First Five Marketing Ltd

🏉 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗯𝘆? 🛬 Ilona Maher joining Bristol Bears, bringing her Olympic medal, sharp wit, and nearly 8 million followers to the PWR stage? 👟 Canterbury x Frasers Group Group’s free boots initiative, solving a universal problem and elevating countless athletes in their retail campaigns? 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘁… Ilona’s signing is a top-down blitz. She’s a superstar who’ll grab global attention, pull new fans into women’s rugby, and give the league serious cultural relevance. But it’s still one player, one team, one season of impact. Now the boots? That’s a ground-up power move. It’s not flashy, but it directly supports every player who struggles with the basics—gear. And by highlighting multiple athletes in campaigns, it doesn’t just grow the game—it shares the stage. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: It’s not either/or—it’s both. Ilona’s star power builds the hype and grows awareness at the top, while the boots initiative fuels the foundation, empowering players across the board. Together, they hit every level of the brand pyramid. 🧱 That’s how you build a sport. Hype. Substance. And everything in between. What are your thoughts? Let’s hear it below 👇 #WomensRugby #RugbyRevolution #AthleteEmpowerment #SportsInnovation #FemaleAthletes #RugbyLife #SportForChange #GrassrootsRugby #GameChangers #RugbyCommunity

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗕𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 💪 Here’s the thing: athletes are sitting on a goldmine of untapped potential, yet too often, they’re negotiating as individuals, leaving massive opportunities on the table. 🧠 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀: instead of one athlete pitching for a partnership, it’s five. Ten. A whole squad. That’s collective bargaining power—and it’s a game-changer. Take a look at the deal Premiership Women's Rugby brokered with Canterbury. That’s not just a sponsorship; it’s a blueprint for how athletes could leverage their collective influence to demand bigger, better, and more meaningful brand partnerships. By bringing their assets (a slightly disconnected phrase but speaking in commercial terms) together, the PWR created an opportunity and a coverage that single athletes or approaching brands would struggle to unlock alone. ▪️ The efficiency? Unreal. ▪️ The scope? Game-defining. ▪️ The bargaining position? Unmatched. It’s not just about pooling resources; it’s about amplifying impact. Brands crave authenticity, community, and scale—and collective bargaining delivers all three in spades. 🤷♂️ 𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀!) 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵? Maybe it’s the fear of sharing the spotlight. Maybe it’s the old-school mindset of “every man for himself.” Whatever it is, it’s time to ditch it. Because the truth is, you can’t win the big game alone. Athletes already understand this on the field—why not apply the same mentality off it? If you’re an athlete (or agent) still stuck in the one-on-one grind, it’s time to think bigger. Your brand isn’t just yours; it’s part of a network, a team, a movement. And when you embrace that, the opportunities get exponentially larger. Let’s talk. 📥 #CollectiveBargaining #AthleteBranding #SportsMarketing #FirstFive

🧠 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗱𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. Alright, this one’s for the brand marketing enthusiasts (you know who you are). If you’re into the nitty-gritty of what makes a business thrive, this blog is for you. The tension between building a brand and selling a product is where real strategy lives. Both are crucial, but the balance is everything. Lean too heavily on the product, and you risk short-term wins at the expense of long-term loyalty. Go all-in on the brand, and you might leave money on the table today for future promises. In this blog, I dive into the key differences and strategies that separate winners from the rest. Expect a bit more nuance, a few heavier ideas—but stick with it, because these are the principles that shape success. 👉𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 - https://lnkd.in/eybUJEdJ Brand nerds, this is your moment. What’s your take on the brand vs product debate? Let’s get geeky in the comments. #BrandMarketing #ProductMarketing #Strategy #MarketingDebate #BrandNerdsUnite

