As experts in visual communications, we will work closely with the client to create a visually stunning E-commerce website that seamlessly integrates their existing accounting software, whilst built on our founding principles of design, functionality, accessibility and performance. London FoodServices is a food distribution company located in West London who specialise in sourcing 100% Halal certified produce and their extensive client portfolio spans across the South East. For further information please visit: www.londonfoodservice.co.uk

Rowntree Gordo is here to ensure you stick to your Marketing resolutions and give your business the competitive edge to see your return on investment soar with our exciting limited offer that is sure to warm your core.

Throughout the entire month of January we will be offering all potential and existing clients 10% OFF any new PR proposals and quotations, so do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team. In addition to this spectacular offer we will continue to provide all prospective clients FREE MARKETING HEALTH CHECKS, putting them on the right road for growth this year.

Here's to a successful and PRosperous 2012 for all our current and prospective clients.

With their inaugural ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ Ball taking place early next summer at Hardwick Hall Hotel, Arthritis Research UK have enlisted the help of Rowntree Gordo to assist with preparations for the important fundraising evening. This exciting, high profile and glamorous event will help towards the research and treatment of arthritis and will be based around the cult James Bond theme, marking Bond’s 50th Anniversary. With an evening of fine dining and unforgettable entertainment, rounding the night off in style with a spectacular celebrity gift auction, it is simply not to be missed.

For further information on Arthritis Research UK who are leading the fight against arthritis, please visit www.arthritisresearchuk.org. For ticket sales, please contact Marion Reed, Regional Fundraising Manager: M.Reed@arthritisresearchuk.org

Enjoy Paul!

Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Custom Planet has become one of the leading North East providers of quality, customised garments and branded merchandise for individuals, groups, organisations and corporate customers. For further information please visit www.customplanet.co.uk

http://www.aiko-design.co.uk/

St Oswald's Hospice is an independent, self-financing voluntary organisation based in Gosforth providing specialist care for local adults, young people and children in the North east of England. As a registered charity, St Oswald's Hospice offers a range of flexible services to families living in the North East free of charge and we are delighted to extend our support for such a worthwhile organisation to ensure their legacy for generations to come.

For more information and to reserve 'Strictly' tickets, please contact Amy Wilson on 0191 246 9123 or email amywilson@stoswaldsuk.org

In order to re-establish and strengthen it's online presence, Rowntree Gordo will develop a highly professional website to showcase Mandata's software solutions and enable the company to communicate with key stakeholders as well as new and existing clients. Combined with intelligent and concise copy, the website will clearly communicate the ethos and identity of the brand in an easily digestible and effective way and we will be working with the Mandata team to deliver exceptional results.

This also sat very nicely alongside Rowntree Gordo's proposed concepts for the Mandata advertising campaign and marketing material, which we are proud to announce that we will also be developing.

Established in 1974, Mandata is the UK's market-leading provider of Window's-based software for the haulage and logistics industry and boasts a customer base of over 500 leading haulage businesses throughout Europe. For further information please visit www.mandata.co.uk

Rowntree Gordo are delighted to have been involved with the preparations including sponsorship for this year's Sara's Hope Foundation Birthday Ball. This high profile, celebrity event takes place every year in memory of the late Sara Hoburn, who tragically lost a two year battle with a rare form of colon cancer at the age of sixteen in 2001. The charity's aim is to offer many young cancer patients and their families a much needed break together, creating smiles, hopes and precious memories.

Sara's Birthday Ball is taking place on Saturday 22nd October at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel. Celebrate Sara's Birthday Ball in style, with an evening of fine dining and entertainment and a full celebrity line up including comedian Brendan Healy, Coronation Street's Catherine Tyldesley and the hottest UK soul band, Souled As Seen!

For further information visit www.sarashopefoundation.co.uk or to purchase a ticket please contact Carol on: 0191 300 1423

Rowntree Gordo are also helping to deliver Merit Merrell's exciting re-branding Launch Event, which will be hosted at The Living Room Restaurant & Bar in Newcastle upon Tyne towards the end of the month. 

The event, delivered by Rowntree Gordo, was attended by almost 100 guests, including community leaders, project trustees and war veterans, among them Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, the youngest ever recipient of the Victoria Cross.

Veterans' Retreat, the charity behind the proposals, used the event to kickstart their campaign to raise the initial fundraising milestone of £100,000 and move one step closer to making the dream of Veterans' Retreat Village a reality.

