Local creative agency gifts major Montrose landmark with new digital home

An ambitious Angus-based marketing and communications agency has gifted a major new landmark facility in its hometown with a new website in addition to free marketing support ahead of its gala opening this month.

 

The new Montrose Playhouse, built in the town’s former public swimming pool, is due to have its red carpet opening nights on October 6 and 7 and now customers can book tickets through its new website.

 

Created and donated by Due North Creatives, the website (which would have cost more than £5000 if paid for directly) provides space to book tickets for films and events, as well as read about the facility’s history, its space in the town as a hub for the community, and information on how to donate or volunteer.

 

Amanda Inglis, Managing Director at Due North Creatives, and her team have been working with Playhouse project founder, David Paton, through his work with local architecture practice, Crawford Architecture, and with both parties sharing a passion for the local community, they were keen to work together as much as possible.

 

Amanda said: “We have been working with Crawford Architecture for a number of years and I knew of David’s work with the Montrose Music Festival. When I heard about the ambitious Playhouse project, I knew that I wanted our business to help in whatever way we could, but for a business of our size to donate a website of this scale is quite a resource commitment.

 

“Our designer, Ross, has created a fantastic new site for Montrose Playhouse which gives its team the functionality needed from launch as well as room to grow and diversify its offering over the coming years. In addition, our PR team has been working with David and his team to generate as much publicity as possible ahead of the opening and beyond.

 

“Our clients come to us for our no-fuss,  straightforward approach to marketing, working with David, manager Matt Buchanan, and the rest of the team we knew they already had lots of other tasks on their agenda such as training staff and co-ordinating the construction project so needed us to grab hold of the website and make it happen. As a Montrose resident, like many others in the town, I can't wait to get a proper look at the site at the red carpet opening events which we are attending as a team.”

 

Initial plans for the new £3.5million facility were drawn up around eight years ago, with incredible support locally with some members of the public pitching in to help strip out the former swimming pool ahead of contractors, Bancon Construction, being appointed.

 

Mr Buchanan said: “In today’s world, we would have struggled to succeed without a digital presence where customers could explore our services and buy tickets, particularly when you are competing with the larger chain offerings. Amanda and her team at Due North were able to create a website that shows our journey up until this point, integrate with the INDY Cinema Group booking system and showcase the wide selection of services we will have on offer here at Montrose Playhouse.

 

We are so extremely grateful to Amanda, Ross and the Due North team for gifting us this wonderful website, along with their experience in marketing and PR - it has provided us with a crucial long term marketing asset that will prove invaluable as we move forward. Their act of generosity is a prime example of the kind of community spirit which is at the heart of this project and the whole town of Montrose.

 

On the first hour of the website being live we sold 200 tickets, within the first 24 hours we sold over 500 - we were over the moon! It felt like finally the launch stage of the project was now’ live.”

 

Founded five years ago by Montrose-based Amanda Inglis, Due North Creatives employs a team of six staff with expertise in web development, graphic design, media relations, photography, social media, and marketing and works with clients of all sizes including Montrose Port Authority, Fotheringham Homes, Millers of Montrose and Carnoustie, Gillies & Mackay and Cerretti Electrical in addition to offering courses for small businesses to learn how to marketing their businesses successfully.

 

She added: “Community is at the heart of our business and the whole team share that value, giving their time to various projects in the areas which they live in. This is a value we share with the Playhouse, so it was a no-brainer that this would be the project to get our support when we know how much good it will do for the town - not just as a cinema destination, but as a real hub for the local community.”

 

For more information on Due North Creatives visit www.yourduenorth.com and to read more about Montrose Playhouse visit www.montroseplayhouse.co.uk.

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