The French Riviera’s best kept secret has just been revealed – Welcome the Ellisium Partners.

For all of you who haven’t yet heard the whispers and gossip in the luxury market circles here on the south coast, the Ellisium Partners are taking the Côte d’Azur by storm. The idea behind the company started bearing fruit towards the end of 2009 within the luxury market circles – having already signed up some of the areas finest (in the luxury property sales, rentals, technology, finance and architecture markets) the list of companies wanting to join the partnership is growing…

The Ellisium Partners have a bold mission statement:
“We understand that our clients have exacting standards, at Ellisium Partners, so do we.”

Pure Design are delighted to reveal their partnership with the Ellisium Partners as their preferred and recommended supplier of website design and graphic design materials. We will also be on hand to supply luxury printed materials and offer excellent rates to the partners. Working together with MMMarketing, the Ellisium Partnership’s future looks bright…

Welcome to February 2010… 6 days into the month, 37 days into the year… better late than never!

The year has started off at a similar pace we finished 2009 with…. we’ve already signed a new website deal with a luxury yachting company, launched the best kept secret on the French Riviera – Ellisium Partners will be the next big thing on the Cote d’Azur.  We’ve even rebranded Maria McLean Marketing, Cote d’Azur Villas, Ellisium, Town & Country Property France, BELLISSIMA, ISI, French Dressing and the Yacht Café.

Our web projects have been as impressive too – in the next few weeks we will be launching the new website for MZArchitecture, on the back of their new marketing campaign.  The Ellisium Partners website is up and running and already bringing in some impressive traffic analytics.  Elite Estates and Luxury French Property are two websites we are happy to showcase this month as well as the brochure website Photolumiere for photographer Pat Denton.  The BELLISSIMA Babe website is a developing monster – launched on the 1st January 2010 we are constantly updating pages with new content.

Our largest project in January was the franchise launch of Envirocare Maintenance Solutions.  An established Grounds Maintenance company based in the UK, from the 1st Feb 2010 they opened their doors to the Franchising world.  We worked with Envirocare hand in hand on their online marketing, printed material, nationwide press advertising and rebrand.  All the best to David and his team with this new venture.

We even opened a new office in Provence to cater for the growing website design and advertising needs over in the area – our clients now range from Monaco to Nice, Antibes to Cannes, Mougins to Grasse and now St. Tropez to Cotignac.

On a more personal note, 2010 has started well.  We have our second baby due in 3 weeks although complications mean we might be seeing Collison N˚2 sooner than expected.  Moving house has allowed us to spend more time together as a family and experience a new area of the south of France.

Apologies for the radio silence over the last 5 weeks… its great to be back!

[View with PicLens]

Well as we pack our final box of cables and mouse mats I thought I’d leave you with a couple of brilliant business card designs.  I’d love to say they were designed by our creative department, but they were sent to me by a partner agency, and I thought I’d share them with you.

Over the last few weeks we have been building up our online social network in an attempt to reach clients at every level, and by every means.

Our Twitter page  will keep you up to date with our daily schedule as well as recommending articles from colleagues and design partners.

Our Facebook page will keep clients up to date with evolving projects as well as an online portfolio of past and present work.

Our Linkedin page allows clients and visitors to connect with the Pure Design Creative Director Ben Collison.  Linkedin is a tool that helps you discover inside connections and build a trusted network of contacts.

Our RSS feed allows visitors to subscribe to our news blog.  Written by Creative Director Ben Collison, the news blog brings you up to date with the latest Pure Design offers, competitions and design news on the French Riviera.

We are proud to announce the launch of the Pure Design website in French.  After a few weeks of hard graft translating the wording, meta information and links we are pleased to be able to reach out to our French audience requiring website design, advertising or print here on the French Riviera.

The online blog will remain in English but any important announcements or competitions will now be made available to any French visitors to the site.

Thanks to our translation partners whose website will soon be online – check back here for launch dates and details.

Amusez-vous bien!

