Will you tune in for ‘tales of the vanilla slice…. and other things’?

Well, I had so much fun writing yesterdays blog that I’m going to do it again today! I don’t for one minute think that I have the dedication and perseverance to write a blog every day, but I guess I’m in the ‘novelty’ stage with it at the moment, so I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.

But what shall I write about? Should I fill it full of positive PR about Workhouse Marketing and Workhouse Studios and use the blog as a promotional tool? Should I fill it full of key words so that the search engines pick it up and move Workhouse Marketing and Workhouse Studios up the rankings? Should it be called something like ‘the beleaguered life of an MD in a marketing agency’ and I could offload all my stresses and worries to the hordes of followers that will no doubt be glued to this amazing tale as it unfolds. Perhaps it should be an ongoing marketing seminar and I could preach about the need for awareness and visibility, I can see it now ” Marketing through the Storm – number 783 – ” Please spend some money on marketing it really works you know”.

I could use it as a platform for charitable and social causes, raising money for charitable foundations as we are doing with ‘The Ribchester Calendar Girls’ fundraiser for Rosemere Cancer Foundation, and for the Cystic Fibrosis charity which my son, Workhouse Graphic Designer  Ben Jones is running the London Marathon for this year. More about that in future blogs. I could just use it to promote my true loves, the Welsh Rugby Team, Blackburn Rovers, a pint of Wainwrights, the X Factor, most rock bands, my company Workhouse Marketing, and the ingredients of the Vanilla Slice.

Anyway, I guess it will be a mixture of all these things (although the Vanilla Slice will feature heavily), and of course I’m absolutely sure that my in-box will be flooded with messages of exciting topics that I should apply my wisdom and acerbic wit to. Not.

Bright Ideas and Dazzling Creative!

A late September day when the weather is anything but sunny and this is not what you’d expect to see in the office!

Andy is dazzled by his own creative

Job vacancy for a designer

Here at Workhouse Creative Marketing in Ribchester, we have a designer going away for 6 months in November to work a ski season in Austria. He has been given the time off by work.

We are looking for somebody who is interested in working here at Workhouse Creative Marketing for that period as a designer, with a view to possibly being taken on permanently.

We need somebody who has some studio experience that can take on design and artworking responsibilities, text amending, E-magazine production and all the usual jobs expected within a creative studio. Experience in HTML is essential as we now produce a lot of E-shots that require design through to HTML and related hosting. Wage negotiable.

If you or someone you know is interested in this role please call Workhouse on 01254 878956 and speak to Mark Jones.

An old face returns to Workhouse.

Steven Carlin is a name and face well known within Workhouse and we’re delighted that he has come to join us as New Business Manager.

Steven first worked with workhouse for 3 years as a designer leaving in 2005 to broaden his horizons and gain valuable experience freelancing and working with several advertising and marketing agencies.

In a strive to expand and grow Workhouse, Steven has been asked to rejoin the team as New Business Manager, bringing with him his exceptional talent and knowledge.

A local resident to Workhouse and an expectant father, Steven is delighted to be joining the Team at Workhouse once again saying that the opportunity could not have come at a better time.

Workhouse enjoys Karting success!

Workhouse enjoys Karting success at the Stax 16th Annual Hardware Karting Challenge.

Stax Trade Centres which is one of Workhouse’s longest standing clients has run an Annual Karting Hardware Challenge for the last 16 years now with proceeds going to The Rainy Day Trust. The event see representatives from some of DIY’s top brands such as Crown, Dulux and Ronseal racing it out on a track to claim the coveted fastest lap and Best Team awards and avoid the bent axle award (and a battered pride) at all costs.

Sunday May 17th saw Workhouse on top form as they secured success at Speedkarting in Warrington. Workhouse Designer Jamie Brown proved once again to be top of the field winning all of his 6 heats and posting the fastest lap of the day: a storming 1:01:68 – around 2.5-3 seconds quicker than anyone else! His fourth year running.

The team, Workhouse Warriors won the coveted “best team award” (for the second year running) as result of some solid driving and a high points total. Designer Graham (Grez) Slater ended up collecting a black flag after someone spun directly in front of him- he had no choice but to hit him, although it was rather amusing.

Workhouse Photographer Andrew (Woody) Woodhouse won the final Grand Prix after fending off some tough competition, not a bad result considering this was his first time on the team and first time at the track!

All in all a great day and a very worthy cause.

Workhouse Lenten Promise – Day 44

Day 44 of no sugar and would you believe there’s even talk of continuing. Whilst Nicky is looking forward to binging on as much chocolate as she can on Easter Sunday, she is still talking of picking back up on the no sugar rule straight after Easter.

Heidi insists that she has just got back into a very skinny pair of trousers and it’s due to a combination of no sugar and Davina Workouts so she’s contemplating continuing.

Maria, whilst never on a no Sugar ban, was pretty down on herself after dipping into the Charity Sweetie box and so is aiming to do an extra month away from the box beyond easter.

As for the boys in the studio – well there’s many talks of looking forward to copious amounts of chocolate over the latter half of the long weekend and no mention as yet about continuing the sugar fast. Workhouse may once again become a den of E-number fueled creativity!

Workhouse’s Resident Rock Star Gigs.

Workhouse Marketing has it’s very own Rock Star! Graphic Designer and all round entertainer Graham Slater is drummer in soft rock band Outsider.

A recent gig at Blackburn Bar Residence saw another fantastic crowd turn out and Outsider’s regular fans amidst the crowd cheering and signing along to Band favourites such as ‘Understanding’ and ‘Mute’. The venue was very busy and the band went down brilliantly.

Graham had an interesting night playing though as due to the flooring they were set up on his Drums were bouncing away from him with every beat. He pretty much had to chase them with his sticks! Provided much amusement.

Some images from the gig, taken by Workhouse Photographer Andrew Woodhouse, are below and you can also download more info on the band and their music at http://www.outsideronline.co.uk/