Winners in Business and Professional Services

Barefruit Wins

Last Friday evening, we (Barefruit Marketing) were awarded the 2021 Business Excellence in Business and Professional Services award, proving that not even the statewide lockdown could dampen our spirits.Originally, there was going to be a Gala evening, but that didn’t go to plan, due to the current lockdown. Instead, the Ballina Chamber of Commerce honoured local businesses for their excellence by inviting entrants of the 2021 Ballina Shire Business Excellence Awards to tune in to the local community radio station, Paradise FM to celebrate this year’s winners within the Ballina Business Community.

Professional and Business Services Award
Highly Commended in Excellence on Small Business
Nothing can stop us

The entire team dressed in our fancy award threads (from the waist up) for the ‘virtual awards’ and tuned into a team Zoom call while listening to Paradise FM, excitedly anticipating the announcement – with bubbles at the ready. Thrilled and emotional, we were awarded ‘2021 Business Excellence in Business and Professional Services’ and were highly commended in the category, ‘Excellence in Small Business’. The competition was high going head-to-head against other local businesses including consulting agencies, real estate, and mortgage broking services.

Agency Co-founder and Director Evan Harding says,

"We might be a small agency, but we’re ‘perfectly formed’, producing creative work on par with city-based agencies. The results speak for themselves, as clients around the country have trusted us to achieve their objectives for over nine years.”

The full list of awards and winners

Evan continues,

“Being recognised for our achievements over the last 12 months during our most challenging year is something we are really proud of. The effect of the pandemic on the economy and our clients meant we had do things differently so having a ‘virtual awards’ night wasn’t going to impact our celebrations.”

A bit about Barefruit (that's us!)

We find solutions and implements marketing strategies for our clients, including branding, TV commercials, print advertising, online marketing, websites, event management, PR, social media, direct marketing and more. While we are based in Ballina, we do work with client across the country. We are passionate about client relationships, workplace wellbeing with regular team updates and giving back to the local community whenever we can.

Evan continues,

“We have assembled a team of internationally experienced professionals, each passionate about producing high quality marketing solutions, all from our Ballina office, or currently from home. We have an eye for what looks great and an attention to detail. We love what we do and we’re proud to call Ballina ‘home’".

Happy Team
Working together to pull through

Co-founder and Director Claire Harding comments,

“Barefruit has created a culture that allows for a tight knit group of people who truly care about each other. We work around individual schedules and have flexible hours which allow life, family and extracurricular activities to fit into our professional lives – especially during this current climate. This approach really pays off when the team are living a well-balanced life and are able to let the creativity and strategic thinking flow naturally.”

She concludes,

“This is what I love about creating our independent agency from the ground up. We started the agency nine years ago in our dining room knowing that we wanted to do what we love, whilst seeing our clients succeed and our community grow. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us."

See our work...

What clients are saying

It was great working with Jennica and Claire from Barefruit Marketing. They really took time to understand my project and delivered amazing ‘pitch’ / media release to appeal to journalists and media corporations. I felt comfortable sharing my ideas, and they were able to capture my vision and marry it to their expertise. Would highly recommend.

Alex Bosin

EV Classic

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Claire and Charlotte from Barefruit Marketing who have helped me in the last couple of months to pull this amazing media event together. The agency has offered their services on a pro bono basis, I am so grateful for the work they have done. Claire and Charlotte have been my unconditional support crew to lean on for advice and ideas, and I am excited about how our relationship will move forward in the next few months.

Kate Kempshall

North Coast Community College

I have been using Barefruit for my SEO and website development for Behind the Barrel. The best part about Barefruit is your're not just getting the attention of one of their staff members. The whole team works together to help bring the best possible outcome for your business marketing. I highly recommend Evan and his team if you want to take your business marketing to the next level.

Jarryd

Behind the Barrel

The Barefruit team is always friendly, helpful and very professional. They have taken the time to understand our business needs and develop a effective strategy to grow our brand.

Andrew Illingworth

Tweed Coast Holiday Parks

Just want to say a HUGE thank you to each and every one of the team for the website. You all went over and above and most certainly went above my expectations. I'm extremely happy with it (been bragging a bit about it just quietly) and couldn't have done it without you all. Thank you for bringing this to life.

