OUR BLOG

November 2020

WE WON’T LET LOCKDOWN LESSEN YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

We are once again working with the BID of Tunbridge Wells to help support retailers in the run up to Christmas, but this year, there is a slightly subdued atmosphere due to the global pandemic and the unwelcome arrival of lockdown number 2.

When discussing how best to help retailers at this unusual time, we decided to steer away from delivering printed Christmas brochures to the doorsteps of those who may be shielding. Instead we decided to create an online Christmas Guide which viewers could safely browse from the comfort of their own homes.

While the doors of some of our favourites remain sadly closed for now, this new site allows for some serious time to browse. But, as soon as our stores are allowed to reopen, we are encouraging everyone that can to revisit our lovely streets to buy in-store - to increase footfall and sales at this tricky time.

Browse online, shop in-store (as soon as you can)

The movement to a virtual guide has also allowed more local businesses to be involved in the set-up….welcome please Studio44 and RoAndCo for the back-end design tech and talented local photographer David Hodgkinson, who was able to capture new images for each of our brilliant shopping streets.

The new online accessibility has enabled us to include direct links to retailers websites, which further extend the viewers experience and encourages even more shopping :-).

For a final bit of fun, to try to raise the spirits, we have added a ‘Find Frosty’ competition, so watch this space for more info, as you could win vouchers to spend in Tunbridge Wells this Christmas.

The website officially launches next week when the town Christmas Lights are complete and switched on, so keep an eye out.

Let's #ShopLocal #SupportLocal #BrowseOnline #ShopInstore and have a very merry #TWChristmas

If you are a retailer in Central Tunbridge Wells and still want to include a gift in the guide, please get in touch with laura@calvermont.com asap with a pic, price, and description and we will gladly promote on your behalf for free!

October 2020

Behind the scenes at Turkey Mill - shooting a short for your company?

Now the Turkey Mill movie has officially landed, we are excited to share a behind the scenes snapshot of some our work, from the other side of the camera.

Turkey Mill is a unique heritage business destination with flexible modern offices, managed by a friendly and professional team. Located just off the M20 junction 7, but surrounded by greenery, it is perfect for growing businesses or businesses that want to make the most of being out of London, with a focus on wellbeing. 

And so that's why we filmed the video now, at a time when more of us want to work locally, flexibly and in healthier environments.

We enlisted the help of Zoom Films to turn our creative brief into a short showreel which we think aptly showcases the stunning scenery and all there is on offer at this unique business oasis.

Preparation makes perfect

We knew what we wanted to showcase for Turkey Mill and so a full brief was put together to make all its best assets stand out: the river running through, the heritage buildings and features, the immaculate, landscaped gardens and the flexible modern space available. It helps having a stunning location to shoot in, but we still had to ensure all the key messages were hit.

All about the weather

While the sun normally shines at Turkey Mill when Calvermont visits, we were taking no chances and had 3 days lined up in September to ensure we picked the perfect day. We nailed it! Having arrived at 8am to get stuck into shooting early, we had brilliant light and fantastic views for the drone to capture several times over.

A new meaning for waiting for a train!

We wanted to display just how close the office destination is to transport hubs despite the acres of lush greenery and not being able to hear the trains at all. So we looked up times between Maidstone East and Bearsted and waited for the perfect shot.

Thinking outside the box on the day

There are always new and innovative ways to get that perfect shot and, despite our best efforts we couldn't fly a drone over the entrance road to Turkey Mill and it was too bumpy using the wheelie platform. Thankfully we were able to improvise and get the perfect opening sequence through the archways by driving Calvermont's soft-top with a lot of equipment balanced in the back.

Watch the fruits of our efforts here and get in touch if you want to showcase your business or want to find out more about Turkey Mill: www.turkeymill.co.uk

Enjoy!

June 2020

retail get ready, steady…& shoP

As parents were dealt the tricky hand to decide whether to send their kids back to  schools and nurseries on Monday, England became another step closer to finding its new norm.

With some teachers creating ‘bubbled groups’ and others turning social distancing markers into creative games such as hopscotch; huge claps must go to all of these key workers trying to make the best of a bad situation, particularly in the unknown of whether or not the time is right...

As uniforms were dusted off and lunches packed, our market workers and car sales teams were also heading out the door for their first day back, paving the way for the wider retail return on 15 June. 

Having worked closely for over a year with Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, the BID delivery company that gives local business owners the power to make sustained town improvements, we have seen a little of the impact Covid-19 has had upon our local retailers, and more importantly the families behind them.

While the BID was gearing up for a sustained campaign to attract visitors and businesses, instead we were hit with empty streets, boarded-up shops and projects put on hold. The high street was struggling before, but now it is calling for emergency measures, some of which the BID is lobbying for - such as longer-term business rates reforms and wider reaching parking concessions.

In the meantime, we are thrilled our high streets are being given the chance to return and that our business owners can begin to recoup some of their losses and turbo charge the crucial period leading up to Christmas, safely and sustainably of course. To aid recovery, Royal Tunbridge Wells Together has put together a reopening kit which contains a variety of posters, floor stickers, signs and sneeze screens, which can be ordered at no cost for retailers in the area. To date, we understand that over 1600 orders have been placed.

We would encourage anyone that can to SHOP (safely and sensibly with the right distancing measures of course). As without our custom and support, there is the scary possibility of more closures and many more job losses, so let’s do everything we can to keep our high streets alive.

