We strive to deliver the very best in creativity along with saving time and money for our customers. Over the years we have consistently delivered this with a client retention rate of over 95%.

However, like any good business, we also strive to better ourselves and add value to the services we offer. Over the last 18 months Definitive has worked ‘hand in glove’ with Marketing Executives all over the world and has become ‘brand guardian’ for several large overseas organisations. By maximising return on investment for our customers and maintaining consistency for many international brands, we have become an invaluable asset to our customers.

With this in mind, we have invested heavily in enhancing our service by launching our ‘Visual Approval’ system. This will enable: massive savings in time and money; instant access for our clients to view and proof their artwork; attaching of files; communication with our account managers and creative designers directly from anywhere in the world.

The initial benefits such a system can bring to a business are obvious to anyone in industry, however there is far more to ‘Definitive VA’ than managing documents and communicating with staff.

‘Definitive VA’ greatly assists Marketing executives and Marketing departments to control their projects with pinpoint accuracy. It delivers a complete job audit at the touch of a button, invites a new member to a project anywhere in the world to oversee the direction of a brief and financially manages client spend by monitoring time allocated to a job.

We see this as a major leap forward in the service offering of our company and our current clients are already seeing the benefits of the system first hand.

If you are serious about protecting your brand, interested in maximising marketing spend and creating more time for developing brand strategy, then we would love to hear from you by calling 0113 2242211 or email: info@definitive-creative.co.uk

10 years in business I have had to learn new systems, technologies, and strategies in an ever changing industry and I have learnt how to steer my business in the right direction not only to survive but also to prosper. I have learnt to make decisions quickly and effectively, right or wrong, and developed the ability to change my style and have the opportunity to help and change others, this I think is a business skill all entrepreneur’s refine.

Interestingly I do not describe myself as an entrepreneur, as this is a word that academics or business people use to describe others, I have not heard any of the other business owners on the GSBGP describe themselves as an entrepreneur. Just typing the word makes me a little uneasy, and in the back of my mind I associate for some perverse reason the word “entrepreneur” with a person who talks a good game or is setting them selves up for a fall.

With its only claim to fame being the classic Brit Flick “Rita Sue & Bob Too” the though Bradford estate where I grew up must have given me the mental ability to think ahead and adapt to problems and scenarios which being dyslexic means academically I never achieved in my youth. Interestingly I am not the only participant on the Goldman Sachs Business Growth Program who attended this very though Comprehensive School, where at the time it was seen that “I did not want to learn” rather than “I was unable to learn”.

Even now writing this I have spell checked and goggled words to help me communicate my thoughts – and I will have missed a tone! ….. for the word smith out there I apologies.

The opportunity to participate in the GSBGP came at exactly the right time for my business and me. This for me was the perfect opportunity and I was elated to be chosen to represent my business in such a high profile pilot. The business knowledge from the academics and business guest’s speakers is exactly what is needed at this time, when the business landscape is changing both politically and economically. The classroom-learning environment is a new experience for me and I am happy to grasp it with both hands.

All the areas covered in the program and the topics discussed have all been absolutely relevant at some level, all the modules have helped reassure or focus areas in my business that need some attention, the business guests have given me great insight into how larger businesses operate and the complexity of businesses as a whole, where the wrong decision can be detrimental and the right decision can mean security and reward, what is constant is that standing still in not an option.

The striking thing about the program for me is how rich the quality of my fellow participants and the diverse and varied business models with the varying business ethics that are adopted by each business leader. This I feel has given me fantastic outlook and my own business and is forcing me to think differently about how I am going to take my business forward over the next 10 years. The green issues and social enterprises way of thinking is a new wave of thought other than profit, profit, profit.

I know being ‘the’ business leader can be a very lonely place, where the weight of responsibility and pressure from customers, employees, suppliers and even fellow directors can sometimes make you question why you started your own business in the first place. The opportunity to openly discuss ideas and values to the group and debate business problems, fears and styles without being pre judged or accused of a hidden agenda is an opportunity no business owner can or should pass up. The GSBGP has given me this platform to learn form others with the academic backing of the “Said Business School at Oxford” and “Leeds University Business School” as a given.

