“Smell gas? Act! Call 0800 111 999. Save the number in your phone today.”
We were delighted to work with Cadent to publicise this life-saving message with clear, concise instructions on what to do if you smell gas. Our team created an animation that has reached over half a million views (and counting!) on YouTube. We aimed to deliver an accessible message while refining the campaign mark.
Watch the animation here:
Objectives
Cadent set out to raise public awareness of gas safety through a focused campaign titled “Smell, Act, Call”. A key campaign requirement was to subtly develop the campaign mark whilst ensuring clarity and accessibility across all content. The “act” stage of the campaign needed to be emphasised as an important part of the process if you can smell gas.
Challenges and Requirements
Development of the Campaign Mark
Cadent required the existing campaign mark to be refined without losing its core identity. We aimed to enhance its visual appearance whilst remaining recognisable.
Clear and Accessible Content
Elements across the campaign needed to be easily understood by a broad audience. With a specific focus on the “act” icon, the campaign’s overall message needed to be easily interpreted.
Structure and Hierarchy
We were tasked with making sure that the number, message, and icons were visually balanced, with the emergency phone number placed last in the hierarchy for optimal comprehension.
Our Approach
Animation Creation
We designed and created a dynamic, engaging animation to capture the essence of the “Smell, Act, Call” message. Using clear, accessible visuals, we ensured the message was direct and memorable. We seamlessly incorporated the campaign mark, with a little enhancement but maintaining the original design.
Accessible Icons
In particular, we focused on developing the ‘act’ icon, to make sure it was communicated in an easy-to-understand way. By using simple, bold shapes and colours, the icons were universally recognisable, which is important for a campaign of this nature.
Visual Hierarchy
We carefully structured the animation, giving importance to the main message before introducing the emergency contact number. This hierarchy was important as we needed to ensure the audience understood the main message before noting the critical information of the phone number.
Social Media Assets
As well as the animation, we developed a comprehensive suite of social media assets. Including banners, carousels and cover photos tailored to specific platforms. We ensured consistent messaging and visual branding across all the content.
Results
The “Smell, Act, Call” Campaign for the Cadent animation gained plenty of traction, with over 500,000 views on YouTube! Our campaign assets successfully met the client’s requirements, ensuring the message was delivered clearly and resonated with the target audience.
To find out more about Cadent and their various resources and information regarding gas safety, visit their website.
Do you have a project where you’d like support from a creative and strategic team? Get in touch to have a chat, we’d love to hear from you!
To say that 2020 has been a rough old ride would be somewhat of an understatement.
We know that there are businesses out there who have been or are struggling during these unprecedented times, but we want to try and end the year on a bit of a high with a new perspective and a teensy ounce of optimism for 2021.
The Blumilk 2020 Roundup
Right from the get-go, the Blumilk Creative and Digital Agency in Newcastle got their heads together to see how we could do our bit to support North East Businesses.
Our relationships with our clients have gone from strength to strength during 2020.
Expanding our Utilities Portfolio
We celebrated our 12 month work anniversary with the incredible Western Power Distribution. During this time, we have worked on countless projects meeting countless key business objectives while working together to completely transform their business.
And it looks like our relationship in 2021 is only going to grow into something even bigger and better.
In keeping with one of our specialist areas of expertise – the utilities sector – Blumilk have carried on our long term relationship with our friends at SSEN, securing another contract for the foreseeable future.
Blumilk’s relationship with Affinity Water has grown into something quite awesome. We have more than solidified our position as an extension of their team (we’re this close to making the brews!).
Demonstrating just how committed we are to creating and implementing fresh approaches to branding, business excellence, digital transformation, regulatory reporting and everything in between with several of Affinity’s departments means 2021 is going to be more exciting than ever.
We’ve also continued to support two of our favourite destinations throughout this incredibly difficult year; The Alnwick Garden and Bamburgh Castle.
In-house achievements
While helping our amazing clients to grow, we’ve been doing some growing ourselves with the appointment of two experienced heads of department and two skilled project managers.
And it’s not just our business that has been sleeping in a grow bag; our brand recognition has penetrated the North East more than ever before with a PR push inside leading publications; North East Times, BDaily, The Evening Chronicle and Metro Radio.
As far as profit goes, this has been our best year since we began trading more than 21 years ago, doubling our turnover from the previous year.