Bill Liddle, the lead trustee and former serviceman, said: "It was fantastic to witness such overwhelming support, not only from the local community, but from the veterans themselves, including Johnson. The response to our fundraising campaign has also been highly encouraging and we look forward with a great deal of optimism."

Rowntree Gordo will be hosting numerous fundraising activities throughout the year, including the Veteran's Retreat inaugural black tie auction ball in early 2012 in Newcastle upon Tyne. 

They're planning to launch the campaign with a big bang by officially introducing Veterans' Retreat, their mission, their fundraising campaign and to showcase the site, which will soon become home to many ex-service personnel. Following on from the official launch and Trustee presentations, refreshments and lunch will be served as well as an opportunity to participate in guided tours of the site.

Members of the public who wish to attend this landmark day should RSVP to: VR_launch@rowntreegordo.co.uk or contact Frances at Rowntree Gordo on 0191 300 1430 by Friday 23rd September.

Who: The Trustees of Veteran's Retreat
What: Launch of the Veteran's Retreat ‘Building our Heroes a Home' Campaign
Where: Lead Lane, Ebchester, County Durham, DH8 0SX
When: Thursday 29th September 2011, 10.30am - 1.30pm 

Argos Inspection provides leading edge services, testing technologies and skills. They deliver complex high value inspection analysis, maintenance solutions, consultancy and quality control to all industries. Their services include non-destructive testing, ndt consultancy, digital imaging, quality assurance and quality control. Industries currently serviced include Offshore, Ministry of Defence, Oil and Gas, aerospace, automotive, nuclear and power sectors.  

Roosters Piri Piri is a chain of casual dining, quick-service and takeaway restaurants. You can find them in London and around the South East of England, although they are expanding throughout the United Kingdom. Rooster's specialises in their own spicy grilled Piri Piri chicken, but also serve gourmet burgers, grilled specialities and vegetarian meals.

They have over 15 years experience in running quick-service and takeaway restaurants, Roosters Piri Piri have recently undergone a huge transformation in all areas of the business, including the brand new website, for which they chose to work closely with Rowntree Gordo.

Bosco Almeida, Creative Director and Brand Development, Roosters Piri Piri said: "We hired Juan and his team at RG to build our new Roosters Piri Piri website. We were extremely happy with the results, both in terms of end product and the way RG were 100% focussed on producing a wonderful online experience for our customers as well as our internal management. We were very impressed with the attention to detail, experience and service that went beyond most companies. If you're looking for someone for your design or marketing needs who understands business, we would have no hesitation on recommending RG."

Now working on creative ideas and new additions for the next phase, we can't wait to get building, even though looking at delicious food all day is keeping us in a permanent state of hunger. Check out the site and see for yourself 

Please check put the event's microsite for more information at: www.neckcheck2011.org.uk 

This is the fastest increasing cancer in women in the UK and numbers have trebled in just 3 decades. For the vast majority of patients, early detection means cure and we encourage everyone to attend.

Veteran's Retreat offers a residential and medical facility providing dedicated care and support to veterans from HM forces. For further details about this wothwhile charity please visit www.veteransretreat.org.uk

If you require further information on this exciting event, please contact Georgia Linscott on 0191 3001428 or via georgia@rowntreegordo.co.uk 

As a high profile company with a globally established reputation for excellence, Rowntree Gordo are delighted to have been involved with this project that has allowed us to showcase our design expertise.

The PR, Marketing and Design company, which opened its doors two years ago has grown steadily, acquiring clients including Bosch, Northumbria University and Hodgson. It is now looking for a PR practicioner with some experience of work, in-house or agency to take on the busy role of Account Executive within the PR department.

Head of PR Neil McLoram said, "This role is ideally suited to someone with a couple of years experience, but we'll be happy to hear from brilliantly talented graduates! We're keen to build business quickly over the coming months, and so we're looking for someone with great ideas, and a real drive to make this position their own. 

"I'm new to my role at Rowntree Gordo, but can already see why the company has won awards for the work carried out for a variety of clients and varied projects. We need someone who can compliment this calibre and help add to our reputation for quality."

To apply, visit the contact page and get in touch, either call us if you're feeling brave, or send your CV over for us to consider.  

Aidan Connor, a digital marketing and SEO specialist has recently joined the company to further boost the agency's SEO services, bringing with him a vast amount of expertise in this fast-paced market. Aidan has been working in the digital marketing field for the last five years, within both B2B and B2C markets.

