Published June 23rd, 2017
A multi award-winning PR and marketing agency in Cornwall celebrates its 15th birthday this month.
Barefoot Media, which is based at St Wenn, south west of Wadebridge, was formed in 2002 by former journalist Jim Michell and currently employs seven staff. The agency specialises in content-led multimedia campaigns for clients involved in food and drink, tourism, property and events.
Clients include Padstow Christmas Festival, Polo on the Beach at Watergate Bay, The Olde House at Chapel Amble, the Leopallooza Festival, Laurence Associates, and The Beach at Bude.
Jim operated as a sole trader for the first couple of years of Barefoot’s life, initially focusing on PR for surfing and sporting events, juggling a young family with punishing hours in the office. His wife Ellie joined him in 2004, looking after the accounts and writing the popular Barefoot Cornwall blog.
They recruited their first employee in 2009, but guarded against expanding too quickly, putting quality of service ahead of speedy growth. During the next couple of years, the agency re-focused, deciding to specialise in food and drink, travel, and tourism.
“The fact that we’re specialists in these sectors means we know who to talk to in the media and can get consistently good results for our clients,” said Jim.
“We work very closely with all of our clients who range from family-run concerns to multi-million pound businesses. One of the most satisfying things is helping them reach their goals and aspirations and knowing that we’ve been a part of that journey.”
Barefoot’s first PR client was the Watergate Bay Hotel, a relationship which is still going strong 15 years later.
Watergate Bay’s Brand Director, Judi Blakeburn, said: “Marketing today is almost unrecognisable from what it was 15 years ago, with the growth in digital and social media and the changes this has brought to the mainstream media.
“Barefoot continues to evolve, staying ahead of the curve, and developing the services it offers to keep pace with our changing needs as a business.
“Jim and his team are incredibly professional and hardworking, and that is borne out by the results they produce.”
Jim enlisted early support from EU-funded Unlocking Potential, which offers a range of services to start-up and existing businesses across Cornwall, as well as ongoing specialist director-level coaching from Oxford Innovation.
He added: “The team at Unlocking Potential has been terrific, particularly at the start, helping us with recruitment, contracts, training and mentoring.
“For the past few years we have received great support from Oxford Innovation as part of their coaching programme for high growth businesses. The mentoring has helped us focus on the best ways to grow the company in a sustainable way.”
Barefoot has an impressive legacy for growing talent, and several of its former employees are now based at top PR and marketing agencies in London.
During the last 15 years, Jim and his team have netted a dozen top industry awards, most notably the CIPR South West’s Outstanding Small Consultancy.
