Member Article

Jim sees his small business up in lights

A local alarm installer couldn’t believe his luck when he was chosen to star in an advertising campaign across the whole of Newcastle. Jim Mullarkey’s family business Custom Alarms employs just two people and works across Tyne and Wear installing burglar and fire alarms in homes and businesses.

He has been chosen by a new internet company signposter.com to have his company displayed on billboards all over Newcastle. The Signposter service allows small businessa owners to log on and design their own advert using the on-site system, then see their company on the local poster sites of their choice.

Simon Read, of Signposter.com said, “When small businesses look at big poster sites they often see Coca Cola or Ford, and think they could never afford a poster, never mind know where to go to book one. Now we can help them advertise their company in a big way through our simple little website.

“It’s time for local companies to claim back their community from the international brands, so if you own a chip shop in Newbiggin by the Sea or a hairdressers on Grainger Street, now is your chance to tell the world.”

Jim, 58 from Cramlington, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got a phone call out the blue from Signposter.com asking me if I wanted to be the company they used in their launch. I thought it was a wind up by You’ve Been Framed or Tony Horne in the Morning!

“I set up my business over 25 years ago and have always just relied on word of mouth advertising, but when this opportunity came along I couldn’t believe it. I’m really proud to have my 15 minutes of fame after all these years of hard work.”

Signposter.com is holding a workshop at The Assembly Rooms in Newcastle on Thursday 29 May to show small businesses how to use the sstem. To find out more visit www.signposter.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .