information. The recording of transactions, paying our suppliers and credit control can now be done more quickly and efficiently.

Integration There are further benefits of using cloud based systems compared to traditional desktop systems, it gives us more accuracy, allows integration with other cloud based systems and greater collaboration within the business.

Accuracy The accuracy is vital as we rely on it to make important business decisions from the data provided by our accounting system. Previously you could have multiple versions of data in different systems and for that reason it was not always 100% accurate and it was also historic, weeks sometimes months old. Now everything is in one place ensuring much greater accuracy and the data is live, never more than one or two days old.

Digital accounting also allows us to integrate with so many other software providers, such as CRM systems, credit control systems and Automated data capture systems. There are a vast number of software options that offer solutions and insights which were just not there before with the traditional desktop accounting systems.

Our cloud journey The collaboration between the team has improved with cloud software as we can all access the same live data, from anywhere with an internet connection. It also means that we can share our data with our accountants so they are able to provide expert input on real time issues, rather than commenting on something that happened 18 months ago. It is important to plan the transition from analogue to digital accounting, it is a major change to any business and will require many hours of planning and training but it is completely worth it as the benefits for our business have been huge.

Cloud based software is revolutionising the way finance departments are working. Navigating through the last 18 months of the pandemic has confirmed, more than ever the need for faster, clearer and more insightful information.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / INVESTMENT

PERFECTLY BOUND H

ere at the DS group we are constantly investing in not only our team, but also new machinery and we are pleased to say that we have just invested in our new perfect binding machine! This machine will sit alongside the many other machines we have that enable us to keep all of our products and services produced in-house. We can now supply perfect bound magazines and brochures with a hard edged spine that enables us to give a very nice complete finish from just 12 pages and up to 90 pages.

WHAT IS PERFECT BINDING? Perfect binding is a process, commonly used by printers and bookmakers, where groups of pages are bound together using adhesive to create a clean, crisp and professional printed product. It involves printing one or more sheets containing sets of pages which are then laid out so that once the sheet is folded, they create a group of pages known as signatures. These signatures are stacked together and the edges, which will form the spine, are roughened to improve adhesion. An adhesive is then applied to the spine before a cover is wrapped around them. Once the glue has dried, three of the sides are trimmed to create the finished publication.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / INVESTMENT

THE BENEFITS OF PERFECT BINDING

WHEN CAN PERFECT BINDING BE USED?

Perfect binding has a number of compelling benefits. Firstly, and most importantly for many, it’s very affordable. Not only are perfectly bound books more cost effective than hard cover binding methods, perfect binding can be used on relatively small print runs, allowing customers to create high quality printed products on a budget.

Perfect binding is an incredibly versatile binding method. Making it suitable for a wide variety of publications, such as a 32 page magazine or a catalogue with several hundred pages.

Another benefit of perfect binding is that it creates a flat spine that can then be printed on. This allows information such as the title of the publication and author to appear on the spine.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU OUR CLIENTS? It means if you have a new launch of special products or a new service, and you want to promote that via a brochure or a magazine, we can present that is such a way that will wow your own clients.

Get in touch today and we will be more than happy to supply you with samples, and give you some help and advice on whatever project you have in mind!

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP

s a family business, the ethos behind The DS Group has always been to promote and support employee engagement. By making our employees co-owners of the company it has given our team a real stake in the business. In 2018, our MD made the decision to put the future of the company into the hands of its employees via an employee trust. Since making the decision, we have seen a significant improvement in employees’ relationship with the business, which has led to greater employee engagement, productivity and loyalty.

“My family and I set up The DS Group to make a living (as most family businesses do), however over the years it became obvious to us that many of the team members also had an emotional stake within the business. Therefore, I felt that the only way we could create a long-term future for the business would be for it to become employee owned. With that in mind, our long-term goal is for the whole business to be placed in the trust, thus placing its future in the team’s hands. We as a family are passionate about achieving this end goal which I believe will benefit not only the team but also our clients and suppliers.” Allistair Hunter, Managing Director WHAT IS EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP? Employee ownership is where the employees of a business own all or most of the shares in the company. This form of business ownership is rapidly growing in popularity as it offers a number of highly valuable benefits for businesses, their employees and the owners looking at succession planning. Examples of these are The John Lewis Partnership and Richer Sounds. While employee ownership is gaining a lot of attention at the moment, the concept is not a new one. The John Lewis Partnership was formed as an employee-owned company in 1929 by a visionary of his time, John Spedan Lewis.