The relationships being built and the shared experience (I hope) will continue and stay with the group long after the program has finished, I have already taken the time to visit other members on the course and learn first hand more about their business and I will be looking to build on these relationships long after the program has finished.

Though decisions in my business have been made with regards to growth and I have learned that pushing on in one direction is not always the way, by evaluating and planning today we are taking difficult decisions with a view of “growing” forward.

The GSBG program will help me make the correct decisions I am absolutely sure.

What is even more amazing is the only cost for the Goldman Sachs Business Program is my time.

The full story has been initially covered by the Yorkshire Evening Post below:

Business education programme launched for entrepreneurs
By Greg Wright Deputy Business Editor

BUSINESS and political leaders have given their backing to a pioneering project to encourage entrepreneurship, which has been launched in Yorkshire by investment bank Goldman Sachs.

Goldman Sachs is funding a pilot business education programme for 25 entrepreneurs from across the region.

Goldman Sachs selected Yorkshire and the Humber for its first philanthropic venture outside the South East because of its strong history of entrepreneurial success.

Speaking after a dinner at the Shine social enterprise centre in Harehills, Leeds, to launch the project, Tom Riordan, the chief executive of Leeds City Council, hailed it as a “great initiative for small businesses and social enterprises to be involved in”.

He added: “After meeting with Goldman Sachs I was convinced this was something we should support and I am sure that the expert advice, tuition and support that will be available to the entrepreneurs will help them and the wider small business community go from strength to strength in the city.”

Under the programme, the entrepreneurs will go on a four-month business and management course which will have an emphasis on real-life practical experience.

The course will be delivered by experts from Leeds University Business School and Saïd Business School at Oxford University, who helped to devise the programme.

Most of the courses will take place at Shine, the social enterprise centre founded by American entrepreneur Todd Hannula. Social enterprise Leeds Ahead helped the bank with introductions, marketing and processing applications.

The chosen entrepreneurs are aged from their mid-20s to early-50s and represent a range of sectors including retail and manufacturing. Around half are from Leeds, while others are from Selby, Bradford and Doncaster.

Michelle Pinggera, Goldman Sachs chief of staff for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said yesterday: “We were overwhelmed by the positive reaction from the local community and the incredible support we have received throughout from our partners. The calibre and mix of the 25 entrepreneurs on the programme gives us confidence that this pilot will be a success and have meaningful impact in the region.”

Dina Powell, the global head of Goldman Sachs’s office of corporate engagement and president of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, added: “Goldman Sachs has been fortunate to work with nearly 100 of the top academic and non-profit partners around the world to promote small business growth through our 10,000 Women and 10,000 Small Business programmes.

“Our partners here in Yorkshire, including Leeds Ahead, Oxford Said Business School and Leeds University Business School are truly world class.”

Elizabeth Paris, associate fellow, of the Said Business School, at the University of Oxford, said she was delighted to be collaborating on the design and delivery of the programme.

She added: “Insightful and focused support for companies at the mid-growth stage is critical, and a key feature in this programme is how it will be individually tailored to target the needs of each entrepreneur.”

Mr Hannula, the chief executive of Camberwell, said: “It was an incredible signal of confidence in The Shine Centre that Goldman Sachs decided not only to launch their pilot at a dinner hosted here, but also that they have committed to about 80 per cent of the classes for this first cohort being held here.”

Community teamwork pays dividends

As part of its work to gain a greater understanding of social enterprises, Goldman Sachs has worked with a London-based organisation called City Gateway.

Goldman Sachs has been a “community teamworks” partner of City Gateway, which provides training and events for young people and women in the borough of Tower Hamlets, for five years.

A Goldman Sachs spokesman said: “We have run our community teamworks programme in the UK for the past 14 years.”

Goldman Sachs hopes the success of the pilot in Yorkshire could lead to similar schemes nationwide. Lord Graham Kirkham, one of Yorkshire’s most successful entrepreneurs, has described Goldman Sachs’ support as heaven sent. Norman Pickavance, the group human resources director for Bradford-based supermarket chain Morrisons, said: “We think Goldman Sachs has taken a very smart approach to launching and planning their programme in Leeds.”

