Bong is Northern Europe's largest envelope manufacturer. My role at Bong involved working nationally and internationally to boost Bong's professional image, and also involved working closely with key customers on special projects. These included brochure design and copy, telemarketing blitz days, product training, and incentive schemes. I also handled all tender responses and coordinated our presence at exhibitions, including designing, building and staffing the stand. As a manufacturer of a low-margin product, our marketing budget was small, which taught me to be resourceful, think creatively and laterally, and get the most from our money.

National Envelopes was a small envelope overprinter and wholesaler, affiliated to a sister mailing company. We specialised in fast turnaround work, primarily for the direct mail industry. My role was to help to develop new business, which I did by initiating a highly successful direct mail programme, supported by telemarketing. Prior to my business development role, I worked for the same company as an account handler, building relationships with existing customers and suppliers, trading, wheeling and dealing to ensure that the customers got good service and that we made good profits.

A field based sales role, selling print and stationery to a customer base of small and medium sized businesses in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. My role combined the development of existing business with customer relationship management and the generation of new business. In a competitive marketplace, it was essential to think laterally and offer the customer a tailored service.

A very diverse role for a small printing business, specialising in short runs and fast turnaround. My role combined sales and business development with production planning, administration, buying, credit control, print finishing and deliveries. The role gave me a good understanding of print and paper, and an excellent grounding in the day to day running of a small business.

In addition to my more recent experience within the print industry, I have also worked on long term contracts for:
Anglian Water - working in the water metering bureau, dealing with members of the public, answering queries and deploying a team of service personnel to fit meters and deal with problems
Coca Cola - two long-term telesales projects; one to promote the Coca Cola vending machine service, and gain new vending machine business, and one merchandising project, signing up small retailers to a scheme promoting a new FMCG product, in conjunction with a new ride at Alton Towers, via in-store merchandising material.