And finally, as if we haven’t been busy enough, we launched Brandkeeper, grew Enyware and have another exciting website platform heading your way to combat a challenge within the equine industry.
Make no mistake, we’re not ones to rest on our laurels, and we know that success, particularly during such stressful and uncertain times, comes from an abundance of hard graft, relationship building and, most importantly, teamwork!
If you would like us to be involved in your journey through 2021 and beyond, drop the Blumilk Creative and Digital Agency in Newcastle a message at info@blumilk.com
This year, we all know Christmas is going to feel a little strange, so we thought we would lend a hand with twelve excellent gifts to add to your Christmas shopping list for that someone special that you can order or book from the comfort of the sofa. Hopefully, we might inspire you to keep it a little more local for 2020 and get some dates in the diary to make 2021 somewhat more appealing…
First up we have Wylam Brewery. Know someone that enjoys the perfect beer? How about getting them a set of beers or a gift voucher for the amazing Wylam Brewery? Founded in 2000 Wylam is a 30 Barrel Micro Brewery that resides at the Palace of Arts in Exhibition Park.
How about gifting the jazziest pants in town, whilst funding an amazing charity at the same time? With over 300 unique underwear designs, they have something for everyone. Join the pants party and order your OddBalls today!
Love pizza? Need another lockdown activity? Gilchesters has you covered! Gilchesters has a great range of gift boxes from Bread Making Boxes to New Beginning Kits for the newbies to baking. Our favourite is the Pizza Gift Box which features a pizza stone and the ingredients for the perfect home-cooked pizza base.
Towering 150 feet above the coast with outstanding sea views, nine acres of unique Northumberland to explore and a history dating back thousands of years, perhaps a ticket to the amazing Bamburgh Castle could be the ideal gift this year?
We’re sure our Geordie following all know that Barbour is based in the North East, so it’s the perfect excuse for shopping luxury and local this year, plus there’s a chance we will be spending all our weekends wandering National Trust gardens again next year, so the outdoor wear is honestly a win-win gift!
Nestled in the treetops, experience a cosy lunch or dinner by a roaring log fire surrounded by twinkling lights. With hand-crafted furniture, excellent service and notoriously good food, there is no better place than The Alnwick Garden Treehouse Restaurant. We know we wouldn’t mind receiving a gift voucher for a date night here.
Can’t wait for live music again after 2020? How about booking an event at Utilita Arena? For an extra treat, have a look at their hospitality packages which include access to a VIP Members Lounge with food and private bar, sounds like an evening they won’t forget.
For the person that already has everything, what about a donation to a charity in their honour? Here at Blumilk we work with amazing charities such as Tiny Lives and Great North Air Ambulance who would both make excellent candidates for a donation. Tiny Lives support premature and sick newborn babies and their families at the RVI Hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) brings pioneering pre-hospital care to the scene, rescuing hundreds of severely injured or ill patients every year.
A North East coastal break with all the family? Yes please. Modern, self catering caravans are available to hire for your holiday in either South Shields or Cresswell with Northumbrian Leisure. The holiday parks are in two picture-perfect locations and a trip away is the foolproof surprise for anyone needing a pick-me-up next year.
Still looking through our ultimate gifts for Christmas? After a tough 2020…how about treating your loved one to a night away? A Sunday night stay in Hotel Du Vin, a three course dinner, a glass of fizz and a full breakfast? Sounds heavenly.
One for the adventure seeker! Durham Climbing Centre is one of the largest dedicated bouldering centres in the UK. They cater for every level of climber from beginner to pro so this could be a great one to tire out the kids. You can book block Rock Star lessons via their website.
Foodie on your Christmas list? No problem! How does a voucher for an afternoon tea in a rooftop restaurant overlooking the River Tyne sound? Delicious? Thought so. Have a look at the vouchers available on SIX Baltic’s website.
We hope you like our ideas for gifts for Christmas!
Usually, Blumilk are huge fans of getting into the Autumnal spirit at this time of the year.
Whether we’re huddled around a fire pit with our bobble hats and oversized scarves or drinking our hot chocolates covered in marshmallows – we always seem to mark the foiled plan to burn down the Houses of Parliament with a bit of a bang.
