Robert Clay

Current

• Founder, Author, Speaker and Consultant at Marketing Wizdom Ltd
• Founder, Seminar and workshop presenter, Keynote speaker and author at Marketing Wizdom Ltd

Past

• Founder, Author, speaker and consultant at DSP Solutions UK Ltd
• Founder and MD at Primegraph Ltd (Bodyshield)
• Founder and MD at Skyport Sunroofs UK Ltd (Skyport and Panarama brands)

• General Manager of Automotive Industry Development at Tuff-Kote Dinol AB (then part of Axel Johnson Group)

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1 more...

Education

• Self Taught Direct Response Advertising, Marketing and Copywriting
• Self Taught Low-risk/High-return Marketing
• Millfield

• Bexhill Grammar School

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1 more...

Recommended

25 people have recommended Robert

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Marketing and Advertising

Robert Clay’s Summary

Started business at 19 with no capital. In 3 years achieved 40% penetration of initial market potential compared to 17% nationally for all other brands combined. Achieved much press coverage in Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph, Guardian, Observer, many regional newspapers & industry publications.

At 23 started franchising. Ran successful marketing campaigns which took business to No.3 in UK within 3 years, with other franchisees worldwide.

Invented the glass sunroof as we know it today, creating from scratch a market in the UK for more than 250,000 units a year within 3 years, when it became third largest sunroof manufacturer in Europe.

Eventually sold both businesses to one of the largest companies in Europe and was instrumental in taking that business to No.1 in its field in the world within four years.

Started consulting with other entrepreneurs and business owners, clarifying and de-mystifying marketing and transforming their thinking and business results.

Set up DSP in 2000 as an experiment and have since helped hundreds of businesses to transform their marketing strategies and business fortunes using low-risk/high-return marketing strategies.

Successes include helping a number of business start-ups to achieve market leadership in their field, or in the UK or in Europe or in the world. One was national Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” award winner 2002, who a year later appeared in the Sunday Times Rich List and sold out in Dec 07 for £75M. Another was the “Entrepreneur of the Year” runner up the same year. Another award winning client went from start-up to £100M revenues in 7 years.

Since 1996 have developed a unique and priceless 420,000 page + knowledgebase detailing the best marketing practices worldwide in every conceivable industry.

Writes books and regular columns in magazines and newspapers. Highly regarded keynote speaker, Meeting or exceeding 99.7% of audience expectations. runs regular workshops for entrepreneurs.

Robert Clay’s Specialties:

Specialist in designing low-risk/high-return marketing strategies for entrepreneurial businesses. Provider of knowledge and facilitation in the areas of customer acquisition, better conversion of leads to clients, customer retention, increasing transaction value and increasing transaction frequency. Runs seminars and workshops. Masterminds, creates, implements and sustains all marketing activities for a limited number of clients, without charging a fee, but being paid out of increased profits.

Robert Clay’s Experience

• Founder, Author, Speaker and Consultant

  Marketing Wizdom Ltd

  (Marketing and Advertising industry)

  1985 — Present (24 years)

  Marketing Wizdom designs and oversees the implementation of low-risk/high-return marketing strategies for selected entrepreneurs and aspiring market leaders. Payment is mainly linked to results achieved.
  
  The business started trading in 1985 as Bright Solutions. It was incorporated in 1999 as Bright Solutions UK Ltd. In January 2009 the name of the company was changed to Marketing Wizdom Ltd to better reflect the service now being provided.
  
  A new programme is currently under development which will allow virtually any aspiring market leader to create breakthrough marketing results.
  
  Over the years thousands of entrepreneurs have attended my seminars and workshops. Many have wanted me to work with them in person to transform their marketing ... but with only 24 hours in a day, it was never possible to work with more than a handful of clients.
  
  After grappling with this problem for several years, I finally figured out a way to work effectively, in person, with a larger number of clients. This programme for creating breakthrough marketing results is now under development. When launched, it will give entrepreneurs in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Singapore/Malaysia the focus, perspectives, strategies, tools and a track to run on that most others lack. It will also be more affordable than anything else I have ever offered. So watch this space!

• Founder, Seminar and workshop presenter, Keynote speaker and author

  Marketing Wizdom Ltd

  (Information Technology and Services industry)

  March 1985 — Present (24 years 5 months)

  Developed and deliver seminars, workshops and keynotes aimed at business leaders, introducing different facets of low-risk/high return marketing.
  
  Based on simplicity, common sense and freedom from jargon, these presentations have met or exceeded the expectations of 997 out of every 1,000 participants.
  
