In Case You Missed It. Stories from The Wall
Summer is here, but that hasn't stopped many of you posting some exciting, interesting and commercially viable initiatives on "The Wall". So good, not to be missed, we thought we'd bring them together into one big read for you to absorb, reflect upon on and enjoy.
In this article Ellie Deakin, Digital Marketing Director for North Amercia writes about an artist collabaration launch to test the commercial and marketing viablity of "artist sets". Guy-Peeke Vout, Field Sales Manager in the UK (who happens to be a frequent poster on The Wall) highlights the significant part we are playing in the bookshop retail space with customers Waterstones/Foyles and Blackwells.
And, last but not least, we see our social impact authentically playing its part with stunning visuals, thanks to Dominik Nocon, our Sales Rep. in Poland. This is a fine example, that demonstrates our connectivity within the artist community, while leveraging our commercial impact against a strong visual brand identity.
Read and enjoy.
Wall Post from Ellie Deakin
Hello, I’m excited to share an update on the recent launch of the Jane Hunt Set in NA. We collaborated with artist Jane Hunt to launch an exclusive set of her favorite AWMOC colors. The objective was to test the viability of Artist Sets from both marketing and commercial perspectives: increase brand reach, loyalty, and signal mutual trust between brand and artists, but also offer a unique, exclusive and valuable product offering on brand.com.
Jane was a perfect first partner to collaborate with – not only as the 12th most awarded oil painter in the US, but as a long-time Winsor & Newton fan with deep emotional connections to the brand. Her daughter’s Cerebral Palsy was one factor in switching to solvent-free oil paints – in her words, she’d tried every brand, and Artisan was and will continue to be her favorite.
Jane was extremely honored and proud of this set, and teared up when we presented her with it in person, making this a special project to work on. It feels great to see our products make artists so happy, furthering our commitment to building an emotional engagement with our brands in the NA community. Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen, and for your patience with me learning the EPD process for the first time…! I look forward to doing more NA exclusives like this. Next up we’ll be launching the Hannah Webb set on Liquitex.com!
Link to set: http://www.winsornewton.com/na
Link to IG post: http://www.instagram.com/reel
Wall Post from Guy-Peeke Vout
I am pleased to share some exciting news about the expansion of Art departments across the Waterstones/Foyles and Blackwells bookshop estates, where, as a key supplier, we have had the opportunity to play a significant role.
Earlier this year, we successfully updated the Blackwell’s Newcastle Art Shop concession, and the response from their customers has been very positive.
In July, we achieved another milestone by supplying and assisting in the creation of newly built-from-scratch art departments at Foyles, Charing Cross Road, and Waterstones, Gower Street. These upgraded locations now offer six bays of Winsor & Newton products, including Watercolour, Oil, and Acrylic art supplies, as well as the full range of Promarkers and key sets.
Furthermore, Waterstones’ Greenwich store will soon be opening, featuring an edited collection of art materials. To make art supplies more accessible, we are partnering with Waterstones to offer key sets in 60 additional stores. Additionally, we are collaborating with them to enhance the in-store experience, supporting it through their Waterstones e-commerce platform.
Looking ahead, there are plans to continue our collaboration and support in expanding the Art departments. Later this year, we are thrilled to be part of the initiative to add an Art department to Blackwells, Edinburgh, and early next year, we aim to do the same in Cambridge. This collaborative effort with such a reputable and accomplished retailer is an exciting opportunity.
Thank you to everyone who has worked on this project, as well as our partners at Waterstones for their ongoing support. Together, we have made this progress possible, and I am confident that our collaboration will continue to inspire and elevate the artistic experience for Waterstones customers across all locations.
Wall Post from Dominik Nocon
Last Friday, as a sponsor, we had the honor to participate in acrylic paint workshops, which were conducted by Sylwia Doktorczyk, who cooperates with us. Sylwia has been painting with our paints for years and we have been trying to support her talent for a long time. 10 women had acrylic paints in their hands for the first time and, under the supervision of Sylwia, they created paintings on the subject of “woman”. Workshops will probably be held more often, of course using Liquitex or Winsor & Newton paints. Thank you very much Jakub Kopek for your commitment and our company for the opportunity to donate paints for this event.
Really good to see these strong stories reinforced 👏