What If…?

Client: Chichester Business Improvement District (Chichester BID)
Campaign: Proudly Chichester, Proudly Independent – What if…?
Duration: July 2025 (National Independent Retailers Month)

The Challenge

Now in its third year, Proudly Chichester, Proudly Independent has become a cornerstone of Chichester BID’s summer activity, designed to champion the city’s independent businesses and encourage residents to rediscover their high street.

BrightWord PR was tasked with evolving the campaign for 2025 – to keep the message fresh, relevant and emotionally engaging while driving tangible increases in visibility, engagement, and participation among both businesses and consumers.

The Idea

We developed the creative concept “What if…” – a theme that captures the spirit of spontaneity and rediscovery. From the small everyday needs to the unexpected moments that make local life special, What if…invited people to see Chichester’s independents as the solution to life’s little twists and turns.

“What if that dress just needed a small alteration? What if you didn’t want to cook tonight? What if your nails need a refresh or you forgot a birthday gift?”

Through this relatable narrative, the campaign connected emotionally with audiences while reinforcing the value, variety and personality of Chichester’s independent businesses.

The Execution

BrightWord PR delivered an integrated PR and marketing campaign spanning content, media relations, social storytelling and business engagement. Key activity included:

The Results

The campaign delivered outstanding results across all channels:

The result was a vibrant, city-wide celebration of independent spirit – strengthening Chichester’s sense of community pride and reaffirming its reputation as a destination alive with local character.

The Impact

BrightWord PR’s strategic approach combined insight-led creative with targeted communication, delivering measurable outcomes and meaningful engagement. The What if… campaign not only exceeded social benchmarks but also deepened the emotional connection between Chichester’s people and its independent business community.

 

Good Food Festival

Since 2023 we have delivered a dynamic communications campaign for the Good Food Festival at Goodwood Racecourse. Tasked with raising awareness and driving ticket sales, we have developed and executed an annual multi-channel strategy that has combined media outreach, influencer engagement, and targeted local marketing.

Our Approach

Media & Broadcast Coverage

Each year we have secured high-profile editorial placements in well-regarded regional titles, including Sussex Life, Beautiful South Magazine, Sussex World, Absolutely Sussex, Brighton Argus, BN1 Magazine and Muddy Sussex. The campaign’s reach was further amplified through local radio coverage across stations such as BBC Sussex, V2 Radio, More Radio, Shine Radio, and Express FM.

Influencer Campaign

A key part of our strategy was a curated influencer programme which brought over 50 content creators annually to the festival – ranging from micro to high-reach profiles. Spanning family, lifestyle and foodie influencers, many hosted Instagram ticket giveaways and exclusive tickets offers, driving online buzz and user engagement across key demographics.

Local Press & Community Engagement

A central element of our annual campaign is engaging directly with the local community through:

> Competitions in regional media
> Event listings and promotions across online and local media
> Over 10,000 leaflets distributed locally each year
> Placement of 20+ roadside signs and prominent vinyl banners
> Outreach to schools offering discounted family tickets
> Reciprocal marketing opportunities with local attractions and DMOs
> Business partnerships with an exclusive 2-for-1 ticket offer

The Results

Year on year our campaign exceeds expectations, delivering a marked increase in attendance and visibility for the festival. The success has solidified our role as a trusted partner for strategic event communications.

This case study showcases our expertise in building integrated PR campaigns that span traditional media, digital influence, and community-level impact – achieving results that go beyond awareness to truly elevate brand experiences.

Chichester International Film Festival

Project Overview

We started working with the Chichester International Film Festival in 2024, where under the guidance of a new Director, the Festival entered a new chapter – bringing fresh energy and direction to a beloved cultural event. We were brought on board to lead a strategic PR and marketing campaign that would introduce the new leadership, increase visibility, and attract diverse audiences to the Festival’s diverse programme of screenings and events.

Off the back of the success of the 2024 Festival, we were delighted to be reappointed to work on the 2025 Chichester International Film Festival campaign.

Objectives

Our Strategy & Approach

Regional PR & Media Relations

We secured targeted media coverage across Sussex through compelling press releases, feature placements, and Q&A interviews with the new Festival Director – highlighting both their vision and the Festival’s evolving identity.

