In January 2007, Marketing Doris officially came into being.

What started as a “temporary” solution after redundancy (while I figured out what my proper job might be) has quietly grown into a business that’s supported clients across multiple sectors, survived recessions, pivoted through a pandemic, and adapted to more marketing changes than I can count.

This year marks 19 years of Marketing Doris, so I thought it was the perfect time to pause, reflect, and share a few of the stories, lessons, and realities behind the numbers.

From stopgap to staying power

Marketing Doris wasn’t built with a grand masterplan. It was created to provide interim marketing support - practical help, flexibility, and experience - at a time when businesses needed it most.

Nineteen years later, that same approach still underpins everything I do.

Clients don’t come to Marketing Doris for marketing theory or flashy jargon. They come for clear thinking, honest advice, and someone who can get things done, often within tight budgets, limited time, and real-world constraints.

Relationships matter (more than tactics)

One of the most consistent themes across 19 years has been the importance of relationships.

I joined BNI in the same month I set up Marketing Doris, and I’m still a member today. Over 75% of my business has come through referrals - direct, indirect, and second-layer introductions - which says far more about trust and long-term relationships than any single campaign ever could.

Marketing changes. Platforms change. Algorithms change.

Good relationships don’t.

Variety isn’t a distraction — it’s the point

Marketing Doris has never been about one niche service or channel.

Over the years, my work has included:

• Marketing management and strategy
• Campaign planning and delivery
• Copywriting and content
• Social media and brand awareness
• Project and budget management
• Training, mentoring, and sounding-board support

Often, my role is part marketer, part translator, part devil’s advocate — helping client’s sense-check ideas, prioritise activity, and focus on what will actually make a difference.

That variety isn’t accidental. It reflects how marketing works in the real world.

Collaboration over ego

I don’t pretend to do everything myself, and I never have.

Marketing Doris regularly collaborates with trusted associates across:

• Graphic design
• Website builds
• Photography and video
• PPC and specialist digital support

Sometimes that means working together on projects. Sometimes it means connecting clients with the right people and stepping back. The goal is always the same - the best outcome for the client, not protecting territory.

Adapting without losing direction

Before the pandemic, I was on one or two client sites every day.

Covid forced a rapid shift to remote working, and it turned out to be a positive one. Today, client work is primarily remote, supported by regular online marketing meetings and occasional face-to-face sessions where they add real value.

That shift also enabled a move from Cheshire to West Yorkshire, proof that flexibility, when done properly, benefits everyone.

Pride points (because we should talk about them)

Some moments deserve a mention:

• Supporting clients that have gone on to win industry awards, including Queen’s Awards and a current King’s Award shortlist
• Volunteering for over nine years as a Marketing & Communications Trustee for a youth charity
• Chairing CIM Yorkshire, helping support marketers at all stages of their careers
• Seeing my godson build his own career in marketing, and knowing I played a small part in inspiring that journey

Marketing is often about results, but it’s also about people, and that’s the part I’m most proud of.

Still curious. Still learning. Still enjoying it.

Nineteen years in, I’m still a marketing geek at heart.

I love clever campaigns, creative ideas, and marketing that makes people stop, think, or smile - whether that involves blue ducks, pop art, Top Trumps, or something a little unexpected.

Most of all, I’m proud that Marketing Doris has stayed true to its original purpose; simplifying marketing with tailored solutions, built around real businesses and real people.

If you’d like to talk marketing, or just sense-check an idea, I’m always happy to have a conversation.

Let’s arrange a 1-2-1