f1 provides web wonder to wow waste managers Aktrion

People create rubbish – it is a fact. You only have to survey the scenes of extreme littering after a music festival to appreciate just how much waste large events create.

But who cleans up after such a large-scale party? f1 recently had the pleasure of working with Aktrion, a leading recycling and waste management company that provides sustainable waste management solutions to the UK event industry, from corporate functions to festivals and exhibitions.

Aktrion wanted a website that truly showcased its benefits to event managers and purchasing decision makers. Their previous website didn’t sufficiently reflect the company’s 14 years’ of experience, the high-profile nature of many of their clients, or Aktrion’s wide remit of services that includes management of vehicle logistics and event dismantling.

“We wanted a new website that was of course smart and functional, but really got across our key messages of offering a full, seamless, service to customers, with no limits on the event’s size and duration,” explains Chris Baumann, Director, Aktrion Group. “It had become necessary to blow our own trumpet a little more, and really highlight the services that we offer to come of the UK’s leading organisations. f1 worked very closely with us to provide a web solution that really reflects our market status, and showcases our brand.”

The new website www.aktrionevents.com has been designed for easy navigation, is a concise information portal, and importantly, utilises social media functionality.

Peter Gatward, Creative Director of f1 Colour, says social media now plays an important promotional role for many service providers, and should not be excluded or underestimated. “Aktrion is developing its social media presence, and this is an area that we have been pleased to advise the company on,” Peter explains. “On the new website, we have provided links to platforms such as Linked In, Twitter and Facebook, so followers can easily engage with Aktrion – the links are also useful for search engine optimisation ranking.”

According to Peter, links to relevant bodies that Aktrion is associated with have also been incorporated into the site, to add kudos. “It is important for consumers to know that Aktrion is affiliated to bodies such as the Association of Event Organisers Ltd, the Event Supplier and Services Association and the Association of Event Venues, as this tells potential customers they are dealing with a professional company,” Peter concludes.

f1 weigh in with new contract for Slimming World Magazine

With 8,000 Slimming World groups held weekly on a nationwide basis via a network of around 3,000 Slimming World trained consultants, there is a massive audience of consumers for the magazine, with its high production values, sharp photography and well-respected editorial content.

Emma Wild, Managing Editor of Slimming World, says the working relationship with f1 continues to grow and develop. “f1 has delivered a very high standard of pre-press provision over the past three years that we have been working with them, and we’re confident they will continue to do so,” she states. “Slimming World magazine is a top quality title and it’s important to us to work with specialists in their field that streamline the pre-production process, and make our life easier!”

F1’s Managing Director, Ken Harrison, says the f1 team is delighted to have retained the contract to supply the magazine’s pre-press requirements. “The organisation was approached by other companies with a view to carrying out the work, but all this managed to do was to help highlight what a good working relationship Slimming World has with f1 Colour,” he says. “We look forward to continuing to help produce this market-leading magazine.”

Merrell win Best International Book 2011 for Abstract Graffiti!

Cedar Lewisohn’s book was a clear victory over its nearest rival at the Graffiti Art Magazine Awards.

f1 colour carry out the pre-press on many of Merrells titles throughout the year and Abstract Graffiti was interesting as it was to be printed on an uncoated stock. The images were supplied as digital files and covered the whole spectrum regarding quality, from a random snap taken by an amateur to a high quality professional shot on top level equipment. All images were brought into the chosen Fogra colour space and evaluated for best reproduction.

The page proofs were run via our GMG proofing system on a 140gsm GMG uncoated stock, so the client got a great indication of what the images would look like once printed and the printer got a proof that was achievable on press. And the result was an award winner all round!

Lewisohn interviews both established graffiti artists and new practitioners of avant-garde forms of art in public spaces – such as Knit Graffiti and Street Training – and traces the art-historical lineage of these abstract trends. Addressing such issues as street art as a form of protest, graffiti as a crime, the place of street art in museums, and the evolution of materials, this book offers unrivalled insight into some of the most exciting and challenging work on the contemporary art scene.

In Abstract Graffiti, Cedar Lewisohn provides a vibrant account of the ‘outer limits’ of street art and graffiti that are being explored by artists in cities as diverse as London, Prague, Philadelphia and São Paulo.

To find out more about this timely overview of emerging trends and style developments in global street art, see either Merrell’s website: www.merrellpublishers.com
or their facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Merrell-Publishers/111093568942058

f1 colour ‘ship-in’ a new member of staff for Aperture Services!

Due to the increasing demand by clients for our Aperture Services we’ve appointed Andy Chapman to head-up and spearhead the growth of this fast moving sector.

We feel we’re in the midst of one of the most exciting changes in the history of our industry. And having recognised the needs of our clients to acquire more and more visual content (assets) to satisfy their cross-media marketing requirements as the reasoning behind this growth.

Where in the past we might have received client instructions for a series of single studio shots of their products, we’re now being asked to expand our studio time to provide short video clips from the same sets. This allows us to facilitate various animated on-line assets such as web banners and youtube clips. These can also manifest into 360 degree or time-lapse photography and all for good reason. By leveraging on the original set builds, composition and set-up times we are able to provide the additional assets at a fraction of their combined individual values.

Andy has a strong background of working with blue chip retail brands such as Selfridges, Firetrap, FCUK, Liberty and House of Fraser, to name just a few and prior to that he graduated with full BA Hons and BTEC qualifications in both Photography and Media Production.