Come the 15 June, perhaps we can see you for an at distance wave at one of our favourites? Whether it is in and around Royal Victoria Place and Monson Road as we restock our arts and crafts supplies for the kids, down on the Pantiles as we replace home items ruined by said kids, or on the high street as we treat ourselves to something special for that next Zoom party...

Stay alert, stay safe and start shopping ;-)

May 2020

COMMUNICATIONS IN A CRISIS

We’re not scientists here at Calvermont and therefore won’t be commenting on the science behind the Government’s Coronavirus strategy <insert sigh of relief>,  but we have been watching their communications strategy(?) with interest. 

Aside from one or two 'Olivia Pope' (reference Scandal) style moments - with Boris personally fighting the virus, then having a baby boy (with matching hair) during the crisis - the delivery of information and guidance has led to some confusion amongst the nation. 

The 'stay home, protect the NHS, save lives' slogan was effective for the first few weeks, but the more recent changes have spurred cynicism at best and rule-breaking at worst. (Hairy Hackneyites, Brighton bathers, you know who you are…)

But how should a company or individual act in a crisis to maintain trust and support?

We’ve pulled together a few top tips:

• Lead by EXAMPLE: Be who you say you are and do as you want others to. (Try not to shake hands without gloves when asking others not to...)

• Be REALISTIC: Don’t over-promise or attempt to put a timescale on a crisis, as the very definition of the word crisis means it's not predictable. (PPE, testing kits, phases...)

• Be CONCISE: Explain your message carefully and with clear reason, or you risk your audience finding loopholes. With every unanswered question, more distracting questions are seeded. (Stay at home or stay alert, go to work or don’t go to work, see family or don’t see family...)

• Be CONSISTENT: Define your key messages and stick to them to help build understanding, then reiterate at all opportunities to build trust. (As above...)

• Be PERSONAL: Select just one or two key spokespeople to deliver messaging and any media briefings to build a human connection with your intended audience. (A crisis needs stability and empathy, rather than a line up of MPs who didn't quite get the top job...) 

So, hopefully that’s helpful and common sense prevails (lets face it, we need it) as we ‘stay safe, stay home, stay alert.’

March 2020

in troubling times, you can still #supportlocal

We are officially in the midst of a global Pandemic (and toilet roll panic), but there are ways we can and should still #supportlocal to help our high streets beat this latest curse. And despite this situation kicking the government into gear to relieve business rates (finally..), this may not be enough to keep some our favourites afloat.

We are not for one minute suggesting that you spend more time crowding local shops and venues - that could be counterproductive to protecting our frailer members of the community - but here's where buying online may actually help the high street.

A number of local businesses are introducing vouchers (Fuggles, The Spa Hotel for example) whereby you can buy vouchers now and cash them later when the various restrictions and worries are eased. This way the businesses can still receive income through this testing period AND you have something to look forward to post apocalypse.

More and more of our local shops and businesses will be thinking of offering a similar service, supported by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together BID, so we are encouraging all our friends, families and clients to get support this.

Similarly, we would ask for you to spare a thought and support the significant number of elderly and 'at risk' people around Tunbridge Wells. Merging campaigns together, we can all #bekind and look out for those self isolating by leaving care packages, sharing supplies and generally just looking out for one another.

Finally, as Boris says, keep washing those hands - although we personally would have preferred it if people were already doing this pre worldwide virus threat…!!

Stay safe everyone.

January 2020

Calvermont is officially one year old - here’s a low-down of some highs from our year

Kicking-off Calvermont in December 2018, we spent a happy month targeting (and socialising with) the lovely Kent people & businesses we most wanted to work with. 

Then into 2019, we really got stuck in - here are some highlights:

• January - after our initial press article went live across Kent, we took a call from a business park in Maidstone who were looking to refresh and accelerate their profile. We won the work later on in the year, but this was the call that made the difference. PR really works, even for yourself!

• February - we were invited to pitch for a place branding exercise by the Tunbridge Wells BID, to come up with a creative campaign and messaging to help position the town to visitors, families, investors and businesses

• March - Calvermont went to the South of France to the MIPIM conference (Europe's largest property-focussed event) to spread the word about Tunbridge Wells and our property expertise to target clients

• April - we presented our vision for a new brand for Royal Tunbridge Wells to the panel and won in our first competitive pitch. This was a project we were so personally invested in given we live, love and breathe Tunbridge Wells

• May - we met the new operators of the ABC Cinema site, Elysian Residences, at their offices in London and talked them into letting us reposition and raise their profile in Tunbridge Wells  

• June - we visited Greymoor Homes beautiful farmyard office in Hildenborough and secured a contract to deliver an overarching business brand strategy, messaging and marketing materials for their first development Woodland View, as well as a new corporate brand and website

• July - we delivered some great press for our local client TN Recruits in the local press and on local radio. We also worked pro Bono for local charity Taylor Made Dreams and secured plenty of press which continues to generate new donations, which we are really proud of

• August - all systems go on the brand repositioning for our client Turkey Mill, in Maidstone. We presented our concepts and were given the thumbs up for a website refresh and targeted tenant engagement on the park. It's such an amazing environment to work and we are really pleased to be able to scope out a way to raise its profile

• September - we were instructed by Tunbridge Wells BID to put together the Christmas Gift Guide on behalf of over 200 retailers in the town. We curated the concept, sourced gifts to feature, styled the 2 day shoot at Royal Victoria Place and worked hand-in-hand with the exceptionally talented local photographer David Hodgkinson and designer Rowena Cremer-Price. An intense week and incredibly hard work, but a real highlight to get to know the most amazing independent brands and to help bring more visitors and shoppers to our town

