Let me introduce myself - Garry Hartley - Out and About Advertising Ltd - Outdoor Poster Advertising

Launched Out and About Advertising Ltd on Monday 22nd October 2006 having been made redundant from my previous company on Friday 19th October 2006. My old company Maiden Outdoor Advertising Ltd had been taken over by an American Outdoor Advertising Contractor. I'd been with my previous company for over 27 years and started as a Site Finder (Development Exec) finding new potential Outdoor Advertising sites, identifying the owner, negotiating a contract and then applying for planning consent to build a poster site. I was promoted a number of times and moved house several times too. From 1989 I was the Development & Commercial Director leading a team of 5 Regional Directors and 30 Development Execs and Managers delivering 32,500 advertising panels (from 3,000 panels when I joined), through organic development, site leasing and corporate acquisitions, where I was heavily involved in detailed due diligence in conjunction with our lawyers and accountants. Negotiated some large concessions including Safeway Supermarkets and Morrisons with 2,500 x 6 sheet posters and many more important strategic concessions which provided an evenly balanced National Portfolio of sites which are still around today. We had over 450 of "those sites that turn" and the first 100 panel National Network of Backlights "Apollo" Remember Sophie Dahl on the Opium advert? I travelled a fair bit too, advising our partners in Moscow, Poland, Prague, Paris and Dublin. In 1993 I was part of a Buy In Management Buy Out (BIMBO) which was a very exciting time as the previous Family owner was selling out having been through some difficult recessionary times. It was a great success and we floated the company a few years later after first taking out the institutions and owning the company outright in a second Buy Out between 7 Managers. I was very fortunate to be sent to Harvard Business School where I completed the Advanced Management Programme (AMP162) - a two month highly intensive Global Leadership course for aspiring CEOs. At the time it cost $50K and 140 people from over 30 countries were represented. We read and had lectures on at least 3 HBS Case Studies each day, sometimes with the CEOs from the largest and highest profile companies in the world. The days started at 6:00am and would finish around Midnight for 6 days per week during the course.

I now really enjoy working for myself and spend the time I used to spend commuting up to 4 hours a day, in board meetings, writing reports, dealing with issues etc etc developing and marketing my own head on Poster Space on some great head on poster panels in my local area - South Bucks and Thames Valley. I have built up a very loyal client base and many of my customers have renewed their poster space bookings and booked extra panels on long term deals. I'm able to deliver a very personal, flexible service which has been recognised in some very nice Testimonials. Posters really are so noticeable and effective - remember Hello Boys by TBWA. Creative Director Trevor Beattie said "Keep it simple". Posters should not use much more than Six words for Six seconds - the time it takes to view and take in the message. They can't be switched off, retuned, turned over, blocked or chucked in the bin. You don't have to "Search" for a poster - it's there all day every day - repeatedly delivering your message to a slow moving and sometimes captive audience. You must measure the effectiveness of your advertising and redirect your budget where it delivers results. For a Local Business a strategically placed Head On Poster can deliver high exposure for little cost. It's like an extra Head On shop window.

I'm heavily involved with the Rotary Club of High Wycombe where I am the Press & Publicity Officer. We're promoting our 16th annual PedalPush a 25 & 50 mile charity bike ride through the Chilterns with over 230 riders registering for the event last year. With my contacts I was able to develop some high profile banner advertising sites and produce an eye catching poster. I also take part in the Reading in Schools programme for around 2 hours every week in a local Primary School having had my CRB check. This is the highlight of the week with some very funny comments and stories from the enthusiastic children.

At the weekend and quite a few evenings I can be found at Hazlemere Golf Club where I am the Vice Captain having been Handicap Sec for 2 years before that. Sitting on the General Golf Committee and helping out where I can. Oh - and I also play a lot of Golf - Networking, socially and in a lot of competitions against other clubs and at my home club in singles, team and mixed events which I have to organise. As Alice Cooper (who plays off I think 7) said something along the lines of - it's better than drugs and you get to live longer. My two children are currently at Uni and College studying Art and Fashion Management.