Company: Go Nice
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design.
Overview: Pure Design worked with Go Nice initially undertaking the rebranding and corporate identity. The new style was then reflected across their online media with a new website and marketing.
What they said: “From the moment I spoke to Ben and then met him – I immediately felt here is someone I can do business with both now and in future. I know that my web site is going to evolve and wanted to find someone that would help me grow my business through my main trading window of a web site – and it was very important that I found a long term person – that is based here and I can explain my thoughts and ideas and that would understand my needs initially and then work with to evolve the site as my business grows now and for the future.
I found immediately Ben to be responsive, professional and having an immediate understanding of my ideas - so the site was built by Ben – but allowing me influence in its design and structure (which I believe to be very rare) the site was not just picked off the shelf by Ben – also the back-end control was really impressive (something you do not see) I think this simply comes from both experience and having a logical commercial brain – which Ben certainly has.
Ben has also been excellent regarding support issues – always responding quickly and efficiently – with solutions – not just re the web site – but other commercial issues. So I would thoroughly recommend Ben and his colleagues – and certainly I and my clients have been very impressed with the site – and I know I have found someone I trust – and will help me grow my business in the future as it has done over the last year. Many thanks Ben” Paul Manion, Director

Company: Riviera Sea School
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design, SEO, Marketing, Stationery & Print.
Overview: The latest website Pure Design are proud to launch belongs to Riviera Sea School. Sam and Nicola approached us late in 2008 regarding a new business project needing branding, website design and marketing support. We look forward to working with RSS in 2009.
What they said: “We approached Ben in 2008 with the view to creating the ‘face’ of our business and in the process of doing so he has exceeded our every expectation. From the logo design to the website Ben has produced a final product that we are extremely proud of. We will continue to use Ben to develop and grow our business and would not hesitate in recommended the services of Pure Design International to anyone. They have done a fantastic job and I am certain we will become life long customers.” Nicola Maxwell

Company: Imaginez Cannes
Requirements: Website Design, SEO, Marketing & Print
Overview: As one of the leading events organisers on the Riviera, Imaginez entrusted their website rebranding to Pure Design. Within a few weeks of the launch, Imaginez were appearing in the top 2-3 positions in Google and enquiries started flooding in.

Company: NC France Immobilier
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design, Stationery, Marketing & Print
Overview: Pure Design worked with IPM to deliver an all singing, all dancing CMS Website for NC France. A fresh, modern brand identity has been launched at the same time to make sure NC get themselves noticed here on the Riviera.
What they said: “After being recommended Ben at Pure Design International for a re-brand, logo design and website for our company we have not been disappointed. The service that has been given was truly efficient both in terms of budget and deadlines. Creative, dynamic and straight talking make Pure Design a name we will continue to use our ourselves and recommend in the future” Nick Wellens

Company: Home Hunts
Requirements: Website Design, Stationery, Advertising & Print
Overview: In January 2009, Pure Design teamed up with Software Addons to deliver one of the largest web design projects they have been involved in. Ongoing advertising campaigns and marketing strategies cement the strong working relationship we have with Home Hunts.
What they said: “Having worked with Pure Design for a number of years, I cannot speak highly enough about their professionalism and attention to detail. Ben and his team are full of great ideas and are great to deal with. Even when we put them under fairly strict time constraints, their work was still delivered on time, to its usual high standard.”  Tim Swannie

Company: Playground Inspections Ltd
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design, Stationery, Print & Vehicle Wrapping
Overview: Our first website to go live in 2009 belongs to Playground Inspections Ltd based in the UK. A strong but youthful logo was needed along with an interactive website. Pure Design managed to turn the whole project around within 2 weeks to meet time sensitive deadlines.

Company: Big Blue Bijou
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design, Stationery & Print
Overview: One of most exciting projects of 2008, Big Blue Bijou is the next big thing in luxury events and exclusive breaks in the south of France. Jessica approached Pure Design in the Summer of 2008 to help launch the brand and with the help of advertising and mystery, the Big Blue Bijou movement is building up steam.

