A WINCHESTER businesswoman is starting the New Year by making an offer she hopes firms won’t be able to refuse.

Nicola Oakley, who runs No.1 Marketing Consultancy, hopes to attract new clients with her offer of a free marketing review and report.

“Done effectively, marketing sits at the heart of all successful businesses, enabling companies to grow through new or existing customers, adapt or extend their product or service range, and understand the marketplace and respond to opportunities,” she said.

Nicola hopes her service will appeal particularly to small businesses who are either too busy to do marketing or don’t have the know-how.

“Business owners at any stage need to invest in marketing but, in a recession, it is vital. They need to invest more in marketing to emerge stronger faster,” she said.

“Research shows that companies that increase their marketing spend in a recession recover three times faster when the economy recovers.”

For details of her offer and her services, or to receive a free monthly marketing news bulletin, visit her website.