But this year, it’s all going to be a little different. There may be no organised firework or bonfire displays to light up the skies, no meeting with friends at your local to warm up over your favourite tipple however we hope you can still mark the occasion at home with a piece of homemade Parkin (this lockdown’s banana bread?), snuggled up on the sofa in front of the fire.
Similar to every year, firefighters have begun to speak out to reinforce the dangers around bonfires and fireworks and with less of the organised fun, it’s predicted that people will turn to celebrate at home.
As you know, any kind of firework display, either home or organised, comes with its own set of risks and Blumilk have been working with one of our clients, Western Power Distribution, which covers the Midlands, the South West of England and South Wales, on a Guy Fawkes safety campaign.
Safety experts at Western Power Distribution are urging anyone who is planning bonfire celebrations at home to keep fireworks and bonfires away from power lines and substations – and always to plan their event in daylight to make sure they stay well away from electrical hazards.
WPD Health and Safety Adviser Eddie Cochrane said: “Bonfire night celebrations will be on a much smaller scale this year because of coronavirus restrictions but that doesn’t mean the safety message is any different.
“It is vital that people are aware of the dangers posed by electrical equipment when they’re planning bonfires and fireworks. On a windy night, flames and sparks can easily be blown onto overhead power lines and may cause power cuts or electrical surges.”
Blumilk created an eye-catching campaign that has been pushed out across social media for the week before 5th November.
You can see more work we have done in the utilities sector here.
Whatever you do to celebrate this year, stay safe!
We recently celebrated our 21st birthday, and so, what better way to celebrate our success than strengthening our Blumilk branding team with not three but four fantastic new starters.
The Blumilk Studio is home to some of the region’s very best creatives who regularly produce inspiring and innovative campaigns for our range of successful clients.
Strong team = Strong branding
However, to ensure our clients receive the very best service level with a dedicated point of contact, we have appointed two new project managers, Abi Dodwell and Holly Dawson.
Abi and Holly, as part of Blumilk’s live projects team, will work alongside our clients to understand their objectives and act as brand guardians to steer their projects to success.
Overseeing the live projects team will be Blumilk’s new Head of Strategic Delivery, Jo Roberston. Jo brings a wealth of experience to the Blumilk branding team, having worked for some of the world’s largest utility and travel brands across Europe including DFDS and Northumbrian Water.
Our fourth recruit is Kim Walker, who joins Blumilk as Head of Sales and Marketing. Kim will work alongside client director, Lauren Hindhaugh, and Client Relationship Manager, Katie Armstrong, to ensure Blumilk clients receive the best possible pre-project care level.
Kim will also be responsible for all of Blumilk’s marketing functions.
Say hello…
Holly Dawson – Project Manager
‘I have worked in marketing and customer engagement roles since leaving sixth form.
With such a huge interest in business growth, branding and the creative element of marketing brands, my role at Blumilk sees me guiding our clients to success and their projects to life.
My experience comes from working as part of an in-house marketing team, but I love the variety that working for an agency brings.
Every day is different, and I get to work with unique brands, their exciting projects, and some of the best creatives in the industry.
Away from my lists and plans (I’m super-organised), I love to try new places to eat as well as exploring new places. I recently visited Barcelona and can’t wait until I can return.
Oh, and I love dogs!’
Abi Dodwell – Project Manager
‘I started working as a project manager for Blumilk just before lockdown, and although it’s been strange getting to know our clients and my team remotely, I feel as though I have been part of the team for years.
Before I began my marketing career, I worked in film and hospitality. You could say working in these industries is a great combination of creative and client engagement!
I am incredibly excited to be part of Blumilk and am already working with some great clients who are already seeing their projects and visions become a reality.
Outside of the Ouseburn (or home at the moment!) I enjoy staying active and do this by exploring new places at every opportunity I get.
The Simpsons are my obsession, hence the framed Matt Groening-style portrait I have at home.’
Jo Robertson – Head of Strategic Delivery
‘I’m no stranger to the marketing industry, having headed up a number of strategic teams to deliver exciting and inspiring marketing campaigns.
I am excited to work with all of Blumilk’s fantastic clients and my experience with leading strategic projects for brands both local and global, particularly in the utility and travel sectors, will greatly support them on their journey to growth and success.’
Kim Walker – Head of Sales and Marketing
‘As a qualified journalist and digital marketer with a strong background in business development, I am delighted to be part of the Blumilk team.
