Complete One's Rising Star / Top Gun & Christmas Party Weekend

At the start of this month we held our final Top Gun / Rising Star event of the year.  It was an action packed weekend as we also hosted our Christmas party. Breaking away from the tradition of paint-balling, we battled it out, with our Edinburgh office rivals, at laser-tag.


These event days are always a lot of fun and good team building activities. We always enjoy being involved in anything to do with competition and even more so now we can host joint events with our business partners in Edinburgh. It was Team Newcastle vs. Team Edinburgh once again. The top gun and rising star we selected for this event, from our Newcastle office, were Rachel Robinson and Marty Phillips.  Here we are all kitted out and ready to battle.  

“Recognising and rewarding people for their efforts is something I am passionate about, I believe it is crucial for a prosperous working environment. If people feel appreciated then they are happier and more productive in what they do.” said Managing Director at Complete One, Glen Lowes




After we battled it out at laser-tag, later that night we hosted our Christmas party, along with some of our business partners in Newcastle. The festive season was in full swing, everyone having the opportunity to get together to laugh, relax and interact.

“This year we have experienced a lot of growth and have really started to make a name for ourselves in this highly competitive industry. Our growth and success in 2014 has been largely due to the incredible people we work with and I am excited for the New Year to find the next wave of talented individuals who will help take Complete One forward” said Glen.

Complete One are an outsource sales and marketing company with offices in Edinburgh and Newcastle. We are one of the fastest growing companies in the North East. We specialise in below-line customer acquisition face to face promotional marketing / sales campaigns. Using our diverse expertise and experience we are confident we can get results for any brand. 

Complete One Christmas Competition

It's competition time again at Complete One.


The people we work with do such an incredible job and, as a reward for their hard work and dedication, we often like to reward them with competitions and prizes. Everyone loves a competition and it's always a good incentive and motivator!

This month we are running a Christmas competition for everyone who works with Complete One, in both Edinburgh and Newcastle, to win a 2 night stay in Ireland's Capital City, Dublin. The prize will also include dinner at one of the cities top restaurants.


"The competition is my way of thanking the incredible people we work with. Competition definitely brings out the best in people which has been proven as often have our best weeks when competitions are announced” ~ said Managing Director at Complete One, Glen Lowes



The competition will be drawn at the beginning of January, check back then to see who the lucky winners are.




Complete One are an outsource sales and marketing company with offices in Edinburgh and Newcastle. We are one of the fastest growing companies in the North East. We specialise in below-line customer acquisition face to face promotional marketing / sales campaigns. Using our diverse expertise and experience we are confident we can get results for any brand. 

Complete One Countdown to Christmas

With the New Year rapidly approaching, at Complete One we have been reflecting on the year that's past and we are beginning to look ahead to 2015.


“When I sat down to review the year, and begin to plan and set goals for 2015, I was overawed by what we have achieved this year. This year has been our best year to date, and the tremendous success we experienced was largely unexpected If you had asked me this time last year where we would be 12 months later I could not have predicted the success we have had this year.” said Managing Director at Complete One, Glen Lowes


The start of the year set a precedent of what was to follow. In January we attended our industries National Awards Rally, in London, and we were among the award winners on the day when Managing Director Glen Lowes picked up an Outstanding Achievement award and Kirsty Pennal won a Top Performer award.

This year has involved a lot of travelling for us here at Complete One. We attended several business seminars across the globe in; Las Vegas, Barcelona, Dublin, London, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham. Being involved in these events is so important as it allows us to meet people in our industry who are doing incredibly well, meet new business associates and establish new networking links.


Our biggest business success this year was our expansion into Scotland. Our business partner Kirsty Pennal headed up the project as we opened our second office in Scotland's Capital City, Edinburgh, back in September. As our business expanded our client portfolio grew simultaneously. When we began working with a client in the financial sector, seeing us branch in promotional events marketing. This new acquisition will be the driving force behind our plans to expand further next year.


This year we continued our support for the Rainbow Valley charity. We attended their annual black tie ball at the Thistle Hotel Glasgow, in November. We believe that as we are blessed to have so much it is important to give back.

Looking ahead to 2015 we want to capitalise on the incredible momentum we've gained this year and we expect it to be bigger and better than ever! We already have more travel plans with business meetings arranged in Sydney, New York and Dublin. One of our biggest goals for next year is to further expand the Complete One brand. By the end of the first Financial Quarter of 2015 we will have expanded from 2 to 4 offices and by the end of the year that number will increase again as we plan to be in a minimum of 7 locations including; Glasgow, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Dublin, Leeds, Sheffield.


“2014 has really set the bar high! The success we have experienced this year has made me hungrier for more! I am so passionate about Complete One, the people we work with, and the work that we do and I want to expand our business and ideologies throughout the UK and beyond!” said Managing Director at Complete One, Glen Lowes





Complete One are an outsource sales and marketing company with offices in Edinburgh and Newcastle. We are one of the fastest growing companies in the North East. We specialise in below-line customer acquisition face to face promotional marketing / sales campaigns. Using our diverse expertise and experience we are confident we can get results for any brand. 

