Little Starts, the UK’s leading multi-brand gift card for baby, toddler and preschool classes, is turbocharging its ambitious growth plans with the appointment of brand building marcomms agency, Smoking Gun.
The agency will lead a PR programme to boost brand awareness, support retail listings and position Little Starts as the go-to present for little ones and their grown ups.
Little Starts’ plastic-free gift cards can be used on thousands of classes across the UK, from splashing at Water Babies to dancing at babyballet, offering a way to gift memorable experiences, rather than more ‘things’.
Smoking Gun is leading consumer and trade newsmaking and thought leadership, with the all-important Christmas push as its first focus.
Little Starts’ founder Katie Lavis said: “Smoking Gun impressed us from the off with its track record supporting the major growth of brands in the mother & baby sector, as well as its approach to creative storytelling and building relationships with key retailers.
“The team has hit the ground running and is already proving instrumental in our bid to grow media share of voice in the run up to Christmas. With some big activations planned for 2024, we’re looking forward to great success from our power partnership.”
Smoking Gun CEO Rick Guttridge said: “As a team of mums and dads, the idea of a gift which not only supports babies and young children’s development but helps new parents to build a support network and make memories really appealed to us. Not to mention it offers a great eco-friendly alternative to toys and clothes!
“We’ll be working to maximise the brand’s presence in Sainsbury’s and Argos, while growing its profile among target retailers and driving consumer demand in the run up to key sales periods.”
Little Starts joins Smoking Gun’s lifestyle portfolio which includes brand giants PG Tips, Interflora, Eurocamp and Alton Towers Resort.