• October - we delivered our first beautiful brochure for Greymoor Homes, in partnership with local businesses David Barden Creative and Longridge Print. We also worked pro bono for the Taylor Made Dreams and Childrensalon designer childrenswear sale with the wonderful Suzie and Gracie from each respective business, which raised well over £8,000 in one day for the charity

• November - we were delighted to see our Royal Tunbridge Wells Christmas Gift Guide printed and hitting over 110,000 addresses within a 2hr radius of the town. We also raised profile across social with a '12 days of Christmas' gift campaign. We also had a pretty fab double-page spread feature about yours truly and Calvermont in So Magazine, thank you Eileen :-)

• December - there was a lot on, but undoubtedly the highlight had to be the arrival of newest Calvermont recruit Rex Marlo Thornhill. He needs some training before we let him loose on our clients though… :)

Of course there were many more things we worked on for our fantastic clients, for our own businesses and for our own families, so thank you to everyone for all of your support. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Happy 2020 all. Let's keep up the momentum and make it a good one.

December 2019

Christmas gifting the royal way

In September, we had a lot of fun creating the Christmas Gift Guide for

Royal Tunbridge Wells #TheRoyalWaytoChristmas

While styling sets and curating photoshoots is undoubtedly fun, we also

got to discover even more about the wonderful retailers here in our beloved town.

While not every retailer submitted gifts to the printed guide,

here is our list of places to go to treat the people you love

The Way to her heart

Walsh Bros, Mount Pleasant (jewellery); Anthropologie, High Street; Italian Wardrobe (designer clothes) Castle Street; Oliver Bonas, Royal Victoria Place; 

Hobbs, Royal Victoria Place; Kitch, High Street; Sahara London, High Street; Ann Summers, Royal Victoria Place; Monsoon, Royal Victoria Place; Jigsaw, Mount Pleasant; Jones The Bootmaker, Mount Pleasant; Phase Eight, Mount Pleasant; Silver Sheep, Chapel Place; Marks & Spencer, Royal Victoria Place

The Way to divine food and drink

Sankeys Fishmongers, London Road; Secret Cellar, Church Road; Gin & Harvey, Chapel Place; Superfood, Mount Ephraim; Trevor Mottram, The Pantiles; Lakeland, Camden Road; Hollies Little Cakery, The Pantiles; Arte Bianca, The Pantiles; Hotel Chocolat, Royal Victoria Place; Bird & Blend, Royal Victoria Place; Fuggles, Grosvenor Road; The Organic Health Shop, The High Street; COOK, Monson Road

The Way to find your glow

The Body Shop, Royal Victoria Place; Simply Float, Monson Road; L'Occitane, Royal Victoria Place; Cocoa Blush, Warwick Place; SPN Studio, Camden Road; Lush, Royal Victoria Place; Fenwicks, Royal Victoria Place; MAC, Royal Victoria Place; Serenity Therapies, The High Street; Oh My Hair, Chapel Place; The Beauty Rooms, Grosvenor Road; Champneys City Spa, The High Street

The Way to luxe living

Gabriella, Chapel Place; Burrells, Royal Victoria Place; Pure Collection, The High Street; Anna Poulsen, Chapel Place; Mappin & Webb, The High Street; G Collins & Sons, The High Street; Harrington Rare Books, Chapel Place; Caroline Charles, The High Street; Toulson Jones, Royal Victoria Place; Catherine Hills Jewellery, The Pantiles; D'Occasion Designer, Camden Road; Bod & Ted, The High Street; Pandora, Royal Victoria Place; Swarovski, Royal Victoria Place

The Way to his heart

Gray & Co, Chapel Place; Pantiles Cameras, The Pantiles; Bang & Olufsen, Mount Pleasant; Simmonds, Calverley Road; Fitness Superstore, Grosvenor Road; Timberland, Royal Victoria Place; Moss Bros, Mount Pleasant; Superdry, Royal Victoria Place; Mankind, Royal Tunbridge Wells; David Carpenter, The High Street; Time Rediscovered, Monson Road; Italian Connection for Men, Camden Road

The Way to arts and culture

M Saltmarsh, Monson Road; Beumee Contemporary Fine Art, The Pantiles; Castle Fine Art, The High Street; The Art Hub, Mount Ephraim; Fairfax Gallery, The Pantiles; Artique, The High Street; The Spa Galleries, The Pantiles; Brittens Music, Grove Road

The Way to treat the children

Whirligig, Mount Pleasant; Hoopers, Mount Pleasant; Stampede, Camden Road; Childrensalon, The High Street; JoJo Maman Bebe, Mount Pleasant; Polarn y Pyret, The High Street; Kids Stuff, Royal Victoria Place; Smiggle, Royal Victoria Place; Wolfit, Monson Road

The Way to fill your stockings

Jeremy's Home Store, Monson Road; Seasalt Cornwall, The High Street; Collared, The Pantiles; Waterstones, Calverley Road; Claire's Accessories, Royal Victoria Place; Snappy Snaps, Mount Pleasant; Past Times, Calverley Road; Paperchase, Victoria Road; Boots, Royal Victoria Place

The Way to holing up at home

Indigo, Camden Road; Futon Company, The Pantiles; Biggie Best, Mount Pleasant; Susie Watson Designs, The Pantiles; Le Petit Jardin, Chapel Place; Feather & Black, The High Street; Closs & Hamlin, Mount Pleasant; The Oriental Rug Company, The High Street; Lime Living, Calverley Road; The White Company, The High Street; Collingwood Bachelor, Victoria Road; The Range, Vale Road; OKA, Mount Pleasant; Settle, Chapel Place; Oak and Interiors, The Pantiles; Wells Interiors, The High Street

