Marketing Manager – Ideal Home Show Spring in Loughton

We’re on the lookout for a talented and strategic Marketing Manager to join our team in Loughton, working on the flagship event: the Ideal Home Show. This is the longest-running and largest consumer event in the UK, attracting over 130,000 visitors and showcasing more than 600 exhibiting brands each year.

About the Role: This is a full-time, office-based role, with a requirement to be onsite during the 10-day show in April, ensuring everything runs seamlessly and creating a truly memorable experience for visitors and exhibitors alike. As the Marketing Manager, you’ll be central to delivering and leading impactful marketing campaigns for this iconic event. You’ll develop, manage and implement multi-channel marketing strategies to drive the brand’s continued success and evolve it for future growth. This is a hands-on senior role, where you’ll collaborate closely with the Head of Marketing, the Event Director, and the wider teams – who will support you strategically, creatively and operationally.

Main Purpose: To promote the Ideal Home Show brand and drive visitor footfall and ticket revenue through innovative, engaging campaigns and promotions. To deliver and oversee the plan and implementation of a multi-channel marketing, PR and partnership campaign to acquire, retain and engage our visitors and grow the event. To implement integrated campaigns that support the show’s growth and strategic objectives, while working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to drive success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, manage and implement multi-channel marketing plans, including email, website, ATL (TV, radio, press), PR, paid digital and social media campaigns, ensuring campaigns align with business and revenue targets.
• Execute customer acquisition and retention strategies through data-driven audience profiling and segmentation.
• Take ownership of projects and tasks, adapting quickly to changes in a dynamic environment.
• Identify and secure essential partnerships with sponsors, celebrities, ambassadors, media and third-party ticket agents, using creativity and initiative to deliver new ideas and maximise impact.
• Manage PR activity to elevate the show’s profile and reach.
• Deliver CRM strategies for each campaign and coordinate CRM activity including segmentation and email communications.
• Produce and manage a strong, engaging web presence that is regularly updated and optimised for SEO, and ensure show presence across relevant platforms.
• Brief and manage external agencies and suppliers, including creative, digital, PR and media planning, ensuring campaigns are delivered on brief and on budget.
• Use data and analytics to track campaign performance, providing regular reports and recommendations to optimise results and minimise risks.
• Lead the onsite marketing presence at the exhibition in April, overseeing show photography, videography and managing key aspects of the live event programme.
• Achieve business and revenue targets while optimising team resource efficiencies.
• Contribute to new initiatives that drive the evolution and innovation of the show.
• Maintain knowledge of trends and news in the home interest industries.

Campaign Reporting:

• Track and report campaign performance, providing analysis and actionable recommendations to ensure continuous improvement.
• Conduct post-campaign analysis and visitor surveys, sharing insights with the wider team.
• Complete competitor benchmarking for promotional activity and report findings to the Head of Marketing.
• Gather stakeholder feedback and use insights to shape future campaign strategies.

Stakeholder Management:

• Work collaboratively with the wider team (Sales, Features, Ops, PR) to deliver campaigns that align with strategic objectives.
• Apply strong negotiation and interpersonal skills to influence internal and external stakeholders and secure results.
• Develop excellent working relationships across teams and with external partners, exhibitors, sponsors and celebrity guests.
• Seek out and develop new partnership opportunities to maximise reach and engagement, using your initiative and creative thinking.

General Responsibilities:

• Input to the strategic marketing planning process, using data and market insights to inform strategy.
• Hands-on campaign delivery including copywriting, email marketing, CRM management, website updates and asset creation (e.g. using Canva).
• Ensure the accuracy and quality of all marketing materials and take responsibility for sign-off processes as required.
• Adhere to budget policies, reporting any variances promptly to the Head of Marketing.
• Stay up to date with digital marketing and live event trends, sharing best practice and innovative ideas with the team.

Key Technical Skills, Knowledge, Experience & Behaviours:

• At least 5 years’ experience in event marketing or a similar senior marketing role.
• Proven experience of delivering and managing multi-channel campaigns.
• Experience in PR management and developing new partnerships using initiative and creativity.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to understand data and adjust campaigns accordingly.
• Significant experience with digital marketing tools (Google Analytics, email marketing platforms, website CMS, CRM, ESP).
• Familiarity with CRM practices and building audiences.
• Ability to develop and deliver campaigns to tight deadlines while managing multiple projects.
• Solid understanding of the digital media landscape, with experience in managing paid digital projects and using digital tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with fluency in written and spoken English and strong attention to detail.
• A strategic thinker who can work independently, bringing new ideas and ownership to their work.
• Content creation experience and the ability to craft engaging messaging.

Ideally, you’ll also have:

• A professional marketing qualification (e.g. Institute of Digital Marketing or CIM) or equivalent experience.
• A real desire to exceed targets, drive performance and find creative solutions.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence internal and external audiences.
• A logical yet creative approach to tackling challenges.
• Flexibility and adaptability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• High levels of drive, enthusiasm and confidence to keep up with the demands of this flagship event.

This role is based in our Loughton, Essex office Monday to Friday.