Key Staff

The people we are going to focus on in the marketing area are Alan Noble and Nick Purvis.

Alan and Nick are both full time sales directors in the marketing department and have worked for Cameron Balloons for many years. Also in the marketing department is Julia Linfield who is the sales co-ordinator and several other sales staff. Thunder and Colt, the firm that Cameron's took over in 1994 have a separate marketing department separated off from the Cameron's department.

Alan focuses mainly on the marketing and publicity side, while Nick focuses on technical sales and development. They see the key skills required in marketing balloons to be:

• An up to date and detailed knowledge of the balloon market
• Good inter-personal skills
• An aeronautical or ballooning background
• An ability to maintain a good relationship with all customers as much business is return business
• Flexibility

So how do they spend their time?

• Both Alan and Nick (but particularly Nick) travel a considerable amount. Cameron's always want to have a presence at ballooning events around the world as much business takes place there and it is an opportunity to meet former customers, and maintain a relationship with them.

• They spend a good deal of time on the phone. Potential customers will ring in and often spend a long time discussing the balloon they want and the detailed technical requirements. Where customers are spending a large amount of money they justifiably expect (and get) a corresponding amount of personal attention.

• A small proportion of time will be spent in meetings updating themselves on new technical requirements and new additions to the product range.

• A larger proportion will be spent in meetings planning. Strategic planning is vital to the long-term health of a company, and the marketing department are a key part of that as they are the ones closest to the customer and the customer's requirements.

Alan is also the person at Cameron balloons who has developed their Internet marketing strategy. Their site has full details of their product range, a regular newsletter and further details about how to get into hot-air ballooning - Cameron balloons web-site (http://www.cameronballoons.co.uk).

Alan was also the Launch Director for the recent round the world balloon attempt that broke the world endurance record. The balloon was a Cameron Balloons Roziere.