A Shropshire farm shop has made a giant leap into the digital marketing world – and is reaping the benefits.
Apley Farm Shop at Norton, between Telford and Bridgnorth, called on Shifnal-based Ascendancy in 2018 to help boost online advertising potential.
And the plan put in place has proved so successful that campaigns for events often need to be ended due to tickets being sold out.
The success comes as figures show more small firms are seeing the benefits of digital marketing and are taking steps to become more actively involved in promoting their business in this way.
Apley Farm Shop opened eight years ago and has been named one of the UK’s top destination farm shops. The site includes an animal park, pottery painting, gift shop, florist, plant centre, food hall, creamery cafe restaurant and Pigg’s Playbarn.
Lady Hamilton, of Apley Farm Shop, said: “We opened in March 2011 and have seen a year-on-year rise in footfall and business during that time.
“We are open 362 days of the year and are now at the point where we employ 48 staff – many of whom are part-time. We decided a year ago that we needed to look at our digital marketing and really promote the fact that we are so much more than a farm shop.
“In spring 2018 we engaged Ascendancy to manage our Facebook advertising and Google Ads – while still posting on Facebook ourselves.
“I use a spreadsheet with details of offers and events happening throughout the year and I work out how much I can spend on Facebook and Google Ads then share those figures with Ascendancy who set to work creating campaigns for us.
“It’s been very successful, to the point where we have had to end campaigns before the event as we’ve sold out.
“Ascendancy are always there, very consistent, with good knowledge, polite and professional.”
Helen Culshaw, Ascendancy founder, said: “Latest statistics show more businesses are turning to Facebook and Google Ads campaigns as an effective way to promote events and other selling points for the customer.
“Apley Farm Shop identified this as an area they could improve upon and called us in for help and advice. It is something we have a great deal of experience in and were delighted to get involved.
“It’s an offline business but uses digital marketing really well and has certainly now found success online.”
For more information about Apley Farm Shop, telephone 01952 581002 or visit https://apleyfarmshop.co.uk/
For more about Ascendancy, telephone 01952 462845 or visit https://ascendancy.agency
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