Achieving Results

"From the start, Saltwater has been there to help create a presence. We could not have achieved the results from our campaign without Saltwater’s help."

Rachel Smith, Atlantic Rowing Challenge

30% Increase

"As a result of the excellent media campaign created by Saltwater, sales of our Barton Boomstrut have increased by 30%."

Paul Botterill, Director Barton Marine

Crucial Expertise

"As a Saltwater client for many years, Kongsberg Maritime acknowledge that we need experts to help us get our message out to the marketplace."

Rita Krathe, Marketing Co-ordinator, Kongsberg Maritime AS

Industry Knowledge

"Our dedicated account team at Saltwater is professional and committed and they not only understand our business but more importantly they understand the industry they operate in, thereby maximising our opportunity to communicate whether on local, national or international issues."

Bryan Jones, Marketing Manager, Fairline Boats Plc

Innovative Ideas

"We have been working closely with Saltwater Advertising for the past two years. We have found the advertising team excellent in all areas, with innovative ideas that we have adopted into many of our advertising campaigns. We look forward to working closely with the Poole-based team again throughout the coming year."

Mike Forman, Marine Commercial Sales Manager, Volvo Penta Europe Office UK

Going The Extra Mile

"Avon has worked with Saltwater for many years for both our PR and advertising needs. We have always found them to be highly enthusiastic about their work, going that little bit further to satisfy the customer, which makes all the difference and exactly fits our own ethos of quality and value."

Alan Morgan, Managing Director, Avon Inflatables and Chairman of National Boat Shows

You make our world go round – two new clients for Saltwater PR

Date posted: 16th April 2008

One of the fundamental reasons we believe our clients choose us against our competitors is to benefit from our wide-reaching understanding of the marine industry. Working with such a diverse range of marine clients across all the main sectors - leisure, technical, commercial, super and megayacht - we are able to apply a unique insight into the industry which is very hard to find elsewhere. Having weighed up the competition, we believe it was this expertise that led those very nice people at Wired Ocean and Solent Marine to want to work with us and in March this year we were officially appointed to handle the PR for both companies.

Wired Ocean is a sophisticated marine broadband system, designed to deliver shore-to-ship data via a vessel’s satellite TV antenna. This dramatically reduces incoming data costs – traditionally the largest bill for internet use at sea – making Wired Ocean ideal for high volume applications such as internet browsing, downloading email with attachments, obtaining electronic manuals and weather and navigation data for bridge and critical systems. www.wiredocean.com

Solent Marine is a long established and highly innovative company and one of very few manufacturers to have the facilities to design and build complete pontoon systems in-house. They were recently appointed exclusive worldwide supplier of SolDeck, a revolutionary new synthetic decking which offers marinas a number of distinct advantages over other systems. SolDeck offers exceptional properties which provides extra longevity and is a more environmentally sympathetic alternative to hardwood. It is the first synthetic pontoon material to look and feel identical to hardwood with a similar fibrous appearance and non slip surface. www.solentmarine.com

Spring Boat Shows are here so we will be there – let us know if we can help you

Date posted: 16th April 2008

Kicking off our spring boat show attendance in April are the Antibes (We do realise the Antibes Show starts today so help at this one might be a bit ambitious at this late stage) and Palma (26th April – 4th May) shows where we will be representing several clients from our leisure and superyacht divisions. In May, we will be at the Southampton Sportsboat & RIB Show (3rd-5th May) both promoting the event and representing several clients. Your account handlers will of course be in touch if these shows are relevant but please feel free to let us know if we can be of assistance to you at any of these events. (We do realise the Antibes Show is only around the corner so help at this one might be a bit ambitious at this late stage!).

The 2nd annual Antibes Yacht Show takes place from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th April. The show attracts exhibitors predominantly from major international luxury charter and brokerage agencies as well as other services in the luxury yacht sector. This year’s event is set to accommodate 200 boats up to 80m in length, between 150 to 200 exhibitors and more than 15,000 visitors. For more information visit www.antibesyachtshow.com

The Palma International Boat Show will take place in Palma’s Old Port from Saturday 26th April to Sunday 4th May. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the show is reported to be bigger than ever this year as well as getting a new image. In terms of exhibitors, it generally attracts leisure marine businesses, boat manufacturers and brokerage companies with interests in the Balearic Islands. Over 300 boats will be on display throughout the nine day event including craft from leading luxury motor yacht manufacturer and Saltwater client, Fairline, who has a strong presence in the Balearics. For further information visit www.palmaboatshow.com

