Fusion Member Spotlight - Plexus Media

Member Spotlight
David Newman
Plexus Media Ltd, 2 Bank Street, Cromarty, IV11 8UY
Tel: 01381 600818
info@plexusmedia.co.uk
www.plexusmedia.co.uk

Colin and David have really worked with the web since it started and have seen it grow into the dominant force it is today. The two joined forced in the 90’s and one of their first projects was an interactive CD which was required for a job in California. Disaster almost struck though when the shipment of CDs was confiscated by the US customs who thought it was a load of pornography being shipped into the country. Lots of explaining later meant it all turned out well.

Their experience has given them hugely valuable insight into all the developments that have taken place regarding website design too. Anyone speaking to them is left in no doubts they know what they are talking about but information is delivered in a non-technical way. They have worked on many projects during their partnership including touch screen televisions which were potential public information points and virtual reality.

Spanglefish is another joint development. It is a website available to people free of charge if they are happy to have Google Ads on the site and for a modest payment if not. 20,000 people signed up and there are now 14,000 Spanglefish sites around the world. Plexus believe this low cost/free website means they have helped more businesses to get started than local business organisations. Spanglefish 2 is on the agenda.

Plexus gets all its clients from word of mouth and referrals – this speaks volumes about their care and service. They jokingly say they frequently under-price and over deliver which is why they are busy. They also harness key partnerships and work with Calico, a local hosting company, local photographers and a local PR partner.

They clearly love being in the Highlands and see the web as developing a new breed of “digital crofter” able to work from home. They originally worked from home themselves but now work from their offices in Cromarty, around a custom built table where there is usually some buns available for visitors (they are next door to the Cromarty bakery so this is another key local partner!). The bun theme runs through their website where you can see who likes what buns and there is also a very interesting rant section (don’t mention the words “cool” or “entrepreneur” to David).

It’s not all profit and loss for Plexus as they also use their expertise to help their community too – Cromarty was the first community, smaller than Chicago, to do a virtual reality tour and David is a key figure in the Cromarty Film Festival.