The Way to escaping to the great outdoors

Snowear, Camden Road; Fat Face, Calverley Road; Chris Potter Company, Camden Road; Wildside Cycles, Camden Road; Velocipede Cycles, Camden Road; Millets, Camden Road; Trespass, Royal Victoria Place; Clearwell Mobility, Grosvenor Road; Cotswold Outdoor, Mount Pleasant; The Running Hub, London Road; Sweaty Betty, The High Street

And for things to do:

The Way to stay for a weekend

The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, The Pantiles; One Warwick Park, Warwick Park; Spa Hotel, Langton Road; Hotel Du Vin, Crescent Road

The Way to wine and dine

Sankeys, Mt Ephraim & The Pantiles; The Townhouse, Calverley Road; Sopranos, The High Street; La Folia, Monson Road; Cote, Mount Pleasant; Mount Edgecombe, Mount Ephraim; Coco Retro, London Road; Sucheera, Calverley Road; The Warren, The High Street; Vittle & Swig, Camden Road; Kitsu, Victoria Road; Hattusa, Camden Road; The White Bear, The High Street; Seventeen, Chapel Place; Estro, Mount Pleasant; Kiko, London Road

The Way to a grand day out

Spa Valley Railway, West Station; Ice Skating at Calverley Grounds; Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Road; Trinity Theatre, Church Road

The gift guide was posted to over 100,000 people in a 2-hr radius of Tunbridge Wells, it is online and it has been promoted on social media. Royal Tunbridge Wells BID made the conscious decision not to include website links because the aim of the guide is to bring people physically to the area, to spend money on our local businesses and to linger for longer.

So, this Christmas, #shoplocal #eatlocal #playlocal

#TheRoyalWaytoChristmas

#MerryChristmasTWandall

November 2019

Twas the night before Christmas... well more than a night really. In PR and brand land, it is never too early for the festivities to commence.

In our industry and many other service industries across the globe, it has become the norm to begin thinking about next Christmas almost as soon as the final mince pie crumb has been dusted.

Retailers begin scoping the best gifts for displays and dressing, leisure providers talk grottos and getaways, and us PRs begin gabbling with the editors of our favourite glossies.

That's right folks, that perfect present isn't just for Christmas, its a meticulously planned, forward thinking product or event which has often been designed and delivered in time for magazine writers to 'put their stories to bed' - all whilst the good old British public are sunning themselves on a Sussex beach in July.

This year, the team at Calvermont HQ enjoyed their own taste of Christmas in September, working on a brand comms project to promote Royal Tunbridge Wells to people all over Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Essex this winter.

We know our town has lots to offer and we want people to stay longer and support our local businesses, retailers and restaurants. So, when asked if we wanted to put together a Christmas Gift Guide for the town to attract visitors, we jumped at the chance. It also gave us the opportunity to collaborate with some favourite local creatives, something that we do as much of as possible.

We’ll be promoting the Gift Guide both online and in print in early November, so please support this initiative and let’s drive as many people to RTW as possible!

With the project wrapped and feeling in the festive mood, we couldn't help noticing some of the other elves on our local high street who have begun preparing for Christmas too:

September 2019

Giving back shouldn't be incentivised - it's just what decent people do

At a recent meeting we were part of an ‘Environmental, Social & Governance’ discussion which turned into a debate about incentives that should be put in place for large companies to 'give back'.

…Hmmm. It's a shame if some large companies need incentives to support their local communities, donate to charity, or fund much needed public amenities…

At Calvermont HQ, we are lucky to work locally and despite our broad array of clients, we are never happier than when we are working together for a local business, development or cause. Given our size, we do not have an extensive CSR budget, so we instead work pro bono to share our skills with charities and people that we are passionate about helping.

Our recent support includes helping to promote the activities of Baby Bundles, now part of Baby2Baby in Crowborough, providing packages of much needed support to new families that are living beneath the breadline; and Taylor Made Dreams, the charity run by Suzanne Mitchell which provides special memories and experiences for children with life limiting illnesses. Both charities are local, both need financial support and welcome partnerships and sponsorships. Find out more at www.taylormadedreams.net or www.baby2baby.co.uk and get in touch if you are able to provide support.

At Calvermont, we regularly devise CSR strategies, activities and analysis for our clients. We use our network to link businesses with causes that resonate with their values, beliefs and purpose. From staff volunteering activities that double as team bonding, to sponsorships which open community links and drive brand exposure, to charity fundraising events, educational facilities or public realm improvements, we can drive your CSR agenda, whilst engaging your employees and raising your profile too.

For more information, get in touch and hear out about the important CSR activities we are working on in the coming months :-)

August 2019

15. Is it a name, is it a logo? What's in a brand.

A brand is many things to most people. Having a good name and a slick logo helps of course, but those brands that truly resonate are ones that inspire an emotional connection or ambition, where you recognise instantly their core message and your reaction is positive. And this comes from many things:

• Mapping your target audience and knowing what they care about

• Knowing your purpose and values which should resonate with your core offer

• Defining your personality through ‘look and feel’, core messaging and tone of voice

• Developing real points of difference and points of parity

• Ensuring excellent communication and customer service

• Involving your advocates, such as your employees, your stakeholder, or your customer

• Building your influencers across social and traditional media

The slickest of logos and advertising will get you so far, but unless your brand is instantly recognisable at each touchpoint - from the welcome of your receptionist, to how you talk to media or lead a business meeting, to the impact of your product - you will not build the right understanding, trust and therefore buy-in. Effectively, you will break your brand, or it will simply become insignificant and unidentifiable as a logo with no purpose.