Complete One's Rising Star & Top Gun Weekend

On the first weekend of November we held a Rising Star & Top Gun weekend. These weekends are designed to recognise and reward the people in our business who have shown great consistency in their performance over the last couple of month sand also to give credit to the people who are new to the business and are already showing promising signs of being the next front runners. This time we had the opportunity to hold a joint event with our partners in our Edinburgh office.


The lucky winners were; Robyn Spoors, Rachel Robinson, Conall McGinnity and Kirsten Phelps.


The weekend kicked off with paint-balling at one of Scotland's top paint-balling venues Bedlam Paint-baling, in Edinburgh. Team Edinburgh versus Team Newcastle made it extremely competitive and the combat game was a big hit as always.

After the exertion of paint-balling we had a relaxing evening at a VIP Champagne Bar in Edinburgh City Centre.  

The weekend was a great team bonding session and was a well earned reward for those selected as the Top Guns and Rising Stars.  "With only 6 weeks left till the end of the year I am extremely confident this will be our best year yet at Complete One and our focus is on finding the next talented group who will be attending these events next year" said MD Glen Lowes

You Snooze, You Lose!

How many times did you hit the snooze button this morning? When you finally got our of bed were you feeling groggy and in need of a serious caffeine fix? Is that really how you want to start your day? The snooze button is not your friend.

“The temptation to hit the snooze button for an extra 5 minutes sleep can be overwhelming. By changing your habits and getting up and out of bed straight away you will wake up feeling fresher and ready to start the day.” said Managing Director Glen Lowes.    

Complete One share 4 tips to get you going bright and early; .


1/ Keep your alarm across the room


If your phone or alarm clock is next to your pillow then you're more likely to hit snooze. By having it out of reach, forcing yourself to get out of bed to put the alarm off the chance of getting up first time is much higher.


2/ Let there be light


To get a good nights sleep make sure you have no distractions, no TV or iPad, the room should be in absolute darkness. When you wake up you want the opposite, open your curtains and let the light shine through.


3/ Start with a shower


It might sound obvious but there are chemical reasons too. When you shower your brain releases the neurochemical dopamine, allowing you to start the day in a happier more relaxed state.


4/ Find your passion


Getting out of bed in the morning, especially in winter, is made 10 times easier if you have a passion. If it's not your career then find projects and goals so you wake up with exuberance.

Want To Be Good At Sales? Let Complete One Show You How!

What Makes A Good Sales Person?

A study published in psychological science shows that extroverts and introverts overall get the same results. It is the people who are able to adapt to the situation and individual customers who perform greatest. Picking up on behavioural cues from potential customers is what has the biggest effect on whether a sale is made or not.

Complete One have compiled a list of what we believe are the key traits of successful sales people.

1.Assertiveness

Take control, by being assertive it allows you to move a sales situation forward without offending or frustrating the customer. Think of it as being located halfway between passivity and aggressiveness.




2. Empathy


Adapting your behaviour to the customer's moods and emotions. The first step in being able to empathise is listening and observing, recognising their mood allows you to adapt your pitch to generate the best result. You must be able to relax and relate and put the customer at ease.


3. Problem Solving

There are an abundance of problem makers, what every successful sales person needs to learn is problem solving. Creating new ways to satisfy the customer's needs, both financial (the ROI of your offering) and emotional–such as the customer's need to be convinced that your and your firm are reputable and reliable.

4. Positive Attitude

A positive attitude is quite possible the most important skill to be learned or trait possessed that can make the difference. Optimism helps you maintain a sense of balance when things go awry.

Learning and implementing the 4 traits identified above can turn anyone into a successful sales person. It is a common misconception that the best sales people are loud, outgoing and extroverted. I know from my own personal experience that anyone can become great at sales, it's not built into your DNA, while some people might have natural ability it is also something that can be learned” said Glen Lowes MD at Complete One

Complete One MD Reflects On The Year So Far

Now in the last Financial Quarter, Managing Director Glen Lowes reflects on what has been an incredible year so far. 

Within the last 3 months we have acquired a new client to our portfolio and expanded into a new city, opening an office in Scotland's Capital City, Edinburgh, in June.  The last Financial Quarter is set to been the most lucrative part of the year and I am anticipating an exciting end to 2014.


We had massive success with our Telecoms client in the first half of the year which gave us the foundations and platform for growth and the opportunity to expand into Scotland, our expansion being led by Complete One business partner Kirsty Pennal. I wanted to take Complete One to the next level and when we had the opportunity to work with a large client in the finance sector, It seemed like a perfect fit.  After only 8 weeks working on our new campaign, our offices in both Newcastle and Edinburgh have already started seeing the rewards for the hard work and effort that goes into launching a new campaign.


Our goals for the the end of 2014 / early 2015 is to expand Complete One into 2 new cities in the UK, once achieved this will see growth of 400% in only 6 months.