Commenting on the recent recruitment drive, Creative Director and Joint MD Juan Gordo said, " It's very exciting times at Rowntree Gordo. We've secured new clients and are receiving enquiries from a host of company's of various sizes and sectors so it seemed the perfect time to grow both our design and PR teams.

He continued, "We pride ourselves on the fact that we keep all services in-house and having Aidan join our team as an SEO specialist has made it possible to keep this service under the same roof as all of our other offerings."

And with an increase in creative projects, Juan has also expanded the design team with the addition of designer, Laura Cartwright. Laura will be taking a hands-on approach with print based graphic design projects for a variety of the company's clients. 

For some people this may come as a shock as Michelle was never one to make people aware of her illness, as it wasn't what defined her.

After a number of years of hard work and determination, not to mention her natural talent, Michelle achieved her dream of running her own agency. Committed to following her dream and direction, everyone at Rowntree Gordo is putting some of Michelle's determination into picking themselves back up and ensuring the agency is as successful as Michelle has made it to date.

She will be greatly missed by family, friends, colleagues, and clients alike.

Read more about Michelle by visiting Michelle's page on the About us Section and also Michelle's story on the Butterfly Trust website http://www.butterfly.org.uk/mstory.htm

Hodgson, based in Silverlink and Gateshead is opening its fourth franchise thanks to steady sales, which have seen the company continue with expansion plans despite a gloomy climate felt by other car dealerships and manufacturers in the region.

The company officially open the doors on Hodgson Mitsubishi at its Silverlink site in February and to support the new dealership has created six new jobs, including sales advisors, management and mechanics as well as the launch of a regional and trade PR campaign.

Deborah Stevens a seasoned Mitsubishi sales advisor who has been working with the brand for over 20 years will lead the team with sales manager Ricky Reed and transaction manager, Mike Mirley.

Said Deborah, " Despite the headlines that scream the contrary, people are still buying cars, but are more discerning about where they buy from in the current market conditions.

"They want to do business with a dealership they can trust, a company weathering the storm and continuing to do well despite the climate.  They also demand more from their dealerships - advice and great service will always win through and that's exactly what we deliver at Hodgson and it's one of the main reasons I decided to join the company."

Hodgson Mitsubishi is the latest development for the family run company, which is bucking the economic trend with growth across all areas of the business.

Managing director Steve Hodgson explains, "We've been around for 50 years and have seen tough times in the industry before.

What has ensured that we've always emerged successful despite market conditions is that we've remained true to the values that the business was built upon - service, honesty, trust and appreciation.  As a result we have a loyal customer base who have been returning to us throughout the generations.

"With one eye on service and the other on innovation we've been able to consistently offer our customers the best. Mitsubishi marries well with our values, provides a niche and innovative brand name with an exciting product range and one which will take us into the future."

A new PR focus will also see the car dealership take its service-driven approach out to customers through media channels and regular communication. Rowntree Gordo has embarked on a new PR campaign for the company to help support growth, promote the new franchise and ensure the successful family company continues to grow from strength to strength.

Hodgson Mitsubishi is now open on The Silverlink Newcastle, but is officially unveiled this Friday. The company currently employs 140 staff across its two sites and was established in 1959. Hodgsons currently hold Mazda, Toyota and Suzuki.

Alison Morgan, Managing Director for The Portland Group has recently appointed Rowntree Gordo to devise and deliver a fully integrated PR, marketing and advertising campaign to underpin the spectacular relaunch of the bar. Through indentifying key messages and brand identity, Rowntree Gordo will create a completely bespoke marketing package, gaining maximum media exposure to coincide with their official relaunch opening.

Rowntree Gordo have launched a seamless PR campaign to develop the brand’s identity that is not only unique to Yarm, but also Durham and Newcastle. The relaunch campaign will showcase Hide Café Bar as the prime location for the very best in DJ and musical talent, unforgettable dining and social experiences in a chic and exclusive, immersive environment that resonates with Yarm itself.

For most people, the first few months of the year always mean change - whether it's new years resolutions that sound good on New Year's Eve but by the beginning of February have been long forgotten, new diets to get rid of those extra pounds you piled on over Christmas with the glasses of wine and Christmas pudding, or even new goals that almost always never start. But whilst concentrating on yourself in the New Year, you often forget about looking at what changes can be made for your business too.