Having worked on sales and marketing campaigns in-house for the utility, manufacturing, and training sectors, I appreciate first-hand the importance of understanding a client’s objectives and working alongside their current marketing resources to achieve them.
Whether it’s a total rebrand or minor changes to their app, I am confident that by marketing Blumilk’s approach to client relationships, as well as their remarkable creative capacity, Blumilk will be able to grow and, more importantly, so will our clients!’
If you’re looking for a branding agency who is as creative as they are business-minded, we would love to hear from you. You can reach us on 0191 232 4401 or email kim@blumilk.com.
At Blumilk, we have been working on a number of exciting projects that involves the Branding for the Utilities Sector.
Recently, we have been collaborating very closely with @western_power_distribution, one of the UKs biggest DNO’s.
As the main electricity provider for the Midlands, South Wales and South West and boasting exceptional service provision, it was imperative that this branding for the utilities sector matched the brand ethos through and through.
We really enjoy working with their team and are thrilled that we have been able to produce some great work for them. The utilities sector is one of our greatest passions as a company and we are very excited about the future projects we have to come…
If you are interested in how Blumilk can assist with your utility sector branding, please get in touch with us.
Being creative market leaders in some industries seems like an impossible task. Promoting and branding your products and services when they aren’t ‘sexy’ is no marketer’s dream. However, there are ways to make yourself stand out in these sectors. We’re talking to you, businesses in the utilities sector…
The services you provide are fairly in-depth, technical, and for the most part, quite difficult to communicate. There are always regulations that need to be adhered to, stakeholders you need to communicate with, the public to be informed, and targets to meet. Getting your message across in an engaging, creative way can be tricky, so we’ve pulled together a few quick tips to help you tackle your utilities branding:
Know your Audience
Your audience changes very regularly; one day you might be speaking to a member of parliament in regard to renewable energy solutions, the next day you might be speaking to a family of four advising them on the best way to manage a bill.
You’ll need to adapt your style and language for each, employing the best ways to speak to them. An easy assumption to make is that you need to be really technical, but this is not always best practice. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that everyone will understand your product or service.
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Improving your NPS score (the measurement of a customer’s willingness to recommend your product or service) year on year should be a major goal. Keep asking yourself “how likely are we to be recommended?” in the back of your mind with everything that you do and let your initiatives grow from this.
Communicate the basics
Do not over complicate things. On a day-to-day basis you will not always be discussing technical issues such as a DNS to DSO strategy (power now coming from multiple sources rather than singular). For the most part, the public doesn’t know what you actually do or on some occasions know that you exist, start by educating them on this, and allow the conversations to develop from this base.
Create Personality
You are working in a very technical environment; however, this does not mean that you have to be cold and uninviting. All companies are built by people, so it’s important that the personality of your business is conveyed to the customer. By doing this, they will be more engaged and perceptive to your brand. Allow them to see the people they’ll be interacting with.
Consider different platforms
“It’s the way we’ve always done it” won’t serve you well. Change things up; look at using new platforms and mediums to speak to your audience. A younger generation have become more prevalent and are in need of your services expecting multiple communication channels. Find out where they spend their time online and ensure that your message is always being heard.
Don’t settle for ticking a box
Show that you go above and beyond for your customers and stakeholders. You need to demonstrate that you’ve listened to feedback and that you have reacted accordingly. Showing this adaptability and championing positive change is without a doubt the best way to improve your NPS score. For example, you may be required to commission an annual report, find out from the previous year’s documents what people responded to best/didn’t respond to, and use this for growth. The longer you can hold someone’s attention the more likely it is that your information will be absorbed, keep this simple and visually appealing.
Identify your weaknesses
Do what you do well and do it well, there is no need to cover every single base. The utilities sector is a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. If you don’t have a marketing department, outsource this function. If you have a design team who keep producing the same looking content, seek out a second opinion.
Blumilk are a multi-award-winning brand, reputation and campaigns agency for the utilities sector and has been helping solve business challenges for over 20 years. At Blumilk, we specialise in strategic brand, campaign, regulatory, and overall reputation projects for clients within the utilities sector and are driven by a team of world-class creatives and strategists. Together we generate solutions that make a real difference for our clients.
If you are in the utility sector and want to ensure that your communications are engaging your audience, or just need advice on the best ways to meet your goals we are always available for a chat. Please contact 0191 249 8384 or info@blumilk.com