⚠️ 𝗔𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. Building a personal brand isn’t just about getting noticed—it’s about standing out, connecting with the right people, and setting yourself up for success off the pitch as much as on it. I know it can feel overwhelming, especially with the demands of being a pro athlete, but it doesn’t have to be. In this latest blog, I break it down into simple, actionable steps to get started. This is about taking control of your story and making your platform work for you. Whether you're aiming for sponsorships, partnerships, or long-term impact, the work starts here. 👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 - https://lnkd.in/ehyiCxBr Where do you feel stuck when it comes to your brand? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear. #AthleteBranding #PersonalBrand #SportsMarketing

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 🏉 ⚽️ 🏀 🏏 Every day, grassroots clubs fight to keep the lights on, support their players, and grow their communities. But let’s be honest: sponsorship is one of the biggest hurdles they face. I’ve spent years working with some of the biggest brands and pro athletes, and while the spotlight is on the elite, grassroots clubs are where the love for sport begins. They’re the beating heart of our communities. Yet too often, they’re left scrambling for funding. Why? Because many clubs aren’t equipped with the tools, ideas, or confidence to approach sponsors in a way that really connects. It’s not easy, but it can be done. In my latest blog, I share 10 creative ideas to engage local sponsors and boost income. These aren’t generic tips—they’re practical, proven ideas to help clubs unlock new opportunities. From rethinking how you use your space to getting creative with your story, these ideas are designed to help clubs take that next step—without compromising what makes them special. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁. 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁. Whether you’re a coach, player, volunteer, or sponsor, we all have a role to play in making sport sustainable for everyone. 👉 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 - https://lnkd.in/e7eWabnH If you want to talk about turning this in to action, simple send me a message or visit the site 👊 #GrassrootsSports #Sponsorship #CommunitySport #SportsMarketing

🚨 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹 Building your brand? Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or sports rights holder, the biggest mistake is chasing quick wins. 💡 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸: If you’re looking for overnight success, you’re setting yourself up to fail. I see it all the time—people panic when instant growth doesn’t happen. They rush decisions, abandon strategies, or quit altogether. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: The winners? They play the long game. They’re patient, they adapt, and they stick with it when the progress feels slow. 1️⃣ Overnight success is a myth: Every real success story took years to build. 2️⃣ Panic kills progress: Impatience ruins momentum and clarity. 3️⃣ Consistency wins: Long-term goals and persistence build brands that last. Swipe through to see why the brands that stay the course always win. Don’t be one of those that quit too soon. #LongGameWins #BrandBuilding #sport #marketing #brand #brandmarketing #athletebranding #brandstrategy #personalbranding #strategicdirection  #brandpurpose #athletesponsorship #sportsmarketing #athlete #sports #athletemarketing #smallbusinessmarketing #startups

⚠️ 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗨𝗽: 𝗜 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗕𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗕𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼! I know it’s a little on the long side, but stick with me—the main point is this... 🌍 We often chase those big global deals, but the truth is, the real impact is in the smaller, local opportunities that tend to get overlooked. 🏆 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 — 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿. 🔑 Change happens from the ground up, right where it’s needed most. That’s where the magic really begins. So if you’ve got a couple of minutes, have a watch. I promise it’s worth it! #SportsMarketing #GrassrootsGrowth #LocalImpact https://lnkd.in/gfJzgYj2

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗞 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 🏀 Despite its global prominence, basketball in the UK has yet to realise the massive opportunities waiting to be unlocked. While the sport continues to grow internationally, we’re not seeing the same level of investment, infrastructure, or strategic attention here. In my latest blog, I explore the root causes and offer thoughts on how we can elevate British basketball to where it truly belongs. https://lnkd.in/eWdwC4_g There’s a real chance to build stronger commercial ecosystems around the sport, harness the passion of an emerging fanbase, and develop meaningful partnerships that bring long-term value. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀—𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀?

The Mayor of London is driving a bold initiative with the NBA to expand basketball across the capital. For clubs and athletes, this is the perfect time to focus on brand-building—creating names, rivalries, and moments that inspire. Without strong brands, it’s hard to attract sponsors. Let’s make it happen!

Check out the latest blog on the rise and fall of some iconic brands, and what lessons can we learn… Inspired by the recent excellent Forbes article by Gautam Makunda https://lnkd.in/eDCaSAXc