2016 is going so fast, and the Christmas decorations are already up in the shops.  So, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

We've helped with the inception and launch of www.hohoho.ie - go take a look.

It's a brilliant concept that we had the pleasure of showcasing in a simple, easy to understand, no fuss website that can be used by adults without the little ones wanting to stay (we don't want to ruin their dreams by telling we teach Santas!). 

Fully secure, we bolted on a seamless payment portal with various data capture opportunities integrated to allow immediate and future success.

Give us a shout at [email protected] to arrange a no obligation chat and we can get you up and running for Christmas.

​www.hohoho.ie

Delighted to say I have had a successful start to 2016. Always obvious when my own site is not updated!  Here's what I have been up to ......

I have completed various projects in our usual speedy manner, mainly focused on simply effective websites.

www.CorkSkipBags.com - a Cobh based business offering a domestic rubbish collection service, now providing a skip bag service with an ecommerce function on their new website. Fully secured, and launched  in a matter of days, the site earned the site owner immediate rewards and ranks brilliantly on google.

www.BoatsDelivered.com - a fabulously interesting business proving worldwide boat deliveries.  From logo design, to procurement of images, I was proud to launch this website for such a lovely gentleman who I hope to help in so many other aspects of his fledgling business.

www.GrestPubsInStevenage.co.uk - a new company in Hertfordshire, UK, who operate fantastic pubs focusing on traditional standards with modern comforts. I created a simple holding site for the company, with clear obvious links to the new websites of the pubs they operate.  These include:

• www.RoyalOakInStevenage.co.uk
• www.ThePearTreeInStevenage.co.uk
• www.TheWillowsInStevenage.co.uk

Pleasingly, an existing client returned to ask me to relaunch their website into a full ecommerce function.  This I completed in a couple of weeks, to include fully secure hosting, a decent payment gateway, and properly created images for their online store.  Thanks to Paul and all the lovely people at Pi Cycles. Take a look at www.picycles.ie 

Most recently we have helped bring together two separate UK photography businesses, and launched www.EmmaAndMartinPhotography.co.uk just 48 hours upon receipt of brief.  Always helps to have such stunning imagery to work with!

Offering my usual speedy attentive service to all my clients, the timescale from initial brief being received, to full launch, is completed in good time. However, please be assured I do provide a full service (unlike some of my competitors!), from URL purchase, to email set up, to sitemap planning, linking with social media, devising automated message forms, to concluding with full indexing on google when ready for launch.  I help with copy writing, sourcing imagery, and general branding elements too (tweaking logos so they look good on screen!).

All the sites I create are reactive and work seamlessly across desktop, laptop, phone and tablet.  

There are better web designers out there and some amazing graphic designers (I know most of them, and learned from a lot of them!), however I doubt there are many (if any!) who can rival my dedicated personal service and true cost effectiveness in delivering you simplicity that works!

For a no obligation chat for any marketing or promotions project you may have in mind, please feel free to call me on 00353 89 229 1575 with any questions or comments, or drop me an email to [email protected]

Thanks for your time in reading my wee blog!


Kevin Mullen
t/a Apples & Pears 

As I enter my fifth year of trading as Apples & Pears (the name remains a conversation piece!), I have taken a wee bit of time to collate together a digital magazine that showcases just a snapshot of some of my client work.

Please, take a few moments to have a browse by clicking here or view the embedded reader below this blog piece.

I am delighted and honoured to have played a part in helping so many achieve their own successes, whilst maintaining my passion for delivering simplicity at excellent value.  

From a large 70+ page relaunch website with built in on-line quote calculators and interactive maps, to turning round a 10,000 flyer print run in just three days from inception of client brief, to overseeing the installation of some 500ft of signage at a leading car dealership in one day, I took great pride in 2015 for exceeding client expectations.

For 2016, I hope to build and launch many more cross functional adaptive websites, design and print manage lots of flyers and poster campaigns, and all the other bits and pieces that collate together to make this crazy business world such challenging fun! 

To all those I have worked with over the past four years, thanks for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do.

Remember ..... keep it simple. Stupid.

***NEW FOR 2016*** Get 2,500 double sided A5 flyers designed, printed and delivered direct to you for just €145.  Call me on 089 229 1575 or drop a line to [email protected] to get your flyers in quick time!

Thanks for your time, 

Kevin

Continuing our passion for offering great value in simple effective websites, we have had a busy few months completing new website for national and local companies.

ALARM WATCH SECURITY GROUP - www.alarmwatchsecuritygroup.ie

GEMINI SECURITY - www.geminisecuritysystems.ie 

HARBOUR BROWNS STEAKHOUSE - www.harbourbrownssteakhouse.ie

EURO GUARD SECURITY - www.euroguardsecurity.ie

R & W CONSTRUCTION - www.randw.ie 

CRAFT SECURITY - www.craftsecurity.ie

We have also been successful in developing our relationships with existing clients and have updated several sites to comply with new google ranking criteria.  All sites must now be mobile friendly - is yours?