A simple step is to engage employees from the outset of your brand positioning - they can be your biggest advocates and often your best source of knowledge for your customer, product or target. You can also engage clients for input and feedback, or local stakeholders and community groups. Speak to the people you want your brand to touch, get to know what they want and allow time for testing too. Go back to them and ask questions - is this right? is this appealing? is this necessary?

Your brand should have a clear, concise message in a voice, style and tone that is authentically you. While this can be ambitious, you must also be realistic and resonate with what you offer, who you offer it to, and how you offer it.

Too many times we see sharp logos and money spent on advertising without research, engagement and impactful or authentic messaging. Always ask why? Why am I doing this? Why is this important? Why should people care?

This is something we feel exceptionally strongly about at Calvermont and spend a lot of our helping clients with - working with them to pinpoint and develop their purpose, personality and offer, whilst engaging their target audience, to drive brand power and growth.

To find out how we can help elevate your brand or help it cut through, get in touch with us here

14. good neighbours…How developers can rebuild pubic trust

According to a recent poll commissioned by Grosvenor Estates, just 2% of the public trust developers to behave honestly. While that figure is a huge barrier to overcome, it is not altogether surprising.

Too often developers come to a town and have tunnel vision on achieving planning for the maximum value of their site, as quickly as possible.

Their aim is to hold a low key public consultation whereby the box is ticked for planning purposes but they don't 'create their own no's' by communicating.

While this may achieve the desired result at the time, not actively engaging with the local community is setting themselves up for a fall later down the line. Appeals, confusion and negativity can swell to hate campaigns and protests across social media, press and local networks.

We've said this before but actively engaging early on can turn even the most cynical into advocators. Not because you are, as a developer, automatically going to make all of the changes raised by a local community, but because you care enough to ask, consider sentiment and ensure your scheme is suitable for the area.

Everyone is entitled to a voice and by engaging at the earliest opportunity, whether opinion is right or wrong, ideas and often lasting long-term relationships with local groups will be established. Given the right information and transparency from developers, former opposers can harness their new understanding to become advocates or supporters, and some of that 98% missing trust can be restored.

JULY 2019

13. when life gives you rain, do you shelter or shoot in the puddles?

Today our founders found themselves caught in a downpour during a local photo shoot in Calverley Grounds.

No matter how detailed your brief, compelling your storyboard, or beautiful your wardrobe, what can you do when the unpredictable British weather doesn't play ball with your shoot?

Firstly, pack an umbrella and suitable camera protection. The last thing you need is rain AND a grumpy photographer and director with a bill for a new lens, or even camera. Secondly, consider the following five tips to ensure your shoot doesn't become a wet blanket.

1. Location location location. Is there a shelter, awning or canopy within reach, or a relevant internal location nearby that could work as a substitute? Always prepare a list of potential alternatives pre-shoot and seek approvals for space use too

2. Don't underestimate the power of an umbrella. As well as keeping photographer, director and models dry, umbrellas can be used in shoot, helping exposure and providing an effective compositional frame. Consider personality when picking your brolly, do you want a bright floral to lift the mood, or a simple black for a more corporate feel?

3. Encourage emotion. Harness the general camaraderie of sheltering from the rain together. Capture faces as the heavens open and laugh about the situation - reducing wooden postures and poses

4. Consider using a flash. Although more difficult, this can really accentuate the rain droplets and add a magical quality to your images

5. Always have a hairbrush to hand. Rain can do funny things to even the most luscious locks. Ensure you're prepared and ready to re-touch hair and make-up regularly. No-one wants a Monica from friends scenario caught on camera!

Finally, if it really is a damp squib, take a break, have a hot chocolate and regroup when the worst of the weather clears. And remember, hot days and clear blue skies often make for the worst photos. No-one likes a sweaty squinter in the sun, instead cloudy skies provide cool models and atmospheric texture, whilst rain will makes colours look deeper and more saturated.

All the above said, if you find your models cleaning rainy mud splatters from their legs with Kleenex tissues, then perhaps it is time to admit defeat and postpone a few hours or days. This may, or may not have happened today....

Thanks for the Kleenex. Good preparation. Same time next week ;-)

JULY 2019

12. a pr dream as royal tunbridge wells looks even brighter in the sunshine

The sun is here, and so is the vibrant buzz of the locals, visitors and resident businesses.

This couldn’t be clearer than at the infamous ‘Jazz on the Pantiles’ - as the crowds come out in their hundreds, gathering across generations to watch, dance and dine to the dulcet tones of jazz musicians. The brainchild of the boundlessly energetic Julian Leefe-Griffiths, owner of The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, the event runs every Thursday from May to October and has become a firm favourite for all.

This week our client Elysian Residences, the new owner of the ABC Cinema site, held some pre-jazz drinks at the Tunbridge Wells Hotel to meet local businesses and influencers, and talk about their proposed Belvedere scheme.

Mark Curry, head of planning & development, delivered a rather refreshing aperitif, as he reaffirmed their long-term commitment to redeveloping the derelict site in the heart of town into a brand new cinema for the community, a few shops and cafes, and 108 luxury, serviced homes for the over 65s.

Despite some understandable doubt within the room at the start of the evening, by the time the Jazz kicked off at 7.30pm, the atmosphere had swiftly changed to one of positivity, enthusiasm and support for the scheme. Local council leader William Benson took to the floor to pledge the councils commitment to helping ensure the proposed launch date of 2022 is met, whilst host Julian charmed the group with a final toast in favour.

