Media mix: Degree 53; Rumpus PR; Mason Williams Communications; Saturn; Freshfield; Down At The Social; Bella Design and Marketing

MANCHESTER-based digital agency Degree 53 has developed and launched mobile banking apps for Cheshire-based CardOneBanking.

CardOneBanking, an FCA authorised current account provider, was aiming offer its customers mobile apps for the iOS and Android platforms to complement the online services for its personal and business account holders, making them more accessible and efficient.

The apps enable users to manage their funds, view account and card information, track payments, set up standing orders, view direct debits and their transaction history.

Degree 53’s mobile app developers created these tailor-made apps, ensuring that personal details and account information are encrypted and stored in a secure system when not in use.
 
The apps have been through rigorous tests to ensure customer information is secure. All personal information is saved to the device’s secure components using different encryption techniques to make sure the user’s information is as safe as possible.

Adam Rigler, managing director at CardOneBanking, said: “We wanted to offer an easier way of accessing our banking services to help our customers manage their finances. This mobile app, together with its notification service, will definitely simplify this and allows customers to keep track of their payments.”

Managing director of Degree 53, Andy Daniels, added: “Mobile banking is now part of the core strategy in most financial institutions and is a necessary channel.”

This project marks another step for Degree 53 towards expanding its portfolio in the financial industry. The agency has previously worked on developing systems for The Co-Operative Bank and a mobile payments app for Fideliti Childcare Vouchers. Creating a complete banking app for CardOneBanking can offer further opportunities to grow in this sector.
 
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MANCHESTER PR agency Rumpus has been engaged by The Fragrance Shop to assist in its mission to drive consumer and national awareness, further affirming its position as one of the UK’s largest independent fragrance retailers.

The appointment follows successful campaigns for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day earlier in the year, with Rumpus achieving widespread coverage promoting popular fragrance offers and gifts across the two national holidays.
 
Rumpus will be focusing on The Fragrance Shop’s Autumn/Winter, Christmas and Valentine’s Day collections, engaging with target consumers ahead of the busy shopping periods.
 
The ongoing partnership follows a period of strong growth at Rumpus, including a move to larger premises in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

Paul Evans, managing director at Rumpus, said: “The Fragrance Shop has a lot to offer to a huge variety of consumers, and our B2C team will be carrying out tailored campaigns which will reach out to those target audiences.”

Nicola Travis, head of marketing and CRM at The Fragrance Shop, added: “We have been impressed with Rumpus’ approach and results during the campaigns earlier this year, so we are confident they will provide us with the valuable support over this next integral period. With Rumpus’ support, we feel our PR opportunities are in safe hands at this key time.”

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MASON Williams Communications has strengthened its leisure and tourism credentials by being appointed to deliver a national PR campaign for Mersey Ferries.

Mersey Ferries is owned and operated by Merseytravel.  As well as taking hundreds of thousands of people out on the Mersey each year, Mersey Ferries also operates a range of Liverpool attractions along the riverside as well as trips along the historic Manchester Ship Canal.

Mason Williams, which celebrates its 30th year in business this year, will work with Mersey Ferries to deliver a twofold consumer campaign and a targeted trade campaign, to drive national and regional awareness for its range of cruises and new offerings.

Leah Ellis, marketing development executive at Merseytravel said: “The team at Mason Williams showed creative thinking and a clear understanding of our brand goals. They genuinely feel like an extension of our team and we’re pleased to be working with them on this next project.”

Mason Williams senior account director Joanne Greer said: “This is another great win for Mason Williams. It reinforces our expertise in the tourism sector. Working with Mersey Ferries, we will be looking at a very targeted consumer and specialist media campaign for 2016 and 2017.”

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MEDIACITYUK-based Saturn has teamed up with SEAT UK to deliver its first ‘Store’ retail concept at intu Lakeside in Essex.

Digital and visual engagement specialist Saturn was tasked with bringing the feel of the Barcelona brand to Essex – providing an innovative digital solution to create a connected customer experience, ranging from video walls and interactive customer touchscreen points to the tailored ambient sound effects.

SEAT’s new ‘Store’, the first of its kind in the UK, features three display cars, with an outdoor experience centre housing an additional 16 SEAT models.
 