With the arctic-like weather being the main focus over the last month, I can guarantee the majority of those reading this article have rushed out to check car tyres, replacing said car tyres and seeing to that service they've been putting off for so long.  So if you service your car annually, why not service your business?

Even the slightest upgrade or change can make the difference. From looking at changes to your company website, to communicating with staff in a more effective way, a simple ‘service' of your business can detect those little issues that could make all the difference in 2010.

The team at Rowntree Gordo is offering businesses a free ‘Winter Check' to see which aspects of PR, marketing and design can be improved - the one service that shouldn't be put off.

The Winter Check will cover all aspects, from your company profile and branding, to your website and internal PR, and will show you areas that you should be concentrating on that you may not have thought about before.

Perhaps you have been thinking about raising your profile for a while now but not quite sure how to do it?  Rowntree Gordo can show you how. Or maybe you need to consider different media like Twitter, Facebook and blogs to reach your audience? Why not take another look at your website - is it making or saving you money?

There has never been a better time to start looking at your internal communications too; do your staff understand what exactly it is that your company does? Are they up to date with company news? A newsletter could be the perfect way to begin the year.  Remember your staff are the one of the biggest PR mediums you have whether they are down at the pub with friends or talking to family, you want them to be giving a positive message about your company.

The Winter Check will help you consider all of this, and give you the push to start something that you didn't get around to doing in 2009.

To book your free Winter Check, simply click here and take a few minutes to fill in the questionnaire and the team will be in touch to organise a consultation where your business will be fully analysed. Alternatively call us on 0191 300 1430 and speak to one of the team. 

Organised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations these awards are the ultimate seal of quality for excellence in PR and recognition of the hard work, long hours and creative ideas that have underpinned the business since it was first envisioned.

Having been shortlisted from over 1400 entries it's a great achievement for the agency to see its name standing shoulder to shoulder amongst longer-established agencies. To get this far in the space of only a year is a great feat and proves that the team at Rowntree Gordo really are as good as they say they are.

But what makes the two nominations extra special is the categories that the agency has been shortlisted in. The first is in the hard-fought Best Corporate and Business Communication category, for the work the whole team has been doing for Hodgson - the regions leading car dealership - and one of the first clients to put their faith in the company.

The marketing effort has been tough, as everyone knows the car market in the UK has been hit incredibly hard during the recession, but nevertheless increased PR has led to increased profile and Rowntree Gordo is delighted to say that this contributed to the company enjoying its most successful sales week in its 50 year history earlier this year. 

And the second nomination really does lift the agency above the competition and serves to prove that it is the team that makes the agency a success.

Rowntree Gordo's Senior PR Manager Kerrie Crammond has been shortlisted as the region's Outstanding Young Communicator. Awarded to a practitioner under 30 who has shown excellent skills and results, Kerrie is one of only two to make it to the shortlist in this very special category. The CIPR PRide Awards will take place on November 6th.

Firstly we'd like to say a huge thank you to all of our clients - we've gone from strength to strength over the past 12 months and without their continued support and recommendations we wouldn't have come this far.

We can't believe it has been a year since we first opened our doors last summer, time really does fly by.

We had the days of getting stressed over stationary orders which resulted in copious amounts of green highlighters, sitting for hours peeling labels off wine bottles for our launch event and not so long ago making our very own tea bags for a direct mail campaign. But the effort and long hours have definitely been worth it.

And a lot has happened in such a short space of time - the team grew, we moved into a stunning new office, launched a training arm to the business, developed new services and our client list has gone into double figures.

Despite setting up in the midst of a recession, the growth of our client list has really surprised and delighted us.  We secured our position as retained design agency for multi-national CCTV manufacturer Bosch as well as providing PR, marketing and design services to leading North East motor dealership Hodgson, global engineering company Techflow Marine, the European leader in non-destructive testing Argos Inspection and Durham based virtual office provider Office Matters part of The Portland Group, to name a few.

The last year has been both an incredible journey of success beyond what we could have expected, and a massive learning curve with tough times we could never have predicted.  But what has really kept us going is our commitment to the values of our business; honesty, straightforward solutions, flexibility, quality and clear pricing. We have consistently delivered on these promises and that combined with experience, a fantastic and talented team and our promise to do the job ourselves without outsourcing has gained us a strong client base, a solid reputation and created a business we're all proud to be part of.