Trent Chapman

Prevent Consultants

Spend your End of Financial Year budget wisely…

We know the end of financial year is fast approaching. If you have some cash available in the budget, now’s the time to spend it. Most accountants will be asking you to look for ways to buy assets that minimise your tax for this year’s return. But spend it wisely… do you really need that snazzy new coffee machine for the office? Make sure your hard-earned cash is put into something that will bring you more, like investing in long-term marketing strategies that will pay off over the next financial year.

Here’s our take on spending your remaining FY21 budget to bring wins to your business.

Save $$ on media spend

The EOFY sales extend beyond retail. You can secure some great rates by purchasing media spots at this time of year, especially if you buy in bulk. If you’re thinking of running print ads in a local publication, why not purchase spots now for the next 6 to 12 months and secure yourself a deal. Same goes for radio, digital and TV.

Save money on media
new website
Invest in a new website

If you’re not already online, you need to seriously consider this to get ahead in the coming years. People are buying, connecting and sharing online more than ever before. Set your business up in a way that takes advantage of online behaviour. This could be a great time to refresh your company website, set up an online store or build a new site from the ground up. Your website is an asset that will serve your business into the future.

Pimp yo’ ride

If you’ve got a company vehicle, use it to its full potential…this is valuable, moving, real estate. Car stickers and wraps are an excellent tool to increase your brand awareness while you’re on the move. If you’re a tradie, builder, personal trainer, cleaner, allied health worker, home care provider (the list can go on), pimp up your company car –  sign writers might have some good offers at this time of year.

car wrap
social media campaign | Kookabox
Think of future promotions

Get organised for the year ahead and order promotional merchandise in advance. We’ve all experienced the rush to get flyers or a batch of business cards printed before a deadline. No one needs that stress. Consider what you’ll need in the lead up to Christmas: cards, product brochures, postcards, stickers etc. When it comes to events, what collateral will you need to grab the attention of consumers from the get-go; new signage, flyers, branded samples etc.

Polish up your marketing collateral

The beginning of the new financial year is a popular time for businesses to bring changes into effect. All marketing collateral will need to reflect any changes. Polish up your email signature, business cards, Web Design Byron Bay, campaign material and social media content so that they work together to deliver the same message.

Integrated messaging
As tax-time draws near, consider your marketing needs for the new financial year and what you could get organised now, rather than later. Giving a little love to your marketing will help business bare fruit.

Unsure where to start?

Leave your details and we’ll get in touch ?


See our work…

What clients are saying

It was great working with Jennica and Claire from Barefruit Marketing. They really took time to understand my project and delivered amazing ‘pitch’ / media release to appeal to journalists and media corporations. I felt comfortable sharing my ideas, and they were able to capture my vision and marry it to their expertise. Would highly recommend.

Alex Bosin

EV Classic

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Claire and Charlotte from Barefruit Marketing who have helped me in the last couple of months to pull this amazing media event together. The agency has offered their services on a pro bono basis, I am so grateful for the work they have done. Claire and Charlotte have been my unconditional support crew to lean on for advice and ideas, and I am excited about how our relationship will move forward in the next few months.

Kate Kempshall

North Coast Community College

I have been using Barefruit for my SEO and website development for Behind the Barrel. The best part about Barefruit is your're not just getting the attention of one of their staff members. The whole team works together to help bring the best possible outcome for your business marketing. I highly recommend Evan and his team if you want to take your business marketing to the next level.

Jarryd

Behind the Barrel

The Barefruit team is always friendly, helpful and very professional. They have taken the time to understand our business needs and develop a effective strategy to grow our brand.

Andrew Illingworth

Tweed Coast Holiday Parks

Just want to say a HUGE thank you to each and every one of the team for the website. You all went over and above and most certainly went above my expectations. I'm extremely happy with it (been bragging a bit about it just quietly) and couldn't have done it without you all. Thank you for bringing this to life.

Trent Chapman

Prevent Consultants

A fresh, fruity and fabulous new look for Barefruit

marketing agency rebrands and celebrates 7th anniversary

Our visual identity has evolved a fair amount since we ‘planted the seed’ back in 2012 and in that time our team has grown, as have the services we provide. To mark our 7th birthday, we're peeling off the layers and revealing a fresh new look.

Co-Founder and Chief Juicer, Claire Harding says, “What better way to celebrate seven years in the business than with a brand refresh?!”