Employee ownership has allowed The DS Group to continue to thrive as an independent entity for many years to come. 26

Allistair Hunter, Managing Director

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / NOVO AWARDS

CELEBRATING WHERE ESSEX DOES BUSINESS WITH THE WORLD! W

e are very excited to announce that we are officially an Award-Winning business, and have recently won a NOVO Award for business innovation! The NOVO Awards celebrate commercial success across six streams, they also take into account how ethical the innovation’s roadmap was and what legacy it will create. In order to win a NOVO Award, the DS Group had to show that we have combined innovation in any of the six streams together with the qualities of being smart, ethical and principled.

THESE SIX STREAMS ARE: SOCIETY BEST USE OF BUSINESS SUPPORT ENVIRONMENT DIGITECH CREATIVE & EXPERIENCE ECONOMY

We were able demonstrate that we have harnessed innovation across Creative & Experience and the Economy stream, and were able to show outcomes that resulted in a positive impact. The NOVO Awards 2021 are powered by The best Growth Hub. The BEST Growth Hub aims to help businesses identify and realise their potential with free business support for growth. It provides a focal point for businesses that are looking to increase their competitiveness and grow, it offers a great choice of advice, training, networking and more, all tailored to your needs. The NOVO Awards presentation was held on Thursday 21st October 2021 at Braxted Park Estate, Essex. Allistair Hunter, Clara Deeks, and Dominic Littler attended the ceremony to collect our award. We are all very proud!

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / INSIDE DS

MAKING OUR HQ LOOK AWESOME! Following the pandemic, we wanted to give our team a boost by brightening up our lovely offices and warehouse at our Clacton base. As the company has evolved, so has our fun and lively team and we wanted their energy and enthusiasm reflected in the workplace! So our Commercial Director, Clara and Creative Marketing Manager, Dom led the project injecting some vibrant colours across our white walls. Concentrating on our four core brand colours, feature walls were painted, graphics and logos were put up, window vinyls added, signage was changed, and we have even turned our kitchen into the DS Diner! HQ is certainly looking a lot brighter now!

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY COMPANY CULTURECULTURE / APPRENTICESHIPS / INSIDE DS

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / APPRENTICESHIPS

ASPIRE TO INSPIRE! H

ere at DS, we understand how important it is for young people to get on the first rung of the career ladder. As an employee-owned business, we like to offer opportunities to young locals who are looking for their first step into the world of print and marketing. We’ve had previous successes with apprentices within our Creative Studio, and a few months ago we made the decision to recruit for a digital marketing apprentice to assist the creative team in the design and marketing studio.

AS A BUSINESS, THE BENEFITS TO US ARE: • As an employer, we can get funding from the government to help pay for apprenticeship training. • Hiring an apprentice is a productive and effective way to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce We can adapt their training according to the needs of our business. • They’re motivated to learn new skills.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / APPRENTICESHIPS

Meet Amy, our new Digital Marketing Apprentice here at DS. She has a keen interest in photography/videography and graphic design. Amy also has an understanding of photoshop and illustrator and enjoys using Instagram. We sat down and spoke to Amy on what she hopes to learn with us and training provider, ESTIO, over the next 18 months… WHAT A-LEVELS DID YOU STUDY AND HOW DID YOU GET ON? I studied Graphic Design, Media Sudies and Film Studies and overall achieved B, C, C.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE ON AN APPRENTICESHIP OVER UNIVERSITY? After I completed my college studies, I was lucky enough to know what career path I wanted to pursue making the choice between an apprenticeship and university easy! I’ve never been one to learn from textbooks and lectures and always favoured a hands-on approach, this made an apprenticeship the obvious choice for me. Now I get to learn about the industry while working alongside an amazing team, earning money whilst I work towards my qualification.