Press Interviews & Launch Features

We positioned the new Director as a cultural voice, placing interviews in local press and radio to introduce their story, plans, and the refreshed programming. We also secured interviews with visiting film directors, actors and producers.

PR Stories Around the Programme

Beyond listings, we created editorial angles around headline screenings, community events, international cinema highlights, and themed strands – giving journalists multiple ways in which to cover the Festival.

Partnerships with Local Businesses & DMOs

We collaborated with local venues, hospitality businesses, retailers, and tourism organisations to co-create activations that brought the Festival into the wider city experience:

Influencer Engagement

We partnered with hand-picked regional influencers, film lovers, and lifestyle bloggers to share Festival previews, favourite screenings, and significant moments.

Community Competitions

We ran engaging social and media competitions for free tickets and VIP access —driving social shares, ticket sales and buzz around key dates.

Results

Conclusion

Our campaigns for Chichester International Film Festival combine storytelling, strategic press outreach, and creative local partnerships to reintroduce a trusted cultural brand under new leadership. With a blend of tradition and fresh energy, the Festival reached new audiences while re-engaging loyal supporters – paving the way for continued growth and innovation.

Christmas in Chichester

Client: Chichester BID
Partners: Chichester District Council, Chichester City Council
Timescale: July – December 2024

Brief

To deliver a city-wide festive campaign that would drive footfall, support local businesses, and cement Chichester’s reputation as a vibrant destination during the Christmas period.

Our Role

As Chichester BID’s retained PR and Marketing agency, BrightWord oversees the strategic planning, creative direction, and full marketing delivery of the Christmas in Chichester campaign. From conceptualising the key themes and developing the campaigns to creating the Christmas collateral, securing the celebrity judge for the much loved Christmas Window Competition and coordinating the partner activities, starting in July – we absorb ourselves in Christmas in Chichester.

Project Management & Delivery

We manage the campaign end-to-end – from content creation and event coordination to press, social media, and stakeholder engagement. Working closely with the BID team, we:

Influencer & Digital Success

To extend the campaign’s reach, we collaborated with lifestyle influencer @KatieKirkLoves (22.7k followers) to showcase independent Christmas shopping, dining experiences and the Chichester Gift Card. Her collaborative reel and carousel achieved excellent engagement, driving new followers to the @thisischichester page and increasing click-throughs to the campaign website.

Digital Performance

Press & Media

We drafted and distributed press releases for every major event, securing interviews with local and regional broadcasters. A new contact was also established with BBC Five Live’s Business Reporter & Presenter, expanding future media opportunities.

The Result

A cohesive, multi-channel campaign that elevated Chichester’s festive offer, strengthened community partnerships, and delivered measurable growth in online engagement and visitor footfall – while ensuring a strong and sustainable brand identity for years to come.

Chichester Cathedral: Mars

Project Overview

We were brought on to lead the PR and marketing campaign for the arrival of Luke Jerram’s Mars installation at Chichester Cathedral—a visually stunning and thought-provoking artwork that brings the surface of Mars to life inside a sacred space.

Our goal was to create buzz, drive visitor footfall, and support the Cathedral’s ambition to engage new and returning audiences across West Sussex and beyond.

Objectives

Our Strategy & Approach

Regional PR

We secured widespread regional media coverage through carefully targeted press outreach, interviews with the Cathedral team and artist, and press invites to the installation’s preview night.

Social Media Activation

We developed a content calendar and ran paid and organic campaigns across Instagram and Facebook to build momentum pre-launch and sustain awareness throughout the exhibition run. Content included time-lapses, behind-the-scenes set-up, visitor quotes, and stories featuring families and creatives interacting with the work.

Editorial-Led Blogs

We wrote and published a series of editorial-led blog posts that explored the science, symbolism, and significance of Mars in both artistic and religious contexts—positioning the Cathedral as both a place of reflection and innovation.

Partnerships & Local Collaboration

We worked with local businesses and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) to create joint campaigns and amplify reach. Highlights included:

Influencer Engagement

We invited a curated list of family bloggers, regional content creators, and cultural influencers to attend preview events and share authentic, high-quality content with their followers—resulting in strong organic reach and engagement across platforms.