Customers can research, plan financing or book an unaccompanied test drive for their perfect SEAT through the ten 22-inch digital info “hubs” installed by Saturn, or sit back and enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere created by 5 video walls and 4 large format screens.

Saturn’s in-house software development team worked closely with SEAT, shop fitters and design and advertising agencies to deliver the creative vision and create a bespoke integrated digital experience, enhanced by a real time interface with the SEAT website.

Chris Welsh, managing director at Saturn, said: “We were very excited when SEAT UK appointed us to help with their ‘Store’ concept. We were delighted to have the opportunity to use our strengths as a business to deliver a full turnkey solution, which has proven be a fantastic example of how a well-planned, bespoke digital solution can have a major impact on the customer experience.”

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NORTH West-based marketing communications consultancy Freshfield has extended its national reach after joining a UK network of creative agencies.

Freshfield has become a founding partner of The Hyperlocal Everywhere Network along with four other agencies across the UK.

The Hyperlocal Everywhere Network aims to a bring local and regional dimension to national marketing campaigns across digital, public relations, social media, events and design and branding.

The network will allow Freshfield’s clients to access additional on-the-ground marketing support for campaigns across the UK. Freshfield, based in Preston, is collaborating with Spring, Plinkfizz, The Karol Marketing Group and purplefish together covering the North West, South East, the Midlands, the North East and South West.

Simon Turner, managing director of Freshfield, said: “This initiative is a logical extension of what we are already offering, strong local, regional and national multi-channel services on behalf of our clients wherever they may be located.

“For campaigns that span multi-UK regions, we need local teams with specific local knowledge and relationships and this collaboration gives clients access to that expert support. Our solution allows brands to avoid co-ordinating multiple agencies or having their project passed on to other agencies who don’t understand local markets.”

The agency recently retained the three-year marketing services contract for Boost Business Lancashire, the county’s £7.8m business growth hub, following a national tender process, creating a full-service marketing communications programme incorporating branding, website, digital marketing, events, social media and media relations.

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PR and Communications agency Down At The Social has made the move from MediaCityUK to city centre, and into Old Granada Studios owned by property company Allied London.

Down at the Social, which was established in 2010, has relocated with long-term collaborators Dreamscope and Media Cabin. The businesses will continue to work together to strengthen each others offering which includes digital marketing, video production, PR, social media and events.

The agency has wealth of experience under its belt working with brands, businesses and individual personalities with clients including Manchester Pride, The Printworks, Black Dog Group and Seetec, and has recently been nominated for both Best PR Company and Best Social Media Agency at the Talk of Manchester Awards.

Down at the Social’s fresh start has also been signalled with a brand new website, which has been created by Corperation Pop. The new site showcases its client work and previous experience in a far more interactive way with bespoke social media walls that feed the agency’s work in real time.

Managing director of Down At The Social Daisy Whitehouse said: “We are incredibly excited to have returned to the city centre and in such an iconic building too, we really admire Allied London and the spaces they create.

“It’s great to be closer to our clients and get to experience the buzz of the city on a daily basis! The timing of the move and the website has been perfect, we hope the website will showcase ourselves and our clients in the best way and that people enjoy taking a look at what we do.”

Down at the Social is also currently recruiting for an experienced PR Account Manager to join its team at Old Granada Studios.

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CHESHIRE-based Bella Design and Marketing has recently completed the design and build of the new website for Beresford Adams Commercial.

The company, established more than 50 years ago and one of the commercial property consultancies operating in Cheshire and North Wales, required a new website that truly reflected their position in the market place.

Justin Rice Jones, director of Beresford Adams Commercial, said: “Beresford Adams Commercial commissioned Bella Design to update our website to improve our service to both clients and contacts alike.  We knew Bella had a strong affinity with the commercial property sector and knew that they could therefore deliver.

“We are delighted with the response we received from Bella who worked with us to achieve what we now believe is a much improved facility and have been impressed by their attention to detail in connection with the whole project.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Paul Watson and his team on the project and they have been proactive throughout with their suggestions as to how the new site can be fully delivered and implemented.”

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