Our new partnership led us into promotional events marketing, representing our clients in major events and venues throughout England and Scotland. Events marketing is the most rapidly expanding form of marketing, it's everywhere you look and has become a part of everyday life. Due to our early success representing our newest client we are looking to expand our client portfolio further before the end of the year.  

2015 is set to be Complete One's biggest year to date, we are looking forward to seeing who our next success stories and future business partners will be, assisting with our growth and expansion throughout the UK.  

Complete One Review The Benefits Of Event Marketing

Event marketing is the process of developing a themed exhibit, display, or presentation to promote a product, service, cause, or organisation using in-person engagement. It is a marketing strategy that allows for for direct interaction with customers. Event marketing is one of the fastest growing fields in marketing and advertising today, It is everywhere you look in today's culture.



In today’s buyer-empowered world, marketers need to seize every opportunity to build relationships and earn the trust of their prospective buyers and customers. The modern consumer has become more demanding and less loyal to brands. Events offer a unique opportunity for consumers to interact with brands to get a first hand sense of a company’s focus, perspective, and personality.



Getting more interactive with your consumers creates a bigger impact than digital advertising. Do you remember the last billboard you walked past or the last advert you seen on TV? Probably not! However you would remember the last conversation you had. Technology is advancing and companies need to keep up. The number of people watching pre-recorded programming is on the rise and therefore many adverts are not even being viewed thanks to the ability to fast forward pre-recorded programming.  Times are changing and evolving and your marketing strategies need to keep up.



“I believe the success of event marketing is down to consumers craving a more personalised shopping experience. Being able to interact with customers face to face, building that relationship, is what's too often missing in today's ever advancing technological world. Human interaction is what makes the difference.” said Managing Director Glen Lowes






Complete One are an outsource sales and marketing company with offices in Edinburgh and Newcastle. We recently acquired a new client allowing for expansion into promotional event marketing. Using our diverse expertise and experience we are confident we can get results for any brand.

Complete One On The Mobile App Market

When you woke up this morning, what was the first thing you did? For the majority of people it would be checking their phone, looking at their email, messages and social media accounts.  


The introduction of the first mass market, multi-functional smartphones in 2007 sparked the beginning of an age where our social media accounts, on-line banking and virtual games were available, on a hand held device, at the touch of a button. It is something that has now become second nature in the ever advancing technological world we live In and as a result the mobile application market is booming.


Rovio, the company behind one of the most popular games in the last few years, Angry Birds, reported just under $200 million in revenue for 2012. It also reported $71 million in profit for the year. Candy Crush Sage publisher King filed revealed in February 2014 that it had generated a whopping $1.88 billion in revenue in 2013 along with $1.98 billion in gross bookings.


A report from MarketsandMarkets suggests that the mobile app market will be worth an estimated £15 billion worldwide by 2015. According to the research firm’s ‘World Mobile Applications Market (2010 – 2015)’ report, the total global mobile applications market is expected to be worth $25 billion by 2015 (up from about $6.8 billion in 2010).


The value of of applications is evident with the multi-billion pound buy outs taking place. In 2012 Facebook purchased Instagram for $1 billion and last year Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg purchased What'sapp for $19 billion and it's clear to see why with What'sapp growing at a rate of 1 million users a day, it has become the most popular instant messaging provider. The acquisition of these apps provides the opportunity for advertising across platforms which can generate milions in revenue.


“Apps have become a part of everyday life, whether it be using google maps for directions or checking your Facebook or Twitter pages, the market is gaining tremendous momentum and can foresee it continuing to be hugely successful for years to come.” ~ Managing Director Glen Lowes.

What Does It Take To Become A Billionaire?

The world's population is approximately 7.046 billion and according to Forbes there are 1,645 billionaires in the world. A tiny percentage of the world's population have that title. To put the number into perspective, there are approximately 13 million millionaires in the world, this is a massive gap between the number of millionaires and billionaires.


Perenna Kei is the youngest billionaire in the world at just 24 years old. She owns an 85% stake in Logan Property Holdings through different companies and a family trust. Logan’s chairman and CEO, Ji Haipeng, is her father.

So what does it take to become a billionaire, one of the world's most recognisable billionaires, Bill Gates shared some tips?

• Get Smart ~ People don't become billionaires by accident. Take every opportunity you have to ask questions, never stop learning, knowledge is power. Assess all the variables you can before making a plan ie – interest rates, tax brackets, dividends and so on.
• Start Saving ~ It takes money to make money. Make an effort to take a percentage of your pay check each week/month and put it into a savings account, accruing interest for future investments.

• Make a 5 year plan ~ Having a written plan is important as it help to focus on your goals and gives you something to aim for.

• Buy Real Estate ~ Owning property is always looked upon as a good investment as it generally appreciates in value over time.

• Invest In a business ~ Starting your own business or choosing one to invest in can be a solid way to make money . Create or choose a company with a product you are interested in and will spend time and money to improve it.

• Be Prepared to Gamble ~ you've heard the saying fortune favours the brave, sometimes you have to be wiling to take a risk for a great reward.