So again, thanks to all of our clients and our talented, dedicated team - Happy Anniversary Rowntree Gordo!

To book your place on the course call us now on 0191 300 1430 or email training@rowntreegordo.co.uk  

The account win is a major coup for the company, which was formed by co directors Michelle Rowntree and Juan Gordo less than a year ago, asserting the PR, marketing and design agency's position as a major player amongst the region's top creative's.  

Following Bosch Security Systems 2008 acquisition of North East CCTV manufacturer Derwent Systems, which supplies a range of surveillance products including the MIC series of cameras made famous on Channel 4's Big Brother series, Rowntree Gordo has been appointed to bring the company's marketing materials in line with the Bosch corporate identity.

Keen to find local businesses with the skills required to manage several design projects for a globally respected brand, Bosch originally commissioned Rowntree Gordo on a single project to design and produce marketing literature for a planned customer event in January.

Since then the relationship has flourished and the company has become a trusted supplier with several new design projects underway.

Marketing Manager Emma Wilson expressed her enthusiasm at working with the agency. "Finding such a talented supplier right here on our door step is perfect. Rowntree Gordo has managed to be creative whilst working within our corporate guidelines."

The design team, led by Creative Director Juan Gordo, has been working closely with Bosch to develop Derwent's marketing communications materials and bring them seamlessly in line with the Bosch brand whilst bringing some new ideas to the table. A recent project involved commissioning new visuals featuring striking architecture which, whilst shot locally, were not local landmarks allowing the brochures to be used internationally.

Juan said; "Injecting new ideas and creativity into design whilst staying true to a very strong identity requires the skills of an experienced team.

It is great that a company of such high calibre and international presence like Bosch, has recognised these skills are available in the North East. I'm really excited by the opportunities the company has given us and am confident that this will continue to grow into a long and successful relationship."

The move, which officially takes place on Monday 9th March, will see the growing PR, Marketing and Design agency move its team and services to the vibrant Northumberland Business Park in Cramlington, just two minutes from the A1 and A19.

The offices located in the heart of the town's growing business community, are part of a huge new business development site, which is already home to a range of diverse companies and professional services organisations.

Managing Director Juan Gordo explains, "The opportunity arose to move premises from our existing location in Longbenton to purpose built office space in this exciting new development.  Over the last 6/7 months we've secured a number of clients from Cramlington and the surrounding area, which is fast becoming a real business powerhouse with major European brands as well as SMEs locating to the town.

"Our new location puts us closer to many of our clients and in the heart of one of the fastest growing business communities in the North East, whilst providing easy access to major commuter routes to the North and South allowing easy access to clients from outside of the region."

The vibrant, modern offices provide plenty of space for growth and expansion, which as the company looks to appoint another designer to help meet demand for its web design and creative expertise, will provide the space required to house a growing team.

"This is an exciting time for our business. We are still a new company and so are in an ideal position to change and adapt to the market place and the needs of our clients. To make the most of opportunities we are willing to be flexible ensuring we offer the best services, the most cost effective options, have the best team delivering results and are located in the right place."   

Based just behind the popular Apex Business Village in the south of Cramlington, the Northumberland Business Park is adjacent to the A19 and next to the well-known Jackel factory.

Peter Bauckham is founder and managing director of one of Europe's largest non-destructive testing companies, Argos Inspection based in Washington and was the company's first client.

He brings to the board a vast amount of business knowledge based on nearly 30 years of running a client-focused company, and intends to use this expertise to challenge and support business direction as well as offering new approaches, advice and guidance.  

Having worked with joint managing directors Michelle Rowntree and Juan Gordo for some time Peter has always valued their work and was one the first clients to sign up to the companies PR and marketing services when Rowntree Gordo was formed.   

An important and prolific ambassador and advocate for the company, Peter was an obvious choice when the team made the decision to appoint a non-exec director.

Said Peter Bauckham, "There is not an obvious link between the field of engineering, where I've worked for more than 40 years, and marketing.  But as a client I know what I want from my marketing team so I see my role with Rowntree Gordo as an opportunity to see things from a client-perspective, to challenge the team and their approaches, helping them grow and build on the strong foundations already in place.

"I've always been impressed by the flair and creativity in the company and the fact that it is built on solid experience and expertise. By adding my own ‘client-side view' I can help identify what clients really want and enable the company to add value to their services."

