22nd April 2008 - "Marketing for Small Businesses Conference" and Workshops - CANCELLED

An opportunity for small business leaders and practitioners, seeking new inspirations to improve their sales and profitably. Our four conference speakers are highly qualified marketers who specialise in helping small businesses to grow:

• Targeting profitable customers - Richard Allsop: http://www.strategicbusinesspartnership.com/
  
  
• Why selling doesn’t work any more - Grant Leboff: http://www.intelligentsalesclub.com/
  
  
• Promoting your business through PR - Peter Crowe: http://www.ceres-pr.co.uk/
  
  
• Internet marketing on a shoestring - Susan Hallam: http://www.shcl.co.uk/
  

The morning session will begin at 09:15 and should finish by 13:00. For more information, please click here.

In the afternoon there will be associated workshops of 2.5 hours each, at an additional price, which will include a light sandwich lunch and afternoon refreshments. For more information, please click here.

Click here to book the morning conference before Easter (21 March) and receive an “early bird” discount of £10 per delegate.

or call event bookings at 01628 427120

29th January 2008 - University of Warwick - "Getting Ahead in E-Marketing"

In the first of two events featuring successful e-marketing, this seminar re-visits the fundamentals of building and managing websites that deliver results.

James Pennington, Lead Consultant of the National b2b Centre at Warwick University, will guide delegates through the secrets to planning and developing websites that work. Search Engine Management and measurement of results with analytics will be fully covered.

As the seminar progresses, delegates will use analytical techniques from the Nb2b Centre’s on-line toolkit to critique a selection of live websites and see for themselves the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly. Are you confident enough to nominate your website for assessment?

James’ engaging presentation style, access to a range of free analytical tools and a valuable networking opportunity combine to create an enjoyable and informative evening. Book early to avoid disappointment.

Take a further step towards “Getting Ahead in E-marketing” at our second event, the “Future of Digital Brands” to be held in Birmingham 27 February. E-marketing experts Simon Cox and Andy Cox from Freestyle New Media pose the question “Whose brand is it anyway?” as new areas of customer interaction are available to marketers through “Web 2.0” and other digital media.

Use this link to book your places at these two events and get ahead in e-Marketing through 2008:
http://www.cim.co.uk/NewsAndEvents/Events/EventDetails.aspx?ObjectID=16699
or call CIM event bookings at 01628 427120

Date: 29 January 2008
Time: 18:00 for buffet, refreshments and networking. Seminar commences 18.30
Venue: International Manufacturing Centre, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL
Directions: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/visiting/maps/central The venue has extensive car parking
Price: Members, Student non-members, Studying Members £15, Guests: £20
CPD: 2.5 hours Category 2

30th October 2007 - Northampton - "Killer Presentations" by Nicholas B. Oulton

We've all been there, whatever level we're working at. We have to make a presentation to the boss or an existing client or even at a pitch so learning how to use PowerPoint effectively has become a necessary business skill.

A memorable presentation can make the difference between winning and losing an order, gaining acceptance of an idea or failing, or creating a meaningful exchange of information rather than misunderstanding.In this session, you will learn how to transform your PowerPoint presentation into a truly effective message delivery medium, leaving a memorable and mesmerising impression on your audience.


Speaker:
Nicholas B. Oulton is a Chartered Marketer and a professional presenter with over thirteen years sales and marketing experience.

Time:
18:30 - 20:30

Venue:
Northampton Town Football Club, Sixfields Stadium, Northampton NN5 5QA

Price:
CIM Member £5
CIM Student & Student Free
Guest £10

Click here to book on line.

Press Release: OVERLOOK MARKETING TRAINING AND RISK BUSINESS DOWNTURN, WARNS INSTITUTE

PRESS RELEASE


OVERLOOK MARKETING TRAINING AND RISK BUSINESS DOWNTURN, WARNS INSTITUTE

As marketers increase their activity for their Christmas campaigns, off-the-job training can often be overlooked as the pressure mounts. But to do so can be to the detriment of the business, The Chartered Institute of Marketing is warning businesses in the East Midlands.

