Delighted to have been asked to contribute to an article for small.business.co.uk on the subject of creating communities…. http://smallbusiness.co.uk/how-to-turn-your-customers-into-a-community-2543726/
It was a real pleasure to deliver a workshop at Not on the High Street HQ to their partner account handling and development team. Needless to say they were full of ideas, pressing questions and interesting observations.
It was good to be able to show them that two of Lola clients are already on this platform marketplace - The Drifting Bear Company who we worked with from almost before they opened their doors, and Smith & Sinclair, manufacturers of cocktail confectionery whom we also supported in their very early days.
The session was full on and fast, covering all sorts of aspects around intellectual asset development and IP.
Great to be back talking with Lucy Mann on Small Spark Theory Podcast. This time we were discussing different ways creative companies could look at earning revenues other than just through selling their time. Listen here https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/ep20-agency-revenue-models-erica-wolfe-murray-lola-media/id1199337779?i=1000419000984&mt=2
... where so many world-famous actors, radio, tv, film and theatre professionals have trained was an exciting moment. We are going through our Discovery/Mapping, Creative/Trends and Development/Assessment process with the BOVTS team to see what amazing assets they have within their people, their processes, their IP, in fact everywhere and anywhere, to develop new value and revenue streams.
The process we use is very simple, yet works incredibly well, to find under-used or under-exploited assets across a wide range of organisations, companies and charities. Needless to say it involves a lot of discussion as well as much research. And occasionally, just occasionally, it is a passing remark or a throw-away line that unlocks hidden potential no-one had spotted - until now.
Wizards, witches, monsters, creatures, planes of existence, planets, characters, goodies, baddies and everything in between - the Lone Wolf RPG archive is quite extraordinary. Written by Joe Dever and continued by his son, Ben, the opportunities that abound in exploring the archive, what has been done to date and how it can be developed in the future forms the basis of our work together.
We have worked with a range of archives of all types and sizes, whether helping Harvey Nichols rediscover and collate theirs, developing interesting and diverse product ranges from their history for Historic Royal Palaces or advising Vitsoe and the Dieter & Ingebor Rams Foundation on a range of options for preserving their unique archive.
In its beautiful setting in St Margaret's, south-west London, the senior team at Rambert School are opening their doors to the Lola team to explore what potential new value and revenue models we can find within this internationally renown school. We are delighted to be working with this talented team.
Rambert School is just one of the six organisations who comprise the Conservatoire of Drama and Dance. We have also been working with co-members, the Central School of Ballet and are about to start with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
When the designer who has evolved one of your favourite brands gets in touch... of course you want to work with them. Designer of Peter's Yard comms and packaging, Warran Brindle of DBC Studio had heard Erica's interview on Small Spark Theory's podcast and pinged us an email. We're helping Design by Country to extend its reach to work with other early stage companies with ambitious plans.
Other creative clients with unique positioning strategies include Truth & Spectacle, social impact data graphics company Visualizing Impact and global pattern experts, Patternity.
We are delighted to be working with award winning creative agency, Designate. Known for their brand building work on insurance company, LV=, as well as their in-depth understanding of the travel industry, we are looking forward to developing their intellectual assets across the board. And we get to go to Brighton more...
Other agency clients that Lola has worked with include Hey Human, Without Studio, NB Studio, Gregory Bonner Hale and Lovers.
We get cracking with promotional merchandise business, Pod Packaging, today, looking at how best we can help the company evolve and develop new products and services. Lots to do which will be fun.
Other product companies Lola has worked with include product designers Chauhan Studio, crossover design studio New Territory, knitwear designer Donna Wilson and street furniture designers and manufacturers, Furnitubes.
Lucy Mann of Gunpowder records and uploads her podcast, Small Spark Theory, every month interviewing a range of contributors within the creative industries. She interviewed Erica about marginal gains, including two lists that every company and freelancer can compile to help them benefit from intellectual assets they already have.
Poet and spoken word artist, Chris Redmond starts working with us today on developing the brand that is Tongue Fu, the riotous experiment in live literature, music, film and improvisation.
In the past we have also worked with poet Inua Ellams on his experiential arts event, the Midnight Run, as well as audience development programme, Cinovate, run by the University of Wales. Other arts clients include Hackney Empire, Farr Festival with Front to Back and creators of a pop-up theatre, Studio 360.
