A Creative Partnership
Working with Elm of Burford with ongoing design & photography support via a monthly retainer arrangement.
Client Overview
Elm of Burford is an established country clothing business operating across multiple channels, requiring consistent, high-quality visual communication to support ongoing marketing, campaigns, and brand activity both in store and on-line. Rather than one-off projects, their needs span design, photography, and ongoing creative problem-solving over time.
The Challenge
As the business evolved, Elm of Burford needed creative support that could respond quickly, maintain visual consistency, and adapt across a wide range of outputs.
Working with multiple suppliers created friction — repeated briefing, inconsistent results, and a lack of continuity across channels. What was needed was a single creative partner with a deep understanding of the brand.
The Approach
Rather than working on a project-by-project basis, we established a monthly retainer. This allows me to act as an extension of the client’s team — providing flexible, responsive creative support as priorities change.
Over time, this relationship has enabled clearer decision-making, faster turnaround, and stronger visual consistency.
Creative direction and brand consistancy
Ongoing visual oversight to ensure all design and photography align with the brand’s tone, values, and long-term goals.
Graphic Design
Design support across digital and print — including marketing collateral, campaign assets, and supporting materials — delivered with consistency and clarity.
Photography
Regular photography to support marketing, editorial, and promotional needs, ensuring imagery remains current, authentic, and aligned with the brand.
Ongoing Support
Fast, reliable turnaround and collaborative problem-solving, with the flexibility to respond as needs arise.
The Outcome
The retainer model has provided Elm of Burford with consistent visual quality across all channels, a streamlined creative process, and a single point of contact who understands the business in depth. The result is work that feels considered, cohesive, and purposeful rather than reactive.
“James has worked with Elm of Burford for many years, and that depth of understanding makes a huge difference. There’s very little briefing required — he knows the business, the brand, and how we work.
Having James on a retainer means he feels like a genuine part of the team. It saves us a significant amount of time and removes the need to manage multiple suppliers, while giving us consistent, considered design, photography and website support whenever we need it.
The retainer model gives us flexibility, continuity, and confidence that everything produced is aligned with the business.”
Paul Marshall
Director, Elm of Burford
Let’s work together
This approach is ideal for clients who need ongoing creative support rather than one-off projects.