  Current seminars, workshops and presentations include, but are not limited to:
  
  • Quantum Leap Workshop (53 topics over 3 days)
  • Introduction to low-risk/high-return marketing strategies
  • Your USP - set your business apart from your competition
  • Your introduction to Customer Retention
  • Your introduction to PR and Publicity
  • Effective direct response advertising
  • Optimising your business
  • Become a recognised authority in your field
  • Joint venture marketing
  • Extraordinary customer service
  • Creating a world-class organisation
  • Word of mouth marketing
  • Writing effective proposals
  • Networking skills masterclass

• Founder, Author, speaker and consultant

  DSP Solutions UK Ltd

  (Marketing and Advertising industry)

  June 2000 — December 2008 (8 years 7 months)

  DSP empowered smart successful entrepreneurs and business leaders with world-class knowledge of low-risk/high return marketing strategies.
  
  Knowledge was imparted via articles, books, manuals, audio CDs, seminars and workshops so clients could implement these strategies for themselves. Ongoing facilitation was provided face-to-face, online, by phone and email to ensure the knowledge was put into practice.
  
  Many clients worked with DSP for 2,3, 4. 5. 6, 7 or 8 years. Excellent relationships were also maintained with many former-clients who returned at regular intervals.
  
  Aside from delivering world class knowledge, expertise and service, DSP's success was down to treating clients with respect and TLC at all times.

• Founder and MD

  Primegraph Ltd (Bodyshield)

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Automotive industry)

  1973 — 1985 (12 years)

  At age 19 developed an innovative method of preventing motor vehicle corrosion. The process rapidly won major acclaim including the AA Seal of Approval, at the time considered unattainable by other companies in the same field. As a consequence, supplied know-how and technology to companies like 3M, Valvoline Oil Company and Burmah Castrol. Entered into a unique joint venture with Burmah Castrol where they developed products to our specification that were sold exclusively by us using the Castrol brand name ... the one and only time in Castrol's 108 year history that a third party has ever been granted exclusivity on a Castrol branded product. Developed new application methods which revolutionised the industry and were subsequently adopted by virtually every car, truck, bus and aircraft manufacturer in the world, and are still in use today. Used an array of self-taught marketing strategies that rapidly turned the industry on its head and took my company to prominence in its field.

• Founder and MD

  Skyport Sunroofs UK Ltd (Skyport and Panarama brands)

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Automotive industry)

  1976 — 1985 (9 years)

  At age 22 invented the glass sunroof as we know it today. Manufactured Skyport and Panarama Sunroofs in the UK and California. The design of these units leak-proof units transformed sunroof fitting from a 2-day skilled operation to a 45 minute semi-skilled operation. Within 3 years of launch, created a market from scratch for 250,000 sunroofs a year in the UK alone, and also sold them worldwide. Supplied the sunroofs to many car manufacturers for production line installation, or fitted at point of import, or sold as branded accessories for dealers to fit. Introduced innovations on factory fitted models like radio antennas screen printed onto the glass panel eliminating vandalism etc.

• General Manager of Automotive Industry Development

  Tuff-Kote Dinol AB (then part of Axel Johnson Group)

  (Privately Held; 10,001 or more employees; Automotive industry)

  1981 — 1985 (4 years)

  Tuff Kote Dinol, then part of the Multi-Billion Dollar Swedish Axel Johnson Group (second largest company in Scandinavia, owners at the time of Astra Pharmaceutical, Wallenius Shipping Lines, Nynas Oil Company and many others), bought my businesses and I was given the task of convincing car, truck, bus and aircraft manufacturers to adopt our corrosion prevention techniques during production and/or at point of import. Until then they had largely resisted the idea but I developed a very successful strategy and approach to this and in four years secured 100% of contracts we went after. Not one competitor got a single contract in that time. Developed innovative products and application techniques that are still in use today. Literally "wrote the book" on the subject. The company became the largest in its field in the world, absorbing many of its competitors in the process. Brands included: Tuff-Kote Dinol, Dinol, Dinitrol, Tuff-Kote, Bodyshield, Protectol, Endrust and Dual-Gard.

Robert Clay’s Education

• Self Taught Direct Response Advertising, Marketing and Copywriting

  Direct Response Advertising, Marketing and Copywriting 1985 — 2008

  Studied the life works of direct response advertising, marketing and copywriting legends like John Powers, John E Kennedy, Walter Dill Scott, Albert Lasker, Claude Hopkins, E Haldemann-Julius, Fairfax Cone, Leo Burnett, Robert Collier, Maxwell Sackheim, Victor Schwab, Eugene Schwartz, John Caples, Rosser Reeves, David Ogilvy, Joe Karbo, Gary Halbert, Gary Bencivenga (world's greatest living copywriter, whose secrets have only once been revealed to 100 people on condition that they never disclosed that information), the amazing Joe Sugarman, Drayton Bird, Dan Kennedy, Ted Nicholas, Bob Bly and Yanik Silver. This is ongoing. Own a large collection of hard-to-find books, audio and videos from all of these legends, including many rare originals. My team of copywriters, facilitators and consultants are selected for their knowledge, understanding and application of these principles in their work for my clients. This routinely produces many times the results achieved using normal methods.

