MY STORY
Owned and run by me, Zoë Bishop, below is a bit of bio and the story of Torchlight Marketing in my own words...
IN THE BEGINNING
I always had a love for marketing since studying it as part of my A-Level Media Studies, so I went to the University of Luton (now University of Bedfordshire) to study Advertising and Marketing Communications which at the time was one of the only courses available in this area.
SLIGHT U-TURN
As well as a love of marketing, I have always loved sport and staying fit. So after four years of working with McGraw-Hill Education in their marketing team gaining lots of valuable marketing skills (that I still use ), I decided to go back to school (London MET University) and did an MA in Sports Management.
I believed I could make something I loved to do into a career (which would come back to me again later in life). After a brief stint at Wycombe Wanderers FC, I became Community and PR Officer for London Irish RFC. I enjoyed four years there and left the position of Community Marketing Manager to go to Fulham Football Club Foundation as their Business Development Manager.
WORK-LIFE BALANCE...
AND ANOTHER CHANGE OF DIRECTION!
Eventually, having to work weekends and the delightful M25 commute took its toll. For my sanity, I needed something closer to home. So I found a local job five miles from home with national charity Coeliac UK. It was another change of direction but still within the commercial sector and promoting the charities marketing opportunities to the gluten-free food sector.
KIDS
Nothing can prepare you for being a Mum. No matter how much you read, research or ask questions. I was lucky enough to have two wonderful daughters and two wonderful maternity bubble years. I always knew I wanted to continue working though, being a Mum doesn’t stop you, just makes you rethink your priorities. Whilst off with baby number two I got asked by a friend to do a few bits of marketing consulting work…this got me thinking…AGAIN. Maybe I could do something like that?....
TORCHLIGHT
MOMENT
….So I set up my own company and in September 2017 Torchlight Marketing was born. BUT going 100% freelance wasn’t immediate…in fact, it took over two years of continuing to work at Coeliac UK three days a week, doing bits of associate work, managing a couple of new clients, completing The Pinterest Game Plan course, whilst still trying to be a Mum to my two daughters (oh did I mention playing netball too).
GOING SOLO
Fast forward to September 2019. It was, time to go it alone. Childcare factors, turning 40 and determined not to be haunted by the "What-if’s"of life, I started Torchlight Marketing full time.
So why write this all down? Marketing is all about telling stories so I wanted to tell mine and get my personality across. I am ambitious. I make decisions. I follow my dreams.
TORCHLIGHT
SHINING BRIGHT
In September 2020 I celebrated my first year of being 100% freelance. It's been a journey and I'm delighted to be able to tell the tale and continue to support SMEs with their marketing needs.
NEW COUNTY NEW FOCUS
In November 2020 my hubby got a fabulous promotion which meant moving up to beautiful Yorkshire so TLM HQ moved 180 miles to the fabulous market town of Wetherby. After relocating, surviving "Lockdown 3" and working with my business coach and mentor I realised I wanted to niche down a bit more and focus on the copywriting side as it’s where I really flourish and make the most impact for my clients.
EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS
FOR 2022
As well as offering all my copywriting services, I'm now delighted to be an official Inspire Now Daily Brand Ambassador. With the product helping me immensely to effectively run my copywriting business (and life) I wanted to share the joy with others. Moving into a new year I also felt it was important to commit to supporting a charity that is aligned with my values. With that in mind, I've signed Torchlight Marketing up to TLG's Brighter Horizons Business Community.
ZEROING IN ON WELLNESS
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After a fabulous vision board session with positivity coach Jo Thackwray, I’ve realised I want to combine my passion for positivity, gratitude, fitness, journaling, mindfulness, and health & wellbeing with my copywriting skills. So I’m niching down to specifically work with businesses, charities, and not-for-profit organisations that operate in the wellness sector, and promote health and wellbeing through the services and products that they offer.
HITTING THE YOWAH RADIO AIRWAVES
Debuting on Jo Thackwray’s mid morning show back in July 2022 with a monthly feature on journaling it’s been amazing to be part of this unique community that promotes wellbeing and happiness. You can catch me by listening online every third Tuesday of the month around 12pm. I’ve also recorded other shows with fellow Yowah presenters Steve Gamlin on Gratitude and co-host Resilience and Wellbeing with Russell Harvey.
GET READY TO BE ENCOURAGED in 2024!
Your career never stands still does it? You’ll know that just by reading the snippets on this page! Over the last few months of 2023, I’ve been developing something new. A programme I truly believe can make a difference to others using the gifts I’ve been given.
I haven't just gone out on a whim! I’ve listened to feedback and come up with a unique way of utilising my natural ability to encourage.
I’ve packaged up everything I’ve learnt over the past five years so you can access a structured support mechanism to ensure your life is full of consistency, intentionality, gratitude and self-love. If you want to know exactly what that looks like please check out this recent blog post.