Tag: West Yorkshire

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OPEN COMMUNICATIONS

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Lindsey Davies

It’s with such a sense of achievement that we say ‘Happy Birthday Open Communications’. To think that it was over a decade ago we launched the business is hugely rewarding but also scary in equal measure.

Some days it feels like a lifetime ago and then others it could have been yesterday. So much has happened in the last 12 years. We have grown, both as an organisation and as individuals. It has been a rollercoaster but one that I would get on and ride all over again.

There have been a few things that have helped us along the way. Knowing that times are tough for others, I thought it may be useful to recap and to pass on what I have learnt.

Network has to equal net gain

When we launched, like many small start-ups, we went along to every networking event available. This was the right thing to do. What we should have realised, perhaps sooner than we did, was that some just aren’t the right fit.

There doesn’t have to be a specific reason, it might just be the format. For us, we found those that did work, and we realised that when you want to help each other you get a better return all round. In our experience being forced to attend or to pass on referrals was counterproductive.

Thankfully, the business community we are now a part of is hugely supportive. We have a close group that we can rely on and that suits us. In order to attract new opportunities, we let our results do the talking.

Location, location, location

We were criticised when we started for choosing to be based in Wakefield. A lot has changed over the years and this was one of the best decisions we made. The District may not have been a vibrant hotspot at the time, but it is becoming increasingly popular now.

Not only has there been huge investment in Wakefield over the years, it has also attracted some globally recognised brands and ambitious entrepreneurs.

Rather than become a small fish in a large pond, we felt that we could grow with Wakefield and that is exactly what has happened. In 2008 we had a box room at the bottom of the city. Today, we have a three-storey office in the heart of the legal and financial centre.

Thinking about location is so important. It gives us a point of difference and it has allowed us to make our mark for all the right reasons.

Building a reputation

As a business that manages the reputation for others, it goes without saying that we focus on our own too. This has always been imperative for us. We practice what we preach, and we make sure that clients have a lasting and positive impression, however long we work with them.

Only a week ago I took a call from a former client asking if I had time for a chat. The answer is always yes, and they explained they may be looking for PR services. I thanked them for thinking of us and the response was, “Why would I consider anyone else?”.

We never take feedback like this for granted. Quite the opposite. We make sure that we say thank you and that we treat people as we would like to be treated. It’s the little things that go a long way. For client’s to come back to us time and again is a real compliment. It’s also just one reason why we are here today saying Happy Birthday Open Communications.

Don’t look back in anger

A great song and a great lesson to learn. As a business owner it is incredibly difficult not to take things personally. After all, everything is personal when the company is founded on your own values. That said, I have learnt over the years to try not to take things to heart.

It’s not easy and I still struggle, however I know that in some instances it’s best not to sweat the small stuff.

Everyone makes mistakes, it’s what makes us human, the important thing is learning from them. I’ve lost count of the number of nights I have lost sleep over something trivial. A former colleague once said, “It’s PR not ER” and I think they were right.

It’s not about how much you care; it’s caring for the right reasons.

Celebrate success

As an organisation, we find this really hard and it’s something we are working on. As a business we have so much to be proud of and to celebrate yet we get caught up in lists and tasks, prioritising everything over ourselves.

It is important for companies to celebrate success, however small. We know this and we will be making more of an effort. We do raise a glass at key moments throughout the year, however we need to be better at doing so more often.

Sometimes giving yourself a pat on the back is the hardest thing you can do. It’s far easier to beat yourself up. The real challenge is recognising that no one will thank you for giving yourself a kicking. Having a more positive mindset can be passed to others and that is a lasting impression that will make a lasting difference.

Never stop learning

PR is an evolving industry. It never stops and neither do we. Learning new skills keeps us all interested and gives us so much to think about when we plan every campaign for our clients.

Whatever sector our clients work in, the tactics we have access to are changing. This means we can share new ways of working that could deliver stronger results. We are honest and open with the brands we manage, and many of them are willing to try new things. We could just keep our approach exactly the same, but where is the fun in that?

What never fails to amaze me, is that more than two decades on and I’m still as excited by PR and what the industry has to offer as I ever was. I think once I stop getting butterflies in my tummy, it’s time to call it a day.

Thankfully the flutter is still there!

Be thankful

Having a business is difficult. There are no two ways about it. Times can be really hard and it can be stressful. In contrast, things can be great and you grin from ear-to-ear. The reality is that there is no consistency. That’s why it’s like a rollercoaster ride.