HAS THE WORK AT THE DS GROUP BEEN INTEGRAL WITH YOUR APPRENTICESHIP COURSE, AND HOW DOES IT WORK? Both my apprenticeship work and my everyday tasks with The DS Group go hand in hand with each other and equally help me to succeed in every aspect of my role. I am set monthly assignments to write a case study on a task that I have completed at work. This enables me to reflect on what I have previously learnt and start working on new areas of digital marketing. Alongside this, I have regular training sessions with other apprentices which have been really helpful when learning new topics that I can implement at work. At the end of the 12 months, all of my work will be submitted to the Chartered Institute for IT (BSC) along with an end point synoptic project and an interview before I receive my grade.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GET OUT OF YOUR APPRENTICESHIP? My apprenticeship is graded in the traditional pass, merit and distinction and I’m aiming for that distinction! I hope that from all my learning I will be ready to work in the industry and even offer some of my own ideas to colleagues and customers.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 18 MONTHS’ TIME? In 18 months’ time I am hoping to have completed my apprenticeship to my highest ability and gained as much knowledge as possible from the course. I will be able to apply this knowledge in my working environment, helping others and fulfilling potential customers requirements. I’d like to continue progressing in the marketing sector, and I know that’s something that I’ll have an opportunity to do at The DS Group. I’m also excited to take on more responsibilities in the next 18 months and potentially even take the lead on some marketing campaigns.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CASE STUDY / GARDENNATURE

ardenature is a family run manufacturer and supplier of high quality eco-friendly products which have been designed specifically for observing all forms of wildlife. At the DS Group we have spent the last few years investigating ways that we as an organisation can reduce our impact on the planet. We have worked with a number of companies to either reduce or remove various materials from our production processes, most notably the use of plastic. Along with the above, we work very closely with Essex Wildlife Trust on various other projects to reduce our waste, and offset our impact on the environment.

So it wasn’t purely by chance that when Gardenature were looking for a local print partner, that Essex Wildlife Trust recommended us as a trusted and environmentally friendly supplier! Naturally, we hit it off with Gardenature immediately and have been able to supply printed items across a broad range of their products including: •

Habitats – Instructions for Chicken lodges and houses

•

Nest box instructions, price lists, and product guides

•

Bespoke Stickers and labels

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CASE STUDY / GARDENNATURE

We are also in the process of discussing a strategic direct mail campaign. Gardenature understand the importance of data, and have built up an extensive customer database. As we are ISO certified and GDPR compliant we were in a strong position to carry out this work for them. This includes data cleansing, and providing expert marketing advice to ensure they get the best value and the best possible return. If you’d like us to become your print partner, please contact us to discuss how we can work together and form a trusted partnership.

www.gardenature.co.uk

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE FOCUS ON / MARKETING

MULTIPLE GAINS W

hen it comes to marketing strategies, there are many different channels to choose from. So why not combine multiple routes to market for your next marketing campaign? Our Creative Marketing Manager Dom Littler explains how using a range of marketing channels can benefit your next marketing campaign.

DOMINIC LITTLER Creative Marketing Manager

In today’s modern world it can sometimes be hard to get your message to stand out from the crowd, especially since COVID-19 saw thousands of businesses suddenly move their marketing strategies online. Multi-channel marketing mixes the same message with many different strategies to attract a larger range of customers. This effective approach includes many marketing channels such as email, direct mail, website landing pages, social media and print display adverts. Using several marketing strategies will grab customers attention in their preferred way – for example, a customer may not use social media or have an active email address, so sending out a piece of direct mail alongside a social media campaign will reach those potential customers who wouldn’t have seen the digital campaign.

Many customers interact with brands on several marketing channels, whether it’s one of the many social media platforms, or via email newsletters – so by expanding your campaigns to include multi-channel marketing, it’s possible to increase brand exposure, find more customers who have purchasing potential or interest in your brand and give consumers more opportunities to engage with your brand. At The DS Group we recently ran a multichannel campaign to help spread the word about our impressive 20-year milestone of being in business. This campaign included a wide range of marketing channels such as video content distributed across our social media platforms, e-shots, a selection of gifts sent out via direct mail and we even held a staff party, which generated even more content for us to use to shout about our 20-year anniversary. The end goal is to use multiple marketing channels to ensure the messages you are trying to get out, reach target audiences regardless of the devices, communities, technologies, or platforms they may or may not be using.

