Conversation and personal branding lead the conversation in latest monthly meet

Oli Dunn, Cheshire’s most famous chocolatier, took centre stage this week as Marketing WAM’s penultimate Zoom meet looked at personal branding and how to protect it as a key theme.

Joined by its sister organisation Marketing Stockport, the successful networking and publishing brand attracted over 50 online attendees, keen to learn more from Oli (pictured) and intellectual property specialist Paul Tyrer from SAS Daniels.

Also featuring was Marketing Director Lorna Lewis, from Northern Restaurants, who gave a sneak preview of all that will be on offer at Wilmslow’s newest eatery – Roost on Water Lane.

Oli Dunn gave a fascinating insight into how he has built his brand and thrived through a pandemic, switching popular ‘how to’ and corporate events online and selling DIY kits as well as beautiful bespoke creations to chocolate lovers across the region.

A prolific worker of social media channels Oli talked about using posts to tell his story every day, growing an enthused community of fans and followers around his charm and skills.  Oli is running a series of virtual tastings for corporate event organisers. Follow him on Instagram @oli-the-choc for more.

Paul Tyrer from SAS Daniels gave a whistle stop tour of how to protect a brand – one of the most valuable of business assets. He talked about trademarks, patents and copyright, other forms of protection, how to spot an infringement and to assess how protected you really are.

He explained about how a trade mark may consist of a number of things. Some of the most famous are super familiar to us. Eg Words like Jaguar, KODAK, slogans like NIKE – Just Do It, designs, who’s not seen the Guinness Harp?

What about domain names like amazon.com, letters like RBS bank, numerals like 501 Jeans? Shapes and sounds can be trademarks. Think of the unique shape of a Coca Cola bottle or Toblerone, or the sound of Intel’s four note jingle.

Paul explained that a patent is a document that grants the ownership rights of an invention to the inventor. In term of what is patentable in the UK, Paul said:

“Invention must fulfil the following criteria; it is new, it involves an inventive step, it is capable of industrial application, it is not specifically excluded from protection as a patent.”

For more information on this important area get in touch with Paul by email.

Roost will open in Wilmslow in mid-June. As Lorna Lewis explained, the former Cau site on Water Lane is a big venue and they plan to draw us in with quality produce served in a fresh, relaxed contemporary setting. Rotisserie chicken, wood fired pizza, tasty sides, burgers, specials of the week and lots more will be on offer. Lorna added:

Our bar will boast a great range of craft beers, cool cocktails, delicious wines and mighty milkshakes! So whether you are looking for a family feast, a pre cinema dinner or a cheeky date night we’ve got you covered.”

The Northern Restaurants Group is the team behind brands such as The Dockyard, The Produce Hall in Stockport, Roost & La Cantina,The Moortop Pub and Kitchen, our Gastro Pub in Heaton Moor.

Guy Gamm, Macclesfield Campus FM Development Manager at AstraZeneca, also gave us a brief overview of a strategic collaboration with Macclesfield FC and Club Community Sports Trust. They have just launched a new Health and Science Education element to its existing School Sport Programme.

Keeping the focus on community Georgie Mills, from The Pledge Partnership , outlined its aims to secure support for work experience programmes for young people in the area. She is very keen to hear from business owners. Get in touch with Georgie on georgina.mills@871candwep.co.uk

The networking meeting also heard from Wesley Downes, CEO and founder of Renewal North West. He outlined the opportunities to donate old computers  – IT recycling with a social conscience – to help provide employment, work skills and training to long-term unemployed individuals.

Sue Souter, Publishing Director, Marketing WAM:

It was a hugely enjoyable session with speakers from across WAM and Stockport areas, inspiring educating and reminding us of how we can reinvest back into our local communities.”

Marketing WAM is a membership organisation. Click here on how to join. It has over 100 businesses around it, a growing membership base, 800+ business stories posted on its daily website to date with 8000 visitors a month and twice-weekly bulletins – all designed to support, promote and connect businesses in the Wilmslow, Alderley and Macclesfield areas.