“Most people think small because most people are afraid of success, afraid of making decisions, afraid of winning. And that gives people like me a great advantage.” – Donald Trump

A common trait many billionaires share is that they think big. What may sound ludicrous and unachievable to some people is what turns others into Billionaires. You've heard the Brian Littrell quote “ Shoot for the moon. Even

if you miss, you'll land among the stars” If you dream big but don't quite achieve billionaire status maybe you'll make it into the millionaire category.  

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence is defined as; the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.

According to leading author Daniel Goleman, what separates the the general population from the top performers is emotional intelligence.  Goleman groups emotional intelligence into 5 categories; 


Self-awareness


The ability to recognise and understand personal moods and emotions and drives, as well as their effect on others. It is often portrayed through self-confidence, self-assessment, and a self-deprecating sense of humour. And the ability to be realistic.


Self-regulation


Being able to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods, and to suspend judgement and think before acting. Hallmarks include trustworthiness and integrity; comfort with ambiguity; and openness to change.


Internal Motivation


A passion to work for reasons that go beyond money or status. A propensity to pursue goals with energy and persistence. Hallmarks include a strong drive to achieve optimism even in the face of failure, and organizational commitment.


Empathy


The ability to understand the emotional make-up of other people. A skill in treating people according to their emotional reactions. Hallmarks include expertise in building and retaining talent, cross-cultural sensitivity, and service to clients and customers.


Social Skills


Proficiency in managing relationships and building networks, and an ability to find common ground and build rapport. Hallmarks of social skills include effectiveness in leading change, persuasiveness, and expertise building and leading teams.






Goleman has derived that it is these 5 defining factor that are most influential on an individuals ability to succeed and reach the top of their profession.  In a career spanning 30 years Goleman written and co-written 20 books, including the best seller Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. His research has led him to conclude that it isn't the high achievers who make the most successful business owners, while IQ does have a pivotal part to play, determining what jobs people are sufficiently skilled to do, it is ultimately their emotional intelligence that will be the main contributing factor in their success in that role.

"As a business owner I am constantly learning and was unaware of the literature on emotional intelligence until I stumbled across an article on Goleman in "Success" magazine.  Having read his study I  found myself ticking a lot of the boxes of what emotional intelligence was and found it to be a really interesting read" ~ MD at Complete One, Glen Lowes

How to Build Brand Loyalty

Living in a digital age where consumers are more savvy in their spending habits brand loyalty is slowly disappearing. Consumers have the tools at their disposal to seek out the most value for money products and brands have to change with the times to help attract, retain and build loyal customers.

Connect with your customers – Provide an emotional connection for your customers. To ensure customer satisfaction engage with your customers on a regular basis.  Increase awareness amongst your customers.  Provide them with value and motivation which will create a buzz around your brand.

Anticipate their needs – Listening to what customers want allows you to anticipate their needs and focus on what your customers want. Offer incentives (i.e. loyalty cards or programs), as these customers are typically more profitable and will most likely reciprocate by staying loyal to your brand.

Deliver on your promise – Make it a habit to deliver happiness every step of the way.  Show your customers that you truly care by surpassing their expectations.  Offer something new or exciting and stay true to your brand mission and promise.

Be consistent – Consistently delivering the same message and performance through all lines of business is reassuring and helps to instil consumer confidence. Being consistent helps gain your customers’ trust and provides credibility to your brand.

Deliver A personalised experience  – Digital marketing enables us to connect with customers across different platforms, but personalising your interaction with customers is what has the greatest effect. Profile and analyse your customer base and past buying patterns to create personalised interactions with your customers that are relevant to the individual. Keep your focus on building customer relationships.

Complete One on the Importance of the Human Element In Marketing

While there is no denying the massive impact the digital platform has had on marketing, at Complete One we still firmly believe a key component in any successful marketing campaign is the human element and this should not be overlooked in favour of advancing technology. The “personal touch” is something that can't be experienced when making a digital purchase. We believe that the relationship you build with customers through face to face interaction is one of the influencing factors when instilling consumer confidence and building brand loyalty.


Face-to-face interactions provide significant business benefits. At its core, face-to-face engagement creates a personal connection and builds trust between a company and its target audience. Giving a warm handshake, holding an engaging conversation, and getting to know customers helps to form stronger, more meaningful, potentially long lasting business relationships.

There are several research studies which support this view. A 2009 EventView study of senior executives in sales and marketing revealed that 62% chose event marketing as the platform that best accelerates and deepens relationships between client and consumer.

The 2 main benefits of employing marketing campaigns with a human element are obvious;

1/ Time & Cost Effective

Print and broadcast advertisements can be extremely costly, and Internet marketing requires a lot of time to reach your target audience. Face to Face marketing provides an opportunity to deliver your sales message directly and interact with large groups of people quickly.

2/ Builds Confidence & Trust Between You and Your Customers;

Meeting people in person is crucial for building and maintaining strong relationships. In the age we live in, consumers are no longer as loyal to a brand as they once were. Interacting with your customers face to face is an invaluable opportunity to build a relationship, answer any questions or concerns and hopefully build brand loyalty.