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE FOCUS ON / MARKETING

IF YOU ARE ONLY MARKETING ON ONE PLATFORM AND FINDING YOUR MESSAGE ISN’T REACHING ITS FULL POTENTIAL, THEN IT’S TIME TO START ADDING SOME NEW CHANNELS TO YOUR MARKETING MIX! To find out how The DS Group can help you plan your next BIG multi-channel marketing campaign, get in touch today.

LET’S GET CREATIVE CONTACT OUR TEAM TODAY! 01255 221322

hello@thedsgroup.co.uk

thedsgroup.co.uk 35

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE MARKETING ADVICE / DATA

IT’S NOT MAGIC, IT’S ALL ABOUT GOOD DATA! D

id you know that in the UK almost 60 million pieces of direct mail are mistargeted – sent multiple times, to people who have changed address or passed away? Here’s our top tips outlining the importance of data and how to define the best data for your direct mail campaign.

The Role of Data Data plays a number of roles in direct marketing, such as • Calculating market potential and your share of it • Segmenting your audience into manageable, bite-sized chunks for better targeting • Identifying the geographical spread of your target group for budgeting purposes • Informing the printing and publication of direct mail campaigns • Determining the cost of campaign postage • Providing a benchmark against which to measure your results/ROI, based on the percentage of sales you get from a campaign

Why You Need It Without data, every direct mail campaign is simply a shot in the dark! And if you’re a small business just starting out with your marketing, you can’t afford to take shots in the dark. Direct marketing is one of the most effective forms of reaching prospects.

• It enables you to use historic data to predict future interactions with your customers

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE MARKETING ADVICE / DATA

TIPS FOR COLLECTING DIRECT MAIL DATA Ensure the data is correct

Be hyper-accurate

It may seem obvious, but your data must be correct. Your customer profile must be as accurate as possible, with plenty of testing beforehand. We can offer you advice on customer profiling to make sure your marketing campaign management is at its finest – your data must be clear and accurate.

To follow on from the previous point, make sure that your brief provides clear and accurate parameters for your data and your direct mail campaign. By doing so, you’ll limit any potential issues that might cause delays in the process.

Double-check When you work with us on a campaign, we make sure we have all the answers to any questions raised in your brief. This one simple act will guarantee smooth and accurate understanding of the data, and a clear instructions for your campaign.

CONTACT OUR DATA TEAM TODAY FOR A FREE DATA HEALTH CHECK!

TRACY MEAD Operations Director

01255 221322 tracy@thedsgroup.co.uk

Our FREE data audit guarantees your mail is delivered to the right person, at the right location, right on time. We check your database to avoid duplicate mailings, make sure that addresses are correct and find ways to save you money on packaging and postage.

Did you know? We also offer GDPR b2b databases for you to market to. Criteria to choose from can include the sector, geographical, turnover and employee numbers to offer a highly bespoke and targeted list. We can offer this on a 12-month license at one of the lowest prices across the market with accuracy guarantees!

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CASE STUDY / SUSTAINABILITY

RETHINKING PACKAGING I

n 2021, we were very proud to win the contract from a market leading UK based heating and hot water products manufacturer. The customer approached us after looking at our new website, and seeing that we could offer a service that would help them achieve their goals.

At the DS Group we have been using compostable bags for some time, and were in a strong position to work with our customer to convert them over to a more sustainable option without slowing down their processes or delivery times.

The customer in question had one specific aim – they had to make the company environmentally friendly.

With careful strategic planning and long lead times, we transitioned the company over to using compostable potato starch bags to send out their products and instructions.

When they came to us, the company were sending out their products and the product instructions directly to their customers packaged in separate bags. Not only were they packaged separately, they were also packed in plastic bags!

Due to the increasing demand and volume, we now deliver over 100,000 bags a month! The compostable bags are used across their various different product ranges and we supply four different sizes in the same material.