As the heatwave continues, so do the amazing events on offer in the area. Just this weekend, Claremont primary school will be hosting their annual fundraising fete and celebrating their 50th year, whilst the nationally acclaimed Mela festival will take place on Sunday in the beautiful Calverley Grounds.

With so much to do, the sun shining brightly, and the promise of further investment and development to come to our town, we’ve definitely got that #fridayfeeling

JUNE 2019

11. There’s a hole in my bucket… don’t let a leak ruin your story

The UK market is very leaky. Rarely do interesting stories stay out of the news, particularly when it's of interest to a local town which has a vocal community and eagle-eyed journalists.

Royal Tunbridge Wells is no exception. We are blessed to have some of the best journalists reporting across our town and the surrounding areas, keeping us up to date with the hottest stories, campaigns and developments.

Can it be annoying if a story breaks before you are ready? Yes.

Should you ignore it and hope for the best? Absolutely not.

In these situations, it is best to engage. Yes.

• You must develop a relationship from the outset with your local press, not just for trust, but for longevity

• You can delay or deter a story by giving more detail ‘off the record’

• You can provide the correct details to avoid inaccuracies and misrepresentation

• You are more likely to increase support by engaging regularly with your local journalists

• You can help change a narrative by providing concise messaging and showing that you care

• You can raise your profile positively by ensuring your story is told in the right way and with the right detail for your local area

What's key to succeeding in the above is to be confident, have clear messaging, never lie and establish trust.

A good local PR agency can support you in this.

For all your local press requirements, contact us at Calvermont here

MAY 2019

10. BELIEVE IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS - IT’S GOT A VIBRANT FUTURE

We were fortunate enough to spend time with some brilliant people from Royal Tunbridge Wells this week, as part of an upcoming project driven by Royal Tunbridge Wells Together, which will look at positioning and promoting the town.

We were overwhelmed by the passion, the creativity and the commitment these local business people and influencers had for Royal Tunbridge Wells and the ideas emanating from the group about how we can best position the town in the future.

These aren't ideas about how to change the town - moreover how to demonstrate to people (both local and visitors) the real attributes that our town has to offer.

It got us thinking that we don't sing loudly enough about the good stuff, the great stuff. Are we far too apologetic or embarrassed? Why?

Across all target groups and genres there is so much to offer. And, while Royal Tunbridge Wells may not be perfect (or is it?!), we should be really proud of what we have and make this sing. We don't currently, but we intend to.

We want people to discover our music and theatre scene, whether it's modern or rock at the Forum, Jazz on The Pantiles, or a show at Trinity Theatre. We want foodies to book tables to experience our high dining at Thackerays, fresh sushi at Kitsu, or paella at Sankeys. And what about a weekend with friends or family? Begin by browsing the huge mix of local independent shops on Camden or Monson Road, or visit the well-loved brands in Royal Victoria Place and along the High Street. Make time for cocktails at the Common Room or Sopranos, and treat yourself to a luxurious stay at One Warwick Park or Hotel Du Vin. You can even beat the hangover at Simply Float, or take part in meditation on the green Commons.

This is the tip of the iceberg. We are proud to be involved in a project that will show visitors, investors, businesses and new residents the real Tunbridge Wells. And that's without the further investment, development and promotion that's planned, which promises to add even more vibrancy and culture.

Does anyone else think we're on the verge of something special?

#webelieveintunbridgewells

MAY 2019

09. POLITICAL SHAKE-UP AND PICKERING CANCER SUPPORT, THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL CSR

Following the announcement of the Tunbridge Wells council shake-up today, Calvermont began thinking about how clients should navigate a changing political landscape.

Firstly, engagement is key. Post-election, new councillors will allocate time to meeting with local businesses, so don’t be shy. Get to know your local leaders personally to understand their objectives and how this may affect you, your brand or employees.

Secondly, look beyond politics to your local community to help support your business. Community groups are often useful sounding boards for local perceptions and sentiment. Discuss your ambitions and listen to feedback to shape your plans.

Finally, consider your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Political change can have unsettling effects upon local groups and individuals. If you are invested in a local area, then think about how your plans will further affect your community and consider initiatives to alleviate impact and provide benefit.

Well allocated CSR budgets can not only uplift your business environment, but will increase relationships and networks and help your local community too.

We were lucky to see the incredible impact corporate donations can have to a local charity group when we attended the annual Pickering Cancer lunch at The Spa Hotel last week. With successful local faces from the likes of Sankey’s, BNI, Markerstudy and Cooper Burnett Solicitors in the room, this inspiring auction rose over £25,000 to help Pickering continue to provide invaluable facilities for cancer sufferers, right on our doorstep.

Calvermont is delighted to support The Pickering Cancer Drop In Centre. If you would like to make a donation too, please just contact 01892 511880.

APRIL 2019

08. Anthropologie arrivES as town is listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live.

March 2019

06. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, MARCH 8 2019| Ladies of T Wells, You Rock

To mark our first International Women's Day since we started Calvermont, we wanted to take a look at some of the kick-ass women that came from Tunbridge Wells and that continue to inspire us today.

Amelia Scott: The famous suffragette who became one of the first two female councillors in Tunbridge Wells. She founded the Tunbridge Wells branch of the National Union of Women Workers, campaigned for social reform including the appointment of female police officers, as well as a maternity home, hostel and day nursery for the children of widows, deserted wives and unmarried mothers after the war. Amelia also fought for better housing and for the provision of a museum and library. It Is a fitting tribute that our new cultural and learning hub in the centre of town is to be named 'The Amelia'.