Peter joins the team of five, which consists of design, PR and marketing specialists.

Michelle Rowntree, Joint Managing Director and Head of PR at Rowntree Gordo commented: "In the current climate it is more important than ever to build strength and depth in the business, giving us the edge in what is an increasingly cut-throat market place.

"After a successful start we don't want to sit back, particularly in the current market conditions. We're keen to continue investing in our business and people, pushing boundaries, improving our service and employing fresh methods and ways of working that really benefit our clients. An experienced business person like Peter adding his expertise and acumen to the team is an exciting step forward for us."

In addition to his role as non-exec director, Peter is currently working with Rowntree Gordo on a comprehensive communications project for his own business Argos Inspection.  

Since launching at the end of the summer last year, Rowntree Gordo has built a client base including a major blue chip electronics brand, a world-leader in engineering, skin and bodycare specialists, a local university, established group of chartered accountants, property developer, sportswear manufacturer, bathroom supplier and several new business start ups.

As well as fully integrated campaigns, the team at Rowntree Gordo will provide one off press releases for the likes of product announcements and account wins so that businesses can take advantage of the benefits of PR whilst keeping within budget.  

One of the regions leading accountancy firms, Stokoe Rodger, has realised the opportunity and benefits of a one off service and has appointed Rowntree Gordo to handle its PR activity to further increase interest and communicate its core messages and service offerings.  

Stokoe Rodger, based in Newcastle and Hexham, has provided growing businesses and private individuals throughout the region with high quality accountancy, tax and business consultancy services for over 40 years.

Up until now, the firm has relied mainly on word of mouth and recommendations.  In the current busy market, it is essential to be heard by a wide audience and Rowntree Gordo aim to do this by raising Stokoe Rodger's profile and communicating the high level of service it provides to new and existing customers.

A full PR proposal was presented and considered in detail by Stokoe Rodger and may be used in the future.  In the interim, Stokoe Rodger decided to take advantage of Rowntree Gordo's pay as you go service.

Starting with a short-term campaign, Stokoe Rodger is looking to increase awareness of the business and its services.  Recently joining forces with Gilbert Tax to introduce to its list of services a dedicated Tax Investigation Unit which helps businesses in the region battle the taxman on tax investigation cases, Stokoe Rodger are keen to gain a share of voice in the market by emphasising its high quality service.

Kerrie Crammond, Senior Account Manger at Rowntree Gordo, said "it's great to be able to offer this service to companies especially when budgets are tight in the current economic climate.  It has been a real opportunity to work with one of the regions leading accountancy firms too."  

To find out more about the services offered by Stokoe Rodger, visit www.stokoerodger.co.uk

The Natural Empathy collection makes its debut at an exclusive launch event on Thursday 30th October at the Malmaison in Newcastle. It is a chance to have the first look at the range, meet the brains behind the brand and take away a goody bag full of luxurious products.

The launch will introduce the first ten products from a growing range, all-caring for face, body and hair. Every item in the collection has been created using only the highest quality natural ingredients and holistically beneficial essential oils, which can each be traced back to the original source - a key element that sets this new brand apart from competitors. Strategy Director, Philip Stuckey explains that provenance and purity are a primary focus for Natural Empathy and expresses his delight at finding suitable produce locally.

"Consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of ingredient quality and traceability and understanding the origins of the products they use on their skin. Finding high quality organic produce which met our eco standards and philosophy, from suppliers in the region obviously cuts down on ingredient mileage and of course supports local growers."

Unlike many mass-market products, Empathy Skincare is dedicated to using only non-synthetic ingredients in its products. Managing Director Beverley Stuckey explained the inspiration and philosophy behind the collection. "Our range is all about taking out nasties like harmful synthetic chemicals and additives, and replacing them with the goodies which are in abundance in our natural world."

"And feeling confident that every ingredient is from quality suppliers whose business ethos matches our own ensures we stand true to our message that the range looks good, feels good and does you good."

Rowntree Gordo was appointed to launch the collection, implement an ongoing PR campaign and design the new website, taking the range to a local, national and ultimately international marketplace.

Website orders are anticipated to form the majority of Natural Empathy sales, so it was crucial for the company to have a website that showcases the products and of course works quickly and effectively. Juan Gordo, Creative Director of Rowntree Gordo, designed the eye catching, professional site, which uses muted colours and clean photography to convey the luxury and indulgence of the brand.