Results

Chichester Cathedral: Resilience in Clay

Project Overview

We were proud to lead the PR and marketing campaign for Resilience in Clay – a powerful and moving sculpture exhibition by acclaimed artist Kate Viner, installed within the sacred space of Chichester Cathedral.

The exhibition told personal stories of resilience and recovery through portraiture and clay, created in collaboration with local charity Sanctuary in Chichester, whose clients became both subjects and participants in the creative process.

Our aim was to drive awareness, deepen public understanding of the project’s powerful social themes, and invite audiences to engage with the Cathedral in a new and meaningful way.

Objectives

Our Strategy & Approach

Regional PR & Media Engagement

We secured editorial coverage through targeted pitches to local and regional press. Our storytelling centred not only on the artist and venue, but on the lived experiences behind the sculptures—sharing stories of strength and survival.

Highlights included:

Compelling Content & Video Creation

We produced short-form videos capturing behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, and artistic process footage—designed to be shared across digital platforms and Cathedral channels.

Editorial-Led Blog Series

A series of blog articles explored the themes of resilience, healing, and identity—delving into the stories behind the sculptures and positioning the exhibition as a conversation-starter on art and resilience during conflict.

Social Media Campaigns

We created a series of visually rich, emotionally resonant posts across Facebook and Instagram, highlighting:

Partnership & Charity Collaboration

We worked closely with Sanctuary in Chichester to ensure their voice was embedded throughout the campaign. This partnership gave depth and authenticity to the messaging, and also helped reach wider networks.

Results

Conclusion

Resilience in Clay was more than an exhibition – it was a collaborative act of storytelling, sharing and creativity. Through a multi-channel PR and marketing campaign, we helped elevate its message, amplify its impact, and connect it with the audiences it was made for.

Working on a project that deserves to be seen and felt? We bring thoughtful campaigns to life through storytelling, partnerships, and purpose. Get in touch – hello@brightword.co.uk.

Chichester Cathedral: Peace Doves

The Challenge

In Autumn 2023, we partnered with Chichester Cathedral to deliver a comprehensive communications strategy for their major seasonal exhibition: Peace Doves by renowned sculptor Peter Walker.

Suspended in the Cathedral’s historic Nave, the breathtaking installation featured 15,000 individually handmade paper doves, each inscribed with a message of peace, hope, or love from local children, community groups, and members of the public. The installation was further brought to life with a rich programme of supporting events, including storytelling sessions, silent discos, and immersive twilight viewings accompanied by music composed by David Harper.

The Objectives

Our Approach

BrightWord delivered an integrated communications strategy that combined:

The Results

What’s Next

Following the success of Peace Doves, Chichester Cathedral’s annual autumn exhibition has cemented its place as a standout moment in the area’s cultural calendar, attracting growing audiences and national attention. We have continued to work with Chichester Cathedral on multiple projects including Luke Jerram’s Mars in 2024 and Chichester950, the Cathedral’s 950th anniversary celebrations in 2025.

British Motor Yacht Show

The Challenge

The British Motor Yacht Show is a premium event organised by four of the marine industry’s most prestigious names: Premier Marinas, Fairline, Princess, and Sunseeker. Despite its exclusivity and the pedigree of its partners, the show competes with a growing calendar of global yachting events and needed to reaffirm its position as the must-attend show for serious buyers in the UK.

Our Approach

We were brought on board to deliver a cohesive and high-impact PR and marketing strategy that reflected the luxury, exclusivity, and serious buyer focus of the show. Our work included:

The Results

What’s Next

We continue to support the British Motor Yacht Show in evolving its digital and PR strategy to attract a new generation of buyers, build stronger media partnerships, and maintain its leadership position in the UK yachting calendar.

 

The Little Botanical: Christmas PR

Great Christmas press coverage plays a crucial role in a brand’s long-term PR strategy. A well-placed product mention or a positive review from a respected journalist or influencer can significantly elevate a brand’s profile, increase brand awareness, drive sales, and differentiate it from competitors. This case study explores how we worked with The Little Botanical (TLB) on their Christmas campaign, showcasing our strategic approach and the results achieved.