Today's breakfast at Hey Human involves briefing the whole company about the value of IP and intellectual assets - we're going to work with all those team members interested in the development of new commercial thinking for the behavioural communications agency.
Other company-wide initiatives have been implemented at fabrication company, Factory Settings, the marketing group at Soho House, Forma Arts and printers, Gee Brothers among many others.
3 min read
Love Cashmere uses its manufacturing knowledge of cashmere to provide a specialised service...
2 min read
Inua Ellams' inspirational poem features as a swirling print across part of fashion brand Jigsaw's autumn collection.
2 min read
As the summer ends, lots of new product/service promotions from brands fly into my inbox. Most get deleted, but some whet my professional interest. Last week's 'go to' was from fashion/lifestyle brand Anthropologie - curious to see their collaboration with the floral print archive of Regent Street store, Liberty - Liberty for Anthropologie
'Marking 70 Years of Dior with a New Strategic Archive' runs the headline of yesterday's BofF article by Osman Ahmed. I read on with interest - a 'strategic' archive? What does that mean?
4 min read.
Working as I do helping companies develop their intellectual capital and IP to underpin new revenues, business models or to draw in new audiences, I always love unpicking how brands already in the marketplace have done this to grow beyond their core offer. This week - Pantone.
A short poem.
One of the greatest delights of working across the creative industries is we meet such a wide range of talented people. Poet and founder of The Midnight Run, Inua Elams wrote us a couplet looking at what we do from his perspective.
3 min read.
At an evening at Soho Works, we asked three leading design companies a few questions about growing a creative business. Here are pattern designer Kangan Arora's stories and key tips...
3 min read.
At an evening at Soho Works, we asked three leading design companies a few questions about growing a creative business. Here are the stories and key tips from the team behind Tatty Devine creative director, Harriet Vine and md, Rosie Wolfenden...
3 min read.
At an evening at Soho Works, we asked three leading design companies a few questions about growing a creative business. Here are knit and textile designer Donna Wilson's stories and key tips...
3 min read.
I'm not very good at taking criticism... probably like many other people. And once I received a piece of criticism which has stayed with me for an embarrassingly long time. About 15 years or thereabouts.
2 min read.
It has been an exciting time for Lola as Erica is gracing the front cover of Tech City News Summer 2015. The article written by Kirsty Styles focuses on Founders over Fifty being the ones to watch.
2 min read.
Lola client In Detail have been voted one of the best fashion blogs ever by Marie Claire Magazine. They say: “In Detail is the go-to site for all things sparkly. Bringing you the latest jewellery trends, interviews with emerging designers and a peek inside the jewellery boxes of London’s tastemakers. Think ‘The Coveteur’ but for jewels.”
2 min read.
Lola's director, Erica has been featured in Hiscox Insurance's Small Business Knowledge Hub as one of their Small Business Stars.
4 min read.
We have been comparing ourselves to others, as long as there have been human beings on the earth. Competitiveness is ingrained in our evolution but until relatively recently it has been limited to our social circles, the Internet and publications. Since the explosion of social media we now have unlimited access to other people’s lives; their relationships, diet, exercise patterns, style etc.
2 min read.
TAXO'D is an accounting & business finance tool for freelancers, which aims to eliminate the burden and time spent dealing with taxes. In 2015, TAXO'D reached the semi-finals of Virgin Media Business 'Pitch to Rich 2015' Campaign.
1 min read.
Smith & Sinclair opened the World's first edible alcohol shop in Carnaby Street over the Christmas period. Having reached their Crowdfunding target, Smith & Sinclair invited the curious and adventurous to jump down the rabbit hole and embark on a multi-sensory journey, exploring the world of cocktails like never before.
3 min read.
Charlie and I were sitting in his deli shooting the breeze one Saturday morning before Christmas about our respective business plans for 2016. Having worked together intermittently for about 8 years with Lola helping him develop his intellectual assets to build longterm growth for what might seem to be a niche offering, we know each other well.
4 min read.
I run Lola - we deliver growth to companies by innovating and finding new audiencesand revenues using the intellectual assets underpinning their intellectual property. For just over three years, we also coached companies for the BGS. It was a real pleasure and an utter priviledge. We met and worked with companies with whom I would never had crossed paths, but whom I came to love and deeply respect.