Being thankful for what you have is really important. It’s so easy to let things get on top of you. Taking a moment to stop and to look at how far you have come will make a big difference. For me, having a business with one of my closest friends – and still being friends – is an achievement in itself. It is so easy to fall out, however we recognise our skills and both see the value in each other. We don’t always agree, but we don’t have to. I’m thankful the values that matter are those that we share.

A huge pitfall for companies is to spend too much time watching competitors. The truth is, if your clients want to work with someone else, they will. I would rather spend the time focusing on my business and making the changes I need to keep my clients happy than obsessing about what others are doing.

Happy Birthday Open Communications

And so, with that, I want to take this opportunity to say, Happy Birthday Open Communications. It’s been an adventure and the journey is far from over. We have some exciting plans and we look forward to what the next decade has to offer.

For all of our colleagues, clients, friends and family – thank you. Without you all we wouldn’t be what we are today. We hope you will join us in raising and glass. Cheers!

If you would like to speak to us about your PR needs or how we could add value to your business, please call a member of the team.

Once upon a time, not too long ago…

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Lindsey Davies

We love a good story here at Open Comms, there’s nothing like adding a bit of imagination to something that might appear at first to be bland and boring but end up being super exciting! As a gaggle of girls that write for a living, National Storytelling Week is always a hot topic in the office.

After much discussion we decided we couldn’t let this annual occasion pass us by without at least trying to add our own little contribution – however insignificant. At Open Comms we like to get involved, so I thought we would share a short story…

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there were two friends. After years and years and years of working in big grey office blocks for other people, they decided that they wanted to do things differently and to turn the wacky world of PR on its head!

No more air kissing, no more lunches, no more fizzy pop – more exciting campaign ideas, working with clients rather than for them, getting excited by results, sharing success, getting the job done and doing it well… Oh, and most importantly, being open and honest.

Could it ever work? It was a new approach, people were used to doing things the same old way. It was a risk.

Talking to the exciting businesses based in Yorkshire it appeared that there were some companies that wanted to try out this new way of working. They didn’t really like the lunches or the regular increase in fees that they weren’t expecting. Who knew?

Both ladies liked to write stories and to come up with super exciting and creative ways of sharing news, and so they launched Open Communications.

With just two small desks, two phone lines and a jar of coffee, they started to ring companies that had similar values and within no time at all they were working with some fantastic brands and businesses.

Fast forward just a few years, and then a few more, and with lots and lots of amazing results and too many fun-filled campaigns to fit into one short story, the two ladies are now five and they all enjoy the same things – working with great brands and businesses in Yorkshire.

The ladies are massive champions of the Wakefield district and they still like to do things exactly the same way they did way back when. They like to be honest and open, to be straight talking and to create relationships that last a long time – after all, no one likes falling out!

And so, the story is far from over. Open Comms continues to come up with campaigns that include anything from a giant Halloween door to a family picnic activation zone or the launch of a business that produces the most rail tickets in the country to a car headlamp that is the whitest on the market.

Every day is a new adventure at Open and that is what makes it so exciting. So, if you’re looking for an agency that doesn’t take itself too seriously and you want to be a part of the next chapter in this ongoing story, then give us a shout. The kettle is always on and when you work with Open its always story time.

Doing backstroke in a talent pool

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Lindsey Davies

During too many conversations recently the topic of conversation has focused on recruitment and just how difficult it is to find good people. It hasn’t mattered about the industry or the level of the position that has been available – the problem has fallen upon two main concerns; attitude and ambition.

I’m almost ashamed to admit that after many years of disagreeing with people who have questioned the ambition of the next generation, I have to hold my hands up and agree. I’m just not seeing the passion, enthusiasm and competition that I remember from when I was looking for my first position.

Before we launched Open Comms I would hear people complaining about the hassles of hiring and the headaches of HR meetings but I just thought that these businesses simply weren’t looking hard enough.

I thought then, perhaps naïvely, that if you had a position available which would offer someone the chance to learn new skills, build their experiences and develop their career – while getting paid for it – then you would have people knocking at the door.

I appreciate that many universities still have a somewhat archaic view of PR and marketing, believing that you have to go to London if you want to be taken seriously, but I strongly disagree. Some of the best creative talents are here in Yorkshire and the opportunities within the industry have never been better.

So, where have all the good people gone? Where are the graduates’ eager to learn and impress? Where are those that want to put theory into practice and to get excited about results? Where are those that want to progress quickly and to be the very best they can be in their chosen job?