“I’m delighted to have joined the team at f1 colour, it’s an exciting opportunity to make a difference in a company that’s really going places and I feel my experience in media production is a perfect fit.”
Andy Chapman.

We’d all like to welcome Andy onboard and here’s to a exciting and innovative 2012!

Messenger to Managing Director, Mentor to Author!!

Tom O’Hara (account manager at f1) has a father-in-law who didn’t just reminisce about what it was like ‘when he was a kid’ he actually wrote a book about it. So here is the story how Carl Sims came to put pen to paper, well finger to keyboard actually, but you know what I mean.

Carl Sims. Author of ‘Ahh! Sims’

I was created in Catford and born in Lewisham.

This probably means nothing to those with little knowledge of London; actually it’s not a big deal – in respect of miles, very little, however for a Londoner it’s important, it designates you are a south London boy.

After Lewisham I lived in the Old Kent Road. Most of this area was wrecked by the war; being so close to the docks, stray German bombs were dropped haphazardly. My early life was spent playing in derelict houses with wallpaper flapping and broken stairs took you to where a room had once been…

I’ve not gone far. I still live near south London.

However, my book is about a time when I was neither there nor here.

It’s a collection of tales, hopefully amusing and sometimes poignant – dealing with the traumas we face when trying to grow up, and not being sure about, well, anything. Whether it be girls, bullies, teachers or indeed friends – most were a mystery, so I thought I’d share my confusion with others in the hope we can make sense of it – hence the book.

It’s called ‘Ahh! Sims’, because as a young boy, I was on numerous occasions sent to the headmaster for one innocent reason or another – on seeing me he would always adopt a pained expression and sigh
‘Ahh! Sims’…

I never fully understood why I of all children was singled out, after all I was a perfectly natural lad – undisciplined, uninterested, uninspired, uncaring and any other ‘un’ you can think of. I spent my free time being as obnoxious as possible – I created havoc where peace once reigned and constantly advised teachers why they had got the wrong boy.

Should you read ‘Ahh! Sims’ you’ll see despite my best attempts, things never quite went according to plan…

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ahh-Sims-ebook/dp/B005MRAZII

Getting published.

It’s said everyone has a novel in them but what if that novel wants to come out and dance around on the page? How would you get it published? This was my dilemma when I completed ‘Ahh! Sims’.

Publishers have a massive unsolicited post load on a daily basis; hundreds of authors send manuscripts and await response. Most will get a ‘Dear John’ response or in my case, ‘Dear Carl’. Don’t be put off – now there’s a way for you to see your inspiration in print, or rather, on screen.

You may not be an e-book reader – doesn’t matter, millions are! The phenomenon is relentless – many people download books onto their Kindle, iPad, Kobo, phone, android, even their laptop or computer and it’s growing! Let’s take a look at what you could do.

You can send your manuscript to numerous publishers – you never know, it may work. Or you should do what I did with ‘Ahh! Sims’ – self-publish with Kindle/Amazon, and it costs – nothing.

Ok, it’s not quite as simple as that – there are a few things you’ll need to consider: Just how do you actually upload your book?  How can you make sure it is, at the very least, worthy?  Can you get it reviewed anywhere? Where do you find somebody who can produce a professional cover?  And how do you market your book?

You love your book/story and have agonised over every word but you must get an objective opinion and painful though it might be, need to accept some criticism. Try www.youwriteon.com – this site has budding plus published authors who’ll critique your prose – take most of it on the chin! Either way, you’ll have the opportunity of reading their efforts – that’s the way it works – you read theirs, they read yours.

Once you have considered various critiques; adopted some, ignored others, you’ll then want to get it read by those who might actually pay for the privilege! Kindle is the answer! Go to mine http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ahh-Sims-ebook/dp/B005MRAZII   – scroll to the bottom of page, you’ll see ‘self-publish with us’ click and follow instructions.

Wait! You’ll see you need a cover for your book and yes; internet users will judge a book by its cover. I’m sure people reading this might just know a graphic designer… Be realistic about pricing your book. At the moment you’re getting nothing for it, so price it low.

Once it’s on the internet it will not sell itself. You need to let people know about your wonderful work – don’t be shy. Try Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, local press/library. With Facebook you can set up your own ‘fan’ page’ which generates massive interest – see mine for example; http://www.facebook.com/ahhsims  Give it a go, you never know, it may just work…

Carl has four children and always worked in the ‘creative businesses’. His first job was as a messenger in a commercial art studio and trained as a typographer. He progressed to the dizzy heights of studio manager. He ran his own design studio but was drawn to a new progressive agency where he became a director. Headhunted to be a Managing Director, Carl started to realise he had more to offer and eventually became a Business Mentor and has been helping creative companies for the last eight years http://www.creativebusinessmentor.co.uk  However in that period he found time to write a book. There we are; somebody’s life in 99 words!

Here’s someone else’s thoughts, well tweets actually…

And the winners are… thanks to everyone for playing our game!

Looks like more than a few of you got a little bit carried away with our ‘festive FUN from f1!’ We had over 10,000 games played (at an amazing standard!) and the six chocolate Santa’s have found new homes.

The WINNERS are …

In the meantime if you’d like to continue playing our game ‘just for Festive FUN!‘, please click here.