ABOUT

Merchandise Design | B2B Visual Pitching | Tourism Branding

As part of an initiative to increase sales with Merlin Entertainments, one of Smile Souvenirs’ largest and most high-profile clients, I was briefed to develop visuals that would demonstrate the creative potential of their promotional merchandise offering. The goal was to inspire confidence and showcase how custom design could enhance branded products for key UK attractions.

Creative Direction:
Identifying an opportunity to expand business specifically with Blackpool Tower and the iconic Tower Ballroom, I was tasked with producing artwork that would reflect the local identity and tourist appeal of the site. The concept was designed to fit within a proposed "Made in Blackpool" range, artwork that could resonate with both locals and tourists while elevating perceived value.

I developed product-focused mockups, applying my custom designs across souvenir items to help the client visualise real-world application. This hands-on, design-led pitch was instrumental in communicating the scope and creativity that Smile Souvenirs could offer as a supplier.

Key Contributions:
• Designed bespoke ‘Made in Blackpool’ themed artwork for souvenir merchandise
• Created visual mockups to present the designs in real-life product contexts
• Supported the Sales & Marketing Directors in building a compelling pitch to a major client
• Helped position Smile Souvenirs as a creative and commercially strategic partner for tourism branding

This project was a perfect example of design used to generate opportunity, blending creativity with business strategy to open doors with one of the UK’s leading entertainment groups.