8 | Tees Business
/ ADVICE
GRN Sportswear has relocated to Teesside University ’ s Victoria Building .
TOP TIPS FOR YOUR FESTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA
With Christmas fast approaching , it is time to consider your business ’ social media presence over the festive period .
With this in mind , here are three top tips from Viral Effect to help you navigate this busy time with a touch of Christmas spirit . 1 . Engage The lead-up to christmas is busy for any kind of business . Whether you are selling products to consumers in the Christmas rush , or you are a B2B organisation trying to tie up loose ends before the Christmas break , it is easy to take your eye off the ball when it comes to social media .
This busy time is likely to see an increase in questions and queries coming in to you via your social media channels . No matter how busy you are , make sure you monitor your channels and engage with any queries you receive in a timely manner to let your customers know you are listening !
Scheduling posts in advance is a good way to ensure you don ’ t miss a post when your day runs away ( and is easy to do !) 2 . Remarketing The lead-up to Christmas will no doubt see a spike in traffic to your website , but not all visitors will convert every time they land on your site . Why not tempt those who have shown intent but not converted back with a remarketing campaign ? Facebook remarketing ads are the perfect opportunity to reconnect with people who know you and your brand but haven ’ t yet committed to becoming your customer .
Remarketing is easy to set up and runs in the background without too much effort on a daily basis . 3 . Have fun and show personality Christmas time around the office is usually an opportunity to wear festive jumpers , eat mince pies and play the Michael Bublé festive Spotify playlist on repeat , so why not have some fun and use your business Facebook page or Instagram account to show a more relaxed side to your business ?
Don ’ t forget to show thanks to your audience for their amazing support over the last year !
Dan Dixon Head of paid content Viral Effect
GRN Sportswear ‘ pedalling ’ towards further growth
A
Middlesbrough-based manufacturer and supplier of performance sportswear is set to unlock its growth potential , as a result of its partnership with Tees Valley Business Compass .
GRN Sportswear , a sports clothing company specifically for the cycling , triathlon and athletic wear markets , is aiming to secure £ 10,000-worth of funding through Business Compass in order to boost its brand awareness and branch out from its Tees Valley roots .
The funding and business support will allow the firm to attend major trade shows , such as The Cycle Show , the UK ’ s largest cycling trade show .
GRN manufactures its products using ethically sourced , sustainable recycled materials , including plastic bottles and abandoned fishing nets . Established in 2014 by directors Rob Webbon and Peter Lillie , the firm is committed to and supports
Teesside has been longlisted as a potential area for one of Heathrow Airport ’ s logistic hubs .
As part of Heathrow ’ s £ 16 billion expansion plans , it is proposing to create four logistic hubs in the UK , where components will be pre-assembled and then delivered to the airport , with the aim of making the project more cost-effective and spreading the investment ’ s financial benefits beyond the South East .
If successful , it is expected to bring hundreds of jobs and significant opportunities for the local supply chain , stimulating significant growth across our industrial heartland .
The bid secured the support of leading business figures in the area , including British Steel , Cleveland Bridge , PD Ports , AV Dawson , RBT , Deepdale Solutions and the North East England Chamber of Commerce .
UK manufacturing , with all of its technical products made in Britain .
The pair were put in touch with growth consultant , Neil MacGillivray , who assisted with the relocation to Teesside University ’ s Victoria Building , and later through the funding process .
The support available for companies through Tees Valley Business Compass , the local growth hub , comes from an investment of more than £ 9.5m from the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ), secured by Tees Valley Combined Authority .
Support is available for consultancy projects resulting in growth , along with support for increased broadband connectivity , research and development , innovation , and energy efficiency .
If you think your business could benefit from the funding available , please register your interest here www . teesbusinesscompass . co . uk / registeryourinterest
TEESPORT ’ S HEATHROW HUB BID
Tees mayor Ben Houchen , who recently met with Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye , said : “ We have the capability and capacity to deliver massive projects , and I am pleased Heathrow Airport has recognised this .
“ Our case is strong because we have world-class expertise , excellent infrastructure , a pool of skilled and talented workers and the strong supply chain necessary to establish a logistics hub .”
The proposal would see the facility established on the recently-launched South Tees Development Corporation site .