• Thu. Dec 5th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

Brad Johnson Feature

ByEmily

Oct 8, 2017 #Featured

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I have known Bradley Johnson for over three years now and it was great to finally be able to pin him down for an interview. Bradley has been pushing himself and his business that he created and developed with his dad.

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Bradley Johnson the Businessman…

 

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FACT FILE

Full Name – BRADLEY JOHNSON

Job Role – MANAGING DIRECTOR

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Bradley Johnson…

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Favourite Place for a meeting and why?

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We have a great little café round the corner from our office in Stokesley called Ootys, which is perfect for a quick break from the office.

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Favourite Place for a coffee and why?

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I love having meetings at our clients’ offices or business premises. It helps us get a better understanding of how the business operates which is always helpful when marketing them.

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Favourite Place for a Business Lunch and why?

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I recently had an amazing business lunch at Tomahawk in Potto. The food was delicious and the outcome was even better!

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Favourite Place in the North East and why?

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Roseberry Topping. Each year I walk to the top with my Grandad who’s now 82!

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Favourite Place or Person you take inspiration from?

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Locally it would be Steve Gibson and I also follow Gary Vaynerchuk who runs a 600 person Social media marketing company in New York.

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Bradley Johnson as a Businessman…

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Where were you born and raised?

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I had a keen interest in the business world from a young age, studying business from GCSE to degree level. I launched Yellow Box with my Dad shortly after university, when we found software allowing us to create a mobile website that worked alongside a client’s existing desktop site. With the iPhone 4 fresh on the market, we knew there was a demand for mobile sites as more and more people were browsing the internet on their phones. As a marketer, I’m largely self-taught, and learned to adapt my service to any kind of business. I am also a partner in an online furniture store where I take charge of the digital side of the business.

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When did you get your break in football (in your opinion)? 

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Yellow Box Marketing officially launched in July 2011.

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Brief History Of Your Career?

  • Start Year
  • Biggest Success
  • Biggest Challeng

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  • 2011
  • Passing the 350 mark for websites built.
  • Educating business owners about the need to continuously improve their website and online marketing.

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Tell me how you first got involved in what you do?

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I’ve always wanted to have my own businesses, after University I found a piece of software that allowed me to develop mobile websites which worked alongside a client’s existing desktop site. I always had an interest in the business potential for mobile websites and realised with this software I could fill the gap in the market. By the time it became common to use mobile phones for websites, we were already established as a provider. As a business, we have since developed our skill set to include Responsive Website and Ecommerce Website Design, SEO, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click.

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What do you find most challenging in what you do?

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Our biggest challenge in the beginning was educating clients about the need for a mobile friendly site. It’s now educating clients how moving their marketing budget from traditional print advertising to digital platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, allows them to better target potential customers and help grow their business.

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What’s the best thing to happen since you started?

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Business wise it would be helping a business in Newcastle break the £1 Million turnover mark from the new business we generated through the new website and SEO work. Personally, starting the business has allowed me to buy my first house in 2015, at the age of 26. I’ve now moved into my second home and two of my colleagues have also been able to get on the property ladder as well. I also married my wife Kathy and we’ve just had a little boy, Mason, but I can hardly credit that to the business!

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What do you think will change about the industry over the next five years?

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I expect to see even more focus on mobile use in the next five years. Phones are the most direct way for businesses to reach audiences and mobile internet usage will continue to grow. We now build our websites “mobile first” and focus on building a better experience for website visitors who are on a mobile phone.

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If you weren’t in the industry, what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?

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I don’t imagine it would be that different. I always would’ve started my own business, but probably in another area. I’m passionate about golf, so maybe it would’ve been a golf clothing line or something similar.

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How do you find down time from a busy work environment?

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I love spending time with my little boy and wife, we often go to Great Ayton for a long walk and lunch.

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In your opinion who is the most influential person in the North East?

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Steve Gibson. His influence as an entrepreneur spreads across the country, but he’s also a staunch local and keeps his roots close to heart. He still loves his hometown and owns the local football team; combined with his success, this makes him very influential in the North East.

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If you had your way what you do over the next 4 years to change the North East?

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I would continue focussing on building the North East’s reputation as a Tech hub and look to bring bigger tech companies into the region. I am also excited to see how Centre Square in Middlesbrough will look once the redevelopment work has been completed, as the town has needed an investment for some time. I also think the news to improve the rail links into Middlesbrough will be massive for the town and help us connect to the rest of the UK.

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How would you sum up the North East in one word?

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Home

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Lastly, what is your superpower?

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I’m pretty good at pre-empting trends so it has to be seeing into the future.

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By Emily