Company: Fine Wine Works
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design, SEO, Marketing, Stationery & Print
Overview: Fine Wine Works are the latest new startup business to approach Pure Design regarding their branding and business strategy. Helen, one of two directors of the company is a keen writer so we suggested a wine news blog, where she could let her creative talent loose on the online world. By creating a strong brand and providing SEO on the website, FWW are already taking Google by storm, hitting the N°1 spot for keywords such as ‘wine tasting company riviera’ and ‘wine training company riviera’.
What they said: “Our view is to say that the combination of real design flair and technological know-how is difficult to find, but Ben at Pure Design has got it anduses it to great effect. Combine that with great customer service, speed and value for money and you can’t go wrong!” Nigel & Helen Brotherton

Company: Andrew Doyle Carpentry
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design, Stationery & Print
Overview: Pure Design work with all kinds of clients from large international brands to independent new business start ups, and Andrew Doyle Carpentry came under this category. Having run a successful carpentry business for a number of years, Andrew decided he needed to rebrand and have an online presence, and Pure Design helped him create a strong business image.
What they said: “We would not hesitate to recommend Pure Design International to any company looking to create or update their brand identity. Ben Collison’s creativity, vision and ability to create a design personal to us was exactly the service we were looking for. Whilst being very competitive price wise we felt we got a high quality finish on both our printed and “online” products. We were delighted with the results”. Andrew Doyle

Company: Eden
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design, Marketing, Stationery & Print
Overview: This summer we have rebranded the relaunched the Eden website. As the business has grown over the last three years so has the website, so Pure Design were commissioned with its development changing the site from a table based site to a CSS/XHTML Google friendly website.
What they said: “Pure Design dealt with everything relating to the launch of our new business from logo design, brand name, signage, website design and stationery. As advertising is very important to Eden we have entrusted this important work to Pure Design who ensure that we have the best possible advertising our budget can afford. As a business, we can fully recommend Ben who has looked after us so well.” Roy Broad

Company: Envirocare MS
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design, Advertising, Marketing, Stationery & Print
Overview: Envirocare have been one of Pure Design’s longest serving customers having been launched back in 2004. This Summer (2008) we are proud to relaunch the website alongside a modernised logo and advertising campaigns.
What they said: “Our new website and brochure design has a professional modern approach that reflects what Envirocare Maintenance Solutions is all about. Hugely impressed with Pure Design, Ben Collison has the flare and attention to detail that is irreplaceable. Pure Design will continue to be our design consultant for all our presentation needs, providing on the spot suggestions and completing tasks saving time for our office staff and producing a first class finished result.” David Yates

Company: Elite Estates
Requirements: Brand Identity & Website Design
Overview: Such is the secrecy regarding Elite Estates, we can’t actually give much information away regarding the project… the best way to find out more is to drop them an email… : )

Company: R1
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design & Marketing
Overview: R1 (or Riviera One) is the latest Multi Solutions company to hit the French Riviera. Offering a range luxury solutions from Audio and Visual to Telephone and Networking, R1 signed Pure Design to provide ongoing marketing and advertising support online and offline.

Company: Kentingtons
Requirements: Advertising, Marketing, Website Design & Print
Overview: After months of frustration sourcing a reliable and reasonably priced design company on the Riviera, Kentingtons approached Pure Design to take over their marketing and advertising. By delivering a website whereby Kentingtons could keep their website fresh with latest tax news, they now find themselves with an excellent Google ranking with keywords such as ‘Tax and Investment Consultants’.
What they said: “I would highly recommend Pure Design. I ended up using him after having used two after companies who I was unhappy with, mostly due to their costs. Ben is the most efficient, the most creative and a great respecter of deadlines. I only wish I had gone to him first.” Robert Kent

Company: Riviera Asset Management
Requirements: Website Design & Print
Overview: Riviera Asset Management approached our partners Riviera IT Solutions in early 2008 to create an interactive website. The main feature of the site was to be online AIS – where users can track yachts and ships in local waters. The campaign was a success with thousands of hits on the site within the first few weeks.