Plastic Bags Compostable Bags 38

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CASE STUDY / SUSTAINABILITY

“When choosing a mailing option, compostable bags offer a solution that is better for the environment, because they are compostable. Mailing bags are used in many different industries because they are versatile and costeffective. For companies that ship out thousands of products a day, the use of compostable bags can make a huge difference” Allistair Hunter, Managing Director

WE’RE GETTING GREENER... ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT At the DS Group, we are keen to lead the way in environmental efficiency savings. With that in mind we have applied for ISO 14001 Certification which certifies our environmental management system. Once certified we will: Become more environmentally friendly Manage compliance obligations Reduce waste We hope to bring you news of our certification soon, so look out for more information over the next few issues!

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / SUMMER PARTY

AIN’T NO PARTY LIKE A DS PARTY! A

s you all know, 2021 is a big year for the DS Group as it’s our 20th Anniversary!! Therefore it goes without saying that the only real way to celebrate this milestone was to hold a summer bash for the DS team! So on 20th August, we gathered together at our MD’s abode to party like there’s no tomorrow! The summer evening included dancing, singing, lawn games, a BBQ and of course plenty of celebratory bubbly. There were a few sore heads in the morning, but the whole team had a great time. Here’s to the next 20 years!

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE MARKETING ADVICE / EXHIBITIONS

ATTRACT A CROWD! A

n exhibition or trade show is a fantastic way to show off your products and services and to meet new customers. Exhibitions are great for gaining insights into your customer and the industry, so it’s never too early to start coming up with exhibition stand ideas. There’s an exhibition for almost every industry or interest, from car shows to comic con, business studies to weddings. There’s no better way to get in front of people who matter to your business. Here’s some advice to help you with your exhibition planning, along with pointers to ensure you cover all bases this exhibition season...

BE CLEAR ON OBJECTIVES What do you want to achieve by attending a trade show or exhibition? What returns do you expect on your investment? Without a direct goal in mind, it’s hard to focus your activity. Establish clear objectives to make sure your participation is as effective as possible.

Consider your main aim. What do you want to achieve? • Increase brand awareness? • Launch a new product? • Concentrating on a specific product category? • Gather new contacts and prospects?

Be specific – set a target. For instance: • Expand your network by 15% • Secure 30 advance orders • Get 50 people to subscribe to emails

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE MARKETING ADVICE / EXHIBITIONS

Making an impact at a trade show can be tough, though, with hundreds of exhibitors all competing for attention. For a truly stand-out stand, your team, your materials and your messaging will all have to be on point. An eye-catching, engaging exhibition stand can help you meet your goals and bring your brand to life. From banners to custom stand display designs, at DS, we can cover all your display requirements - so you can just show up and show off!

Here at The DS Group, we have all the tools under one roof to help bring your ideas to life, whatever they might be! With a wide range of materials and sizes, we guarantee that we’ve got something for you. Not sure of the name of the type of signage you require? If not, you can send us a picture of your desired item and we’ll try and find the best solution for you.

LEAFLETS Leaflets & flyers are the perfect marketing material for your upcoming events or exhibition. Whether you’re trying to introduce your business to people or create a buzz around a new product, flyers and leaflets will help you get noticed.

BANNERS We offer everything from banners to largescale customisable displays. A display stand is your shop window at marketing events so make sure you stand out with high-impact displays. We only use the very best print materials to ensure that your display stand makes a huge impression and creates more exposure for your brand. We offer anything from banner stands to, retractable printed displays that are ideal for taking to events. Whether it’s a pop up banner or fabric banner stand we are bound to have a solution for you.

LEAD TIMES Consider the lead times for any collateral you want to produce, whether that’s flyers and leaflets, brochures, or a restock of business cards. We’ll discuss the use of print on your stand, but for timings, work back from the exhibition date, factoring in time for:

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / CUSTOMER PRINT GUIDE

HELPING YOU ACTIVATE YOUR INNER PRINT EXPERT O

ver the last few months, our production team have been busy beavering away and putting together a brand new allsinging, all dancing print guide just for our customers. As experts, we know our processes and options inside out – but we can’t expect you to know them too! We have therefore put together a handy guide giving you as much information as we can to help you with your next marketing campaign.