Dame Kelly Holmes: What can we say about our Dame? Not only did she win gold medals In the Olympic Games for both the 800m and 1500m in 2004, but today she tirelessly fundraises for her own registered charity, the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. Just last year she led a group of people in a number of endurance challenges across Malawi, Africa to raise awareness of malnutrition amongst the country's children, and the benefits of sport to health.

Virginia Wade: Former British number one tennis player Virginia Wade went to Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School and, before the days when power and shrieking became synonymous with female tennis, won Wimbledon in 1977 with nothing but talent, grace and style.

With this year's International Women's Day all about gender parity, yet less than 1/3 of new businesses being started by women, we are proud that so many of them are based In Tunbridge Wells (including ours), a town which is proving to be a real hotbed for female talent.

And finally, not forgetting the ladies driving the future development and businesses of Tunbridge Wells: Cllr Tracy Moore, Karen Pengelly, Town Centre Manager and Nicky Blanchard, Chair of Tunbridge Wells Together. These, together with other members of TWT and the tourism board are working tirelessly to steer Tunbridge Wells into a new exciting era for our town.

 Happy International Women's Day.  Ladies of TW, you rock!

February 2019

04. 19 THINGS TO DO IN 2019

With the February frost set to stay and half term around the corner, Calvermont HQ settled into a cosy Kent cafe to create a list of 19 things to do in and around Tunbridge Wells this 2019.

 Not just for now, but for sunnier and warmer days too…

1. Sledging down the hill to the Calverley Adventure Grounds

   http://www.calverleyadventuregrounds.co.uk/

2. A game of pool at Grove Tavern, the oldest pub in Tunbridge Wells

   http://www.grovetavern.co.uk/

3. Discovering local produce at the Pantiles Farmers' Markets

   http://thepantiles.com/whats-on/pantiles-market-third/

4. A sunny lunch on the terrace at The Beacon with magnificent views

   https://www.illbemother.co.uk/thebeacon

5. A Grove Park picnic, followed by drinks at The Compasses

   https://explorekent.org/activities/the-grove/

   https://www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/pubs/kent/compasses/

6. A pedalo at Dunorlan Park, or watching the annual Fireworks glitter over the water

   https://www.visittunbridgewells.com/things-to-do/parks-and-lakes/dunorlan-park

7. Cocktails in the hidden courtyard at Tunbridge Wells Bar & Grill

   http://individualrestaurants.com/bar-and-grill/tunbridge-wells/

8. Yoga with a view at the Kingdom Café in Penshurst

   https://www.thiskingdom.co.uk/

9. Alfresco dinner with friends at Jazz on The Pantiles

   http://thepantiles.com/jazz-on-the-pantiles/

10. A timelessly romantic tasting menu at Thackeray’s

    http://www.thackerays-restaurant.co.uk/

11. A show at the Trinity Theatre, or rocking at the Forum

    https://www.trinitytheatre.net/

12. An enormous caramel slice and coffee at Juliets

    https://julietsandmore.com/

13. Brushing up those cookery skills with Rosemary Schrager

    https://www.rosemaryshrager.com/

14. Getting competitive at the Sussex Arms or Mount Edgcumbe pub quiz

    http://thesussextw.co.uk/

    http://www.themountedgcumbe.com/

15. A family sunday roast at the Neville Crest and Gun

    https://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/nevillcrestandgun/

16. Giggling over gin at Sopranos

    http://www.sopranowinebar.co.uk/

17. Live music at the Grey lady or the Bedford

    http://www.thegreylady.co.uk/

18. Rambling at Eridge Park or Bedgebury Pinetum

    https://eridgepark.co.uk/

    https://bedgeburypinetum.org.uk/

19. A day out at the annual community festival Clarefest

    https://twitter.com/hashtag/clarefest

Enjoy!

Calvermont x

January 2019

03. FOR EVERY STORY, THERE’S A STORY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN…

Putting out press releases is one thing, but changing the narrative on a negative story or, better, keeping a story out of the press requires a whole host of other skills entirely.

As the dust settles following the festive period and the trading statements from retailers start landing, it got us thinking about crises communications and how to turn negatives into positives. After all, in this fast paced, online world there’s not much you can keep quiet anymore and, when disaster strikes, the audience hearing about it can be pretty unrestricted.

Having dealt with our fair share of crises from the biggies: murders, accidental deaths, financial crime and cyber-attacks; to the more standardised: redundancies, poor figures, losing business – we have become accustomed to thinking calmly under pressure and dealing with crises as they arise to lessen impact and improve the narrative.

Our one golden rule for clients when answering a media enquiry that is negative is:

Do not react. Find out as much information and say you’ll call them back.

There are many reasons for this:

-          It allows you time to think and not be caught off guard

-          It does not show if you are already aware of the issue

-          You can warn internal management and potentially clients

-          It allows you to get your message right

-          You can pick a spokesperson to manage and respond to all calls

-          It gives you time to seek professional advice

Of course, we have many more tips when it comes to crises communications that we’d be happy to share. At Calvermont, we run a bespoke 24/7 crisis service – no matter how big or small your issue is.

Get in touch to find out more.

December 2018

02. MULLING OVER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (OVER MULLED WINE)

Calvermont went ice skating in Calverley Park this weekend. With the music, the pretty lights, Santa’s Grotto (it’s a good one, check it out) the mulled wine and the crafty stalls, it was heaving. Now this is a community that enjoys playing on its own doorstep and chatting to strangers as if they are friends. There was no sign of the tension over the future of the Civic Development, people were just enjoying themselves.

