Photo Credit: Photography by Abi Moore
The marketing industry is changing at a far greater pace than ever before. For any small business it is a challenge to keep on top of the changes and to work out the best way to invest their budget, time and focus. With this in mind we are delighted to be able to interview our Founder and Marketing Expert, Sophie Comas to see how Rimu Marketing can help support their clients keep on top of things. Here is what she had to say:
1. How long have you worked in the marketing industry?
Before I set up Rimu Marketing, I worked within the corporate marketing sector for about 15yrs, I started working in Product Marketing for First Choice Holidays, Brand Marketing with IHG and more lately supporting small businesses. This year will mark my 20 Anniversary in the field – gosh saying that aloud that makes me feel old!
2. When did you set up Rimu Marketing?
I set up Rimu Marketing about 4-5 yrs ago, we will be 5 years old next April. Watch this space as this deserves a celebration.
3. What do you enjoy most about working at Rimu Marketing?
I love everything about my job. The flexibility to be able to work around my family; the diverse range of businesses and projects that we work on and the great team of people around me who support what we do. We work with businesses of all sizes from sole traders wanting a days work; through a broad range of medium size businesses who require more ongoing support, we relish the challenge of a range of industries with a diverse range of projects or delivering workshops.
4. What is the biggest challenge of your role?
As a working mum there is never enough hours in the day, if I could clone myself that would be helpful. Maintaining the balance is an ongoing challenge.
5. What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
When my clients experience that lightbulb moment. It could be that they see the results that they are looking for in their business or perhaps understand how marketing all fits together in one of our marketing workshop sessions. When you realise that you have made a difference to someones business it is very empowering.
6. How has the marketing industry changed since you started out?
Gosh – hugely! My job did not exist 20 yrs ago, we did not have social media or the internet in the way it works today. In fact in my first role at IHG I was still sending out faxes to hotel General Managers – I am sure that some of the younger readers reading this will say what is a fax?
7. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career?
Get a broad range of marketing experience before you decide to specialise in one area or another, there are so many disciplines now all with different skill sets eg: digital marketing, brand, PR, copy writers, etc. The more you can be exposed to the more informed you will be, to be able to make those career choices later on.
8. Why do you do what you do?
Simply, I wanted to be a valued as a marketeer and continue growing my career yet I also needed to be a great mum and wife. Family is very important to me. I was ready for a new challenge and when the opportunity to take redundancy in 2013 presented itself it all seemed to fit, my new role needed to work around my family commitments. So with this, and further to a chance conversation with a friend of mine who was a reflexologist seeking some marketing input, Rimu Marketing was born, we have not looked back since.
As with every business owner there are challenges, there are ups and downs but for me the positive stuff outweighs the negative. My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you have a good support network in place to help you when the times get difficult – my husband has been my rock and support throughout everything.
9. Describe yourself in five words.
When I asked my boys this question they said: kind, loving, helpful, happy, generous, amazing and cool – not quite what you meant, but a slightly different take on things.
I would probably say: Agile. Dependable. Determined. Knowledgable. Passionate.
10. What does the future hold for Rimu Marketing?
We have some really ambitious plans on the horizon over the next 12-months which should see us grown significantly as a business.
Firstly, we recognise that many small business owners, especially when they are starting out do not necessarily have the budget to invest in marketing, but need the know how and support to set up their marketing channels. With this in mind we are just about to launch our new 9-week online marketing bootcamp, designed with the sole trader in mind. So if you wish to revise your marketing approach or set up your marketing then this is the right product for you.
Secondly, we also have a new digital footprint workshop which we will soon be rolling out to small/ medium size businesses. This is where we will go into an organisation and help them understand how to define and manage their digital footprint with a particular focus on managing this when you are looking to recruit new talent into your business.
Many thanks to Sophie for taking the time out to speak with us, if you would like to know more about the new online bootcamp or up and coming workshops please CLICK HERE to get in touch and arrange your FREE 60-minute consultation.
Interview by Michelle Quickfall.
