Making marketing easy for business founders

 

Established in 2015, Coconut is a little company with big brand experience and ideas that I started because it was way more appealing than going for a job interview after leaving one of the world’s household brand names and having baby number two.

As a director of comms, I was responsible for what was said, where, when, why, how and by whom across product and marketing, internally and externally. So, you see, I’m really rather passionate about taking an integrated approach to communicating with your customers and talking their language.

Joining up the dots and not leaving anyone guessing, is quite important if you want them to ‘get’ it.

All up, I’ve worked in marketing and PR since 2003. Travel and hospitality have dominated the landscape with fabulous sojourns into leisure and lifestyle sectors too. In everyday terms, I’ve supported the growth, through marketing, of country house hotels and wedding venues, cafés and restaurants, food festivals, artisan producers, subscription models, tour operators, holiday cottage companies, boating holiday providers, and travel tech firms.

My services include marketing and communication consultancy, PR coaching, social media strategy and content planning, website planning and content creation, email marketing, or any combination thereof.

How do I work? 

I like to work alongside you (and your team(s) if you have them) as an objective sounding board for your business strategy and marketing mission. As I listen to your challenges, and play the odd game of devil’s advocate, I steer you on a course of optimisation and success.

I always come at it from a holistic, bigger picture perspective and as such suggest an integrated approach for maximum impact with measurable outcomes.

Jargon? Not really... That means finding ways to reach and interact with your customers wherever they spend their time, whatever they read (not just promoting your business where you want to, sorry), so they’re more inclined to respond and keener to engage.

My expertise 

I’m Kate Stinchcombe-Gillies. I’ve worked with independent family businesses, start-ups and corporate behemoths, helping each to tell their stories through online and offline channels. I’ve worked in marketing since 2003 and over the years have handled external, internal and digital communications for publishers, restaurants and travel brands, amongst some other segues.

My experience in the travel industry and with one of the world’s largest brands in that space led to me being a regular industry commentator on travel related issues for BBC TV and radio.

With 8 years' hospitality experience under my belt managing restaurants and leading front of house teams, I’m a sucker for fabulous food, great wines and tasty restaurant clients!

My team

When my workload expands, lockdown homeschooling kicks-in or I need a little outside perspective too, I bring in others experts. Joanna is a published author and Malaga destination expert. Her writing experience stretches across travel exploration and property investment to in-destination nous. Lou is a social media manager in her own right and my own social media sounding board. She’s always on hand with the latest social know-how for me and my clients.

Why Coconut?

Why should you hire me?
Don't hire me. Work with me. Marketing, communications, public relations are an integral part of your business and your brand reputation. Please don’t stick any of them, or me, in the out field. The best results come when I act as an extension of your business (without the pension and PAYE hassle).

Why are we called Coconut?
The name Coconut PR was inspired by a coconut shy at a village fete one beautiful English summer's day when my then 3-year-old won one to bring home.

Fact: the word coconut is used to describe the whole and the individual parts of the fruit. All parts of the coconut have a use in everyday life.

So what? I chose Coconut to reflect the versatile and holistic approach I take to your challenge, even if you just want my support on a slice or two to begin with. 

Need to grow your business?

Public relations, marketing and communications are pivotal to business growth.

Is your snazzy new product not selling itself? Has your footfall dropped off? Are your repeat customers down? Are reviews taking a dive? Will the press not write about you?

Think you need marketing support for your business, but unsure?

Book a pow wow to bounce around ideas or formulate firmer plans.

Coconut may be small but that makes us agile and bureaucracy-free.