Targeting Gift Guides

To maximise TLB’s visibility, we took a proactive approach by finalising the Christmas press release by July. This allowed us to target long-lead publications that were already compiling features and gift guides for the festive season. We ensured high-quality, high-resolution imagery was readily available, showcasing both pack shots and lifestyle images to bring TLB’s Christmas collection to life. Additionally, we confirmed stockist details and prices for the collection well in advance. By considering different gift guide categories, themes, and trends, we pitched a range of products that aligned with the preferences of various press outlets. We tailored our product offerings to suit the target audience of each publication, ranging from high-end luxury magazines to niche gardening and interior titles.

The Christmas Range

Recognising the value of TLB’s new personalisation service, we positioned it as an ideal, meaningful, and unique Christmas gift idea. We curated a range of gifts with different price points, ensuring journalists had a variety of options to feature based on different budget categories. Leveraging TLB’s diverse plant range, we identified the best gifts for different people, catering to a wide range of gifting needs and requirements.

Monitoring Trends

We closely monitored consumer trends to inform our PR strategy. Recognising the cost-of-living crisis and consumers’ increasing consciousness of spending habits, we identified an opportunity to feature price-sensitive gifting ideas that could help stretch Christmas gifting budgets further. Furthermore, we highlighted TLB’s brand story within the Christmas offerings, emphasising what sets the brand apart and building trust and engagement with the audience.

Targeting Press

Thorough research was conducted to identify the relevant journalists and publications covering Christmas. We noted specific deadlines and any themes, categories and price points for their Christmas pages. Our approach included personalised follow-ups to ensure press had all the necessary information in a timely manner, maximising the chances of securing coverage and building on media relationships for the brand.

Online Presence

Recognising the significance of online platforms for Christmas PR opportunities, we developed a comprehensive digital strategy. We targeted online features and gift guides throughout November and December, taking advantage of the fact that approximately 70% of gift guide opportunities are online. This approach allowed us to leverage last-minute opportunities leading up to the festive season.

Influencer Engagement

As influencers play a vital role in shaping consumer opinions, we incorporated influencer engagement into our Christmas campaign. By partnering with relevant influencers in the home and lifestyle space, we amplified TLB’s reach and showcased their products to a wider audience, leveraging the influencers’ credibility and following.

Seasonal Feature Ideas

While Christmas was the main focus, we didn’t overlook other seasonal stories leading up to the festive season. We pitched TLB’s Christmas range to stylists working on festive-styled shoots, offering the inclusion of plants in their creative setups. Additionally, we positioned TLB’s Co-Founder, Morag Hill, as an authority in houseplant care, pitching festive-themed expert plant care tips and quotes. These covered topics such as Poinsettia and Christmas tree care, as well as alternative plant-centred Christmas decor ideas. By connecting emotionally with the audience and demonstrating TLB’s extensive knowledge and expertise, we established a strong brand presence beyond just product placement.

Photo Features

We also capitalised on TLB’s incredible West Sussex based nursery where they grow their own plants and looked to secure image-led features. We used our contacts with freelance photographers to capture the wonderful sea of red Poinsettias growing in the nursery. This resulted in a photo feature within The Telegraph, a powerful and engaging section of the newspaper.

Christmas Coverage Included:

The Times
The Telegraph
OK! Magazine
Country Homes & Interiors
Period Living
ES Magazine
Notebook
Absolutely Sussex
Cosmopolitan
Garden Illustrated
Good Housekeeping
The Mail on Sunday

Beyond Christmas

Once the Christmas coverage was filed, we made sure to think ahead and pitch short-lead January stories before the Christmas break to build on the momentum Christmas had created and nurture relationships with key press.

In January, there is often a focus on well-being, health and refreshing the home. We capitalised on this opportunity by pitching relevant plant-related ideas and features such as highlighting how plants can help beat the winter blues, as well as the top plant recommendations for darker days and colder temperatures. By aligning TLB’s offering with these January themes, we maintained the brand’s visibility and relevance beyond the festive season, ensuring continued press coverage and engagement with the audience.

Could we help you harness the power of PR for your next campaign? 

Whether you’re planning a product launch, event or special promotion, our team is experienced in crafting strategic PR campaigns that elevate your brand’s visibility and achieve your goals. We’d be delighted to discuss how we can collaborate and unlock the potential of PR for your brand. Contact rachel@brightword.local to discover more about working with us.

