July 2020 Newsletter
Welcome to the first Chalk newsletter - thanks for joining us from the start!
We'll be sharing news on various aspects of digital in Eastbourne. We want to bring together the digital community, help you grow your contacts in this sector, and to change the perception of Eastbourne as a whole.
We would like you to get involved too, so if you have any news, shout outs, or great case studies we can feature in a future newsletter, please let us know. This newsletter is gives an example of how future newsletters will be structured - but we need your news too.
FEATURED PROFILE
One Eastbourne
One Eastbourne has been created over the past few months to help independent retailers in the town during these challenging economic times. Not-for-profit TechResort has worked on this new marketplace, which runs on Shopify, to enable shoppers to browse the best indy shops in town. There's one basket and one checkout, plus free delivery in Eastbourne when you spend over £10.
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If you've done some great work recently, celebrated a company milestone, or have completed a project that you want to talk about, please send us some details.
CASE STUDY
How one organisation shifted their product to react to COVID-19
Hastings Opportunity Area, a Department of Education-funded local initiative, had to think about ways it could adapt its Badge Bonanza platform now that children are no longer at school. They have adapted their website to provide a collection of resources for pupils to use at home. Teachers can also set up their own badges for pupils, so could also use the tool as a reward system for home learning. You can read more about this project here.
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If you or your company has completed a successful project that others might like to learn about, here's the place to share it. Perhaps it's something topical, like the example above.
DEVELOPER STUFF
Sussex Azure User Group
The Sussex Azure Group, a group for IT professionals in Sussex to talk Azure, has launched a podcast throughout lockdown featuring guest speakers and plenty of Azure chat.
If Azure is your thing, have a listen!
DevOps Bunker
A second series of online events is starting through the Brighton-based DevOps Bunker. On Tuesday 21 July at 6pm, this starts with a webinar by Natalie Kannemeyer on "A People-Centred Approach to Digital Transformation in a Post-COVID World". For more details and to access the discussion, join the bunker on Slack here.
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If there are any developments that you'd like to raise or think other developers would like to read about, they can be featured here. Let us know.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
If you have any top tips to share, examples of great design to talk about, or an interesting branding project under your belt, here's the place for it.
MARKETING
Hi Social
Our own marketing guru, Garry James, has launched an email newsletter for small marketing agencies and marketing freelancers called Hi Social. Having found that marketing publications tend to focus on big brands, Garry found there was little out there for smaller businesses.
Hi Social shares a case study every Thursday, focusing on a small business client and showcasing the work of a small marketing agency. For example, a recent newsletter included a 'magical' story about a small retail store with a Harry Potter theme in Brighton (Oliver's) and their approach to digital marketing.
For more information and to sign up for the free newsletter, see hisocial.org.
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Have you found a formula for success that you want to share? Have you run an outstanding ad campaign for a client recently? Or perhaps you have tips to share in light of the current COVID-19 situation. This is where they'll live.
RECRUITMENT
Whilst we don't want to become a recruitment platform, if you are looking for someone to fill a specific role in a digital business in or around Eastbourne, we can include it here.
SHOUT OUT
Are you aware of someone's work that should be praised? Do you have a company anniversary coming up? Do you need assistance on a project? Let us know.
ONE LAST THING…
Chalk Talks
If you haven't yet listened to our podcast, Chalk Talks, give it a go. This series focuses on how businesses in and around Eastbourne have been affected by COVID-19 and how they have adapted over the past few months. In many cases, this includes a shift to using more digital platforms and solutions.
The episodes include the following organisations and business owners:
- Episode 1: Sarah Driver - Rathfinny Estate, Alfriston.
- Episode 2: Oliver Butts - The English Soap Company, Waldron.
- Episode 3: Lesley Samms - Pure Arts Group, Battle
- Episode 4: Carl Stanger - Exclusively Eastbourne
- Episode 5: Joe Hill - Towner Gallery, Eastbourne (released 24 July)
- Episode 6: Joel Fielder - Switchplane, Eastbourne (released 31 July)
You can find Chalk Talks on Anchor FM or your usual podcast provider.
Hopefully the next newsletter will share plenty more information with you. If you have any feedback, please let us know.
Until next time!
Sarah