Research has shown that there is a significant link between training and the chances of a business closing. Of the companies that did not provide training for employees, over one in four of (27%) closed between 1998 and 2004, while only one in nine companies that did provide training failed during the same period.*

“This is a significant statistic and one that businesses in the East Midlands can learn from,” explains Jill Wells, regional chair of The Chartered Institute of Marketing in the East Midlands. “Marketers are front line when it comes to driving growth and if they don’t have the qualifications or training that keeps them up-to-date then their employer’s business could unintentionally suffer.”

And yet research also shows that 11% of employees feel they are under-skilled for their current role.** If marketers are to work at their optimal level then active and targeted training by employers is vital.

“Those that are under-skilled are less likely to take advantage of marketing opportunities as they arise and are less likely to understand how strategic marketing can best position the business for growth,” concludes Jill.

There is a full events schedule available in the East Midlands as well as professional courses available at the local study centres, details of which may be found at www.cim.co.uk/events. In addition, The Chartered Institute of Marketing provides both professional qualifications and short courses that promote excellence in marketing. These are based on detailed research and feedback from employers, industry leaders, academics and The Institute’s students.

ENDS


* Training and Establishment Survival, Skills for Business Research Report 22, March 2007, Sector Skills Development Agency, www.ssda.org.uk
** Job Matching in the UK and Europe, Skills for Business Research Report 25, July 2007, Sector Skills Development Agency, www.ssda.org.uk

Note to editors: For assistance, kindly contact Amy Claridge on 01522 698 698 / 07770 764446.

About The Chartered Institute of Marketing:
The Chartered Institute of Marketing is the leading international professional marketing body with some 50,000 members worldwide. First established in 1911 it has for almost a century defined the marketing standards that operate in the UK and is the global champion of best marketing practice. The Institute exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing practitioners, enabling them to deliver exceptional results for their organisations. It does this by providing membership, qualifications and training to marketing professionals around the world. For more information please visit: www.cim.co.uk

Rod Wilkes event (Click this title to see all the comments)

What did people think of our new chief last night?

Am interested in what others had to say as I couldn't make it.

Follow up to the meeting with CIM CEO - Rod Wilkes on 18th June 2007

Dear fellow marketer

Thanks to those of you who attending last night’s event.

We felt that the discussion and comments from members were a very useful part of the evening. Several themes have emerged which we are discussing with Head Office and taking up amongst the branch committee. We will report back to you and the rest of the branch in the next few months on how some of these initiatives are being developed.

In the meantime we are outlining some of the key tangible member benefits, over and above the status that is inferred from the qualifications.

• Access to marketing journals, including Harvard Business Review and the Economist, click here (remember to log in as a member first).
• A weekly marketing news update, emailed to members each Wednesday. Click here to subscribe.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance click here
• Free legal helpline click here (you need to be logged into the site for access).
• Membership of the fledgling Small Business Group – call 01628 427120

A report on last night's event will be posted on the blog shortly.

Best wishes,
Sara Gadzik
Chair - CIM Nottingham

COUNTY’S FOOD PRODUCERS EXPLAIN THEIR RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

PRESS RELEASE (8 June)

Northamptonshire’s marketers and business people are being invited by The Chartered Institute of Marketing to an event which will explore how food producing in the county is as much about marketing as it is taste if success is to be on the menu.

Northamptonshire’s creative and inventive food producers have worked together to identify and target niche markets effectively, and ensured success for their quality products.

"Our county’s food producers are as switched on when it comes to marketing as they are in supplying fantastic quality food," explains Steve Bishop, branch chair and director of local agency Nutshell Creative Marketing. "The changing practices applied by the producers in response to market trends have led to the development of strong brands and the pooling of resources with excellent results. "

Speakers will include farmer, butcher and restaurateur James Burgess Lumsden and producers of wine, lavender cakes, breads and preserves Bill Hulme and daughter Fleur Hulme.

