Matthews Marketing

Established in 2002 as a full-service communications agency, Matthews Marketing quickly developed a sound reputation within the arts and tourism sectors. Its strength is in creating and delivering integrated campaign strategies with measurable results. In addition, a number of high profile jobs over the past three years have very much drawn on its management, PR, and social media expertise.

Set up nine years ago by Carol Matthews FCIPR, the business became a limited company in 2004. After 20 years of working within large organisations with sizable resource, Carol decided to keep the new agency small, lean and very personal. In the current economic climate this scale is proving distinctly advantageous.

For the past two years, the company has focused on very clear objectives:

• To maintain its balance of 50% public sector/50% private sector business;
• To retain its core of repeat business clients;
• To develop new clients within the heritage and culture industry and expand its interest across other sectors
• To ensure there are always ‘desirable’ projects within the mix even if these offer lower profit margins because we believe it’s essential to enjoy work and appreciate the fun of a few high profile projects offering great marketing opportunities.

The MM portfolio includes work for high profile brands such as Tesco and Whyte & Mackay, and projects such as The Special Olympics; the Merchant City Festival and the Big in Falkirk weekend event marketing for 100,000 people.

In 2006, MM was commissioned to manage the PR for the re-opening of Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and simultaneously conducted a successful one-year marketing and PR campaign for the Glasgow Mackintosh Festival.

Over the past year MM has developed and delivered a re-branding strategy for the YMCA Glasgow, run promotions for more responsible drinking by young people for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, developed the brand ‘Red Tree Business Suites’ for Clyde Gateway in Rutherglen and Bridgeton and set up a PR and marketing strategy for the National Trust for Scotland’s Robert Burns Birthplace Museum to kick off in 2012.

MM has also won the following accolades:

WINNER: CIPR Integrated Communications 2010
WINNER: CIPR Best Use of Social Media 2009
WINNER: Scottish Thistle Award 2007 - Marketing Initiative for Glasgow Mackintosh
RAR Recommended Agency 2008 & 2009
FINALIST: CIPR PRide Awards 2008 – Outstanding Small Consultancy
FINALIST: CIPR Scotland PRide Awards 2008 - Integrated Communications and Best Publication
FINALIST: Marketing Society: Marketing Excellence Awards – Scotland 2006 & 2007
FINALIST: CIPR PRide Awards Scotland 2007
WINNER: UK Museums and Heritage Awards for Excellence