Meet Rich Quelch, our Chief Marketing Officer here at John Good Group. Rich is known for his passion and results-driven, innovative approach to marketing driving both growth and revenue. He delves into his story of where he started and advice to anyone looking to follow in his footsteps.
Keep reading to find out more…
So Rich, how did you first get into the Marketing Industry?
I started of at the University of Hull to study Marketing and Advertising, so I was leaning towards a career like the TV show, Madmen! I have always had a passion for products and people and marketing bridges the two together.
Primarily I love growing businesses and every role I have been in to date has been growing some sort of entity, of course, marketing executed correctly can contribute heavily to the growth of a company (sorry sales 🥹)
What has inspired you in your career?
To ultimately deliver quality.
As you go about your days in sales and marketing, you often see assets, communications and strategies that you think, ‘Not sure that is up to scratch’. Being exposed to elements like this really inspires me to go away and ensure that we deliver and execute with a quality-first mentality.
What are the biggest challenges in your role?
To create momentum every day! As my team would tell you, my favourite team check-in is asking them “Are you winning?”.
What skills have been the most crucial to your success so far?
To be able to deliver something from nothing.
What education or training would be most useful for someone looking to follow your career path?
University doesn’t always have to be the path. If you have a creative brain but understand the structure of business and how it works – many other routes can be taken to be able to develop a career in marketing.
What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your career path?
Get to know your numbers.
Marketing can drive revenue and if you understand investment and return on investment when it comes to marketing, you will be halfway there to becoming a talented marketer.
Also, if you can develop the knowledge to understand what channels and techniques work for certain industries and business types, then that’s where the magic happens!
What makes you excited about working for the central services at John Good Group?
We are a group of people who are all invested in the same vision, with a few giggles and mishaps along the way!
Finally, what makes a good Marketing Professional?
I believe a good marketing person possesses a unique blend of skills and experiences that enable them to effectively drive business growth. One crucial aspect is having sales experience and a deep understanding of the sales process.
In the early stages of my career, I had the privilege of working for Sam Field at Pareto Law (at the time), where I truly learned the trade when it comes to sales and the importance of sales strategy. This experience allowed me to cut my teeth on the coal face of the commercial world, providing invaluable insights that have shaped my marketing approach.
This sales background plays a vital role in creating a commercial marketing plan that is genuinely built on future growth across the marketing mix. It enables marketers to develop strategies that generate awareness and directly contribute to new revenue streams for the business. This practical understanding of sales helps bridge the gap between marketing initiatives and tangible business outcomes.
A good marketing person should be able to demonstrate how the marketing department can play a key role in driving new awareness and revenue streams into a business. By aligning marketing efforts with sales objectives, they can create campaigns and initiatives that resonate with potential customers and support the overall growth strategy of the organisation.
Furthermore, this sales-oriented perspective allows marketers to better collaborate with the sales team, ensuring that marketing efforts are tailored to support the sales process effectively. This synergy between marketing and sales is crucial for maximising the impact of marketing initiatives and ultimately driving business success.