Queenscourt Hospice is a charity that provides free, high-quality palliative care for the people of West Lancashire, Formby and Southport. #teamqueenscourt provide care and support for patients with far advanced progressive incurable illnesses, enabling them to achieve the best quality of life at each new stage.
Artemis were appointed by Queenscourt in 2018, to provide full marketing support in the run up to Queenscourt’s Pearl Anniversary in 2021. Artemis provide a wide range of services to Queenscourt, including; strategic marketing advice & guidance, a full press office function, content creation, digital marketing and creative input.
As part of this ongoing partnership, Artemis work closely with the Head of Income Generation and Communications at Queenscourt to create a range of marketing strategies to support the overall strategic objectives of the hospice, which includes income generation.
As with all hospices, Queenscourt faced a difficult year in 2020 due to the pandemic and the ongoing national and regional lockdowns. Queenscourt Retail was directly affected by the pandemic with two of its shops permanently closing as a result. Artemis were tasked with increasing awareness of Queenscourt’s retail outlets and encouraging people to continue shopping locally when the lockdown was lifted. This also included the promotion of Queenscourt’s e-Bay offering.
The Solution
In response to the effect of the pandemic on Queenscourt Retail, Artemis created ‘Nearly New November’; a marketing strategy to encourage supporters to shop more sustainably, avoid fast fashion and shop local to keep Queenscourt in Service. The timing of the campaign in November was key and was aimed at increasing footfall prior to ‘Black Friday’ and into the subsequent busy Christmas trading period.
Artemis recognised the fact that the growing trend of sustainability is something Queenscourt could capitalise on, with their retail and eBay shops containing a range of pre-loved items.
The Nearly New November campaign was promoted across traditional media and social media platforms where Artemis introduced a new logo, social media graphics and a clear call to action for new and existing customers. Coverage was secured across the regional newspapers, radio channels and local media groups.
There was a small window in which to drive footfall to the shops and boost sales, whilst restrictions were lifted. However, when the UK government announced a second national lockdown, this campaign moved online, focusing on the hospice’s eBay offering.
The Result
Queenscourt eBay recorded a significant increase in monthly sales figures compared to the previous November, particularly when the Nearly New November was live.
Emma and her team at Artemis feel like an extension of our own team here at Queenscourt. Their creative input and marketing expertise really enhance our own efforts, and the Nearly New November campaign clearly demonstrated how they add value to our charity
Queenscourt Hospice