Former Swansea Bay editor makes his garden grow

David Hardy left his post as Carmarthen Journal editor around four years ago. But his influence on the Swansea Bay media scene lives on.

Today he’s the avuncular head of marketing and communications at Llanarthne’s National Botanic Garden of Wales.
One duty is to oversee production of the Garden’s regular magazine Yr Ardd. And very colourful it is too.
The spring issue’s just out (pictured) and features the usual mix of news, background features and publicity for forthcoming events.
Two elements in particular display how the Garden genuinely wishes to embrace the Swansea Bay community – and suggest that there’s plenty of room for other commercial partners and associates.
The first is a full-page ad for the Severn Link, the “flying cat” service due to plough a Swansea-Ilfracombe furrow from this spring. It reveals a marketing tie-up between the two enterprises. I hope it works well for both – and I urge other tourism-related organisations to hop aboard both the ferry and the garden.
The second is a glossy A4 flier insert from the Scarlets. It advertises four imminent home games which have publicity tie-ins with the likes of Princes Gate water, Pembrokeshire’s Bluestone Resort and Llanelli’s Stradey Park Hotel. The flier offers 10% off matchday ticket prices to Garden visitors. In these days of cluttered promotional markets, this is a fine effort by the Garden and the rugby region.
To discuss other creative routes to publicity, give me a call on 07758 745 240.

February 19's Swansea Bay Media Highlights

... For all those interested in & working in the Swansea Bay media
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Online BBC Cymru Wales Click

Don’t miss – Fabulous images from a new exhibition tracing the lives of Italians in Wales – it features evocative black and white shots of folk across Swansea Bay. Detail right. Click
Key local story - A commemorative sculpture of Ray Gravell has been commissioned by BBC Cymru Wales. Click
Publicity power – A horticulturist is pictured with bananas grown at Carmarthenshire’s National Botanic Garden; a nice plug for this day-out treasure. Other tour attractions should try similar publicity tricks – but don’t try growing subtropical herbaceous edibles. Click
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Broadcast Bay Radio Click
Key local story – Swansea and Neath Port Talbot could each be £4m better off every year if Assembly funding was fairer, according to Plaid Cymru’s Dr Dai Lloyd.
Typical ad break – Tact Cymru fostering services, Day’s vehicle rentals, South Wales Scorpions rugby league.
Get involved – Bay’s online hot question for listeners today is: Should we all work just 21 hours a week? Click here and hit Burning Question
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Print South Wales Guardian Click
Lead story – A young Ammanford motorist seriously injured in a road smash is trying to find the Good Samaritan who comforted her as she lay in her VW’s wreckage.
Key opinion – A public meeting might be considered to save Hendy Library should Carmarthenshire Council vote to close it soon.
Promo power – WordPress seems to be the web’s content management site of choice for many these days – and very fine it is too. So it’s good to see Ammanford’s My Custom Wordpress trying to capitalise with an ad flogging websites for £100.
Don’t miss – The return of Shane Williams fever. Post-Scotland, the Amman Valley flier is touted for a knighthood on page one ... and the Papacy on page three!
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Community Radio Tircoed Click
News - Swansea Council has been criticised for chopping down a protected tree.
Show info - Stuart Loosemore has local singer/song writter Aislinn Peters in on The Acousstic Show today from 8pm.
Business - Petrol price cuts not passed on, claim.
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Make every penny count! Andy Pearson can guide your business through the media minefield. Phone 07758 745 240. Email andy@andypearsonpublicity.co.uk
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