“While on-line marketing is a logical solution, considering we are now living in a digital age, face to face marketing campaigns using the human element, should never become obsolete as it continues to produce the best results.” ~ Managing Director at Complete One Glen Lowes.  

Is All Publicity Good Publicity?

Coming off the back of an incredible season in the English Premier League, Luis Suarez went into the world cup as a Brand Ambassador for Adidas and 888Poker. With celebrity sponsorship deals proving extremely lucrative because of the extra exposure they can gain to a new audience through the association with a celebrity, increasing their brand awareness. However as a result of the alleged biting incident on Giorgio Chiellini in the Uruguay Vs Italy game, viewed by millions around the world the association to Suarez could become damaging. How true is the old saying, all publicity Is good publicity?


The media hype surrounding Suarez as a result of the incident has brought his association to Adidas and 888Poker to the attention of millions, forcing them to review their relationship with Suarez. While it may be bad for business for the companies Luis Suarez represents it provides a great marketing opportunity for other brands.


An incident viewed by a Global audience of millions can become a powerful marketing tool. Within minutes of the final whistle tweets from brands seizing on the opportunity began appearing. McDonald’s Uruguay, TGI Fridays, Whataburger and Snickers just to name a few.


In the following days companies have gone to print with advertising campaigns using the incident which does support the view that all publicity is good publicity........if you don't have a sponsorship deal with the person involved in the scandal.


Looking at it from the perspective of the sponsors however, they are under severe scrutiny for having the relationship. 888Poker have now terminated their contract and Adidas are reviewing the situation.


At Complete One we realise the importance of Brand Protection and that is the reason we make it our number 1 priority, ensuring all the representatives we work with are trained to the highest standards in customer service and product knowledge.


“A brands reputation is key when attracting and retaining customers.” ~ MD at Complete One, Glen Lowes



The old adage of all publicity is good publicity would seem to be completely dependent on the circumstances and situation. What may be good for one party could be a PR disaster for another. Every case needs to be judged on an individual basis. 

Complete One on Identifying Your Target Market

Identifying your marketing targets enables you to find opportunities and tap into them. It gives you valuable information, allowing you to put your sole focus on the consumers that are interested in your brand. By identifying your target consumer, it saves both time and money in an ever-changing society. Knowing your audience before launching a marketing campaign in crucial and can play a tremendous role In success or failure.

We have pin-pointed the three key areas that must be identified before developing your marketing strategy, theses are:

• Identify your USP ~ This is what makes your business stand out from what else is on the market and is he reason customers will but your products over any other. What separates your brand form direct competitors? What do you offer the consumer that they don't? Your product can compete on price, quality, ease of use, design, green factor, reliance, durability etc, the list is endless. Identify what aspects, identify what makes your product stand out from the crowd.
• Research Your Market ~ Knowing your target audience is critical: Your campaigns won’t work if they don’t appeal to what your potential customers wants or needs. Invest time in research and find out as much as possible about the people you want to sell to.
• Examine the Demographics ~ Start by examining your existing customer base, who are your current customers, and why do they buy from you? Look for common characteristics and interests. Identify which ones bring in the most business? It is likely you will begin to see a pattern emerge and this is what will allow your to design a targeted marketing campaign.
  
  

“By focusing your marketing strategy on reaching your target audience it provides a much more affordable, efficient, and effective way to reach potential clients and generate new business. At Complete One we appreciate the importance of cost effective marketing and by taking the time to research it allows us to implement a campaign specific to the target audience, which can save a company thousands if not millions.” ~ MD Glen Lowes 

Time Management Tips From Complete One

As a business owner, effective time management is one of the most important components of running a successful company. Learning to prioritise your most important tasks is a skill that can help whether it's for business or personal purposes. Complete One share our top 5 time management tips to help make your day more productive.




1/ PRIORITISE THE MOST IMPORTANT TASKS


The key factor is identifying the tasks which are most productive for you or your business. Don't waste time on tasks that aren't time sensitive or beneficial for that day. Ensuring you complete the most important tasks first will set up you for success each day.




2/ MAKE A TO DO LIST


We can often find ourselves being distracted by calls, emails or texts. Once you've identified the most important tasks, write a to do list. Having a written list in front of you will give you a clear goal. Having the ability to tick tasks off, once completed, also provides satisfaction and shows progress in getting one step closer to the end goal.




3/ SET TIME LIMITS FOR TASKS

For instance, reading and answering emails can consume your whole day if you let it. Instead, set a limit of one hour a day for this task and stick to it. Settling limits is essential, if your spend too long on one task it may leave you short on time to complete your to do list.

4/ LEARN TO DELEGATE


As much as we have the desire to do everything ourselves, as we often believe others can't do the job as well as we will, learning to delegate will free up time to focus on the most important tasks at hand.


5/ GET ENOUGH SLEEP


The human body is not a machine, we biologically need sleep to be able to function to the best of our abilities. The recommended amount of sleep for adults is a minimum of 6 hours. Plan your day to make it happen!

