Abergavenny business owners are being offered the opportunity to get free, practical marketing advice at a new Marketing Surgery being held in the town this October.

Local marketing consultant Sioned Yates, Director of Access Marketing, is hosting the free session at The Kings Arms Hotel this October, giving local businesses the chance to bring along their marketing questions, challenges and ideas and talk them through.

Sioned has spent more than 30 years working in marketing, helping businesses develop their brands, reach new customers and grow sales. Now she wants to use that experience to support businesses closer to home.

“There are some fantastic businesses in and around Abergavenny and I wanted to do something that could genuinely help local business owners,” Sioned says.

“When you’re running a business, marketing is just one of a hundred things competing for your attention. You know you need to be doing it, but knowing what to focus on, what’s actually working and where to spend your time and money isn’t always easy.

“The fundamentals are the same whatever the size of the business or the industry. What are you trying to achieve? Who are you trying to reach? And what marketing activity is actually going to help you generate enquiries, attract customers and grow?

“There is so much noise around marketing at the moment, particularly around AI. Business owners are being told they need to use it, but often without much explanation of where it genuinely adds value. For some businesses AI could save time, improve efficiency or help with certain marketing tasks. For others, it may not be the priority at all.”

“That’s what the Marketing Surgery is about. Looking at the business first, understanding what it is trying to achieve and then working out which marketing activity, tools and channels are actually going to help.”

“It’s not a seminar and there’s no sales pitch. I want people to come along with their own business goals and questions and we’ll talk them through.”

The session will look beyond websites and social media, with businesses welcome to ask about everything from advertising, PR and events to local promotion, customer retention, partnerships, digital marketing, AI and where best to focus their marketing budget.

Based near Abergavenny, Access Marketing combines strategic thinking with practical delivery, with a strong focus on helping businesses generate enquiries, grow sales and achieve their wider business goals.

Sioned added “Marketing isn’t just digital and it certainly isn’t just social media. Sometimes the right answer for a local business could be something completely different.

“Good marketing isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things to help your business grow.”

The Abergavenny Marketing Surgery takes place at The Kings Arms Hotel, Abergavenny, on Thursday October 15 from 9.30am to 11.30am.

The event is free to attend, but places are limited.

Businesses can book their place via the Eventbrite page or find out more about Access Marketing at www.accessmarketing.uk.