Hope Classic Rally: Event Marketing

We thrive on working to a deadline here at BrightWord which is why we relished the challenge of successfully supporting the final marketing push for the Hope Classic Rally.

Hope Classic Rally is a prestigious charity event that celebrates some of the most beautiful classic cars from the past 100 years, inviting them to travel in convoy along a spectacularly scenic route through the Surrey Hills that finishes in the stunning South Downs.  All the proceeds from the event go to the WeSeeHope Foundation, a charity that supports vulnerable people and children living in Southern and Northern Africa. 

Public Relations 

With short lead times for an event taking place in just 6 weeks, our main Public Relations focus was targeting online and short-lead press media. We identified not only classic car titles but also luxury lifestyle press, philanthropy outlets, and the regional press and media in and around the vicinity of the Rally. Coverage included an extensive feature in Surrey Life magazine with a moving interview with Phil Wall, Founder of WeSeeHope and the Hope Classic Rally, to fantastic coverage in IM Magazine and Classic & Sports Car.

Social Media 

Complementing our Public Relations activity, we revved up HCR’s online social media presence (reach increased by almost 1000%), reenergised its existing online community (engagement increased by 1.2k) and accelerated its growth and engagement to raise greater awareness of and interest in the event as well as the associated online auctions and fundraising activity (website taps increased by 292%).  There was a lot to communicate in a very short time frame. 

We immediately tapped into Classic Car and Classic Car enthusiast Facebook groups, created Facebook events and executed an engaging series of social media posts, stories and reels. We left no stone unturned, initiating a Hope Classic Rally LinkedIn page and engagement strategy on the platform as well as undertaking a targeted Facebook advertising campaign. The results speak for themselves and the buzz and interest generated and money raised at the inaugural Hope Classic Rally Magnificent Seven online auction was impressive. 

On the Day and Post Event Follow-Up

We were thrilled to see our hard work and efforts help the event to bloom into a successful and memorable day. The Rally was attended by two members of the BrightWord team in order to facilitate creating on-the-day social media content and secure content for post-event PR and social media too. 

It truly was a special and satisfying day which began at the stunning Oatlands Park Hotel and ended at the beautiful Wiston Park where guests could enjoy a quintessential garden party amongst some of the world’s most sought-after classic cars.  

Itchenor Sailing Club: Bridal Shoot

Working with various clients in the wedding sector, we know just how important it is to have truly beautiful imagery to help appeal, inspire and engage your target audience.

Last year we directed a photo shoot at Itchenor Sailing Club in Chichester, with the aim of creating a selection of images that could be used for PR and in marketing materials such as brochures and online.

A quaint clubhouse set on the waterfront of Chichester Harbour with bustling maritime activity, our objective was to highlight the unique features of the Club as a wedding venue.

Shoots like this require a huge amount of planning. The first task is to determine the right concept that sends the correct message to the intended audience. For this shoot we brought all of our initial design ideas together in a comprehensive mood board and brief. As well as allowing us to pull together our vision it helps us to identify the right suppliers for the project.

During the drawing board phase, we agreed to use the local countryside and harbour setting as our source of inspiration, drawing elements from the surrounding landscape into every aspect of the styling.

To make our vision a reality, we recruited a group of some of the best wedding suppliers in the area including international wedding photographer Helen Cawte. Helen’s light, airy photography was the perfect style to capture our coastal concept.

Other suppliers involved included:

– The romantic, wild styling of The Floral Artisan
– Floaty ethereal dresses from boho boutique Rock The Frock
– A hand painted cake from Foxwood Wedding Cakes
– Exquisite fine jewellery from Timothy Roe
– The elegant bridal styling skills of Kiri MUA and KC Hair Boutique
– We found a local model through contacts we had in the Performing Arts department at Chichester College

The hardest part of this type of work is managing the logistics, especially when relying on good weather. However, it all came together and whilst having a brief in place outlining the key shots we required we also worked collaboratively with our suppliers, taking on board their expert advice and creative input.

After receiving the full batch of edited images from Helen, we carefully narrowed down the hundreds of pictures provided to a selection we felt would be strongest to represent the Club in the media.

Due to the regional readership and knowing they love to feature local suppliers, we targeted Your Sussex Wedding Magazine where the shoot was featured as a three-page spread in their April/May 2020 edition.

