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10 February 2012 at 06:54
As The Beatles once wrote, "It's been a long time, now I'm, going back home. I've been away now, oh how, I've been alone".
It's a lovely song, really it is. But I only meant to quote the first 5 words...I just got carried away...the music in my head replacing the voices....er...
Anyway, it has indeed been a long time since last we met. How are you? Really? Well, you should get that seen to. Meanwhile, our apologies for radio silence, we've had a crazy few months and there's no let up.
What's new?
Most of our time....what am I thinking...ALL of our time (and then some) is being spent on the wonderful Bath Festivals.
All? Well, not all. The web brigade (those Hostpipe boys are like skirmishing Rifles circa 1814, so keen eyed and dynamic are they, just with fewer bayonets and more cross browser compatibility) continue to support Stewart Signs with all things technical. And there are some other bits and pieces.
A shameless plug
Do you like words? Do you like festivals? Do you like the glorious city of Bath? Well, you'll love The Independent Bath Literature Festival - 2nd to 11th March, with 200 events featuring:
William Boyd, Jim Al-Khalili, Stella Rimington, Sandi Toksvig, Lynne Truss, Nadine Gordimer, Tony Parsons, Alain de Botton, Claire Tomalin, Ali Smith, A.L.Kennedy, Carol Ann Duffy, A.N.Wilson, Salley Vickers, Jeremy Paxman, Evan Davis, Alan Titchmarsh....and that fella Charlie Dickens will make his presence felt.
Quick sticks - it's selling out!
Book your tickets: 01225 463362
Tags: The Independent Bath Literature Festival | Stewart Signs | Hostpipe | Utopia Communications
Posted in Websites | PR | Bath Festivals | Events | Fundraising | No Comments
30 September 2011 at 07:45
Roll up Roll up - it's the last weekend of The Telegraph Bath Festival of Children's Literature!
Record ticket sales and the most impressive line-up of authors and performers has already made the 2011 Bath Kids Lit Fest the most successful ever.
In its 5th Anniversary year, Artistic Directors John and Gill McClay, brilliantly supported by the Bath Festivals' production, marketing, development, education and Box Office teams, have created something even bigger, even better, even bolder, even bouncier (there was a footy event so we can say that) than before.
Anyone I know?
Er...yeah! So far including: Roddy Doyle, Jeremy Strong, Meg Rosoff, David Almond, Melvyn Burgess, Cressida Cowell, Peepo!, Andy Stanton, Eoin Colfer....ring any bells?
Still to come - loads and loads of events for all ages, from tiny wee two year olds to not so tiny teenagers, and plenty for adults to enjoy too, including:
Christopher Paolini: The World of Eragon - http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/theworldoferagon.aspx
Masters of Dark Fiction - http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/mastersofdarkfiction.aspx
Charlie Higson & Darren Shan - http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/darrenshanandcharliehigson.aspx
Robert Muchamore - http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/robertmuchamore.aspx
Thomas the Tank Engine - http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/allaboardforthomasthetankengine.aspx
Jamila Gavin: Tales from India - http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/talesfromindia.aspx
Fallen with Lauren Kate - http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/fallenwithlaurenkate.aspx
Mackenzie Crook - for all your Pirates of the Caribbean fans - http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/meetmackenziecrook.aspx
Oh yes, and the not so small matter of HRH Jacqueline Wilson in what is looking set to be her biggest festival event in the UK ever!
http://www.bathkidslitfest.org.uk/jacquelinewilson.aspx
What's next?
Come and join the party in Bath this weekend, soak up the sunshine (cos you know it's not going to hang around) and experience the UK's biggest dedicated children's literature festival.
Check out the events, see what's still available and book your tickets here:
Tags: Bath | Kids Lit | Children's Literature Festival
Posted in Bath Festivals | Events | No Comments
27 July 2011 at 15:22
If you scout around our website, you'll soon find some of the companies we work for. What you might not know, is that we also provide our copywriting, graphic design, PR, marketing and web services for quite a few other brands, including
Sshhhh!
Phew - I almost let the dove out of the cote there. But why am I being told to sshh and why are my colleagues pinning me down, threatening to thwack and kerpow me lest I utter the names of companies that you all know extremely well already?
Why? Because they aren't strictly our clients.
