Partner Article

Injury proves the catalyst for new business

A freak accident on a London dance floor has inspired a young entrepreneur to create her own marketing and advertising empire in the region.

Julie Stout, from Peterlee, has pooled her wealth of experience in print, broadcast, online and directory advertising to launch Just Out Marketing.

Mrs Stout decided to go it alone following a trip to an awards ceremony in London in which she was named as one of the UK’s Top Marketing Executives.

Once she had picked up the award from her previous employer, she celebrated by dancing with colleagues and friends.

However, after taking off her heels to dance bare foot, she heard a loud crack – which she later found out to be the sound of her Achilles snapping.

Six months off work followed which lead Julie into thinking about drawing up plans for her own business, built on her in-depth knowledge of the advertising industry.

The entrepreneur has handled over a million of pounds worth of revenue year on year with an impressive portfolio of clients, including major high street retailers, law firms, the NHS, large motor dealerships as well as small firms and start-ups.

Her new company aims to tap into the demand from advertisers for a more personal approach - without the inflated costs of large agencies - and independent, unbiased advice on marketing strategies.

Ms Stout said: “I have worked in this industry for over 15 years and built up relationships with some of the best people in business to work alongside and so this seemed the right time to set up on my own.

“I really care about my clients’ businesses and always ensure that I offer the right products to suit their business requirements to enable them to grow.

“You can’t tell people how to market their business without listening and understanding them and this is the one thing I want my company to be known as, a marketing company that listens first and then talks.”

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