The Yorkshire Marketing Company

27/09/2026

Beyond proud to be working with a Yorkshire-based company that supplies the fabric used in the ejector seats that saved 2 pilots lives this week.

I’ve just read their brand story and WOW!

When I hits like this it means so much more.

Your brand story may sound boring to you, but it’s how you can connect with your audience and make them ‘feel’ something.

Make sure you’re telling it….on your website, across your socials, in the media, in meetings with your customers, at trade shows….to everyone who wants to listen. It could be the reason they choose you over your competition!

Rachelle x

The ejection seats in every F-35 and almost every US Navy fighter jet trace back to a story of 2 best friends.

In 1934, engineer James Martin and famous World War 1 pilot Valentine Baker founded a small aircraft company in England. Martin designed the planes. Baker, his closest friend, flew them.

On September 12, 1942, Baker was testing their new fighter prototype when the engine failed. He tried to put the plane down in a field. At the last moment, a wingtip caught a tree stump and the aircraft flipped. Baker lost his life.

His death changed Martin forever. He kept his friend's name on the company. And in 1944, when the British government asked him to find a way for fighter pilots to escape their aircraft, he made it his life's work.

Nobody knew how much upward force a human spine could survive. So a company fitter named Bernard Lynch volunteered. On January 24, 1945, Lynch rode a test rig 4 feet 8 inches into the air, the first person ever fired up an ejection seat. On July 24, 1946, he ejected from a jet flying 320 mph at 8,000 feet. His parachute opened. He landed safely. The seat worked.

On May 30, 1949, pilot Jo Lancaster became the first person whose life a Martin-Baker seat saved, ejecting from an experimental aircraft at 5,000 feet.

The company has counted every single life since. Each survivor is invited to join its Ejection Tie Club and receives a tie, a certificate and a membership pin.

This Wednesday, a Royal Air Force training jet crashed shortly after takeoff in Wales. Both pilots ejected in Martin-Baker seats and survived. Police said their injuries were believed to be minor.

The company updated its count: 7,829 lives saved.

Sir James Martin died in 1981. His family still runs the company today. More than 90 air forces fly with its seats.

17/09/2026

Mentoring the next generation is such a privilege and I’m really enjoying sharing my 26 years of marketing experience with the lovely Darcie at Arville Textiles.

This was the Dream Team last week, nailing our photoshoot, and Darcie getting comfortable with the uncomfortable of being behind AND in front of the camera 📸

As you all know, I’m not shy of a good selfie (sorry Darcie you’ll get used to me🤩), but if you’re in marketing being confident with a camera, knowing what you want to achieve, being super organised and having a good eye for detail are all fantastic skills to have.

The professional photos are in and initial reactions are great, so next up is the shot selection. Can’t wait to share them, they’re looking 😘👌

Rachelle x

05/09/2026

Delighted to have been invited to this event and given the opportunity to share challenges, hear the challenges facing other sectors and meet such a wide variety of business owners.

Thanks for the opportunity to represent both my own business, Otley BID and the wider Otley business community Katie White MP.

It’s refreshing to feel listened to, have our day to day challenges taken seriously and relayed back to the wider government.

I’ve always been the type of person to not wallow in my own problems, but instead find a way of making a difference and turning the tables. These maybe small steps but if you don’t take the opportunity to have your say, nothing will change.

Be the change!

Have a great weekend folks 🤩🙌

Rachelle

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy"

29/08/2026

Wow! The next 1-2 years are going to be HUGE!

Are you ready to ride the AI wave? 🌊

22/08/2026

Up n out this morning gathering content for Otley BID’s Music in the Market Place and supporting local musicians Jamie & Kirsty AKA Just About Functionin’ 🎶

20/08/2026

Over £1000 raised 💚🙏 A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has attended my Co-Working Clubs or Love Local Social events.

Together we have raised enough money to support 2 families who are living in poverty or with a life limiting disability.

It’s been an absolute pleasure to support The Principle Trust Children's Charity and the families they help. A special thank you to Kerry Magson for your friendship and for being such a big part of these events, helping to make them a success.

At the moment I’m sadly having to put these events on hold as I’ve become so busy with supporting my clients both in-house and remotely. Hopefully I’ll be able to bring them back in the future but for now we wanted to give all our supporters a MASSIVE SHOUT OUT, because I couldn’t have made this happen without you 😍🫶

Excited to see some at A Night By the Seaside to raise even more money 🏖️ There may be some tickets left so please check it out 👇

https://www.theprincipletrust.co.uk/event/a-night-at-the-seaside/

Rachelle x

20/08/2026

I’ve been a little MIA on here lately… but for very good reason!

I’ve been busy working with my clients, including the brilliant Dishang Group (UK) team, who I’m delighted to support with their marketing and growing UK & European presence.

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Dishang’s luxury apparel manufacturing team from their China Head Office, who brought with them their brand new AW27 woollen fabric collection, fresh from their launch at the recent London Textile Fair.

And, very thoughtfully, they brought FANS 🪭 Possibly the most appreciated gift during this Summer’s heatwave!

It’s always great to meet the wider members of the Dishang team, share expertise and showcase the scale, innovation and people behind the Group.

There’s lots going on behind the scenes… but I promise I’m still here 🤩👋

Rachelle x

01/08/2026

A harpist playing in the historic market town of Otley, stopping shoppers in their tracks!

Don’t ya just love Yorkshire!

Happy Yorkshire Day folks 🪉

28/07/2026

I spy your AI graphics…. and so does everyone else 👀

Have you noticed that when you pop them into social media it adds a little tag that tells everyone it’s AI.

You may not know it but it’s slowly damaging your brand and your credibility.

Everyone who’s using the same tools are generating the same style of graphics, so you’re just blending in and people are scrolling past you.

But by creating your own photography, video or even graphics created by a talented designer, you stay unique and you stand out for all the right reasons.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not bashing AI, it’s a fantastic tool when used in the right way, and I’m just making you aware of what I see and what people are telling me who are not that tech savvy but have also noticed it!

Please don’t be beige, vanilla or AI generated, you and your brand deserves so much more 💚

Rachelle x

24/07/2026

Delighted to have been invited to the 1st Business Brew Event hosted by Katie White MP ☕️

I was there as YMC but also with my other hat on representing Otley BID as their Marketing & Communications Champion.

Twenty fellow business owners making connections and chatting about challenges small independents face every day.

Thanks for giving us a voice and hopefully some of the topics we discussed will be taken on board and debated in Parliament.

It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces and to meet so many new ones too.

Looking forward to the next one. Thanks again for taking time out of your busy schedule to get to know the real issues of small businesses.

Rachelle