White labelling
That's right, Utopia doesn't just service those organisations you see on this website. Oh dear me no. We are one of those agencies that other agencies bring in to provide additional services. perhaps because they're a bit stretched or because they don't offer skills that we have in stock.
Sadly, it means we can't shout about some of the amazing brands we have worked on. Sob. I'm crying, not because they are household names and showering our website with their logos would make us look super cool, but because some of the work we've been doing is really interesting.
Oh go on, tell us
Smack! Ouch...see what happens? Ok, I can't tell you who. But I can say this:
- Not BT or Orange or Vodafone...but one of that lot
- Not EDF or British Gas...but similar
- Not Microsoft or Nintendo...but getting warmer
- Not The Sound of Music or Mamma Mia or Cirque du Soleil...but another name in lights
- Not Keith Chegwin.....just that....not Keith Chegwin.
No logos
This is where we'd normally chuck in a few logos to brighten up the blog, but clearly I can't do that.
Instead, here's something a bit different but equally and at the same time, relevant, on account of the word 'white'...er... A dove I found loitering on the street outside our office in Bath - out of his cote no less! (May I also draw your attention to that dramatic sky?)
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Posted in White label | No Comments
13 July 2011 at 10:59
OK, it's taken a little longer than necessary to post this entry about the new Stewart Signs website which went live in January, but you know, we've been busy...
Anyway, after a very successful launch of their rebrand in 2010, we turned our attention and considerable tech wizardry - in collaboration with Utopia's web development partners Hostpipe - to the design and build of the new and quite frankly massive Stewart Signs website.
Stewart Signs new website
This baby's got everything including a full bespoke Content Management System and an Ecommerce package that functions on multiple levels.
The back end (easy there) is a mammoth and stacked full of clever functionality. And it needs to be given it has to service the impressive Stewart Signs customer portfolio, including: Transport for London, BT Openreach, Osborne, BSM, First, Saga, JC Decaux...and on and on.
We took this:
And made this:
So what's next?
Well, the website isn't standing still. It's alive! Help! By which we mean, it's a constant work in progress with all the best connotations of that word: progress. That's what Stewart Signs are all about, constantly forging ahead and leading the outdoor media, signage and livery industry, which they've been doing for decades.
Marketing communications
Away from the web, they are now turning their attention to the year ahead. To kick things off, Utopia paid them a visit last week at their base in Southampton with a rather fetching document in hand containing all sorts of ideas and plans for marketing Stewart Signs over the coming 12 months, including:
- Email marketing
- Printed literature
- SEO and social media marketing
- PR
- Direct Mail
- Advertising
Obviously, we don't have any designs or words to show you yet, so instead and by way of signing off this post (hahahaha!), here's a photo of some Utopians in front of a Stewart Signs branded van.
JP & TJ signed, sealed and delivered
Tags: Stewart Signs | marketing | website | design | email marketing | Utopia | Hostpipe | SEO | social media marketing | PR | advertising
Posted in Design | Branding | Strategic Marketing | No Comments
28 June 2011 at 19:28
If there's one thing we Utopians just love, it's a gem. A gem hidden under a goosegog bush, preferably.
Now, this lovely company isn't by any means hidden because Cantilever Bars, specialists in bar design, manufacture and installation, are everywhere. It's just that they're tucked away in rural Gloucestershire, creating their alchemic wonders..plus I wanted to use the word goosegog.
If you've ever stood at a bar (and I mean, a proper swanky bar), you were probably leaning against one of their fantastic creations.
Who's on their list?
The Groucho Club, The Botanist, Diageo, The Cabinet Room, Cafe Boheme, Carluccio's, Royal Exchange, Green's, Plateau, Bond & Brook at Fenwicks, Soho House NY, Soho House Berlin, Bowood Golf & Country Club, Brighton Dome, Champagne Mumm, Roof Top Garden,....I mean, really, and this list goes on and on.
Drafted in to write web copy
...as in draft beer...anyway...We were asked to examine the contents of the web copy for Cantilever's new site, which we've duly done. It should be hitting the site very soon and was mainly a case of breaking it up, playing with the language and generally making it sit more happily on the screen for you tasty readers to enjoy.
Cheers!
Tags: Cantilever Bars | Copywriting | Gloucestershire
Posted in Copywriting | No Comments
