Hello, it’s been a while since we spoke, here’s the latest:

First of all, Jim is back from the Canaries, Rich the ‘Ideas-Eagle’ has well & truly landed, and Andreanne has flown the nest! It’s been a busy time at Ph, but then isn’t it always?

We’ve been working on some exciting projects recently and dotted our horizon with wind turbines and solar panels in response to an influx of energy saving clients. With Liverpool embracing the year of the environment and the launch of the city’s very own designer bag for life, we wanted to put our Ph. green stamp on things too.

We can’t wait to give you the first glimpse of the Eco Environments website!

We’re delighted to announce our collaboration with Liverpool based arts emporium, FACT. Having previously commissioned and presented over 250 digital media artworks themselves, FACT approached us to design and boost their online social presence to reach a wider audience within the northwest and throughout the UK.

Our team has blossomed during spring! Our modest Rodney Street office is bursting at the seams with creative buds so we’re looking to grow into a more spacious, serene setting within the city centre. Our wish list is as follows:

A large space, which is bright and professional – think warehouse loft, meets John and Yoko’s white apartment (?)

A ‘Training & Ideas’ room where our team can do their thing

Parking spaces – Just a few, we’re not greedy and we’re trying to stay green remember!

Kitchen facilities – if you share an office with 9 men you’ll understand that they cant make it past 2pm without hunting for some long-forgotten cereal in the cupboards or spending £10 a day in subway?! 

Are we asking too much? Answers via email to kate@ph-creative.com

So…………….what have you been up to?

When Bryan asked me to nip across the water with some paperwork, I swapped my heels for ballet flats in anticipation of the trek down to central station for the train to Birkenhead. Little did I know I would end up in Times Square not Hamilton Square!  Last week I jetted out to New York to meet Ph.Creative NY, and to participate in a spot of shopping of course.

Bryan had arranged for me to meet the Ph.Creative NY team later in the week to collect some design work, so my focus initially was being a tourist. With my ipod blaring out Odyssey’s hit ‘Native New Yorker’ I took in the sights and sounds of Manhattan’s most famous landmarks.  What struck me on walking 52 blocks in one afternoon is the amount of people and businesses crammed into such a small space.

I studied HND Fashion at college and have been an avid collector of British Vogue for many years, so my favourite part of Manhattan is the Garment District situated Mid-Town.  On seeing the giant button and needle statue on Fashion Ave and 7TH, I was transported back to being 17 and thinking I could be the next Stella McCartney or Vivienne Westwood.  There is a wealth of creativity just oozing out of the Manhattan streets and avenues, everywhere you look there are outlets whether it be fabric warehouses, fashion houses, PR & Media companies or design agencies.  Whilst the opportunities are plentiful, the competition for that ‘chance of a lifetime’ role must be seriously fierce.

Once I had exhausted my budget on 5th Avenue and the Liberty Island Gift store (tacky stationery for all at our Liverpool office) I hailed a cab and headed over to meet the team at Ph.Creative NY.  I was comforted to note that after finding my way down possibly the longest and most depressing corridor in the world; the contemporary yet cozy office is very similar to our Liverpool base.  The similarities didn’t end there; book shelves bulging with design magazines and creative journals were precariously dotted around the walls, the team were all huddled over their individual monitors furiously clicking away at ongoing design projects, so the only thing missing was a Google Dave!

With design work in hand I headed back to my hotel to pack up and fly back to reality. I really fell in love with New York, the people, the food and sights and sounds. But in all honesty I fell for the belief that my creative dreams come true, and if you can make it there... well you know the rest.
 

Here it goes, this is my first blog for Ph.Creative since joining the company as an Administrator in late January. I decided to write about how I’ve found my first few weeks, luckily I don’t have to stretch the truth to keep the boss happy because the truth is… I love my job!

When I was offered an interview I got straight online and started to research the company, to ensure it was somewhere I could really kick start a career and put some roots down. I must say this is the first role I have applied for where I’ve seen my potential boss on YouTube and featured in the local press before even meeting him!

Like most people new in the job, I spent my first few days being terrified of doing something wrong, trying to remember everybody’s name and working out the Krypton Factor-like puzzle of who has which cup in the kitchen. Thank god for Pantone coloured mugs and Ph.Green.

There are lots of things the team have in common, their passion for all things creative being the most obvious, the Everton FC / Liverpool FC divide which is normally the main topic of conversation on a Monday morning (Come on You Blues!) and their ability to answer the same question I have asked a hundred times before, without looking even slightly annoyed. Yet their individual talents and personalities make our Rodney Street office not only a diverse place to work, it’s also really fun.

Guiding our clients through their individual projects, from the initial meeting and a coffee, to sending their websites live and watching them grow, that’s the job satisfaction we all work so hard to achieve. What I think sets Ph.Creative apart from the rest, is that every single person is involved in every single project. We’re a team.

I’ve become so much more aware of the amount of time and effort invested into networking around the city centre. The idea of simply meeting up with a fellow local business to discuss how we might be able to help each other is fantastic. Even if there is no scope at the present time, it doesn’t matter; we made another friend and forged a new business relationship.

During these first few weeks I have learnt so much about the industry, where we’ve been and where we’re going to, our clients and their needs and aspirations, and I’ve learnt about myself.

I’m not afraid of making a mistake because I’ll get it right next time. I don’t get anybodies name wrong anymore, because I drew a named seating plan and stuck in on my desk. Also, it’s not really the end of the world if you get the red cup when you know yours is always the green one.

I realise that in writing this blog I am going to have to write a follow-up to prove its still fun and I’m making new mistakes. Maybe I can tell you more about the characters here in another few weeks, the adventures of Google Dave, Disco Steve and of course ‘Internet Marketing Genius’ Bryan Adams is enough to write a book.

But for now I’m still the new girl.