RT Media Wins and Delivers HYPERCOM to Spire Payments Rebrand on Tight Deadline
When private investment company KleinPartners Capital Corp and its partners announced in summer 2011 that it had acquired a majority interest in Hypercom’s former UK and Spanish businesses, and that the new company would be called ‘Spire Payments’, it looked from the outside as though the launch had been a long-planned and coordinated campaign.
In reality, due to the nature and legalities of the deal, selecting the new name, brand and web site for the supplier of payment devices, all had to happen extremely quickly.
Dave Millener, Managing Director at Spire Payments in the UK explains: “Due to legal reasons, there were just a few short weeks between confirming that the deal would take place and having to launch the new brand, during which time we had first to select a branding agency to work with. We issued a brief and, on the basis of their initial response, invited three local agencies to present their capabilities to us.
“Ross and the team at RT Media responded very quickly and demonstrated from their presentation that they clearly understood the brief, had the branding expertise we needed, and could offer us the flexibility required to complete the task across the two different countries within the very limited timescale. Flexibility was particularly important, given that we were often thinking on our feet. The aim was for the name change to be seamless so our customers both here in the UK and Spain would acknowledge and understand it, whilst everything else was ‘business as usual’ for them.”
In less than three weeks from the initial meeting, RT Media delivered the complete package – a new name, brand, brand messaging, a working web site in English and Spanish, signage, promotional and packaging materials, an extensive set of data cards, communication materials, stationery and other small details – right down to the signatures on staff emails.
Ross Thornley, founder of RT Media and Strategic Director, said: “In some ways it helped that the date for the changeover was set in stone, as it gave our whole team a very clear deadline to work to. From an agency point of view, we were able to map a critical path for the deliverables, although as Dave says, there were some variables which we had to work around too. ”
Of course, the personalities had to be right. Building a strong working relationship between a new market leading client and agency can often take time, but since there was so little time, it just had to work.
Dave continues: “From the outset we had a very good working relationship with the team at RT. They just understood what needed to be done and got on with it, whilst contributing with a good flow of ideas, which gave our thoughts and ideas positive direction. It helped that they were just down the road in Wimborne, as it meant we could provide the direct input dictated by the deadline, literally sitting alongside the designers. The outcome was that we achieved our goal and, given the deadlines set, were actually in great shape the day we launched the new company to the market. Our customers both here and in Spain were very impressed that so much had been done, in so little time.”
Ross concludes: “The basis for this entire project was based on understanding the core values and aims of the new company. This enabled us to help launch Spire Payments as a new, independent European player in the electronic payments vendor market, creating a strong brand to rival its competitors and provide a firm platform for its strategic growth plans. We are looking forward to a roll-out of activities next year, including videos, training materials and the next phases of web site development “
Read MoreThe Lowdown on the ‘Improve Your Resource Efficiency Programme’
I had one question in mind when I attended the ‘Improve Your Resource Efficiency’ seminar: do we qualify for a grant? Unfortunately, the answer was more complicated than a mere yes or no.
Wessex Enterprise explained that applicants had to meet certain eligibility criteria:
- Less than 250 employees (or a group with no more than 250 employees)
- Annual balance sheet not exceeding €43 million
- Annual turnover not exceeding €50 million
- Not be more then quarter owned by firms that do not comply with the above criteria.
Grants could be used for: lighting upgrades, new heating systems, compressors, recycling equipment, CAD design software, testing & monitoring equipment, consultancy / training / certification for environmental management or other projects. These grants are issued on a 50% match fund basis (minimum of £1000 threshold and maximum of £40000). Investments must be in Dorset.
The bottom line was that the amount you qualify for depends on the difference between your current carbon footprint and your potential post-grant carbon footprint. The potential difference needs to be comparatively substantial, which unfortunately limits the options of a smaller enterprise [especially those that do not have high consumption or high wastage].
Wessex Enterprise does offer 12 hours free support, which can be used to benefit the business in developing an environmental policy, guidance on developing an environmental management system, legal compliance check, resource related research projects, etc.
Read MoreRT Media Appoints Design Director
New Appointment - Jamie Homer, Design Director at RT Media
Branding, creative and digital agency, RT Media, has announced the promotion of Jamie Homer from Studio Manager to Design Director as part of the company’s overall growth plan.
The move comes hot on the heels of the recent merger and integration of social media training and consultancy business, SocialTech, and creative agency, Ozone Creative Solutions, which saw RT Media expand its services and core resources.