The end result was a visual treat, which took the reader through the rugged grey-blue coastline, quaint listed buildings and beautiful wildlife, evoking the taste of salty sea air and leaving the audience imagining the romantic possibilities Itchenor holds for their own wedding.

Warrenders Jewellers: A Tale of Generations

We love a good story, and are always keen to create engaging content to captivate the minds and hearts of audiences. We recently came up with a heartfelt Christmas campaign for Warrenders Jewellers, with a focus on family, history and enduring business success.

Warrenders is an independent jewellery business in Sutton with a heritage that spans over 70 years. During this time, the business has served generations of customers, helping them celebrate and honour milestone moments in their lives, from engagements and marriages to anniversaries, birthdays and christenings – many own Warrenders pieces bought to commemorate all of these occasions.

We wanted to create a campaign that celebrated the unique and longstanding relationship the store has with its customers and community while also highlighting the history of the business and their passion for family. After much brainstorming, coffee and cake, we came up with a ‘Generations Campaign’ to connect the generations of customers through their Warrenders jewellery.

To support the campaign, we held a photoshoot involving a real family of three generations wearing a special collection of jewellery pieces – The Generations Collection. Tying the project to a set jewellery collection added a tangible element and really helped inspire customers and drive sales over the important Christmas retail period.

We also spoke to customers and members of the Warrenders’ family asking for their real life jewellery stories and how those treasured pieces have played a part in key moments of their lives. The campaign was rolled out across social media channels, inviting followers to share their own personal jewellery experiences using the hashtag #mywarrenders.

Many captivating stories were revealed, illustrating the special role Warrenders has played in the lives of its customers over the years and how jewellery is more than just a possession but has the ability to embody emotions and memories that can then be passed down and kept alive for years to come.

The content generated from the campaign was used across social media, e-newsletters, digital content and PR with great results. The dedicated blogs were some of the most visited pages on the website in the run up to Christmas and the launch of the campaign generated a significant swell in website traffic, with social media driving an increase of visitors to the website when compared to the previous period. In addition to this, the campaign resonated with Warrenders’ customer base, generating positive feedback from customers both in store and online.

“Our businesses benefit from working with BrightWord PR. Their wide range of skills and experience support us to meet the challenges of competing in the modern marketplace. We get the same valuable advice and professional service on day to day tasks and headline projects, which is such an asset to a small business. I always seem to be saying “thank you” to BrightWord!” Richard Warrender 

 

The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre: Theatre Engagement Campaign

We recently started working with The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre in Havant to support them with their marketing and PR needs. Working with a wider team including a local designer and copywriter to deliver a fully integrated service, one of the main objectives for this year was to promote their Christmas show, Hansel & Gretel.

As well as pitching cast interviews and features to press and delivering a successful social media campaign, we identified an opportunity to work with local schools to promote the show and also develop a relationship between The Spring and the local community.

We put together a competition campaign, asking local school children to design a gingerbread house on a poster – these could be painted, collaged or designed on a computer. We invited the local mayor and Entertainments Editor at The News, Chris Broom to take part in the judging as well as partnering with local bakery, Heidi’s Patisserie to coordinate a prize of a handmade gingerbread house.

The competition was sent to all local schools and supportive collateral was produced to help with the campaign. Despite the short lead time, there was an excellent response with dozens of entries sent in to The Spring. The campaign not only successfully helped raise awareness of the Christmas show to local schools and families, it also provided interesting and engaging content to be used on social media.

Southend Barns: 5th Anniversary PR

One of our longest-standing clients, Southend Barns Wedding Venue celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. We are proud as punch to say that we’ve been working with this popular venue since its inception, so we couldn’t have been more excited to help them plan their fifth anniversary celebrations.

We marked the milestone with a glorious garden party on the lawn, inviting back past couples who have celebrated their nuptials at Southend Barns. Guests were welcomed with a glass of fizz and BBQ by Field & Fork, the fabulous resident caterers at Southend Barns. This was followed by speeches and delicious cake supplied by Nic’s Slice of Heaven and Foxwood Weddings.