Within our new print guide, we discuss:

OUR

PRODUCTS

COLOUR

MAGES

VARNISHES

FINISHING

DIE CUTTING

UTTING

PROCESSES

We print everything from business cards and leaflets to magazines and brochures in a wide range of formats and styles. With so many print options and finishes to choose from, we are more than happy to help you make the decision that’s best for you. We continually invest in the latest print equipment and technology which helps us to create clean, high quality marketing materials in-house. Our expertise means we work to provide an unbeatable service with proven results that make every penny of your marketing budget count.

IMAGES

DIGITAL PRINT

FOLDING

CREASING

PAPER SWATCHES

COLOUR LITHO PRINT

BINDING EMBOSSING

PAPER SIZES

SPECIAL FINISHES ENVELOPE SIZES PAPER WEIGHTS

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / CUSTOMER PRINT GUIDE

We put our heads together to ensure we have covered every question you need to know when planning your campaign. Here’s a snap shot of some of the advice covered…

A4A4

1/31/3 A4A4

C4C4 Envelopes Envelopes C4 Envelopes

1/3 A4

DLDL Envelopes Envelopes DL Envelopes

A6A6 A6

A5A5 A5

C5C5 Envelopes Envelopes C5 Envelopes

C6C6 Envelopes Envelopes C6 Envelopes

Die Cutting is a process where the printed design is complemented by modifying the shape of the page or removing shapes from the page. Designers will normally provide an accurate cutting and creasing guide for the printer to make a cutting forme. The cutting forme consists of a wooden board with various metal rules or 'matrices' inserted, such as creasing, perforation and cutting matrices. The depth of the various matrices differs slightly depending on whether each matrix is intended to cut or score the material.

The new print guide is ready and available for all customers, to request a copy simply scan the QR code or phone us to request a copy! 45

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CASE STUDY / LIGHT BLUE TRAVEL

SIGN OF SUCCESS L

ight Blue Travel was established in 1992 and provides a broad range of travel services both locally and nationally. Now that travel is back on the agenda, Light Blue Travel contacted us to see how we could help to provide some brand new signage for their head office in Cambridge. At DS, we offer professional signage and graphic solutions for a wide range of business needs. We can also design and supply graphics to any size and format for any event or exhibition nationwide or globally.

Expertise As the logo for Light Blue Travel was positioned on a white background and was to be used externally, we had to ensure we used the right material to avoid the sign showing signs of weather or dirt! We printed the signs on die bond material and covered with a durable laminate which we know will stand the test of time! Through years of experience we are uniquely positioned to meet the demanding, ever changing requirements of our customers and our bespoke services include producing signs, brand or campaign design promotion, and exhibition displays. www.lightbluetravel.co.uk

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE CASE STUDY / LIGHT BLUE TRAVEL

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / THE TEAM

ONE TEAM, ONE HEARTBEAT O

ur people are the bedrock of our business and ensure that we deliver outstanding, effective marketing campaigns for our clients. In the offices, our team of professional marketers, editors, publishers, and designers have a wide range of experience and skills that allow us to offer our customers a truly integrated marketing approach. In our production facility, our team of print finishers and warehouse assistants ensure that our customers’ orders are fulfilled with the expertise and care they deserve!

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Allistair Hunter

Christopher Corke

Running the DS Group for over 20 years, Allistair remains involved in the day to day running of the business and is still loving every minute of it!

Chris controls the company’s annual operating budget to ensure that all financial targets are met, as well as providing financial guidance.

Clara Deeks

Tracy Mead

With a career of proven commercial success across media, print, events and publishing, Clara is responsible for developing and implementing commercial strategies to increase profit.

Working at DS for over 13 years, Tracy runs both the Production and Operations Teams like clockwork, as well as looking after our customers and offering expert advice.

Amy Nice

Ben Emmerson

Our newest apprentice, Amy joins our marketing team whilst working towards her Level 3 Digital Marketeer Standard. She assists Ben and Dom in the Creative Studio.

Having joined us back in 2016 as an apprentice, Ben is now responsible for keeping our customers happy with his talented graphic design skills!

Managing Director

Commercial/Publishing Director

Financial Director

Operations Director

THE TEAM

Digital Marketing Apprentice

Graphic Designer

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / THE TEAM

Chantell Keston

Media Sales Executive Chantell is responsible for increasing advertising sales across our contract magazines. She boasts a 20-year career within magazine advertising sales and is a great addition to the sales team.