He highlighted how Goldman Sachs had engaged Create, a Leeds-based social enterprise which gives homeless people the chance to find work, to host a dinner in Leeds for its partners. Morrisons is hiring up to 10 per cent of the staff for its new store in Harehills, Leeds, from Create’s pre-employment academy.

I am not saying for one moment I ever enjoyed setting out on a damp winter’s morning, to ‘cold call’ the business parks and high streets, in order to build my start-up business all those years ago.

However win or lose or draw, I am sure all those business owners I called upon, had some admiration that I had the balls to get off my arse and ask for the business in person, at the most awkward of places, and without prior lead or appointment.

This said there has been an surge of networking opportunities over the past 10 years, from local business owners swapping business contacts over a strong coffee and a bacon barm, at silly o’clock in the morning, to the last chance throw of the dice entrepreneur, pitching to a room full of their more successful peers, with a vain hope they can help pull them back from the brink and catapult them to easy street, with instant capital from their very own business angel.

Over the years I have indulged in a variety of these networking opportunities with various degrees of success. Personally I enjoyed the pressure I was put under by some of the more accountable networking groups, who demanded commitment and participation. This sat well with my competitive nature and was a welcome pressure, that being a business owner only ever came from the bank manager or the taxman.

What did not quite sit with me was the inability for the system to bend for less proactive and weaker personalities, who did have a lot to give in their own way and absolutely got the concept, but found it difficult to conform to the relentless pressure, which sometimes felt like bullying on a corporate scale, and this was driven by those at the top. I do feel ultimately as more choice and more networking groups emerge, this will spell the end of this style of networking or at least stump its growth. I must say however, that this type of networking done to the letter, with its proven systems, does deliver results, and should never be criticised unless you have tried it. Some of the best business I have ever conducted has been as a result of following these rigid networking rules.

A new chapter of networking is now emerging, with a whole array of different scenarios to indulge those serial networkers, who seem to be at every seminar, webinar, business brunch, lunch and pass me a hunch. Granted, networking will and does offer a soft sell, for every person in the room. I have put myself through this mill on more than one occasion. However the bigger picture is the relationships that are being built along the way (directly and indirectly). The constant push of your products or service, will eventually prove you have staying power and the personal skills, which will then offer up fruit and make your networking a success. The saying literally is “you have to be in it to win it”.

Moving on, the newest network spin-off is the emergence of what I call ’super groups’, where the fees are a lot higher, and the selection process usually aimed at CEOs, MDs and Business Owners. This is yet another chapter in the networking merry-go-round, which again I am sure offers up its very own striking results. At best these new super groups are dressed up as business advice panels, or ‘think tank’ groups, playing to the importance of the individual, when in reality, each is looking over the table thinking about building a business relationship with their fellow director in order to gain their business.

The added kudos of supporting ideas and expertise, is nothing new, it’s just served up in a different formula, designed to assist the participant in the business world. I can say this does offer up a new perspective for your business, in getting the right results and in my experience has been well worth it. How long this will last, will depend on the calibre of personnel selected to participate.

Back to the original question, “Is networking the new cold calling?” my answer is probably yes, but never neglect the opportunity to knock on that door, or pick up the phone, and do it the traditional way! This is character-building and inspirational, and shows that your desire to do things the hard way is sending out a statement, which may just gain you the big breaker you are looking for, or at least show your client the desire you have to get their business.

I honestly cannot remember the last time someone knocked on my door and said “sorry to bother you. I am from … can I please just have 2 minutes of your time ….”

Gareth.

Being in the creative design industry, we have always strived to be different both internally and externally, this is reflected in our work and our ethics. ‘Whatever’, we hear you say and that’s just the point, what can a business do these days apart from learn from the competition, find innovative ways of promoting the business and collectively strive to provide the best creative service we can, at the most competitive price? Any business owner would be a fool to think that their well oiled machine never needed servicing by an expert. After all if you drive your car hard for years and don’t do so much as open the bonnet , it won’t take long for it to come to a grinding halt or even worse, end up in a ditch upside down.