Ross Thornley, RT Media founder and Creative Director, said: “The appointment of a Design Director is a fundamental step in the growth plan of our business. Following our on-going strategic development of the company, we decided to expand our offering to clients through mergers with two companies that had the core skills we desired. Naturally, the additional staff and skill sets need a new level of management and Jamie was the obvious choice.”
Jamie has eleven years of experience in the industry, having spent almost eight of them with RT Media. He joined the company as a Creative Artworker, progressing to Senior Designer and then Studio Manager.
Jamie has worked on a number of high-level branding campaigns whilst managing the team, and has a philosophical approach when it comes to delivering the best option for the client. He said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Design Director and see the position as having the responsibility of nurturing the best talent and ideas within the team in order to deliver the best results for the client.
“These are very exciting times for RT Media and for our clients. I intend to use the unique position of having already worked within the business as a manager as well as creatively alongside our existing clients to inspire and motivate the team to develop world class, conceptual design that meets the strategic aims of any creative campaign. It is not just about being good at design,” he said. “It is about being good at design for the good of a business and that, along with our branding, social media and digital offerings, is where we excel for our clients.”
RT Media was the only agency in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire to be listed in a first-of-its-kind national table of design agencies by Recommended Agency Register (RAR), which showed that great design is no longer the preserve of specialist design agencies.
Read MoreSearch for the 2012 UK Business Speaker of the Year
Ross Thornley (left) with this year’s winner Phillip Khan-Panni (centre) and Alderman, David Trenchard.
Wimborne-based branding, creative and digital agency, RT Media, sponsor of the first UK Business Speaker of the Year, has announced its support for the 2012 competition, now launched.
Last month (Sept) Phillip Khan-Panni’s, a copywriter from Bromley, wowed an audience at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre, winning the first ever UK Business Speaker of the Year competition with a motivational speech, “What it means to be second”.
The speech included stories about Mr Khan-Panni’s rivalry with an older sibling and how he overcame disappointments in life.
As well as sponsoring the event, RT Media founder and creative director, Ross Thornley sat on the judging panel. He said: “The whole competition was extremely well run, with the eight finalists selected from auditions posted onto YouTube. At the final, there was the added tension of the judges selecting just three contestants for the audience’s deciding vote.
“It was a great night – there are some really talented speakers out there and this competition is a real opportunity to be independently recognised. We’re looking forward to building the reputation and scope of next year’s competition.”
The event was devised by the UK Speechwriters’ Guild, which hosts its annual conference at the Bournemouth University Executive Business Centre. Professor Max Atkinson, one of the country’s leading public speaking experts, author of ‘Lend Me Your Ears’ and a much-acclaimed blogger, sat as Chairman of the Judges.
Khan-Panni, CEO of PKP Communicators, a training company that helps business leaders to speak in public without fear and in a way that makes others want to listen, said: “The UK Business Speaker of the Year is a splendid and worthwhile initiative that attracted some quality speakers. Much credit to Brian Jenner, whose idea it was, and to RT Media, the brand agency that recognised its potential. I was delighted to take part and honoured to have been voted the inaugural winner.”
Aspiring or professional speakers over the age of 18, with an unusual story to tell can register their interest to take part in next year’s competition at www.ukbusinessspeakers.co.uk.
Read MoreBrand love gets social with our expanded social media services
Following our recent acquisitions, we’re very proud to announce our updated and extended social media services!
We’ve expanded our training workshops to include:
Introduction to Social Media – designed for decision makers who need to understand how social fits into their business and how to begin to create a SMART strategy to do so.
I’m on LinkedIn, But… – understand how to take your LinkedIn profile to the next level as a powerful networking tool.
Twitter 101 – learn to make best use of this powerful communication tool for your business.
Better Blogging – covering both technical how-to (using WordPress) and best practice content creation.
Facebook for Business – designed to enable you to utilise the world’s largest social network for real business benefit.
We’ve also launched 2 new services:
The Online Social Impact Audit provides a reference point to identify areas of improvement and forms the starting point for any social media campaign or strategy development.
Maximise the number of people who hear about and interact with your event, product or brand launch with our Social Media Event Amplification.
Our Social Media Management page has been updated to reflect changes to our offerings also.
We’re offering an Introduction to Social Media breakfast session for only £25+VAT.
Come and join us on the 26th October at 8am (for an 8:30 start) for some breakfast and an overview from our Social Media Strategist, Luke on:
- Why social networking matters to your brand
- An overview of the key sites
- Some future trends to look out for
Call Steve on 01202 888192 to reserve your place.
If you’d like more information on any of our social media services, please call Luke in the office.
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