If all this sounds like hungry work, worry not as the event will conclude with a BBQ of local produce and the chance to get down to some serious food sampling!

A Taste of Northamptonshire will take place at The Hunsbury Hill Centre, Harksome Hill, Northampton. NN4 9QX on Wednesday 20 June 2007. The event will commence at 1830 with the BBQ following at 2030. The cost, including food, is £5 for Chartered Institute of Marketing members and £7 for non-others. Studying members free. All welcome.
To book a place or for more information visit www.cim.co.uk/events or call 01628 427120.

ENDS
Note to editors: For assistance, kindly contact Amy Claridge on 01522 698 698 / 07770 764446.
About The Chartered Institute of Marketing: The Chartered Institute of Marketing is the leading international professional marketing body with some 50,000 members worldwide. First established in 1911 it defines the marketing standards that operate in the UK and is the global champion of best marketing practice. The Institute exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing practitioners, enabling them to deliver exceptional results for their organisations. It does this by providing membership, qualifications and training to marketing professionals around the world. For more information please visit: www.cim.co.uk

Do you want to ask Rod Wilkes (CIM CEO) any questions?

Are there any questions you would like to ask Rod Wilkes, the new CEO of the CIM, but you can not get to the CIM event in Nottingham on 18th June 2007?

If the answer is yes, please post your questions in "comments", below this posting.

We will then ensure that your questions are posed to Rod during the Nottingham event.

We will also be posting the question and answer session on this blog after the event.

Press release: NORTHAMPTON’S MARKETERS FIRST TO BLOG

PRESS RELEASE

NORTHAMPTON’S MARKETERS FIRST TO BLOG

The Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Northampton branch believes it is the first in the country to embrace the trend for interacting freely, easily and instantly online by starting its own blog. The blog - to be found at www.cimnorthants.blogspot.com - will act as a newsletter about local events and campaigns but will allow the area’s marketers to post information and have their say if they wish.

The idea came from committee member Nigel Adams, who shared his enthusiasm with the rest of the committee and together they felt that the branch should be the first to see if blogging helps local marketers to interact and make the most of what’s available to them.

"We recently had a brilliant event about new technology in marketing", explains Nigel "and we thought it would be a good idea to try using this new technology to see if it would help us improve communications with our members and local marketers, as well as getting feedback from them.
A newsletter via post or email is the usual way for branches to communicate but it is a one-way communication. We hope our blog will foster a lively interaction of both news and views."

Adding posts and commenting on them is open to not only Chartered Institute of Marketing’s members but also local marketing people and business owners, just as events are.

A blog - short for weblog - is an online journal or newsletter that is frequently updated and intended for general public use. It is estimated that there are 150 million blogs created around the world.

ENDS

Note to editors: For assistance, kindly contact Amy Claridge on 01522 698 698 / 07770 764446.
About The Chartered Institute of Marketing: The Chartered Institute of Marketing is the leading international professional marketing body with some 50,000 members worldwide. First established in 1911 it defines the marketing standards that operate in the UK and is the global champion of best marketing practice. The Institute exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing practitioners, enabling them to deliver exceptional results for their organisations. It does this by providing membership, qualifications and training to marketing professionals around the world. For more information please visit: www.cim.co.uk

Yet another successful event for CIM Northamptonshire

The Printing Industry and the Environment at Fedrigoni UK on 17th May 2007

About 60 people came along to Fedrigoni's conference centre and heared presentations by experts from Fedrigoni Environmental Papers, Clare Taylor Consulting, Royle Corporate Print (a litho printer), Cambrian Printers (a digital printer), who presented their ideas and experiences on how marketers can make their printed marketing activity more environmentally friendly without busting their budgets.

The presentations were followed by a networking reception, thanks to the hospitality of Fedrigoni UK Ltd.

Copies of the presentations will be made available in the near future on the CIM Website.