A conversation with Jenny Bendelow - our Publishing Manager

Posted on Tags: Conversation

How long have you worked at Strawberry and how did you get here?

I have been employed at Strawberry since 1996. After working for two large corporations previously it was refreshing to come to a small company where decisions could be made quickly so you could get on with your job and cut through red tape. I was being made redundant and just applied on the off chance to see if there were any jobs going. I was interviewed on the Monday, offered the job on the Wednesday and started work the following Monday!

What’s changed about the company since you started?

The size for one - when I started there were only four other people in the company, now there are 25. It has been good to see the company grow and achieve success over the years.

Like everyone, the biggest change I have experienced in the last decade is the digital revolution. When I started this job if someone hadn’t sent their copy for an advert we would have to ring them and wait for the post to arrive the following day. Sometimes it could take a week to get copy and for an advert to get approved. Today it can be emailed to us in the morning, sent on proof several times and approved within an hour or so. The wonders of technology! We can even design adverts based on the content of a company’s website, so they don’t always have to send us any copy either – we literally do everything for them providing a service that is second to none.

What tips would you give to aspiring designers trying to break into the industry?

You might have to start off as an apprentice or on a trial basis, but I’d say 95% of our juniors started this way and were taken on within a year. One of the good things about a small company like Strawberry is that if someone sends in a great CV that impresses Jonathan they can be given a chance straight away, they don’t have to wait until an actual position is advertised as we are expanding all the time.

What projects are you currently working on?

We have just finished the advert sections of the 2011 Bridlington Guide and 2011 Visitor Guide for VHEY which we have done for the last few years and are working on the VHEY Mini Guides for Bridlington, Beverley and Hull as well as their annual Hull & East Yorkshire Attractions Map.

We have been producing the monthly magazine, 24seven lifestyle, for the last 3 and a half years which has tight deadlines and the last few days of production are always extremely hectic. We are constantly raising the bar in the quality of the design and all rise to the challenge to ensure the magazine looks fab and is error free. The whole mag has just been redesigned to steer it more towards a ‘lifestyle’ type magazine that will appeal to more people hopefully.

We produced the Rowley Manor wedding brochure last year and we’re starting work on a couple of other wedding brochures shortly. Usually, the publisher sells the advertising space and we do everything else from designing it, writing it to liaising with advertisers to get their adverts designed and approved.

Last year we designed various event leaflets, flyers, invites, newsletters and posters for Dove House Hospice free of charge. We are carrying this partnership on into 2011 so are providing all the design work they need for this year too. They are currently planning to open Dulcies café onsite at Chamberlain Road that will be open to visitors, staff and members of the public. We are designing the logo, branding and other marketing material.

We also produce artwork for perimeter boards at various football and rugby clubs across the country.

What do you enjoy most about working at Strawberry?

I enjoy the variety in my job. No two days are the same. There are always different brochures we are producing with different target audiences so adverts have to be designed accordingly and no two adverts are the same. Over the years we have produced brochures for car showrooms, hotels, restaurants, wedding venues, golf clubs, racecourses and magazines amongst others. Another thing I like is the ‘no blame’ culture that Jonathan fosters, everyone gets on well and there is always someone to help if you are stuck with something.

What inspires you?

Music. Great photography.