Research and development is already well underway to further extend the range. Luxurious natural wax candles will be released at the Living North Christmas Fair in early November, and the men's range of skin care will be available from February 2009.

The company's flagship store in Amble, Northumberland opens its doors later this autumn, but the full Natural Empathy range is available for purchase through the website www.naturalempathy.com.

With products to suit everyone, the collection includes facial cleanser and moisturisers, fresh shower gel, nourishing bath milk and body butter, handwash and lotion, and luxury shampoo and conditioner.

Madeinmummy.com is an online store for maternity clothes, underwear and baby wear where the emphasis is on style, elegance and affordability.

Director Claire Zorlutuna came up with the concept after working in a competitive sales environment enabled her to spot a real gap in the market for a clothing range, which catered for fashion-forward mums-to-be throughout their pregnancy months.

Claire commented, "It was when I fell pregnant myself that I realised how poorly the high street and even the Internet catered for style-conscious women who don't want to let go of their love of fashion just because they're pregnant. I certainly didn't want to spend nine months in smocks and shapeless dresses.  

"Never one to let an opportunity pass me by I thought if the solution isn't here I'll create it.  Made in Mummy was born."

Rowntree Gordo was appointed to create a strong band identity conveying the quality, style and on-trend ethos of the new company and it's customers.

Creative Director Juan Gordo worked closely with Made in Mummy to identify the key messages of the brand, developing visuals which accentuated the young, fun appeal of the product range, whilst encapsulating quality through the development of an on-message strapline - ‘blooming elegance'.

The brand is now being rolled out across the company's corporate literature, holding page (the website is currently in development), packaging and marketing materials.

Claire said "Rowntree Gordo has done an impressive job in creating a strong identity, which we can stand proudly alongside. It's memorable, fun, has a real high-street feel whilst retaining the exclusivity and personal appeal we want to create in the company.

"As a direct result of having the brand in place I've gained interest from major global suppliers and am thrilled to have secured agreement with two lingerie manufacturers and an organic baby clothing manufacturer who were so impressed with our image they have agreed to do business with us. In this cut-throat market that's quite a coup for a new brand like ours, but we're aiming high so we needed a brand which reflected our ambition."

The relationship between Rowntree Gordo and Made in Mummy continues to go from strength to strength as more marketing material, website, packaging and PR is in development.

Rowntree Gordo opened its doors this summer and the team has secured a client base including a world-leading engineering firm, a major blue chip electronics company, a local university, established group of chartered accountants, property developer, sportswear manufacturer, bathroom supplier and several new business start ups.

The full day course has been developed by PR expert and experienced trainer Michelle Rowntree to teach companies how to manage and implement their own PR. Using the tactics, tips and tricks of the professionals, the course is a step-by-step guide to planning, executing and following up a basic PR campaign.

Attended by a diverse range of delegates including marketing executives, students and business start-ups with no experience of PR, the practical course was open to anyone with an interest or desire to get to grips with their own PR.

Zara Baxter, Marketing Executive of Boldon based IT company Microcomputing who attended the first course on 17th September said,

“Marketing a dynamic company like Microcomputing demands that we employ a range of tactics to communicate with a wide client base, but to date PR has been very underused.  We control all of our marketing internally, so I was keen to learn for myself what PR could do for us in conjunction with our other marketing efforts.

“The course has given me a real understanding of how powerful PR can be for the company, and what I need to do to implement a targeted campaign.  It’s exactly the sort of support and training I’d been looking for but simply wasn’t available in this region or within budget. I feel more confident straight away and can’t wait to get stuck in, putting into practice all I’ve learnt.”

Due to the success of the course and interest generated since it gained Learn Direct accreditation, a new date has just been released.

The full day practical training day will run again on Wednesday 5th November 9.30am – 5pm at Rowntree Gordo on the Balliol Business Park. 

Places are limited so contact training@rowntreegordo.co.uk if you’d like to book a place and visit the training page for a full course outline. 

Invited guests met the team, took a look at the company's stunning premises and watched a video presentation of the agency's creative work during the afternoon event, which saw more than 60 guests call in.

Creative Director Juan Gordo said, " As well as taking the opportunity to make new business contacts and showcase our work, we particularly wanted to mark our launch with a chance to say thanks to everyone who has helped us get off to such a great start.