Complete One Explore the Advantages of Customer Loyalty Schemes

Brand loyalty can be defined as consumers who become committed to a brand and make repeat purchases over time. Brand loyalty is a result of consumer behaviour and is affected by a person's preferences. Loyal customers will consistently purchase products from their preferred brands, regardless of convenience or price.


Loyal customers are the most profitable versus the consumers who pick and choose based on promotions. Recent consumer trends suggest that people are more likely to go for price rather than brand, as illustrated by the findings of a recent Which survey stating Aldi had beat Marks & Spencers and Waitrose to the title of the UK's favourite supermarket. Customers voted it the best supermarket as it provided value for money and helped to ‘ease the impact of increasing food prices on day-to-day budgets’.

The recent success of both Aldi and Lidl is a sign of the times. As companies battle to win customers back, with Ryan Air just signing up 2 million loyalty scheme members, we wanted to see what the benefits of a customer loyalty scheme were.


Helps Retain Existing Customers


Loyalty schemes provide customers with incentives and rewards to continue buying or using the same brand. Loyalty programme operators often report that when customer starts redeeming rewards, enthusiasm and engagement increase.


Targeted Marketing


The data collected from a loyalty programme can be used to better cater for the customers varying needs. By identifying customers purchase history it allows for more targeted marketing specific to customer needs. The more sophisticated type of loyalty programme - such as the UK's Tesco Clubcard - can not only target advertising material almost individually to its many millions of members but it can accurately measure the response rates to those advertisements as well which is invaluable data for any company to allow them to retain customers.


Attract New Customers


While the main aim of a loyalty scheme is to lock-in existing customers and reward them for their loyalty, a positive by-product is that it will inevitably attract new customers. When people feel that they're getting an unbeatable deal then they're more likely to switch allegiance, therefore the percentage of new customers is directly linked to the quality of the rewards and incentives on offer.



Best Customer Marketing 

Simply put, best customer marketing (BCM) involves spending more time, effort, and money on your best customers in order to maximise the return on marketing investment. It has become the driving force behind the leading loyalty programmes in the world today.

Reduce Promotional And Advertising Costs

The data configured from a loyalty scheme allows companies to target their marketing meaning significant savings can be made. There is no need to send out thousands of flyers that will be thrown away unread, or take pages of newspaper space that is irrelevant to many of the readers.

Upcoming Events at Complete One

Expansion into Scotland


It's an exciting time for everyone at Complete One as we continue to set new records week upon week and our business expands. We're ecstatic to officially confirm our expansion into Edinburgh and we will commence trading on June 16^th. Our Telecoms client are really excited as this expansion will bring in around an extra £1.6 million over the next coming 12 months which will take Complete One's value to our client up to £3.5 million over the financial year. It's a particularly exciting time for kirsty Pennal who will be running the project up in Scotland for us. Kirsty completed our Business Development program in only 10 short months. When Kirsty began working with Complete One she had no prior marketing or sales experience and is a perfect example of how a great student mentality and work ethic can compensate for lack of experience. Our expansion into Edinburgh will provide 6 other individuals currently working with our Newcastle office with a tremendous opportunity for development.

It' a huge first step towards our expansion goals for this year.  At the start of the year the aim was to open offices in Edinburgh and Dublin and now we're half way there.


United States Competition 


We are running a competition based on growth and sales for reps to be flown to Philadelphia to attend the US Sales Awards Seminar on June 28^th with a 4 night hotel stay. Having the opportunity to meet with our US counterparts and establish new networking links will be incredibly beneficial for the lucky winners. They will also hear from some of our industries most successful people as there will be guest speakers attending the seminar. It won't all be business as they will get to visit New York on the trip.


Top Gun / Rising Star Weekend


Due the the fantastic response we received to our Winners Circle competition, and the amount of fun had last time at Alton Towers, we have decided to run a Top Gun / Rising Start weekend on May 30^th-31^st. The prize will include 2 nights at the winners cottage as well as 1 day at Alton towers and will also include a business seminar tailored to the 4 winners individuals needs to help them complete the Business Development program even faster than Kirsty did.


Make sure to check back to see who the lucky winners are.

Complete One Investigate Brand Fatigue

When asked by global marketing agency Momentum Worldwide to classify their relationship with brands in terms of interpersonal relationships; family member, friend, acquaintance or enemy, over half (54 per cent) of those in Britain consider brands as only ‘an acquaintance’ from a survey of 6504 people across 12 countries. The survey showed the correlation between countries with long term exposure to brands and consumers experiencing brand fatigue.

“Brand fatigue exists, especially when brands just copy and paste the above-the-line marketing campaign into the social sphere and expect it to resonate,” says Sam Thomson, UK brand and values director at The Body Shop.

