Let’s Celebrate Local!

By Edward Hollands, founder, of DrivenMedia. We are a leading provider of truck advertising enabling brands to build brand awareness nationally across the UK's major road network.

How are you feeling about your business?  

Things started to pick up for us late June and  have got progressively busier in July so I'm hoping this month will bring us back to pre-lockdown levels. It's quite a strong business as we've started to focusses on lots of little campaigns for small businesses called subscription rears, which means if a large client leaves it's not too much of an issue. 

How are you feeling about business in general? 

It's still rocky for the economy, our clients are hesitant on spending anything in case of another lockdown. Retail seems to be struggling the most and it's horrible to see. There will be a big irreversible shift if nothing changes soon. 

As a limited company director who invested savings to keep the business afloat due lockdown, the government needs to think of a way of supporting small limited companies or the whole landscape of business will be negatively affected. We must not be continually forgotten. 

Tell us any way in which you now apply this phrase to your business and/or life ‘buy local supply local’. 

We naturally are a national business, however whereever we can we buy local as consumers and we support local businesses. 

This might be eating at a local restaurant on a site visit, using a local vinyl supplier or just using our social media to shout about a fantastic local business.

What has changed for you positively as a result of lockdown? 

There's a couple of things that come to mind, the first is our slightly different positioning of rear-only advertising which has had a strong uptake across the small business sector. 

The other is around our supplier relations as unfortunately, we owed a few suppliers during the lockdown as a result of stalled campaigns - most we've been able to work out a payment plan and most liabilities are now cleared. 

It's not a nice position however I'd rather be upfront and honest than hide the truth as this could affect other businesses in these very hard times. 

What makes a good local business?

A good local business is adaptable, friendly and as soon as you walk in or pick up your phone you know you are talking to a friend.  

Can you name a local business which you support around food & drink? 

The Wonky Table - Derby. The owner is part of a local mastermind I'm part of and has switched her business model to operate at home. She's been a real inspiration.

https://www.wonkytable.co.uk

Can you name three independent businesses which you support?

There's a few i'd really like to shout out, the first is Essential Print - Derby, Von has been a huge lifesaver over lockdown sharing schemes, ideas and ideas. A real small business champion - https://www.essentialprintservices.co.uk

Magenta Signs - Doncaster. Dan and Louise where amazing pre-pandemic but we've been able to work together to solve problems within haulage to ensure our hauliers keep driving and our adverts are still out there - https://www.magentasigns.com

Finally Fiona Scott Media - Swindon. I really admire Fiona, she seems to be all over social media and has been offering some fantastic advice to all, business clients or not.

Can you shout out to three clients you wish to celebrate?

Karl Armstrong - Mezz Floors of Cambridge - https://www.mezz-floors.co.uk

Lauren Ridgeway - Moose Juice (Muscle Moose) of Manchester - https://musclemoose.co.uk

Yogesh Patel - Herald Plastics of London - https://www.heraldplastic.com 

Can you shout out three suppliers you wish to celebrate? 

Andy Grand - Structure Flex of Norwich - https://www.structure-flex.co.uk

Neil Trotter - Boughey Distribution of Cheshire - https://www.boughey.co.uk

Andy Moore and Iain Ross - Corporate Solutions Logistics of Birmingham - https://corporatesolutions.uk.net

Can you name someone in business who has really had your back at this time? 

Sarah Moore and Beth Nadin of Juggling Octopus Business Support - Derby. These two are amazing, they've listened when things aren't going to plan, offered advice and have really helped us get out of s sticky situation during the lockdown. The business would not be here without these two going above and beyond. 

https://jugglingoctopus.co.uk

Can you name one person in your life who has really helped you during this time? 

That would be my wife - Tara who will happily listen about what's going on to support me. She has helped me not stress when the work has not been there. We celebrated our first year of marriage on August 3rd, that has gone so quickly.

What are your business plans for Q4? 

Keep supporting small businesses and keeping our hauliers busy.  Our aim is to add 25% to our fleet. 

Any special offers you’d like to mention? 

We have a subscription rear offering running at the minute. It means the eyes of 20,000 people per day will be on your 'message' with an average dwell time of 48 seconds. The cost is a £650 plus VAT one-off production fee then £350 plus VAT a month with the first month free. 

Your parting thought? 

Small business in all sectors are struggling, support local and you support the whole UK economy. You have the power. 

For more information visit www.DrivenMedia.co.uk