Company: Lotus Landscape Design
Requirements: Brand Identity, Website Design, Marketing & Print
Overview: Lotus approached Pure Design in 2007 to overhaul their corporate identity and website. A modern, fresh logo was delivered along with a brand new website showcasing some of their latest landscaping work.
What they said: “I was extremely happy with the work Pure Design International carried out on redesigning my existing website. Ben provides a professional personal service and responded quickly to comments and questions which I had. He listened to what I wanted and delivered on time with minimal stress.” Vyvian White

Company: Riviera IT Solutions
Requirements: Website Design, Advertising, Marketing & Print
Overview: Riviera IT Solutions and Pure Design became website design partners late 2006 / early 2007. One of our first projects was to overhaul the RITS website and offer ongoing advertising support. RITS has now become one of the most respected IT companies on the French Riviera.
What they said: “To convey the professionalism of Riviera IT Solution’s work in print we needed a designer who matched our quality and pursuit of excellence. Ben at Pure Design delivered this to a fantastic standard. I would recommend Pure Design to any business here in France.”  Simon Glynn

Company: French Riviera Property Search
Requirements: Website Design
Overview: Pure Design delivered a property website for FRPS within 10 days, such was the deadline. A warm and friendly company, Pure Design look forward to working with Jackie and expanding what is already a business on the up.

In November of this year Google released its first official guide to Search Engine Optimisation in the form of a 22 page PDF  - Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide. The guide is well written and offers excellent basic advice on such topics as Page Titles, Description Meta Tag, URL Structure, Site Navigation, Creating Quality Content, Anchor Text, Heading Tags (H1s, H2s, etc.), Image Optimization, Robots.txt, Rel=”nofollow”, Website Promotion, Webmaster Tools, Analytics.

As a website design company based on the French Riviera, we also realise the importance of search engine optimisation, especially in todays competitive market.  We offer all our web design clients different levels of SEO from a basic website analysis (where we review the structure of your site and offer advice on how it can be improved) to a full ongoing website optimisation campaign (including keyword research, link building and copywriting).

Pure Design are now seen as one of the leading website design companies here in the South of France and we are fast becoming respected search engine optmisation specialists on the Cote d’Azur.

If you are unclear of any of the SEO terms or explanations in the Google Guide, give us a shout and we’ll be pleased to help explain and offer advice on your website project.

BBB – Big Blue Bijou is one of the most exciting brands to arrive on the French Riviera. Founded by Jessica Dash, the Bijou brand is the next Big thing in events and luxury breaks in the south of France.

We were commissioned with the project of rebranding across the board, from logo design to website development.

The new BigBlueBijou website promises to be as exciting as the name suggests and Pure Design are proud to be bringing the BBB world to your screens soon.

Please check back to this news article for any up-to-date news on Jessica and the BigBlueBijou movement!

As the whole of France gets back to work this September, we at Pure Design International have been busy developing our new company website during the summer.

Packed full of new features and built with pure CSS and XHTML, the new website presents recent work using AJAX scripting, news blogs using WordPress CMS and showcases our new 3D design service.

With a brand new up-to-date portfolio section, potential clients can browse through past and recent work.

Have any comments or questions? Leave a comment below and we’ll be sure to get back to you.

 We are delighted to announce the signing of new client Compass Management Solutions.  A health and safety consultancy company based near Manchester, UK, Pure Design were called on to design the corporate identity including logo, stationery and website. Our websites are now always designed with SEO in mind (search engine optimisation).  If you have a beautiful looking website but it doesn’t appear on google, then you will never be found by potential clients.  This is why we first design the site to load as quickly as possible. Secondly we design our site in XHTML and CSS.  This separates content from code and creates an easily indexable website.  Thirdly we recommend clients update their website every couple of weeks, adding new content and filling your website full information and keywords – as a successful search engine optimization specialist said ‘content is king’.