I appreciate that I suffer from a constant disposition called ‘judging everyone by my own standards’ but there must be graduates and young PR professionals who want to make their mark and to learn the skills that will give them the opportunity to shape a long and exciting career.

I remember when I finished university and after four years of hard graft – and reading far too many academic books – I couldn’t wait to get stuck in and to get my first job. I wanted to prove myself and to show that I had what it would take to become a PR professional in Yorkshire and to be recognised for my work throughout the region. I was however very aware that despite my 2:1 in PR I would have to start at the bottom – and that meant making tea with a smile on my face and regularly taking trips to the local Morrisons to arrange a buffet lunch for my director – who many years later became a client and friend.

With a bit of luck and lots of hard work I moved slowly up the ladder before choosing to start my own business. The sad thing is, I’m not sure that those coming up through the ranks have the same commitment. They don’t seem to want to start at the bottom or to learn the basics which allow you to set the foundations so that you can be the best.

We recently advertised for a PR graduate to come and join our team. We have an excellent client list and because we are a small team we felt that the position would give someone who was eager the perfect opportunity to learn and to develop quickly.

We are a friendly office and although we work hard we have a giggle and are very fortunate to have the best clients – really, they are great! So, where were the CVs, the calls, the tweets and texts?

I wonder if part of the problem is that young professionals are too used to having things given, rather than having to work hard to achieve? Are agencies still as appealing as they used to be – giving a real variation on work and experience – or do young professionals simply want to do the exciting parts of the job and not start from the bottom in order to work up?

If I’m honest I don’t have the answers but I hope that I’m wrong about the talent pool. I’m sure there are amazing people out there who are only too eager to prove that they have what it takes to make their mark on the industry and to achieve exceptional results for clients – I just simply can’t find them.

I would be really interested to hear what experiences other agencies have had and what they are doing to attract new talents.

Naomi supports growth at Open Comms

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Lindsey Davies

We have some exciting news to share with you all – here at Open Communications, the straight talking PR agency based at Nostell Priory Estate Yard, we have strengthened our growing team with the appointment of Naomi Stafford as PR Account Manager.

With experience as a journalist having written articles, blogs and press features for some of the UK’s leading consumer magazines, as well as managing accounts at a previous agency, Naomi is already proving herself to be an asset to the team.

Taking responsibility for the development of press office schedules, creative plans, campaigns and social media strategies, Naomi will be a key point of contact and will help us to meet with the objectives of our ever expanding client base.

When asked about her appointment Naomi said: “I’m delighted to be a part of a growing agency. Having built up my experience within journalism and PR, I’m now eager to develop my skills even further, working across a broad range of accounts. Since joining Open Comms I’ve been made to feel like one of the team and I very much look forward to working more closely with an extensive and increasing list of clients in the near future.”

As Naomi has already proven herself to be an asset to the Open team, we know that she will be welcomed by our clients and we are looking forward to sharing her skills, ideas and enthusiasm with the current brands we work with, as well as prospects, over the coming months. Please do say hello if you are passing, tweeting, phoning or just generally getting in touch.

I have a confession…

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Lindsey Davies

I’ve never been to the Great Yorkshire Show. Despite growing up in North Yorkshire and now living in West Yorkshire I have just never got around to it. I do really want to go and think it’s important that we make time to support these events but I just didn’t get around to it.

Last year it was a disaster due to the weather but this year it was glorious sunshine, what better way to spend a day than trying out some local ales and home grown foods, while engaging with some of the many businesses who are based in the Yorkshire region.

I am also particularly interesting in the arts and crafts that are showcased at these events. I love going along to the steam gatherings which take place in Masham and Hunton, near where I’m from. Not only are there cake stalls and the usual vegetable growing competitions but also a massive collective of talents including sewing, wood craft and painting.

I’ve always really wanted to be creative when it comes to crafts and have a sewing machine, but I haven’t spent enough time using it to become any good. I do however want to change that and you never know I could be showcasing my own creations in the future – although I won’t hold my breath!

I am going to make it my mission next year to go to the Great Yorkshire Show. I remember when we were at primary and secondary school it would be accepted and expected that people took time off to go along to the event and I still never managed it!

From the website it looks like it was a huge success and with a waiting list of exhibitors there is no doubt that the many companies that were promoting their wares got great value from it. As some of the largest businesses in the country are based in the county we really should make the effort to support events like this and to champion and shout about the beautiful area we live in.

If you were lucky enough to attend then let me know what you thought. I have heard some amazing things about the show and hope that in future years I will find the time to go along and experience it for myself.