Case study: Outpost North

Leeds Met Creative Music & Sound Technology graduates Stuart Childs and Chris Martin started trading in September 2008. Their business, Outpost North, specialises in Sonic Branding – a new and innovative solution to the marketing and advertising needs of the business world.

Along with Sonic Branding, Outpost also creates Sonic Art for installation in galleries and the public domain. Their work was launched on the 10th of October, as part of ‘Light Night’ in Leeds. ‘Junction’ takes the industrial and technological sounds of the area's history as its source. Using field recordings, Junction maps the changes in the locality's distinctive acoustic landscape. Chris explains;
“Junction details the industrial soundscapes that may have been heard in the Granary Wharf, ranging from when the area was farmland, through the steam age, the use of the canal, the development of the railways and to the present day industries that are prevalent in the area.”

Stuart attended the Business Start-up summer school in 2008, a four day crash course in starting a business. For a nominal fee, Stuart received help with sales, marketing, finance, legal issues, business planning and more, while being in the presence of industry professionals and like minded people who shared their experiences and knowledge of the difficult start-up process.

In September 2008, the Outpost pair was awarded the Business Start-Up 'Proof of Concept' grant of £1000 to test the feasibility of their ideas.  This financial assistance helped with advertising and marketing costs with the creation of some business cards, website hosting, web optimisation and legal advice.

Stuart and Chris are currently based in Leeds Met’s Innovation Showcase at the Old Broadcasting House and are collaborating on other creative sound projects. For more information on Outpost, have a look at their website;

www.outpost-north.co.uk.

 

 

Updated December 2008