• Self Taught Low-risk/High-return Marketing

  Low-risk/High-return Marketing 1985 — 2008

  Studied the life works of 258 of the world's top marketers of past 130 years. Obtained many rare original works and have built up massive library of books, audios and videos, including possibly world's largest collection of materials from Jay Abraham, the world's most highly paid marketing consultant. This collection alone contains over 1,300 of Jay's audios and DVDs, plus tens of thousands of pages of his written materials. Had you attended the events covered by this collection, or bought these materials new from Jay, you’d have had to invest over $300,000. A single copy of the 6,431 page Jay Abraham Strategic Marketing Encyclopedia with resale rights, would have taken your investment over $500,000. And he's just one of my 258 sources. In assimilating this knowledge, have created some 250,000 pages of notes on low-risk/high-return marketing over a period of 10 years, all instantly accessible using a unique artificial intelligence knowledge retrieval system. This process is ongoing.

• Millfield

  O and A levels , 1968 — 1972

• Bexhill Grammar School

  1966 — 1969

Additional Information

Robert Clay’s Interests:

Family. Pets. Skiing. Motor sport. Automotive design. Current affairs. World travel. Building and absorbing knowledge from my massive collection of marketing books including many rare originals and classics from past 100+ years. Love good food. Keep abreast of developments and trends in the automotive, IT and marketing industries. Collect and study best practices in marketing from around the world. Subscribe to, read, make extensive notes on and build up files of articles from over 500 publications monthly (OK I don't get time to read them all, but I do try!!).

Robert Clay’s Groups:

Expert speaker for Academy for Chief Executives
Member of Entrepreneurs World Central London
Member of Entrepreneurs World Milton Keynes
Sponsor of Midsummer Breakfast Club, Milton Keynes
Sponsor of City Breakfast Club, Milton Keynes
Ambassador for Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce
Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce member
Luton & Beds Chamber of Commerce member
Milton Keynes Media Circle member
Federation of Small Businesses member
Speaker for Personal Finance Society
Speaker for Meetings Industry Association
Speaker for Professional Contractors Group
Speaker for HSBC
Speaker for NatWest Bank
Speaker for Royal Bank of Scotland
Speaker for Business Link
Speaker for PCS Expo
Speaker for National Association of Estate Agenta
Speaker for Trainerbase
Speaker for Chartered Institute of Managers
Speaker for Chartered Management Institute
Speaker for Institute for Independent Business
Speaker for Entrepreneurs World

•    LInked Business Strategists
•    Inbound Marketers - For Marketing Professionals
•    Advertising Professional
•    Professional Speakers and Seminar Leaders
•    Duct Tape Marketing
•    Internet Marketing
•    Bright Ideas & Entrepreneurs
•    BusinessWeek Group
•    London IN
•    Market Research Global Alliance (MRGA)
•    eMarketing Association Network
•    Network of Pricing Champions
•    Spock Users
•    FastTrack 100 (6,500+ members!)
•    Search Engine Land
•    Innovative Marketing, PR, Sales, Word-of-Mouth & Buzz Innovators
•    Twitter
•    Fans of Mashable
•    SearchEngineWatch.com Forums
•    New Media, Social Media, and Social Networking Participants
•    SpeakerMatch
•    SalesBlogcast.com
•    Tweeple
•    PPC Marketing
•    Tweeters
•    Cross Media Experts (www.twitter.com/mediamatchers)
•    Google Adwords
•    OUTSIDE OF THE BOX THINKERS
•    twitter innovators Innovation & Creativity Network of Tweeters
•    Business Networking Strategy
•    The Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM)
•    Milton Keynes Networkers
•    Internet World - Future of Social Media
•    Professional Keynote Speakers - by Jorge Olson
•    Copywriting & Copyediting
•    Marketers on twitter
•    Linked For Marketing - by Jorge Olson
•    DPG plc
•    Ambitious Owner Managers
•    Twitter UK
•    Entrepreneurs World

Robert Clay’s Honors:

In 5 mths developed largest twitter following in UK for a non-media celebrity. In Feb 2009 was ranked No.3 most influential twitter user in World by http://twinfluence.com/ which measures the combined influence of twitter users and their followers. Had 23,882 followers (now over 50K) & 24,205,425 second-order followers. On one day same month was rated the third-most re-tweeted user ... only 4 months after joining the world's fastest growing social media platform, with many high profile celebrity and politician users ... and that's before implementing my twitter strategy.
Second most highly rated speaker at Personal Finance Society National Conference 2007 (despite speaking on a topic peripheral to main area of expertise)
Most highly rated speaker at PCS Expo 2006 and 2007
Have consistently met or exceeded expectations of 997 out of every 1,000 attendees at numerous speaking events on marketing related topics from 1999 to date.
Over 3,000 written and audio testimonials on file

Robert Clay’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests
• getting back in touch