Digital Blonde Blog

10 observations from Farm Shop & Deli and The National Convenience Show 2019

The Digital Blonde team is just back from three days at the NEC, where we’ve been supporting the William Reed marketing team at the Farm Shop & Deli Show, The National Convenience Show and The Ingredients Show. While there is a lot of hard work, planning and organisation that goes into this work, it’s also a lot of fun getting to meet passionate producers and find out about the latest industry trends. In fact, every year the team comes back with a huge shopping list of things we plan to purchase following all the discoveries we make at the shows. At the top of this year’s list is Mummy Meagz vegan rocky road bars, Natural Umber apple cider vinegar and Tom’s Teas to name a few.

What does 2018 hold for marketers?

Wow! It literally feels like no time since I was looking ahead to 2017 and what that would bring for the marketing industry. Here I am again, doing our annual sharing of what’s going to be important for those working in marketing to know in 2018.

The Digital Blonde 2017 speaker schedule

2017 is shaping up to be a busy year for the Digital Blonde team. In addition to working on the PR and social media for some fantastic industry events this year, we’re also pleased to be speaking at several conferences, shows and masterclasses.

Alexa! Can you hear me?

If someone told me a year ago, that in February 2017 I would be sat asking questions to a little piece of technology in the corner of my lounge I wouldn’t have believed them. Something else I wouldn’t have believed, is that my children would regularly be asking questions to a gadget whilst getting on with their daily life. This is something that has happened a lot over the last few weeks, since Alexa joined the family. Whether it’s asking about the weather forecast for tomorrow so we can plan our day out or the typical weather in the Himalayas for Hazel’s latest homework project, Alexa has had the answer.

Looking forward to sharing my thoughts at Food Vision

I’m thrilled to be speaking at Food Vision, which takes place in Cannes, France on 2nd – 4th March. It’s very exciting to be part of an occasion that will bring leaders in the global food, drink and nutrition industries together to discuss the future and share insights. What I’m particularly happy about is the opportunity to discuss a subject I’m incredibly passionate about. My talk ‘Food for the heart’, will look at marketing’s power to form and alter our emotional relationships with food.

Why Honesty really is the best policy

I think we can all agree that nowadays we tend to take unrealistic adverts and marketing messages with a pinch of salt. For me personally, nothing turns me off a product or service more than an advert making out of reach claims. I find it just makes me feel cynical towards the product or brand and I certainly don’t take it seriously.

Ten years in PR: Fran’s reflections

This year marks ten years working in PR for me, which I can’t quite believe. Although PR by its nature is a role which demands that you keep up with trends, cultural changes and technology – it does feel like there’s a huge difference between PR now and ten years ago. This can be said for many other roles and industries today too, it sounds cliché but smartphones, email and social media really have changed things for almost everyone in the last ten years. Perhaps I’m so keen to reflect on this because I’m part of that last generation to remember a time before the internet.

Digital Blonde announces our charity of the year

Supporting others is something that the Digital Blonde team is extremely passionate about and each year we choose a charity that, as a group, we’d like to support for the year ahead. It’s fair to say the whole team was extremely shocked when exactly one year ago Nicola’s husband had a heart attack at just 35 years old. At a doctors appointment they were informed that due to Andy’s condition it was extremely like that this would happen again in the next few years. They were also advised it was important to educate their young daughters on the risks they face, as it is believed to be hereditary.

My five big wishes for food marketing this year

There’s so much talk of diets, detox, lifestyle changes and health plans you can’t forget for one second that it’s January. So as we start another year I’ve been thinking lots about my own eating and exercise habits. This includes the lifestyle of our children as I strongly believe the education we give them whilst they are young will set them up for their future eating decisions. However I can’t ignore the fact that outside influencers also play a massive part in their lifestyle choices as they get older and they are able to make more decisions for themselves. So for my first 2016 blog I’m sharing what I would love happen when it comes to marketing to children in an ‘ideal world’