Douglas Outdoor Living Solutions and Auto & Marine Upholstery was a successful operator with a 25+ year history in the bay, but as you can tell the name was a bit of a tongue-twister. When new owners Pete & Suzanne came on board in 2018, InHouse Marketing was engaged to guide the business through a holistic rethink, starting with a Brand Strategy Workshop by Marise and Jodi.
What resulted was a clarification of their strategy, based around why the business does what it does, taking into account the views and experience of both the new owners and the existing staff. This process not only gave them a clear position on how best to take the business forward, it also brought the team together with renewed purpose.
Following on from this and engaging with local creatives Coast & Co, an evolved name and logo for the business was developed which encompassed their entire offering and spoke to a more aspirational message for their high end target market, rather than the product-focused mode of the past. The evolution to Douglas – Outdoor & Textile Innovation was in play.
InHouse Marketing has since been instrumental in implementing and managing a SMART Marketing Plan for the business, tactics which have included co-ordinating a website revamp with Quest, dreaming up a revamped showroom, and updating their imagery including ongoing product and team shoots by talented local Tony Speakman (who has a skillset in architectural photography and the ability to be called on at the drop of a hat – just what this project-based business needs).
New signage produced and installed by Speedy Signs Hastings has elevated the physical presence of the brand and we’re excited to continue to be involved in the ongoing roll-out of key marketing initiatives that aim to keep this successful business well ahead of its competitors and poised for the future.