It has also now been six months since we relaunched Portfolio North as a bi-monthly publication and its own business – and what a half-year it has been.
I am incredibly grateful for all the support we’ve had from the many businesses and organisations which have partnered with us and chosen to be featured.
It’s the little wins along the way that have made the hard work worth it. I recently found out from some graduates that the magazine had been used during their studies to teach them about magazine production and journalism. It was during the modules I took at University ten years ago and I could never have imagined that one day the lecturers would be teaching with my publication.
In this edition alone we have worked with eight new businesses on exclusive features – welcoming BDN as a partner and new contributors in Bernard Interiors, West Barn Co., MMC Research and Marketing, new-home developers in Forest Close and Whitley Bay, NWR Hygiene, Mane Taylor and Peace and Loaf. These features join our loyal clients from Berry’s Jewellers and its Patek Phillipe feature, West Nautical, Mincoffs Solicitors, Sunderland City Council, Smart Outdoor, Consult North, Karpet Mills and more.
Our new business interview feature launches with the amazing Kimberley Cattin who created Westbarn Co. – a Durham based company which has become a global sensation. I recently met Kim and her sister Kirsty at their amazing offices and her passion, ambition and general vibrancy was just infectious. I am over the moon to be launching this feature with a focus on Kim and her business, with a big thank you to our new contributing writer Claire Pickersgill for coordinating and writing this fantastic piece.
Portfolio North has always been about supporting local businesses and creating a platform to shout about the achievements of the many inspiring organisations which operate in our region. We created our self-upload news platform to streamline the process, making sure more businesses can share their news and be published quicker. It’s been incredibly popular so far and I look forward to seeing the new stories every day.
As well as welcoming many new clients to the Portfolio North network of businesses, I have also been taking a close look at what our future may look like. We’ve had an established print readership for a few years now and our online presence grows consistently, we recently reached a million people in one month online, and it is important for me to maintain this momentum and grow our presence for our partners.
This is why we are working with specialist market research company MMC Research and Marketing to find out what you all really think and most importantly what you would like us to do next. I am very excited to analyse these results and to see how our readers, partners and local businesses would like to move forward. As I’ve mentioned in the article I wrote for MMC, knowledge is power and I have always understood the importance of giving our readers and stakeholders what they want.
We’re also looking to team up with local, independent businesses to promote them including local bars and restaurants and those who create local produce. We purchase and send out small samples and gifts to our clients and are looking for opportunities to grow this side of the business – so local business people who operate in this space please get in touch as we would love to support you!
Recruitment is also on the agenda – growing a team as demand grows for our services. I hope to find some really passionate and creative people who will do a fantastic job for Portfolio North and our clients.
It has also been important for me to update our sustainability and environmental policies. We have always encouraged our print readers to recycle the magazines and have used printers who use 100% renewable energy, waste segregation policies, and solutions to lower chemical use. All paper used is sourced from Europe, mainly Scandinavia, from responsibly managed forests. We have now signed up to an initiative which arranges for trees to be planted to offset the carbon element and to contribute towards replacing the paper which we have used.
The last couple of months have been hectic but I feel as though we’re certainly making significant moves onward and upward. I am very excited for the future of Portfolio North.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy the rest of the magazine.
Cassie Moyse Director Portfolio North