This research is great news for Complete One and the other companies like ours. While consumers are becoming increasingly “turned off” by the same continuous above-the-line marketing campaigns this is where below-the-line marketing strategies should be implemented. At Complete One we've adopted a more personalised approach to direct marketing, meeting with customers face to face we are able to gain a tremendous advantage over our competitors. In the current economic climate, brand loyalty is declining as people go in search of cheaper alternatives. At Complete One we are able to offer our clients rapid customer acquisition as well as building their brand loyalty.

In order to engage with consumers it is crucial that companies tailor their marketing creating a more personalised, individual experience. With the research showing that extensive exposure to brand messages is causing fatigue, creating authentic experiences for consumers should help refresh interest.

“This report has highlighted the need for more personalised, tailor-made marketing strategies as many consumers are becoming switched off as companies are failing to engage with their consumer base. I don't think it's a coincidence that direct marketing has become a more popular method for companies to employ.” ~Glen Lowes, Managing Director at Complete One

Complete One's Latest Success Story ~ The Growth Continues

My name is Kirtsy Pennal, I have been working with Complete One for 10 months, in March I completed the companies Business Development Program and now I am in the planning stage to oversee my own project.


I grew up in a small town outside of County Durham called Spennymoor. Throughout my childhood I loved horses and my dream was to go into the equestrian field. I moved to Newcastle in 2007 to study Geography at Newcastle University, Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Honors in July 2010. 


After graduating I decided to chase my dream of earning a living from equestrianism. I established my own company Unique Carriage Services Ltd, providing horse drawn wedding and funeral services across the North East of England. Alongside the carriage company I also produced horses and did some affiliated eventing on my own horses. 


I experienced good success running Unique Carriage Services, however due to the economic downturn when the UK went into recession, I quickly realised people didn't have as much flexible income. I realised that I wasn't going to provide myself with the lifestyle I aspired towards so I began to search for a new career challenge. 


In June 2013 I began working with Complete One, I had zero experience in the marketing and sales field but thanks to the dedicated group of people at Complete One and the incredible training I gained all of the necessary skills and knowledge to grow and develop with the company. After only 8 short months I completed the companies Business Development Program.


Over the next couple of months my goal is to master campaign management to allow me to oversee my own project this Summer. I am very excited about the company goals for the future and aim to be a massive part in the growth of Complete One.

Upcoming Summer At Complete One

It's Easter weekend and only two months until the colleges and universities break up for the Summer. At Complete One Summer has traditionally been our best season for growth. We have many students and graduates who apply to work with us as they look to acquire new skills to bolster their CV as well as have some fun and make some money. On the other hand it is a time when graduates are taking their first steps into the business world as they look to get their foot on the career ladder. So why do so many graduates and students choose to work with Complete One? It's simple really, the skills we enable them to master over such a short period of time, is unrivalled in any other industry.

Our business model allows us to accommodate both types of individuals. In 3 short months, between college/university breaking up for the Summer, we are able to provide individuals key skills for future business success that would usually take years to learn in most other industries. Our business is extremely fast paced and it is for that reason we allow people the opportunity to take on extra responsibility so early on and why we have fast tracked learning.

For recent graduates just starting out, trying to integrate themselves into the business world it can be an extremely daunting prospect. A 2013 government survey found that 47% of graduates were in non graduate roles. At Complete One our Business Development Program is a perfect solution for graduates looking to put the skills they learned studying into practice. As our client portfolio continues to grow the opportunities for development grow simultaneously.

"I always anticipate Summer with great expectations.  It is during that time frame we have found many of our success stories and I am excited to see what talented individuals walk through our doors in Summer 2014" ~ Managing Director Glen Lowes

Unfortunately we have limited places so send your CV to admin@completeone.co.uk  for immediate consideration.  

Complete One Look At The Benefits of Social Media Marketing

Social Media is simply a new marketing platform companies can use to increase their exposure and build an audience. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, just to name a few, generate millions of traffic on a daily basis. The exposure companies can garner, almost in an instant, illustrates the power of social media and the influence it can have has become undeniable.

Complete One examine the benefits of social media marketing;

Brand Recognition - Consumers purchase decisions are often influenced by brand recognition. You only need to take a look at Coca-Cola's advertising budget to see how incredibly important brand recognition is. They are one of the most recognisable brands in the world and yet they still continue to spend an average of $2.5 billion every year on advertising. Social media is an extremely powerful brand-building tool. With social media, you can control how you want to position your company and what you want people to know about what you do. It allows you to build a reputation for your brand around your company’s values, benefits, and advantages.

Customer Service - If you are looking for a way to field customer comments, concerns, and questions, then social media to be extremely beneficial. Customers using one of the common platforms like Facebook or Twitter can easily communicate directly with you, and you can quickly answer them in a public format that lets other customers see your responsiveness.

Influence - As your following increases, your influence grows. Having a substantial social media audience creates a snowball effect that can attract new customers, clients and other business opportunities. It’s a bit like when you see a crowd hovered around something, you can’t help but want to see what all the fuss is about, so a large audience will only attract more interest.

According to the 2013 Social Media Marketing Industry Report conducted by Social Media Examiner; 89% of respondents said that social media marketing has generated more business exposure and 64% saw lead generation increase by using social media 6 hours or less per day.

