Editors notes from Cassie Moyse
The end of the year is fast approaching, which often makes us to take stock and reflect on the
events of the last twelve months. The highs, the lows, the challenges and the successes. A year can pass so quickly, but a lot can be achieved within that time – and we have certainly come a long way.
I feel grateful in that I can reflect on the growth of Portfolio North by looking back at my previous editors notes – it’s almost like a diary. At roughly this time in 2021 I drafted A Year in Review for the 13th edition of Portfolio North. I closed the article with; ‘I can’t wait to see where we are at this time next year’. Looking back, I really don’t think I could have anticipated where Portfolio North would be towards the end of 2022.
A year ago, I announced our plans to double our annual edition count to create six magazines a year. We will have exceeded these plans in creating seven editions by the end of the year, including one more following this edition to be distributed in December and cover January. The extra edition is our dedicated Yorkshire magazine which we launched in October and distributed across Leeds and other areas in Yorkshire as we look to replicate the success of the North East edition across our next region in 2023.
At the time of my last ‘Year in Review’ we were also gearing up to launch Portfolio North as its own, standalone business. It started as a publication in 2017 to promote Bradley Hall and its clients, then steadily grew to include other businesses and eventually it made sense to create an independent, profitable publication with its own brand. I’ve honestly loved building Portfolio North and creating successful campaigns for my clients in the magazine – and it’s all been worth it to hear the great feedback from the people and businesses we work with, with some crediting their coverage to securing significant new clients and projects.
This year we’ve also secured several new advertisers and partners as well as the extension of previous partners and clients. I feel incredibly grateful to be working with some outstanding Northernbased businesses and organisations including our latest partners, Building Design Northern which is undoubtedly making waves in the industry. Fastgrowing hospitality firm, The Inn Collection Group, also continues as partner with its managing director Sean Donkin featured in our exclusive business interview spot in this edition.
City of Sunderland continues to be a partner of Portfolio North – and I am extremely proud that the magazine is associated with such significant plans and regeneration which is not only developing the built environment, but also creating a better quality of life for so many.
Portfolio North also became the official media partner of the Sunderland Business Festival, which was a three-day celebration of local business, created to inspire business people and budding entrepreneurs from across the region. The event included an impressive line-up of speakers, including; Dame Irene Hays DBE, Heather Mills, the teams behind international production company Fulwell 73, SAFC and a range of business and local authority leaders. I also enjoyed speaking on the panel about my own career and business journey at the Sunderland Fire Station Auditorium during the Entrepreneurial Leaders event alongside Alice Rowen Hall, Kimberley Cattin and our host Natasha McDonough.
Throughout the year we have also steadily grown our digital presence via the Portfolio North website, social media platforms, email newsletters and digital OOH campaigns with support from The Social Co. and Smart Outdoor. We launched our self-upload platform on the website this year which allows more efficient online publishing for PR and marketing teams and business owners to promote good news, thought leadership and comment articles. We have since approved and published hundreds of positive news stories and created many e-newsletters and content with these press releases and editorials.
We also recently launched The Portfolio North Wine Club, which has been a brilliant success, and have plans to grow this as well as to branch into other events next year. Our plans also include technological advancements which will create a better and more varied user experience for our readers, as well as new opportunities for the businesses which we work with.
Last week, we found out that the North East Marketing Awards has also shortlisted Portfolio North for Product Launch of the Year, while my team is up for Team of The Year and I have been shortlisted for Marketing Director of the Year. It’s fantastic to be recognised for our work and achievements and I look forward to celebrating alongside some of the amazing local industry talent at the ceremony in December.
In addition to the growth of Portfolio North I was also happy to have been appointed to The Board of Directors at Bradley Hall as group marketing director, with many milestones met and progress made from the team over the course of the year. All-in-all it’s been a year of huge growth and fantastic momentum which I am determined to elevate the pace of throughout 2023. There’s always more to do, new opportunities to unlock and fresh ideas to develop and I am extremely excited to see what the next year will bring.
As we come to the close of another year I am extremely grateful for the opportunities, the people I’ve met along the way, the little wins and the big achievements and lessons learned. It’s true what they say – the harder you work the luckier you get and I look forward to another year of hard work and more ‘good luck’.
As always, thank you to all of the businesses which have chosen to be involved with Portfolio North this year and I hope to work with you all again in 2023.
