Hive offers a Focus on Marketing

Small business owners from across Shropshire have been making the most of the opportunity to share experiences, exchange knowledge and learn together, thanks to a group hosted at the Hive Music and Media Centre in Shrewsbury.

Focus on Marketing is a forum offering informal peer support to local businesses, helping them embrace all that the wide subject of marketing has to offer. The sessions are led by Telford based marketing consultant Claire Dowdall, who aims to dispel myths, share her knowledge and empower business owners to achieve success through clever and well planned marketing activity.

The Hive has hosted several sessions during 2012, which have covered invaluable topics such as beating the competition and embracing the web. The events are delivered informally and take place in the Hive’s gallery space, offering a creative setting for relaxed networking, group discussions and breakaway activities. Business owners have the opportunity to bring marketing challenges to the table, to benefit from the shared expertise and advice of the group.

Habib Malik-Mansell, Marketing Assistant at the Hive said: "It’s been highly positive for the Hive to be involved with the Focus on Marketing sessions in Shrewsbury from the outset. In partnership with Claire, we’re able to play our part in supporting local businesses across the county. Several businesses from the Focus on Marketing groups have also been involved with other Hive activities, including our community street party.”

Claire Dowdall added “We had our first session at the Hive 12 months ago now and it immediately had great feedback.  Since much of the free advice available to small businesses was pulled due to lack of funding, the availability of good, affordable marketing advice has diminished. What I want Focus on Marketing to do is give small business owners a place they can come and learn about marketing in a relaxed and informal environment, which is provided in the fantastic gallery space at the Hive."

Focus on Marketing sessions also now run in Telford and Ludlow, with additional venues planned in Oswestry and Wolverhampton later in the year.

The next Shrewsbury session on 26th September at the Hive will cover branding and is bookable via www.focusonmarketingsept2012.eventbrite.co.uk

For more information on events and projects at the Hive visit http://www.hiveonline.org.uk/

Details of Claire Dowdall’s services can be found at http://www.clairedowdall.co.uk/