It was then time for a special anniversary photo which saw all the guests organised into a shape of a five ready for an aerial photo which took in the beautiful barns and couples. This was something we had been planning for months and involved lots of scaled drawings, discussions about configurations and test runs with the drone, which was managed by Devoted Films. Thankfully the weather was on our side and the final shot looks fantastic! It has already received a brilliant response across social media and in our PR outreach so far. We do love it when a plan comes together!

Happy fifth anniversary Southend Barns!

The Woodhorn Group: The Green Waste Story

Over the last few months we’ve been working with our client, The Woodhorn Group on its brand new green waste recycling video.

The Woodhorn Group is an organic farm in West Sussex that diversified into green waste recycling in 2008. They now receive over 75,000 tons of local green waste each year at their sites in Tangmere and Runcton, which is then used to create their Earth Cycle range of high quality peat free compost and soil conditioning products.

While recycling is a hot topic at the moment, there is limited information out there about the green waste story so one of the first recommendations we made to the team was to create an engaging video to demonstrate how garden waste from West Sussex is collected and then turned into nutrient rich compost.

We were responsible for project managing the video which included creating a storyboard, briefing the videographer, overseeing the editing and launching the final cut. With so much content to film, it was important to keep a tight brief to capture the scale of the waste management and communicate the measured process while also ensuring that viewers of all ages would understand and engage with the video.

In early December we launched the video across various platforms, pushing it on the firm’s website, social media channels and in the local press. We worked together with a number of partner organisations such as the Soil Association, Chichester District Council and Biffa to help reach and engage with a wider audience.

We particularly enjoyed working on this project; seeing months of planning and the story come to life on screen.


Or Click here to see the final result.

Gilbert & Cleveland: Brand Refresh

We’ve been working with Gilbert & Cleveland Estate Agents for the past year, managing all their marketing and PR activity across the three local offices. One of our key objectives from early on was to improve the firm’s online presence and digital marketing. However, before doing this we had to go through a lengthy brand evaluation and introduce a refreshed set of brand guidelines to help them achieve more consistency across all marketing materials and channels. This included the introduction of their silhouettes which represent the five local office areas and their lettings service. The new materials produced following the brand refresh have been well received and the silhouettes are becoming synonymous with the company.

Once this had been completed we could then set our sights on their online marketing. We spent several months working with the partners and staff at Gilbert & Cleveland to scope out the new website and establish the user journeys and experience. We also spent time reviewing the competition and working with our partner development company to plan the aesthetics and functionality of the site.

The agreed aim was to create a cleaner, fresher and more user friendly website with a modern feel whilst maintaining their unique selling points and traditional branding; we wanted to embrace modern methods of selling property without compromising their personal touch and excellent service. It was crucial that the website was responsive for desktop, tablet and mobile screens and that branding was consistent with the newer image that had been introduced.

The new site also needed to:

Other requirements included being able to clearly display property details across all devices with the ability for users to share with friends, book viewings and download further information. We also wanted to reinforce the firm’s position as experienced, trustworthy and knowledgable estate agents so spent time building up valuable content such as guides on the selling and lettings processes as well as information about local areas and recommendations from buyers/sellers.

The website launched just before Christmas and we are all delighted with the results. The new look is clean and contemporary while the informative and engaging content ensures that the firm’s unique values remain at the forefront of what they do.

To visit the website click here.

New Theatre Royal: Relaunch

We were appointed as the PR and Marketing Agency of choice for New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth at the start of 2015 to relaunch the historic theatre.

Established as a theatre in 1854, New Theatre Royal has enjoyed over 160 years as a cultural landmark in the heart of Portsmouth. Since 2012, the theatre has been undergoing a refurbishment project of over £4.5 million to restore the historic building back to its former glory and modernise the theatre.

Working closely with the dynamic and hard-working team there, we were tasked with securing as much media coverage as possible to announce the re-opening and promote the fantastic programme of events lined up in the new theatre and its adjoining learning studio.

The curtain was raised for the first time in three years on the 15th October and the BrightWord team secured over 50 pieces of coverage across a number of key titles including BBC South Today, The News, The Stage, Chichester Observer and Hampshire Life amongst others.

Since the successful launch we have continued to manage the PR for the theatre, working with regional, national and trade press across print, broadcast and online platforms. We also deliver the digital strategy including e-newsletter campaigns and social media management.