Despite various humorous books that frequent a number of my friends’ bathrooms, the people of Tunbridge Wells aren’t always ‘disgusted’(!) and don’t want to fight over much-needed future development. This group are proud of the town and would welcome anything that can safeguard the future of our shopping centre, of our high street, of the town’s character, and of its parks.

The Calverley Park objection group is not full of Nimby’s, most are just disengaged with the process. How do I know this? Because I’ve attended some of the meetings and have a good feel for the emotion associated with this project. For example, the group is desperate for work to start on the ABC site and for Royal Victoria Place to do something soon with Ely Court. Some want the likes of War Horse and other iconic West End shows to come to Tunbridge Wells, and all support a retail and leisure scheme that will bring tourists to town and boost local business. However, many don’t like how the consultation has been handled and feel there are questions which haven’t been answered over cost, choice of location, access, timing and impact.

Without wanting to tiptoe any further into this particular debate, I would like to shed some light on the importance of engagement (and thus lack of it) and why it is so critical for a town like Tunbridge Wells, with its proud residents, many of whom work, live and play within its borders - such is the nature of its thriving community.

In development terms, communities are only engaged when they feel they have a role to play in shaping the future of their town. They need to feel that planning and design deliberations consider how schemes both benefit and affect those around them.

A savvy developer will involve a community from day one. This ensures that local stakeholders do not feel any decisions have been taken without their input. A developer will act as a facilitator, supporter, collaborator and will empower local people to have their say. Ultimately, the developer and its local community should become a trusting partnership.

This isn’t all for the community, good consultation also helps the developer understand the area and local culture better, enabling more informed and less controversial decisions. Handled well and with heart, it can provide an understanding of what people want, how they act as a consumer and what choices they are likely to make. Ultimately, engagement means that both developer and community have a meaningful role in the future of their scheme which, surely is the key to a happy and successful project.

Needless to say, if involvement and engagement isn’t fostered from early on, trust inevitably will be lacking and there follows suspicion and often opposition. That’s why developers need to think local first, from the moment they take an interest in a new scheme.

Here at Calvermont we are experts in this field and as proud Tunbridge Wells bods ourselves, would be happy to help any new project take the right steps locally.

December 2018

01. FACEBOOK & TRUST

On a cosy (meaner person might say sardine packed) Tunbridge Wells commuter train this week, I picked up a discarded copy of the Metro and read about Facebook apparently spying on conversations and leaking more confidential personal data...

Although mildly desensitised to the thought of being spied on now that my phone seems to listen to me and lead me to websites I haven’t even typed in (but boy do I like that new gold jumper), this latest scandal has got me thinking about the importance of trust in the workplace. 

In times gone by, and not very long ago, business was a slightly different game. Where you came from shaped who you knew, which shaped who you did business with, which shaped how successful you were. There was no social media and almost any commodity or personal right could be bought at the right price. I have even heard rumours of businesses buying medical records to dispose of workers before having to shell out any sick pay...I’ll stop there. 

The world however has changed and is continuing to change fast. When I began working for town centre development schemes, beautiful branding and flashy events were the norm. However, as the world progressed, despite this side still remaining important (if we meet I’ll explain why), there has been real change in the need for public consultation, lobbying and community involvement. 

With social media’s greatest attribute (Facebook you aren’t all bad) of connecting people and sharing voices, regardless of who you are, where you live, or what you do, people can no longer be hushed and good communication is essential. Ultimately, we are becoming a better society, with businesses showing better integrity, with better community consideration.

I have just co-founded Calvermont in my hometown of Kent. My business partner and I have decades of communications experience honed at well-known corporates, across global campaigns. We saw an opportunity to bring our skills home, to help local and global businesses working within our own community to find their own, better voice. 

Despite our robust experience, setting up a business is new for us. We met as neighbours in Tunbridge Wells (between Calverley Park and Claremont Road, hence the name) and simply saw an opportunity to work hard, but flexibly within the community we care most about. 

Starting our business, the topic of trust has already been well debated. As a start-up, how can clients trust us to do a good job? This is fairly easy for us to respond to, as we are lucky to have the support of a large and varied network. Alongside our new business, we also both consult for brand & communications agencies in London, which means we maintain a strong knowledge of current affairs, as well as our contact base. And when our ‘bread and butter’ is helping other companies develop their tone of voice and brand ethos, as well as pushing for better corporate social responsibility activity, you’d hope that this would be integral to our own business development too. It is.

Trust must be earned. It must underpin every choice if a new business is to be established and successful. For instance, we chose a local, young accountant because we trusted her, not because she had the most experience. We trusted our printer to deliver our business cards in time for our first networking event. We offer a 24-7 press office function despite the flexible working hours of our office, so clients can trust that we will be there if they need us. 

Ultimately, we chose to move our business to our local community so clients can trust that it is just as important for us to see them grow, as it is for them to grow.

Really I suppose what I’m trying to say, is if we don’t have trust in business and in life, then what do we have?

Trust is key. 

November 2018

A ‘MERRY’ CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM ICELAND?

Iceland’s newest Christmas advert received a frosty reception from Clearcast, the industry body responsible for vetting TV ads, who objected to the advert due to its links with Greenpeace.

This charming animation, which depicts a young girl asking a young Orangutan why he was in her bedroom, broadcasts a rather political, but we think important, message to prevent the misuse of Palm Oil in UK retail products.

Watch it to see what you think…

A good message?

A clever social media campaign?

We know what we think.