Business Action | April / May 2019

DESIGN HEADER & BRANDS
Bobblehat created Chester Barrie’s flagship store in London’s Savile Row
A group of North Devon
designers who set out to offer
businesses and brands an
agile and creative partner for
their retail and exhibition
challenges are taking their
designs across the world, but
as their international reputation
grows, Barnstaple-based
Bobblehat remains “proud to
be local”.
“Our roots are very much
in North Devon and always
will be,” says Bobblehat’s
John Courtney. “Virtually
everything we deliver is
Locally designed for clients
worldwide and in North Devon
made in North Devon. Since
we started, six years ago
we’ve designed and installed
Formula 1 stores at the major
European venues, built exhibition
stands in Florence and
most recently a flagship store
in London’s Savile Row for
Chester Barrie.”
With such an impressive
portfolio, what is the next step
for Bobblehat?
“We’ve got brilliant clients
who we work with throughout
the UK and Europe and,
naturally, we will continue to
expand our UK and European
business, but it would
be great to work with more
local progressive businesses,
whatever the sector.”
Working collaboratively
with clients, Bobblehat designs
retail spaces and exhibitions
Bobblehat’s design for Formula 1 stores across Europe
and takes care of the build and
installation process too.
Whether it’s a worldfamous
store in London’s
Jermyn Street or a quality
brand in North Devon,
Bobblehat works in a variety
of styles from period to
contemporary and uses a
range of quality materials
to create unique retail
environments.
“We work with brands who
want their stories told.”
■■Details 01271 328003 or
bobblehat.co
Healthier planet, healthier sales
Can a win for the planet be a
win for business too? In 1994,
Harvard Business recognised
this was traditionally a ‘no’, but
reassured “being green is no
longer a cost of doing business;
it’s a catalyst for innovation,
new market opportunity and
wealth creation”. Yet in 2019,
the nuts and bolts of how to
profitably combine moral
conscience with savvy business
still leaves many foggy-headed.
Blossoming audience
Research results? 50% of Gen
X (40-50yrs*) are willing to pay
a green premium, with 71%
more likely to promote ethical
messages. Gen Y (20/30yrs*)
seek out the interactive brands.
81% of Gen Z (4-24yrs*) would
“choose a restaurant based on a
menu’s environmental impact”
. . . hardly surprising given how
deeply interwoven social media
and environmentalism is in
their young, digital lives. Not
your key audience? They soon
will be.
Sara-Jane Williams of BrandLanterns advises coffee shops, pubs and
restaurants on how to go green . . . profitably
Sales opportunities
Eco-disposables are a given,
so now let’s get creative! From
rewards on green-hero dishes
to bike-powered PR gimmicks,
leftover scratch menus to
brand-boosting merchandise,
our recent workshop unearthed
many ideas ready for picking . . .
Unite with suppliers
Protect your profits too. Rather
than rekindle the painful PR
disasters of food and beverage
suppliers here, I’ll remind you
that negativity can whoosh
along the supply chain and
grab you unaware. Challenge
your suppliers to share helpful
info and ensure you’re working
to the same set of values. Stand
united, stand stronger.
Be an educator
Feeling passionate, knowledgeable?
Brands that educate
attract great advertising
opportunities, while improving
customer loyalty. Prefer to play
safer? Holds hands with local
action groups (ask for contacts)
or like-minded businesses.
Sustainability for survival
If businesses don’t become
greener AND more profitable
with it, they’ll struggle to
survive the next generation.
Activism is no longer ‘in-yerface’,
intimidating or rebellious;
it’s smart and creative . . . and
we’re here to help you.
(*approximate range)
■■Details 01271 372620 or
brandlanterns.co.uk
@businessactionm | April / May 2019 | business action 13