Definitive has been established in Leeds for over six years and in that period we have gone through several changes, however, fundamentally the business-model remained the same and, dare I say, even become a little rusty.

When we were approached by Virgin 1 to take part in a daring ‘social television experiment’ dressed up as ‘The Naked Office’, we were informed that the point of the show was to help businesses be more effective by baring all emotionally, intellectually and ultimately physically.

Being the business owner, James Russell has never been one to let an opportunity pass him by and once he’d sold the benefits to his business partners, Gareth McDonnell and Paul Birkinshaw, and persuaded the staff by explaining how this project could help, it was all systems go.

‘You never know what the tide is going to bring in’ says James, ‘I know many businesses would have passed on this once in a lifetime opportunity, but the benefits to be gained from such an experience both personally and professionally were too good an opportunity to let slip through our fingers’.

With every penny counting in a small business, we had the opportunity of working with coaching expert Seven Suphi whose portfolio boasts numerous international blue chip companies, together with receiving personal one to one tuition and of course the experience of riding on the back of the media monster brand that is Richard Branson’s Virgin 1. It is so important to see past the nakedness and take the experience for what it stands for – building confidence, team bonding and encouraging authenticity, all of these qualities being essential in a business striving to rise above the competition.

Definitive’s experience of the ‘Naked Office’ was an emotional discovery for all involved and every member of staff has nothing but positive memories and skills that they can draw on. All in all, now with clear leadership from James and Gareth, every person in the business has a good understanding of their responsibilities and the company’s direction. This makes the staff feel like valued key players – even if Fridays are now a little more ‘Dress Down’ than others!

(Watch the full episode on Virgin 1, 25th May, 9pm, 2010)

We have been compelled to comment on the recent 2010 Turner Prize shortlist, in particular Angela de la Cruz. It seems to us that with every year that passes an ‘Artist’ manages to take absurdity to a whole new level.

In fact we are a little unsure if we should even be bringing attention to such levels of obscurity as this is surely brining us to the same levels of critics and admirers alike.

Recently written about Cruz’s ‘Self’ (two canvases staring at each other) a ‘gag’ supposedly about paintings being objects and images and paintings being ‘Beings’. This piece has been described as ‘The dumb staring at the dumb’. We can’t help feeling the whole statement not only describes the artist and exhibit but also the reviewers who waste their breath and words in the vain attempt to breath some kind of significance into what the majority of the sane population believe this genre of contemporary art widely known as ‘Installation Art’ to be a complete joke.

Granted some early pieces have a little more substance and are responsible for establishing the movement. People such as Marcel Duchamp (his use of things already made) and Kurt Schwitters both who’s real roots were in early conceptual art back in the 60’s, kind of bring a little more purpose to the absurdity. But recently we have found the ‘excuses’ being banded around for the mere existence of such art (for want of a better word) by the creators are insulting in our opinion.

To instil ‘Feeling’ in ones soul for such creations certainly does that, and we guess it’s pretty obvious to the reader what those feelings are.

If genuine ‘Feeling’ is what one craves, try creating a life and watching it grow – art in its purest form.

Having visited New York before, when I was younger,  it was all about the shops, sites and food! Im not going to lie, those things were top of my list this time also and I definitely got my fair share of pizza slices and cocktails….but this time it was slightly different.

Being in the Big Apple, famous for its design flair and innovation, it was almost impossible not to soak it all up and take home some inspiration instead of the usual tacky souveneir. Some may think you have to visit galleries and art exhibitions to see some good design, but when your in NY all you have to do is simply walk the streets.

With a keen interest in advertising I made my first stop at Times square, the hub for the most influential brands of present. Times Square principally defined by its spectaculers, animated and digital advertisments boast vivid colour and definitely has that ‘wow’ factor. Stood in the middle of all those flashing lights, each one fighting for your attention, you cant help but think ‘jeese, how big must their electric bill be’ but then a moment later the idea of having one of your own designs up there enters your mind – what an achievement that would be. Each designer loves to see a finished piece of work, but imagine it strung up high in the middle of New York for hundreds and thousands of people to see, you’ll be praying that there isn’t a typo!