These statistics illustrate the tremendous influence social media can have and how important it is for companies to incorporate it into their marketing strategy.   

Complete One's 10 Golden Rules For Providing Excellent Customer Service

At Complete One we firmly believe that our success has been built on always putting the customer first! Below are our 10 golden rules for ensuring great customer service.


1/ The old adage, the customer is always right, should always be remembered. Your main objective is to service and satisfy customer needs and strive for customer satisfaction!


2/ Be a good listener. Take time to identify customer needs. Effective listening and undivided attention are particularly important on the show floor where there is a great danger of looking around to see to who else we could be selling to.

3/ Identify and anticipate needs. Customers don't buy products or services. They buy good feelings and solutions to problems. Most customer needs are emotional rather than logical. The more you know your customers, the better you become at anticipating their needs.

4/ Make customers feel important and appreciated by treating them as individuals. Always use their name when talking to them as it personalises their experience. People value sincerity and It creates good feeling and trust which hopefully builds a relationship which will lead to brand loyalty.

5/ Always look for ways to help your customers. When they have a request (as long as it is reasonable) tell them that you can do it and figure out how to later. Try to make doing business with you easy and always do what you say you are going to do.

6/ When something goes wrong, apologise. Customers appreciate it. Deal with problems immediately and let customers know what you have done. Make it simple for customers to complain and value their complaints as it gives us an opportunity to improve our service.


7/ Think of ways to elevate yourself above the competition. It can be a crowded market and by changing small aspects of your business it could lead to greater customer acquisition rates.


8/ Get regular feedback, encourage and welcome suggestions about how you could improve.


9/ Treat the people you work with well, they are your internal customers and need a regular dose of appreciation. Thank them and find ways to let them know how important they are.




10/ The golden rule of customer service is always put the customer first! Ensuring they have a positive experience when dealing with you should be your number one priority.

Complete One on Brand Loyalty & Direct Marketing

Brand loyalty is defined as the tendency of some consumers to continue buying the same brand of goods rather than competing brands.


In the age of the internet, Brand Loyalty is slowly disappearing. Apart from a few exceptions, top brands aren't able to retain their status as market leaders as long as they used to. So what's changed? Before the internet people tended to make purchase decisions based on advertisements and past experiences with a company. However, a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that 80% of consumers now look at online reviews before making major purchases, and a host of studies have logged the strong influence those reviews have on the decisions people make. 


So what can companies do to fix this? Alter their marketing strategy! At Complete One, in our experience consumer confidence and brand loyalty go hand in hand. If a customer feels their buying experience has been positive and the customer care has been to a high standard then it instils greater consumer confidence which is something that will be considered when making future purchases.


A direct marketing campaign allows a company to get their message out to customers on an individual basis, rather than through a mass medium as with more traditional marketing methods. “I firmly believe that our approach of face to face marketing is one of the greatest advantages we have over our competitors. Having the opportunity to speak to someone face to face allows us to build a relationship with our customers. It is a much more personal approach than many other marketing strategies. Being able to greet customers with a smile and a handshake is what instils consumer confidence, which naturally builds brand loyalty. “ Glen Lowes, Managing Director at Complete One.


Many companies are now outsourcing their marketing and sales to companies like Complete One. We put the customer first! By ensuring their experience is a positive one from start to finish we are able to instil consumer confidence which in turn produces higher acquisition rates for our clients while remaining extremely cost effective! The first time a consumer makes a purchase is the prime opportunity to build a relationship and begin to establish brand loyalty. By taking a more direct and personalised approach to marketing, consumer confidence and brand loyalty will simultaneously rise.


Through direct marketing we will continue to strive for customer satisfaction and brand loyalty for our clients.

Complete One ~ From Glasgow to Las Vegas

Now in the last month of the First Financial Quarter of 2014, we thought it was the perfect time to reflect on what we've achieved so far this year. Last month Kirsty Pennal reached Stage 3 of our Business Development Program. We're absolutely thrilled for Kirsty, she has worked incredibly hard over the last 9 months, setting such a great example and we can't wait to see what she's going to accomplish this year.


We attended the first Conference of the year in Glasgow on February 23^rd. The conference was attended by some of our business partners in the UK and leaders in our industry. Our Managing Director was asked to be a guest speaker on the day, for the second consecutive conference, which is recognition of the great work we're doing at Complete One. Another great moment on the day was Kirsty having the opportunity to share her success story with the room as she was recognised for her achievements, as pictured below.

  

Our MD has just returned from a Business Trip in Las Vegas. During his 4 day visit to America's most populated city, he visited some of the most iconic tourist attractions the City has to offer as well as attending meetings with some of our business partners from around the world, gaining insight into other markets and also establishing networking links which will prove invaluable as we begin to expand internationally.

“Although we've not yet finished Q1 we're aahead of schedule for our goals for 2014. I am excited by where we are and where we're going and I predict that Q2 will be even bigger!” ~ Managing Director, Glen Lowes