Debbie Taylor Sales Executive

Media, Print & Direct Mail Following a 20-year career working within newspapers for local businesses in Essex, Debbie has experience working across advertising sales and local business knowledge.

Dominic Littler

Donna Fennell

Creative Marketing Manager

Operations & Data Assistant

Specialist in creative marketing campaigns, video content creation, photography, social media management, digital design, SEO, web development and so much more!

Donna is the data guru for the company and is adept in her field. She also assists with production and has recently turned her hand to working on the polywrap machine!

Jonathan Gees

Kim Black

Ensuring that all of the warehouses are in order and every box is in its set place is Jonathan’s role. He also assists on the production machines and is a whizz on the forklift.

Kim is the telephone voice of the company, she is also is responsible for promotional product sales, office administration, assists the Operations Director and lots more besides.

Lewis Smith

Marion Rotchell

Warehouse Assistant

Production Assistant

Assisting with direct mail campaigns, Lewis runs a variety of machines and ensures that clients mailings go out the door and hit door steps when required.

Marion is our longest serving employee working for the DS Group for over 16 years! Her wealth of proficiency and wisdom is unprecedented and she is an asset to the team.

Mark Edwards

Martin Allen-Smith

Making sure that all direct mail campaigns are fulfilled and on time is Mark’s pivotal role within the production team. He also brings cheekiness and fun to the team.

With over 20 years’ experience working as a journalist, Martin has been the Editor of our in-house magazine, Designer for over 13 years!

Warehouse Assistant

Administrator

Editor

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE COMPANY CULTURE / THE TEAM

Oliver Shortley Sales Executive Print & Direct Mail

With previous experience across advertising and leaflet distribution, Oliver is targeted with new business generation through cold calling and targeted marketing campaigns.

Sean Killen Print Finisher

Russell Mead

Customer Care Advisor Russell prides himself on handling your job with care, from taking the initial order right through to delivery ensuring you receive the quality and hands-on care we are known for!

Steve Brogan

Assistant Print Finisher

Sean continuously develops the Print Operations at the DS Group. He is an expert in his field and brings years of valuable knowledge and experience to his role.

Steve works within the Digital Print team and his finishing skills are second to none. He also maintains and runs various printers and finishing machines, including large format.

Stuart Sinclair

Will Cook

Having worked within media since 2004, Stuart has worked on newspapers, community magazines, as well as market leading magazines, and events.

Will’s heads up the warehouse team and the day to day running of production. He is responsible for running various machinery including the poly-wrap machine and the envelope inserter.

Brand Manager

Warehouse Manager

Great things in business are never done by one person

- Steve Jobs

VISION MAGAZINE - AUTUMN 2021 ISSUE INSIGHT / PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS

DO YOU NEED A PROMOTIONAL BOOST? E

vents and exhibitions (even virtual ones!) are a great way to engage with your audience on a human level especially in today’s digital world! But you need to offer more than a memorable conversation if you want to have a lasting impact. You also need to give event-goers promotional items to remember you by.

THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR 2 KEY REASONS: • Promotional items inspire people to champion your brand to friends and family. • They encourage people to leave positive comments about you on the web and social media. Both are vital for long-term business growth. If you’re unsure where to start, no problem - our new range of promotional products for 2021 is now available to view via our product guide! The promotional product guide includes a choice of bestselling items, new ideas and products to suit every budget. Whether your requirements are for a small event or part of a global marketing campaign, we are confident that you will find the right product in our 2021 guide.

ASK US FOR YOUR FREE COPY OF OUR 2021 GUIDE

ANY OTHER BUSINESS? We’re here to create trusted partnerships and to provide marketing solutions to support your business. For 20 years, we have helped companies, large and small, reach their customers and prospects. The right audience, in the right way - and always right on time. What’s more, we can offer everything under one roof.

• We deliver an in-house, integrated approach to get your sales, marketing and branding messages directly to your audience • From initial concept and design to print and the delivery straight into your customers’ hands • We offer a professional, friendly and go-getting service that provides you with the best value possible • We ensure your business gets the results it truly deserves • We are The DS Group, a full-service print, marketing, direct mail and media company based in Essex