As much as I loved Times Square I couldn’t stay there all day, there was lots to see! Me and my friends then headed for the Rockefeller Centre to cast our sights over the top of Manhattan. Once we reached the 56th floor not only did we find amazing panoramic views of the city but an interactive art installation. A room full of multi-coloured lights which would follow you where ever you went. We stayed in there for ages forming different patterns, which we then turned into raving dance moves, but the guard didn’t seem to mind as he happily took our picture. Thats what I loved about being there, there is always some kind of creativity waiting to catch you out when you least expect it, design is everywhere, even at the highest point of the city.

Another design aspect which caught us out in a completely different way to that of the Rockefeller installation was sculptures of men standing on roof ledges of the highest buildings. We saw the first one on the edge of the Empire State Building and what came first was shock as we gazed at a figure of what we believed to be a human. We later learned that it was in fact one of Anthony Gormley’s sculptures (better know for the angel of the north) and was relieved and pleased we hadn’t phoned 911!

From the Empire State, showing off all its art deco and grand features we travelled to Brooklyn which prefers to favour graffiti and graphical posters, a more grunge like feel to that of the crisp lines of the Manhattan skyscrapers. It may be only a short journey over the bridge but this showcases the wide variety of design you can find on the streets of New york. Even when travelling the city its hard not to point out design even on the subway. Each subway sign was designed by Bob Noorda who believed “Don’t bore the public with mysterious design” We also have him to blame, or rather credit with making Helvetica one of the most widely used type faces on earth. I definitely found his designs both useful and easy to follow during my travels around New York.

I would tell you about all of the creative designs I fell upon in New York, even down to the little Grand Central Station logo on my cupcake, but that would mean I would go on for far too long. You really have to experience it for yourself and if you are yourself a designer, advertiser or are just interested in all things creative its definitely one trip which is worth doing! I do wish my time had of been longer, but I do feel I left with lots of inspiration, and not only that, probably the most significant and iconic design to come out of the big apple, an ‘I heart NY’ t-shirt.

This year, tell the world: Why do you value design?

Building on strategic priorities of global advocacy, unity and engagement, Icograda is inviting a global exchange on design’s value. On 27 April 2010, using the power of social media, individuals worldwide can complete the sentence: “I value design because…”

Ways to participate:

1. Use 140 characters on twitter.com with the hash tag #wgd2010
2. Post images on flickr.com that represent design’s value and add them to the group World Graphics Day
3. Post video on youtube.com with the tag ‘World Graphics Day’
4. Tell all your Friends. Change your status on facebook.com

Celebrate World Graphics Day 2010 in Vancouver

This year, the occasion coincides with the conference opening of Design Currency: Icograda Design Week in Vancouver, hosted by the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC).

About World Graphics Day

World Graphics Day is an opportunity to recognise communication design, its role in the world and celebrate Icograda’s birthday. On this occasion, designers reflect and hope that their global network can contribute to greater understanding between people and can help to build bridges where divides and inequities exist.

So, is this the beginning of something beautiful? A relationship of words and phrases with me, myself and I and cyberspace? I’ve never found blogs of any use or interest, that’s probably because I’ve never taken the time to adapt my mind from the norm of day to day habits. However it has quickly become apparent to me that blogs have become a platform that can really be a place for one to be heard, or at least listened to briefly by someone who is actually interested in what you have to say!

If I was to stand in the middle of Leeds city centre and start voicing my opinions of the creative industry to every passer by, I’m pretty sure I’d get less (or more) than a few coppers thrown at me! No one would listen to the profanities and expletives and those that did would assume I was some member of a new religious movement that wore tank tops, large collar shirts, 70’s style trousers and paid particular care to the appearance of ones hair and matched the darkness of ones stubble to a pantone reference!

However a blog is a place that comes with no prejudgement, but a place for the modern preacher and I for one am slowly becoming a convert. I can read a blog and decide within an instant if I believe! Not all people are great at public speaking but given a pen (or a keyboard!) some become poets and some great philosophers without even knowing it!

So, I’m looking forward to discussing (not forcing!) our experiences within industry, the everyday or just life in general, lets hope it’s interesting at least, and I’ll be asking for donations to support the almighty once my sermon is addressed!