Let Sunflower take care of your online advertising. 

Full Copywriting/ creative and design service.

Static ads or animated gifs.

Get in touch. I'd love to talk about how I could help you with your click-throughs.

When you think of the great surrealist, you'll probably summon up images of his outlandish moustache, melting clocks, giraffes on fire, or a lobster on a telephone. You are less likely to think of lollipops and daisies.

In 1969 Dali was having coffee with his friend Enric Bernat, the founder of Chupa Chups, the Spanish lollipop manufacturer. Bernat had been making lollipops for just over a decade and was thinking about developing his brand. Dali started to doodle on stray pieces of newspaper and soon came up with the now iconic 8-petaled daisy design.

The logo design has remained unchanged since then and Chupa Chups has gone on to be a truly global brand.

The logo's success is down to the same factors that underpin all truly great logos. 

The design is wonderfully simple; a child could easily draw the logo in crayons using just a few basic colours.

The logo is very adaptable too. It performs its job, equally well, online, in print, on a POS display, on the side of a delivery van or, of course, on the top of the world's most successful lollipops. Again, this is due to it's simplicity.

The daisy is unfussy. Often, adding embellishments, a wide colour palette, and special effects (an easy temptation in the Adobe age) will make a logo less immediately recognisable and unique to the brand. Just because something "looks cool" doesn't mean it is the best solution for your brand identity.

As a result, the logo is an immediate, striking, memorable and timeless image. Dali certainly knew a thing or two about creating those.

Sunflower's design work will not be in the same league as Dali's. However, I am a firm believer in the power of simplicity–it doesn't always win awards but it does win sales.

Printed marketing materials have a simple, immediate and tangible quality. They are universally accessible in a way that, so far, their digital alternatives are not.

Print is still a powerful marketing medium and is often surprisingly budget-friendly.

You may well be able to reduce print costs further if you choose not to print in full-colour.

Most full-colour printing involves combining 4 separate inks: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. By just using 1-2 of those colours in your design (e.g. only using black in a black & white only design) you may well make significant savings.

I recently designed a prospectus folder for a local primary school. The school colour (navy blue) could be achieved by using cyan and magenta inks only.

By sticking to a 2-colour design based on the navy blue and incorporating the school (windmill) emblem I managed to create an appealing design and saved the school 9% on printing costs.  

Contact Sunflower now for your print and digital marketing design.

The modern age. Saturated in media chatter. Information overload. The golden age of corporate puffery. The era of endless marketing guff and business bullshit.

Just how can your marketing stand out and be heard in this cacophony of communication?

By saying less.


By using plain English in a simple, relaxed style.

By using short words and short sentences.

Like this one.

By keeping your message clear and concise (knowing that short and simple equals immediate, powerful and memorable).

By communicating a single USP creatively and dramatically, rather than cramming twenty features into your ad, forgettably.

By talking to your customers as the intelligent, emotional human beings they are; entertaining them, informing them and charming them.

By knowing when you have said enough.

Get in touch if you need a copywriter.

Less IS more.

My promise: The price might be reduced for a short time, but the work will always be 100% focused on making your marketing message clear, consistent, engaging and memorable.

For more information and Ts&Cs, visit the promotions page.

Follow me on Twitter to hear about Sunflower's latest offers.

Ok. That claim is a big stretch. But consider this:

"It's only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away".

The three mighty Gibbs wrote that rather wonderful song back in 1968. And I feel it does highlight a key ingredient of successful marketing which sadly is often missing in the rush to do the latest thing.

Modern marketing can so often slip into a case of Hey, what's new? and Hey, we really need to be doing that! Website and SEO? Check. Social Media? Check. Data capture? Check.

Which is great, don't get me wrong. Only the foolish marketer buries their head in the sand, missing new opportunities to reach the marketplace.

But the focus can easily drift away from the more important core ingredient of a marketing strategy. 

Why build that website? Why update your business Facebook page? Why send out that mailer? 

Surely to communicate with your customers.

So often, in the rush to keep up with the new [and old] media Joneses, companies can neglect to put time and investment in their most valuable and essential tool in the marketing toolbox–their marketing message. The text on that website. The heading of that mailer. The meat of the tweet.

This is where a copywriter can come in. To sharpen those tools.

Words can take your heart away. And if they don't, they can at least make a sale.

Copywriting services from Sunflower Marketing.

My promise: The price might be reduced for a short time, but the work will always be 100% focused on making your marketing message clear, consistent, engaging and memorable.

For more information and Ts&Cs, visit the promotions page.

Follow me on Twitter to hear about Sunflower's latest offers.

The sample logo designs below were created for Dimples, an infants' apparel and equipment retailer.

I would be very interested in your opinions on which of the two designs you prefer

Logos are your unique visual identity. They should be functional, communicate directly to your core customers and should clearly reflect your brand's values

Sunflower creates bespoke logos which are unique to your brand. Get in touch and let Sunflower take care of your next branding project.

Dubious innuendo aside–I'm talking about the small but mighty business card.

More than your mobile, more than your laptop, that small slice of tree pulp is one of the most versatile, cost-effective and downright essential tools in your business/ marketing arsenal.

• Be a networking master–Going to an exhibition, networking event or even popping down the shops, don't leave home without them. You never know where you might bump into your next client.

• Use them as impromptu advertisements, pinned to noticeboards etc.

• Use them as a circular. Include them with your mailings. A potential client might well 'bin' your mailing but hang on to your business card just in case.

If you are thinking about getting your first business cards or maybe re-stocking your current supply, read on:

It goes without saying, your card should include your: Name, title or function [if not indicated by your company name or logo], business mailing address, landline number [and/ or mobile if you move around a lot], email address and company website.

If social networking is a key part of your marketing strategy, include your Twitter tag, LinkedIn profile etc.

Include your company logo and tagline if you have one.

Unless you work for a widely-known brand/ company, use both sides of your card.

The reverse side can include a short summary of your core [3-5 max.] services. Just enough information to give the recipient an idea of what you do. Not an essay. You still want to leave them with a reason to visit your website or order your catalogue.

There are many ways to get your business cards on the cheap.

If you run an informal, low-key, hobby type business you can probably get away with printing them off at home. Designing your artwork with MS Word and some clipart.

Many online providers such as Vistaprint offer business card services at good rates, as long as you don't mind using one of their generic designs.

However, as a rule, the more professional and unique your service, the more professional and unique your business card should be.

A bespoke, professionally produced business card is a potent sales tool.

Your business card represents YOU. Do you want to appear professional, dynamic and trustworthy? Of course. Your business card must reflect this.

A business card on quality paper stock, laminated, possibly embossed/ varnished, and professionally designed/ laid out can really set the right impression. The impression that you were willing to take the extra care, effort and investment. That you take your business seriously. This can only inspire trust.