RETAIL THERAPY FROM MADISONSOHO /

3 March 2009

Driving footfall through the doors and sales through the tills is more important than ever for retail but when budgets are squeezed cost effective results are a priority. In answer, Birmingham based retail marketing and digital specialist, MADISONSOHO, has unveiled six unique, flexible ‘Therapy’ packages that allow shopping centres to continue generating customer interest and loyalty, and targeting areas of need, even when a full marketing budget is not available.  

Launched ahead of the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) Annual Conference in Liverpool in March, each of the six tools are quick to deploy and can be individualised to suit a centre’s identity and branding, giving retail and shopping centres the freedom to select the solution that will achieve the results they want.

John White, managing partner of MADISONSOHO said:

“This is certainly an exciting move for both us and the industry. Budgets are inevitably tight at the moment and this range of products allows shopping centres to select activities that will have impact for them or that fills a gap in their existing marketing programme with ease and without having to commit to an extensive marketing plan.”

“We are very much a results driven agency, and all six of these ‘Therapy’ solutions have been born out of our recent successes and experience of what actually works for the sector. A quick turnaround of material is key to tackling many of the issues facing the industry, and the creation of these solution options provides the flexibility and speed to make a difference.”

“The creation of these unique packages really complements our bold, creative approach to marketing and our full service offer, to help deliver the right outcome where and when required.”

Developed using the agency’s wide ranging experience, creative and successes in the retail sector, the six unique ‘Therapy’s’ include: 

CleverCardz:
An easy to deploy online, secure processing platform that will enable shopping centres with gift card programmes to sell their cards efficiently, easily and securely online, without a massive website overhaul. 

The platform allows MADISONSOHO to create a mini site that seamlessly sits alongside and looks like the shopping centre’s own site, but that allows the public to buy the cards securely online. MADISONSOHO then handles the order and fulfilment for a truly hassle free option.

Kids Republic:
A complete package, Kids Republic offers a flexible, turnkey solution that allows centres to launch and run a kid’s club with ease. Managed 100% by MADISONSOHO - from the design of the mascot, costume, website and welcome packs to generating a ‘kids zone’ in-centre and running competitions - the option provides a comprehensive, flexible solution that taps into the lucrative and increasingly important kids club market with ease.

Pandora:
Tackling the issue of void units head on, this service provides a speedy, cost effective solution to wrap empty stores. Particularly apt in the current climate, this package ensures a design is created quickly to cover the store, promoting positive points about the centre and taking all important emphasis off the empty unit.      

Additional, more sophisticated options are available, such as touch-screen interactive placed against the glass of void units as well the possibility of selling advertising and promotional space to other retailers and advertisers.

LouLou:
This temporary marketing manager service ensures retail centres can maintain marketing activity and direction should a centre find itself without a marketing lead at short notice. Within this option, MADISONSOHO will provide an on-site marketer with the appropriate skills and experiences to support the centre’s programme and activities. This is also appropriate for centres who don’t have a permanent on site marketing manager but would find one particularly helpful to drive key activities on an ad hoc basis.  

Stardust:
This website and content management solution has been designed to optimise web activity, particularly where multiple centres are operated within a central portfolio. The web based solution provides cost effective website design that can be personalised for individual centres, but which are controlled and content managed from a central core platform. 

Features include an ‘e-blast’ facility that allows offers, promotions and centre activities to be sent direct to customers, plus access for retailers to update their own content – all with central editorial control.

Advantage:
A membership and loyalty scheme or club can be run and self-administered from a specially created website. Shoppers are able to register to receive a range of offers, special discounts and events, emailed straight to them. Membership packs or cards can be created and issued to add value to a scheme as and where necessary.

Fully tailored to the centre’s specific requirements, this service takes away the hassle and cost traditionally associated with setting up and running a loyalty scheme.

ENDS

Notes to Editors /

MADISONSOHO is a dynamic new marketing agency offering a confident, honest approach to marketing campaigns. With offices in Baskerville House, Birmingham, and St Mary’s Axe, London, the agency’s driving ethos is to draw on the marketing and creative services, and growth areas such as web and new media, to achieve real results for clients. The agency specialises in lifestyle, retail and leisure, alongside corporate investor and financial sectors.

For further press information contact:
Louise Fisher
Willoughby PR
0121 456 3004
louisef@willoughby-pr.co.uk

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