My marketing thoughts, my marketing projects and anything in between. Since that £150 logo project to now, my journey in marketing, always learning. 20 years and counting in marketing working with small, medium and large businesses. Get in touch today - info@nutsaboutmarketing.com

A recent story about the amount Ceredigion County Council is taking from parking charges on Aberystwyth promenade sparked the sort of reaction you would probably expect. People argued that charging for parking would push tourists away, reduce footfall and ultimately cost local businesses money. Maybe it does. But I am not convinced we should simply accept that as fact without asking a few more questions. I live locally, I shop in Aberystwyth and I know the town well. I also u

When I first started Red Squirrel Marketing, I needed to do what every new business needs to do: meet people, build trust and somehow convince local businesses that I could actually help them. Rather than spend weeks talking about myself online or sending cold emails, I decided to try something much simpler. I booked a table in a coffee shop in Aberystwyth and offered local businesses a free one-hour marketing drop-in session. There was no complicated funnel, no sales present

2025 has probably been one of the most important years of my marketing career. This year stands out not merely due to a newfound discovery of marketing principles or practices. At the Aber Football 7s event I helped bring back to Aber In fact, I've been immersed in the world of marketing for a considerable amount of time, honing my skills and understanding the nuances of the industry. However, what makes this year particularly significant is the shift in how I perceive and ap

Football stadiums are unusual business assets because huge parts of them can be extremely valuable for a few hours and almost redundant for the rest of the week. a 3D render of what could have been at ATFC That always fascinated me at Aberystwyth Town. Park Avenue obviously existed primarily as a football ground, but once you start thinking commercially, the fact that something was built for one purpose does not mean it can only ever serve that purpose. One particular idea I

Some of my favourite business ideas are the ones that never actually happened. During my time at Aberystwyth Town, one of the projects I began exploring was the idea of developing a larger business conference as an extension of the Black & Green Business Club. We had already started thinking differently about the relationship between the football club and local companies, and a conference felt like a logical next step. The traditional commercial relationship between a footbal

I've spent years moving rapidly from one marketing project to another. This fast-paced environment has often left little room for reflection or in-depth analysis of the outcomes of my efforts. Each project seemed to demand immediate attention, requiring me to finish the website, launch the campaign, send the email, design the next thing, fix the problem, and then move on to the next task without taking a moment to pause and consider the overall impact of my work. However, Nov

One of the things I became increasingly interested in during my year at Aberystwyth Town was how many different things could happen at Park Avenue that had very little to do with eleven players trying to put a football into a goal. We hosted business networking. The ground became connected with running events. We explored wider commercial ideas, workspace concepts and ways of bringing new people into the stadium. The more projects I worked on, the less I saw Park Avenue simpl

Most portfolios are naturally full of finished work. We show the website that launched, the campaign that performed well, the event that sold tickets and the product that generated PR because completed projects provide visible evidence of what somebody can deliver. What those portfolios rarely show, however, is the large amount of thinking that happens around ideas that never reach the market. For every project that launches, there are usually several others that stop somewhe

October brings a significant chapter of my marketing career to a close. As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, I find myself reflecting on the past year and the experiences that have shaped my professional journey. This month marks the end of my 12-month role with Aberystwyth Town Football Club, a position that has been both challenging and rewarding. Looking back, it's difficult to choose one project that defines the year, as each experience has contributed t

September has made me reflect on just how much my approach to marketing has changed. This month, with its crisp air and shifting leaves, often brings a sense of introspection, and for me, it has prompted a deeper examination of my marketing strategies and methodologies. I can see a clear evolution in my thought process, one that has been shaped by experiences, challenges, and successes over the past year. The changes I’ve undergone are not just superficial; they signify a fun

When I arrived at Aberystewyth Town Football Club in October 2024, ATFC’s digital presence was due for a major upgrade. We needed a...

A strong brand identity is crucial for any club that wants to stand out. At Aberystwyth Town, I spearheaded a comprehensive branding overhaul. This began with creating the club’s first-ever brand guidelines, a unified set of standards for logos, colours, fonts, and tone of voice. With a consistent brand in place across digital, print, and matchday materials, ATFC started to present a professional and cohesive image to fans and partners alike. One of the most visible expressio

In the digital era, a football club’s voice is amplified through social media and content, and for ATFC, we needed to make that voice louder and more engaging. I led a revamp of the club’s social media strategy and content creation. We started telling the club’s story in more dynamic ways: behind-the-scenes videos, player interviews, eye-catching graphics, and bilingual content (English and Welsh) to include all of our community. We also launched creative fan-centric campaign

Great work gets noticed. The innovative initiatives and improvements at Aberystwyth Town FC didn’t just win over fans and sponsors, they also earned public recognition and media coverage. Our efforts culminated in the club becoming a finalist for two categories in the 2025 Menter Aberystwyth Business Awards. Competing for the Aberystwyth Ambassador Award and Welsh Language Champion Award highlighted how far the club’s community impact and inclusivity had come. It was an honou

What a month. The Matchday Teammates idea officially launched for the opening home campaign in early August, connecting digital match tickets with offers from participating businesses around Aberystwyth. This initiative was designed to enhance the overall matchday experience by creating a vibrant atmosphere that extends beyond the confines of the football ground. By integrating local businesses into the matchday experience, we aimed to foster a sense of community and exciteme

For football fans, the magic of the club is most alive on matchday. We dedicated significant effort to enhancing the matchday experience at Park Avenue to make every home game at ATFC special. This meant looking at all the little details that matter to supporters. We overhauled the matchday programme, turning The Seasider into a visually stunning, content-rich booklet that fans now eagerly collect each game (it even won awards, as mentioned). We also launched new initiatives

I came across a local event recently that attracted more than 500 people. Entry was free, the event appeared to be well attended and, by any reasonable standard, persuading hundreds of people to give up part of their day and visit something locally is already an achievement. It also got me thinking about what happens after everyone goes home. This is not an argument that every community event needs to be aggressively commercialised. Some of the best local events work precisel

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved football, watching it, playing it, and since mid 2024 I was part of it with my work as Commercial Manger at Aberystwyth Town Football Club. Below is a case study on my work with the club and a pinch me moment when I was tasked with designing the entire new kit range, marketing the kit and launching it to fans. Enjoy the read. A Design Rooted in Local Identity In 2025, Aberystwyth Town Football Club (ATFC) embarked on a bold redesign of its

One of the projects I've been developing this month started with a simple yet profound question: How can attending an Aberystwyth Town match benefit the wider town too? This inquiry led to the creation of an innovative initiative called Matchday Teammates. The concept is straightforward yet impactful: it allows local businesses to offer benefits or discounts to supporters who purchase digital match tickets. This arrangement creates a win-win situation for everyone involved. F

June has probably been one of my favourite months of the year so far because several ideas I've been working on have moved from documents and conversations into the real world. On 25 June, Park Avenue hosted the first Black & Green Business Club meeting. Later that same day, it became the start and finish line for the first AbeRAStwyth 5K Summer Series event. Further races are scheduled for July and August. In the realm of sports and entertainment, it's fascinating to observe