"The support we've had from clients, suppliers, media and friends has been overwhelming, and with almost everyone from our guest list turning up we were pleased we were able to say thanks."

As they left guests were given a goody bag containing a specially branded bottle of wine from the Rowntree Gordo vineyard, chocolates, engraved coasters and even an exclusive jar of organic skin cream from one of the company's clients.
A champagne prize draw won by Martin Stout of Simpson Group concluded the event.

With a sizeable turnout matched by super-sized cakes, the event proved a huge success and an indication of what's to come from this dynamic and talented team.

Rowntree Gordo, which opened its doors at the beginning of August, is using it's training and coaching expertise to launch a course which shows businesses how to manage and implement their own PR campaigns.

The day course on 17th September claims to be able to teach anyone, with no experience of marketing, the tricks and techniques needed to make PR work, from spotting the story, writing effective press releases to managing media enquiries.

Explains Michelle Rowntree "We've built our business on a no nonsense approach, which means being honest about what can be achieved.

"PR is not rocket science, it requires time, planning, the right messages, a good understanding of your business and awareness of the media. With these tools under your belt you'll start to see what PR can really do."

And with marketing budgets tight in the current economic conditions Rowntree Gordo has noticed businesses are nervous about committing to spending on marketing and PR.

"We could tell everyone ‘you can't do PR as well as we can' but with many companies cutting budgets in marketing, is that really going to have them running to our door? We would rather show them what PR can do for them now, give them the right tactics and tools to make it work, get the results and then when they're ready to expand their marketing, they know where we are."

The PR training course entitled The Basic Principles of PR - A Guide to Getting your Message Heard is delivered at the company's Balliol Business Park offices by MD and Head of PR, Michelle Rowntree, an experienced tutor, NECC trainer and member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

The content has already received endorsement from Learn Direct and is a featured training course on websites as diverse as direct,gov,uk to The Guardian, BBC and Channel 4.

To find out more email or training@rowntreegordo.co.ukvisit the training page on the Rowntree Gordo website.

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Media Enquiries:

For more information about the training course or to find out more about Rowntree Gordo please contact:

Michelle Rowntree / Kerrie Crammond
T: 0191 215 5014
E: michelle@rowntreegordo.co.uk / kerrie@rowntreegordo.co.uk

Rowntree Gordo Ltd opens its doors for business tomorrow and is promising clients a one-stop straightforward approach to pr, marketing and design. The ambitious company is headed by two of the regions most experienced industry professionals, PR and Marketing expert Michelle Rowntree and design and web specialist Juan Gordo.

The pair boast over 25 years experience between them and were previously directors of Newcastle consultancy Karol Marketing before leaving to launch Rowntree Gordo.

"We felt it was time that an experienced, creative agency provided the full range of PR, marketing and design solutions, including web development, without the need for jargon, outsourcing or complex pricing." said Michelle.

"The emphasis is on the team you meet being the team you get, putting the client at the centre of activity, so they know exactly how long it will take, what results they can expect and how much it will cost. It sounds simple because it is."

"Clients feel very reassured that the team they have invested in are the people directly managing and executing the campaign, not a nameless supplier they never meet," explained Michelle.

The company is already winning business thanks to its no-nonsense offering, with clients from a breadth of industry sectors including engineering, sports, IT, print and hospitality already signed up.

Bringing all services under one roof is being made possible by the team already in place. Supporting the two managing directors are PR professional Kerrie Crammond, appointed as senior account manager, and experienced marketing and design executive Laura Bainbridge. More appointments are expected to follow in the coming months.

Said Kerrie, "I've worked with Michelle and Juan in the past. It was an obvious step for them to combine their complimentary skills and set up a true full-service consultancy. To be on board from day one has enabled me to put my ideas and expertise on the table creating an infrastructure and service list, which answers the demands of the market.

"As a result of research, experience and listening to what clients want, we've created a strong and flexible offering built on quality, excellence and keeping it all together, whether clients are coming on board for one service like web design to a fully integrated communications campaign."

Rowntree Gordo Ltd officially opens its doors for business on 1st August 2008, it is based in the Balliol Business Park, Benton Lane Newcastle.

-Ends-

Media Contact:

For more information about Rowntree Gordo Ltd please contact

Michelle Rowntree/ Kerrie Crammond
T: 0191 215 5014
M: 07950 337 474
E: michelle@rowntreegordo.co.uk / kerrie@rowntreegordo.co.uk