Caroline’s Dairy Ice Cream: Brand Awareness Campaign

We’ve been lucky enough to work with local ice cream firm, Caroline’s Dairy since 2014 and this summer saw us launch an exciting PR campaign to find a new flavour of ice cream!

Based in Sidlesham, the multi award-winning ice cream company use the milk from their own dairy herd to make their heavenly ice cream. The dairy team combines the milk with the best natural ingredients and locally sourced fruit to create over 20 different mouth-watering flavours. Their award-winning flavours include Belgian Chocolate Ice Cream and Stem Ginger, Lime and Chilli Ice Cream, which were both recognised in last year’s Great Taste Awards.

Having launched the flavour competition we managed to secure coverage in various regional and trade press including Chichester Observer, West Sussex Gazette, Sussex Life and Taste Magazine as well as creating an online buzz via social media channels.

Nearly 200 people put forward their entries and all suggestions were shortlisted and then trialled and tested in the dairy parlour at Chalder Farm. The final flavours were then judged by Caroline Spiby, owner of Caroline’s Dairy, Gary Shipton, Editor in Chief of Sussex Newspapers, and local food writer Rosemary Moon.

As well as the main competition, we also invited local schools to get involved with a colouring competition that saw the children win a number of prizes for ‘Best Pot Design’ and ‘Best Ice Cream Name.’

The campaign was a huge success that not only resulted in fantastic coverage but also helped boost the brand awareness of Caroline’s Dairy and drive more traffic to the website.

“Working with BrightWord is so easy, they are extremely helpful with working through new ideas, researching when needed and getting the job done.

If you are looking for someone that is professional at all times, effective but most of all enjoyable to work with then ask BrightWord to help with your marketing. My working life has changed substantially since we have worked together and only for the best, I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.”

The Blacksmiths: Festival in a Field

Last Summer we had the privilege of organising The Blacksmiths first ever summer music event – Festival in a Field! We love working on events at BrightWord and this one was particularly fun to be involved with. We were responsible for the entire set up and delivery of the day, from booking the music acts, infrastructure and entertainment to managing the collateral, licensing, sponsorship and marketing of the event.

The festival took place in the field behind the pub in Donnington and the aim was to create a laid-back event using a trailer as a stage and with plenty of haybale seating.

As well as an awesome line-up of local bands playing a range of genres including bluegrass, funk and swing, we also saw some amazing talent take to the stage in the Open Mic session. The team at The Blacksmiths had put on a delicious menu of festival food and did a great job manning the Tinwood Terrace and real ale marquee. Younger guests also had plenty to keep them entertained with face painting, music workshops and tractor trailer rides around the corn fields.

We were all blown away by the amazing response and the day was a sell out just weeks after the free registration system opened. We are already planning the next event which promises to be even bigger and better!

Southend Barns: PR

In 2012 BrightWord Communications were brought in to manage the launch campaign for Southend Barns wedding venue in West Sussex. Fast forward to today and with over 160 weddings booked there each year, it’s safe to say that Southend Barns has become the venue of choice for the Chichester area.

Our services have since extended from the ongoing PR of Southend Barns but also to oversee branding, the creation of marketing collateral, the management of their website and social media channels as well as the organisation of regular events.

The coverage received over this time speaks for itself with features in Bride Magazine, Your Sussex Wedding, Wedding Venues and Services and more.

“From the outset BrightWord have completely immersed themselves in our brand and have become an integral part of the team. The demands of running a new business meant that I needed additional support with my marketing & PR and now Rachel has got my brand consistency under control, delivered a hugely successful venue launch and I am receiving a steady stream of enquiries due to the ongoing PR support.”

South Downs National Park Authority: Editorial

Having worked with South Downs National Park Authority previously, BrightWord Communications were chosen to create their 20-page annual publication. South Downs View is a free newspaper for stakeholders and visitors to the National Park, it encompasses the latest news and events for 2012.

We developed the editorial content to cover news across the area of the National Park and on a variety of subjects, including culture & heritage, education and leisure, and event listings. As well as interviewing relevant contacts for content, delivering the written articles and sourcing imagery we also secured the advertising and competitions for the newspaper, ensuring a smooth process through concept to delivery.