“Our vision and values remain the same, however, it was time to evolve our brand mark. Our new brand holds onto the symbolism of 'the fruit' whilst modernising the mark, making it a simple, contemporary and a unique lockup,” she continues.

“All great brands change their marks over time - think Apple, Amazon, Nike, Google. The aim is to have a mark that your customers recognise in the blink of an eye, that needs no words,” she says.

From old to new, see how our brand has evolved...

Eleven years ago, Claire and Evan Harding – marketing professionals with over 40 years’ combined experience – moved from London to the Northern Rivers in search of a new life and in 2012 they set up their business, a boutique marketing agency focussed on inspirational, creative marketing that would really work - in essence, help businesses to fructify or bear fruit.

They weren’t to know how this idea would develop over the coming years through a chain of exciting events. Their passion for growth and to help businesses thrive, along with their down to earth approach, brought in key clients who were taken by Barefruit’s bold ideas and strategies - including Ballina Campervans, Motorhomes & CaravansTweed Coast Holiday Parks and Westlawn Finance.

marketing agency turn 7

During their life-span, Barefruit Marketing have collected a number of prestigious and local awards including, in 2016 & 2017 'Business of the Year' and 'Professional Services' (Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce Awards), 'Excellence in Small Business (Northern Rivers Business Awards), 'State Finalists - Marketing Communications' (National Optus My Business Awards). In 2018, they were nominated as finalists for 'Young Employee of the Year' and the 'Professional Services' (Ballina Business Awards).

The business has rapidly expanded, with increased demand locally and nationally for a regional agency providing city experience and expertise across the whole marketing realm – from research, branding, strategy and planning to advertising, design, PR, events, website design and digital marketing. Employing 14 creative humans with varied national and international experience including global agency roles, together they operate as the Barefruit Marketing team, based in the centre of Ballina’s CBD – the perfect spot to service clients throughout the Northern Rivers and beyond.

The bright Barefruit orange branding cannot be missed as you go by the Riverwalk Arcade in Ballina. Inside, the agency is open plan, energetic and inspiring, with their own wall garden, ‘personalised’ gallery and coffee and dance tunes on tap all day – and when a brief is on, all night.

The Barefruit office is also home to 'Rafiki Mwema' a not-for-profit charity supporting traumatised children in Kenya, of which Claire is a board member and Barefruit Marketing are corporate sponsors.

The Barefruit story is a great example of what hard work, networking, belief, and passion in your business can bring. "Don't be afraid to grow and to challenge the norm. We are so thankful to our wonderful clients, the local community, our staff and the Business Chambers for believing in what we do and giving us the drive to keep getting better," says Co-Founder and Head Harvester, Evan Harding.

If you want to get in touch with us to see how we can help you – head on over to our contact page.

Related Tags: Branding Gold Coast, SEO BALLINA

Optus My Business Awards Finalists

Business Awards

To top off an already exciting year Barefruit Marketing was shortlisted to the final 10 nominees for the Workplace of the Year category in the Optus My Business Awards!

The Optus My Business Awards are on of the longest-standing business awards programs in Australia, identifying Australia’s best business operators. Winners of these prestigious awards represent the best of the best. The powerhouse duo and the co-founders of Barefruit Marketing, Evan and Claire Harding, travelled to Sydney on Friday to attend this significant event, held at Sydney’s Four Points by Sheraton in Darling Harbour.

Covering 28 categories, the Optus My Business Awards acknowledge businesses and individual leaders that are achieving excellence in customer service and also recognises successes in innovation, corporate social responsibility and workplace culture.

"Our approach to people management and culture has shaped our business, our people and contributed to our successes" said Evan Harding on what he believes are some of the defining factors that lead to the agency’s initial nomination for Workplace of the Year.

On arrival back to the agency in Ballina Claire commented “Although we didn’t come away with the gold, so to speak, it was still such a momentous achievement for our agency and a privilege to be there with some truly amazing businesses from all over Australia.” Barefruit Marketing was the only nomination from the Northern Rivers – No small feat!

Barefruit Marketing shortlisted for Workplace of the Year!

Barefruit Marketing are shortlisted for the prestigious Optus My Business Awards, in the Workplace of the Year category at Australia’s longest-standing business awards and premier event of the year for SME's.

You can read the full article from the Ballina Advocate here.

Barefruit Marketing

Celebrating client milestones at the Ballina Business Awards

Barefruit at Ballina Business Awards
A huge shout out to two of our clients for their successful wins at the weekend!