The 5th Southampton Sports Boat and RIB Show will take place at Hamble Point Marina during the May Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 3rd – Monday 5th April. This year’s event is set to be double the size of last year’s show and entry will be free of charge to visitors. It is estimated that around 15,000 visitors will attend the three day event which will showcase a range of the latest RIBs, sport boats, engines, clothing, chandlery products and boating equipment. For further information visit www.sportsboatandribshow.co.uk

Volvo Penta UK signs up with Saltwater Advertising and the Studio goes catalogue crazy

Date posted: 16th April 2008

Industry giant Volvo Penta UK has returned to Saltwater following the success of its last commercial campaign, which was handled by our Media Buying supremo, Karen Charlton. Starting this month, Volvo’s ‘Commercial Re-powering’ promotion will run in commercial marine media. In other Saltwater Advertising news, the studio has recently completed two major catalogues for clients Barton Marine and CA Clase. Our talented designer, Cate Smith who also happens to be mad about sailing (who wouldn’t be with a dog called Bosun!) as ever, delivered a professional job at very competitive rates.

Volvo Penta UK’s latest commercial campaign, which will run over the next six months, is aimed at driving sales through seven of its well established dealers in its commercial division.

Just a helpful reminder that buying advertising is not simply a matter of placing ads in magazines. To achieve results, campaigns need to be planned by researching features, taking into account when you might be attending exhibitions and looking at the best size and shape of an ad to get the most from your budget. It is also important to maintain regular contact with publishers and fully understand readership profiles, which ensure you are reaching the right audience for your product or service and most importantly to negotiate excellent rates to make your budget go further.

As the designer behind the old 350-page Sowester catalogue (remember that?), no wonder Cate managed to deliver the new 60-page, full colour Barton Marine catalogue on time and to budget. With nearly 1300 part numbers, Cate designed the marine deck fittings catalogue entirely from scratch. Aside from their first-class creative skills, it was Saltwater studio’s competitive rates that clinched the deal and won them the contract for the CA Clase catalogue. The communications, navigation and entertainment systems expert was able to incorporate its new MB Quart range into the 18-page brochure which was produced for this year’s London Boat Show.

Venue search begins for Motor Boat of the Year Awards

Date posted: 16th April 2008

Saltwater Events has already embarked on its search to find a top London venue befitting the Motor Boat of the Year Awards and its guests, having been retained to organise the 2009 event on behalf of IPC Marine Media. This year’s event at Claridges in Mayfair was a huge success where once again the great and the good from the motor boating world turned out in force to celebrate the excellent design, superb performance and innovation in motor boat production.

Saltwater Sponsored Rowers do it in less than 77 days!

Date posted: 16th April 2008

We are absolutely delighted for Lin Griesel and Rachel Smith, who on February 16th 2008, by sheer endurance, guts and willpower were the fastest women to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the Woodvale Challenge Atlantic Rowing Race in their 23ft (7m) long wooden rowing boat. So far they have managed to raise a staggering £65,000 for Breast Cancer Care and have confirmed that they will be relentless in their campaigning until they reach their target of £100,000. For more information about the challenge, how you can donate to Breast Cancer Care and to read about Lin and Rachel’s exciting adventure, visit www.atlanticrowingchallenge.co.uk

The countdown to the Marine Industry Regatta has begun

Date posted: 16th April 2008

Once again, Saltwater Events will be organising the land-based events of this year’s Marine Industry Regatta and eager teams from across the British leisure marine industry have already started warming up for the annual event which takes place in Port Solent on Wednesday 23rd April.

The Marine Industry Regatta is the only UK sailing event that brings together staff from key British leisure marine companies alongside yachting journalists to compete in a series of yacht races in the Solent. Our very own Clive Bartlett will be racing on the Boating Business yacht and the delectable Louise Read will be joining the guys from Barton Marine – lucky them!!

Saltwater will oversee all on-land activity of the Regatta, which includes participant registration, prize-giving and hospitality. Racing takes place aboard almost forty Jeanneau Sun Fast 37s supplied by sailboat charter company, Sunsail and crews of eight will battle it out for the Boating Business Anniversary Trophy amongst other awards.

The John Merricks Sailing Trust, which assists many young sailors and youth sailing organisations achieve their goals by helping them to advance their mental and physical development through sailing, is the Regatta’s official charity. For more information, please contact the organisers on 01892 545696 or visit www.marineregatta.com.