If you're looking for a great, reliable and local website designer, please give Kevin a call on 089 229 1575.

Kevin will meet with you in person, with no obligation, to gauge what your dreams  and ambitions are for your online presence. He will then build a template for you to view to see how your new site could look to the world wide audience!

As part of the service, we can aid with:

• domain registrations, or transfers 
• annual limitless hosting
• setting up of emails (including diverting to current gmail accounts)
• indexing your site with google with full complete sitemaps
• all photo / image editing required for your site
• editing all written copy for your site
• making sure all images and pages are tagged properly for search engines
• ensuring your site works well on laptop, computer, tablet and phone

For a great effective site that does the simple stuff very well, call Kevin on 089 229 1575 or drop him an email to [email protected] 

We can have you up and running in five days too!!

With a simple brief of helping to increase their local brand awareness, we devised the above eye catching (if a little scary - sorry!) design for www.corklockandsafe.ie to be used on posters, flyers, advertisements and general online use.

The first public outing for the design was in a local community festival programme where the ad' really stood out against the usual boring, lifeless "good luck" type messages.

We supplied the final artwork in various formats (including landscape too - ideal for half page ads in magazines and newspapers), ready for print or web use, to the client so that they are free to use the design wherever they choose with no restrictions of use.

With dark nights approaching (this is Ireland, what happened to the summer?!) you could do no harm in giving Rob at Cork Lock And Safe a call on 087 244 8836.

We were previously delighted to help with the build and launch of www.bestpricetyres.cork and done very well to get them listed onto the first page of google for common tyre based searches as well as car repair related activity.

With the owner wishing to diversify his services, he opted to open at a new premises and offer a fully encompassing car repair garage in addition to his very successful tyre business.

Returning to us to help with his website, we kept to our simple yet effective website design formula that served him well in the past (and so many others of our client list!) and launched www.wilsonautoservices.ie within one week of receiving final brief.

We aided with logo design, url purchase, hosting and email set up too and continue to offer advice and guidance with their blogging and ongoing SEO work to ensure they gain and remain the top choice for the Cork based car owner!

Roblock is a Cork owned company that specialises in the supply and fit of ABS door locks and safes within the city and county of Cork.

Having embarked on a new enterprise with precious little support, Roblock approached us (following a recommendation from a current client - always nice to know your work is appreciated!) to devise them a simple informative website which is tailored towards homeowners looking to fully secure their home.

Complying with all google search functions, we pushed www.roblock.ie onto the first page of the world's most commonly used search engine within just four days of the site going live when users search for certain keywords associated with door locks and home security.

We also helped with the redraw of their logo, set up of their email, formulating a direct "contact us" form, and tutored in the needs and merits of them updating a regular "news" section blog page.

Offering continued off and on line support, we remain associated with Roblock for the foreseeable future as we advise and guide them throughout the various stages of growth for their business through other marketing and promotional activity.

Specialising in helping fellow sole traders and small businesses, we pride ourselves on our work with all our clients and are delighted that Roblock were able to see an immediate return on their investment.

Best of luck, Roblock!

Briefed simply to showcase the fact that Blackwater Motors offer 100s of second hand cars via their Turner's Cross, Cork, dealership, we embarked on an extensive signage campaign which entailed over 400ft worth of signage!

Utilising existing external fencing and lamp posts within the forecourt as positions, we offered nothing earth shattering exceptional to be honest. We devised a nice simple campaign that shows potential customers that Blackwater Motors are a personal and friendly company that can offer you a great choice that can be bought and driven away in that very day.

With their location adjacent to a very busy retail park and a main city thoroughfare, the signage is clear, concise and to the point. 

Additional signs were introduced to show that personal finance is available, and that the professional staff are there to help with any queries. Customers are also invited to have a cuppa and meet the fish!

It looks very smart and, crucially, can be easily updated to tie in with the business' own trends.

Of course, we surpassed all expectations of delivery and budget with some elements delivered in less than a 72 hour turnaround from sign-off of final proposal!

Continuing our very successful work with Midleton, County Cork, based Walsh's Carpets & Flooring, we were briefed to develop a brand new introductory brochure.

Allowing them to showcase their range of services from traditional woven carpets, to fake grass for a child's bedroom, we developed a 20 page colour brochure in a 210mm x 210mm format.

With a matt gloss finish (which wipes clean when left in surrounds of builders' dust!), we used top quality lithographic print in Ireland to allow that "wow!" factor in the final published edition.   We further arranged for the brochure to be displayed digitally so it can be easily shared across email, social media, and on their website at www.walshscarpets.com - which Apples & Pears were also delighted to redesign.

For their website, we completely rebuilt from what they had. However, it remains an ongoing project to ensure we maintain the correct SEO presence and retain our google first page ranking for "cork carpets" and "cork flooring"!

As always, we delivered on time and within budget.