It was a night of all nights for local businesses at the Ballina Coast & Hinterland Business Excellence Awards, held at the Ballina RSL club. Everyone got 'dolled up' in their finest attire, and of course each member of the Barefruit Marketing team wore a hint of 'orange' - from bow ties, suspenders to high heels, and jewellery!

Barefruit were finalists but unfortunately didn't take the win, however we celebrated our clients successes - who took home 3 awards in total!

We're so pleased for our client BCMCHorizon Motorhomes, Horizon Motorhomes who took out the award for Excellence in Trade, Construction & Manufacturing (sponsored by Commonwealth Bank Australia) and for BCMC & Horizon Motorhomes who took out the award for Business Excellence (sponsored by ZZZ 2LM FM). This is a huge achievement for BCMC who are super pleased to be celebrating their 30th year in business (this year). This year, sees more growth for BCMC with the addition of caravans to their offering. BCMC is now the only retailer from the Tweed Coast to Coffs Coast to sell Millard Caravans. Last year, BCMC/Horizon also won the Manufacturing and Innovation award.

We are also so proud of our client UPA, who won the award for Aged Care & Wellbeing (sponsored Ballina RSL Club Ltd). This is also a huge achievement for UPA who offer a diverse range of aged care services extending from the Gold Coast south to Port Macquarie in New South Wales. The North Coast Region has continued to provide excellence in: Home Care, Residential Care, Respite and Carelink Centres and Youth Care (Foster Care) UPA in Alstonville.

A huge congratulations to our clients, we love seeing you win big and are honoured to work with you on your on-going achievements! We hope everyone had a wonderful night!

See photos from the night below (L-R) UPA's North Coast Region with their Account Manager, Jo Coby, Director's Claire & Evan Harding, BCMC/Horizon Clayton & Kylie Kearney, the Trophies, Barefruit's HR Manager Sara Davis, BCMC/Horizon Kylie Kearney, Director Claire Harding, the whole Barefruit Team (minus Jo and Nat), and some extra Barefruit happy snaps.

 

Awards bare fruit for Ballina business

 

Thanks for the write up Ballina Advocate on our recent award win.

"WINNING the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce's business of the year award last week was a special moment for Claire and Evan Harding - even if it was the second time the business won the gong."

"The owners of Barefruit Marketing in Ballina have had a string of success in recent years and said that success has helped grow their business through exposure the awards have given them..."

Read more by clicking on the image right.

We’ve been shortlisted for Optus My Business Awards

We are proud to announce that we've been shortlisted as a finalist to win an award in the Media, Marketing and Advertising Business of the Year category at the Optus My Business Awards 2016, hosted by My Business, Australia’s longest-running publication tailored to the small business community.

The Optus My Business Awards, which covers 24 categories, recognises individual and business excellence across the diverse range of industries and locations in which small businesses operate.

Winners in the individual categories will automatically be shortlisted for the coveted My Business – Business of the Year Award.

“This year we’ve received a huge interest in the Optus My Business Awards, with hundreds of submissions flowing in from across the country. Congratulations to all the businesses that have made it to the finalist stage – it’s an outstanding achievement,” said Phillip Tarrant, editor of My Business.

“With so much innovation, hard work and service excellence on display, I don’t envy the judges their difficult job of determining the winners. I have no doubt the excitement will only continue to build as we count down to the big night.”

Claire Harding, Director at Barefruit Marketing said she was humbled by the nomination.

“Barefruit Marketing’s recognition for our contribution to the Northern Rivers business community reinforces our belief in a truly integrated approach to marketing, and having the ability to really listen to your customers” she added.

Winners of the Lennox Head Chamber of Commerce Awards 2016 ‘Business of the Year’, Barefruit Marketing has celebrated a number of successes during the last 18 months, as winners of three awards in 2015, the ‘Best Home-Based’ and ‘Online Marketing’ Award at the Ballina Chamber of Commerce Awards, ‘Excellence in Small Business at the Northern Rivers Business Awards’ and were also ‘State Finalists’ in the NSW Business Awards.

The winners of the Optus My Business Awards will be announced at a five-star gala awards dinner on Friday, 18 November at Sydney’s Four Points by Sheraton.

Wish us luck!

Related Tag: Digital Marketing Gold Coast